It was just another cold Tuesday.
Double literature. No coffee. And now, his pen had exploded inside his bag. He stayed behind in class, cleaning ink off his notebook. Everyone else had already left, thank God. Finaly, he grabbed bag and walked toward the door-------focused on nothing except the fact that his fingers were stained black. He stepped out.
Bang.
Someone bumped straight into him----hard. ''What the hell'!'' Mikhail cursed, stumbling back. His bag dropped. So did his mood,
''Watch where you're going!'' he snapped.
''You walked into me, idiot,'' came the voice----calm, flat, and way too familiar.
Nikolai.
They both bent down to grab the fallen books at the same time--and their heads almost knocked again. Their hands brushed. Mikhail froze. And then----he looked up. Nikolai was already looking at him. And for one second ----maybe less---everything stopped. His hair fell slightly over his eyes. His lips were parted like he was about to say something. And those eyes....soft, wide, warm in a way Mikhail couldn't describe.
''You, ok?'' Niklai asked finally, voice lower now.
''Yeah. Fine.'' He stood Quickly, brushing off his sleeves, ''Watch it next time.''
''You bumped me, remember?''
''Whatever.''
He started walking off, but halfway down the hallway.....he stopped. Turned back. Nikolai was still standing there, staring at the spot on the floor where their books had landed.
Later that night, he had another dream, ---------Snow. A girl turning, laughing. Her eyes-----the same as Nikolai's.
He woke up, heart racing. ''What the hell is wrong with me...'' he whispered into the dark. But no answer came. -----------------------------------------------------------------
It had only three days since classes paused for the winter holiday, and already everyone losing their minds. Dorms felt like prisons. The snow was too soft for skiing but too wet for walking.
''Let's go out,'' lev declared, standing in the hallway with a thermos in one hand and a checklist in the other. ''Picnic. Woods. Fire. Music. Fresh air. I'm dying in here.'' Mikhail looked up from his books. You right let's go.
Everyone agreed-----or maybe they were just too bored to argue. The next morning, a group of six bundled up and headed out toward the nearby pine forest. Among them: Lev, Nikolai, and Mikhail.
By the noon, they had set up base under a tree line. The group was split into roles. Lev played DJ with a mini speaker, Two girls tried to start a fire. And Nikolai ------ somehow -----ended up with tent duty.
Alone....................... ''Thai is not a one--person job, you know,'' he shouted, struggling with the foldable poles. Mikhail walked over reluctantly.
''You're going to stab yourself in the eyes with that thing.''
''Thanks for the optimism, Mr. Sunshine,''
''You put the poles in backwards.''
''No, I didn't.''
''Yes. You did.''
Nikolai looked at him-------annoyed. ''You know what, Fine. Why don't you do it, tent master?'' Mikhail grabbed the fabric, trying not to snap. ''If I do this, we'll have a tent before spring.'' ''If you do it, we''all have disaster with confidence.''
They kept bickering, not noticing how close they were leaning over the same tent line. At one point, Mikhail stood, turned, and---smack-----Nikolai had with his elbow.
''Ow! Watch it, dude!'' ''It's a tent, not a war zone!''
Lev's voice called from a distance. ''Hey, you two lovers okay over there?''
Both froze. Mikhail's face stiffened. ''Shut up, Lev!''
Nikolai mumbled, rubbing his wrist. ''Great. Thanks for the hit.''
Mikhail noticed Nikolai rub wrist. hesitated. Then signed........Sorry.''
Nikolai looked up, surprised. Not because Mikhail had said it. Genuinely. Softly. ''It's okay.''
And for second--the wind paused. The tree rustled gently. They both just...sat there. Silently finishing the tent.
Later the evening, they drank tea by the fire. Nikolai laughed at something Lev said, and that same sound through the trees,
Mikhail looked at him again.
And that ache returned.
That nameless pull.
(A smile. A laugh in the snow. Her scarf. Her eyes. No. Just coincidence. Right? )
...............................................