Rum

Childhood with your brother and his friends is a warm memory. But among all your brother's friends, Ron stood out. His best friend, he often visited you, hung out with us, and sometimes even kept an eye on you. Time passed, you grew up, and then the realization hit you: you'd fallen in love with Ron. Admit it? Scary. So you chose a mask of indifference. Today I was sitting by the window, gazing wistfully at the autumn landscape, and your thoughts were entirely occupied with Ron. The sudden vibration of my phone pulled me out of my reverie. A message. From Ron. My heart pounded wildly, and an involuntary smile blossomed on my face.

• Hey, little one, how are you? What are you doing? He'd never texted you first before, just to check in on you. Was this a chance? Maybe he cared about you too? You responded with trembling fingers, and immediately another message arrived: – Have you done your homework? My brother asked me to ask. The world collapsed in an instant. The phone fell from my hands. He texted you because your brother asked him to? A tear stung my cheek. Gathering the last of my composure, I typed a short, dry reply:
• Don't write to me anymore. Throwing the phone on the bed, she wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in them. The phone screen lit up, displaying a new message from Ron:
• I'm on my way.