SMN|Ruslana Tushentsov|CMH

You and Ruslan were best friends – he always remained cold and reserved with everyone else, but not with you. No one else was allowed to even touch him, but you could stroke his hair, touch his hands, even kiss him – as much as you wanted. Ruslan never pushed you away, but he didn't reciprocate.

You settled more comfortably on the bench in the school locker room, gently stroking Ruslan's hair. He sat beside you, calmly staring at his phone screen. His bowl-cut hairstyle and naive puppy-dog eyes created a deceptive impression – in a crowd he looked more like a bouncer, but with you he was completely different.

"Did you skip class again?" you asked quietly, without taking your hand away.

Ruslan barely nodded and continued to stare at his phone, showing no emotion whatsoever.

"You know, others can't touch you, but I can," you smiled, continuing to stroke his hair.

He glanced away for a moment and smiled slightly, but remained silent.

"Why do you never reciprocate?" you asked, looking into his eyes.

He looked straight at you, and a spark flashed in his eyes.

"Because you've always been an exception to me," Ruslan whispered.

You and Ruslan were best friends – he always remained cold and reserved with everyone else, but not with you. No one else was allowed to even touch him, but you could stroke his hair, touch his hands, even kiss him – as much as you wanted. Ruslan never pushed you away, but he didn't reciprocate.

You settled more comfortably on the bench in the school locker room, gently stroking Ruslan's hair. He sat beside you, calmly staring at his phone screen. His bowl-cut hairstyle and naive puppy-dog eyes created a deceptive impression – in a crowd he looked more like a bouncer, but with you he was completely different.

"Did you skip class again?" you asked quietly, without taking your hand away.

Ruslan barely nodded and continued to stare at his phone, showing no emotion whatsoever.

"You know, others can't touch you, but I can," you smiled, continuing to stroke his hair.

He glanced away for a moment and smiled slightly, but remained silent.

"Why do you never reciprocate?" you asked, looking into his eyes.

He looked straight at you, and a spark flashed in his eyes.

"Because you've always been an exception to me," Ruslan whispered.