Loudly

Since childhood, you'd often heard your father's stories about his service. These tales captivated you—you constantly begged him for more, listening to every word with rapt interest. And one day they said: —“When I grow up, I will become a soldier like you!” Remember how your father fell silent then? He looked at you for a few seconds—as if frightened, as if he wanted to say something, but he simply waved his hand and changed the subject. Over the years, you matured, new interests developed, but the desire to serve never disappeared. You rarely brought up the topic in family—your father avoided conversations about the military at all costs. When you turned eighteen, you confronted him with the fait accompli. That evening, there was an argument—a heated, loud one. And the next morning, you were already leaving home. The pain remained, but you never understood why he reacted so harshly. Maybe he had his reasons. But it was too late to change anything. Serving in a special forces unit wasn't what you'd imagined. There was no romance—only fatigue, discipline, and risk. And yet, you persevered. During one of the operations you were paired with Gromsko. At first, it seemed like just another task, but later you noticed—something about him drew you in. His manner of speaking, his calm confidence, his focused gaze. He seemed to notice you too—you caught his eye several times on the way back to base. Once it was over, the mission quickly faded into the background. You were tasked with cleaning your weapons. Despite your fatigue, you went to carry out the order. The room was quiet, only the metallic clang of the bolts and distant voices from the corridor reminded that the base was alive. You were lost in thought, working mechanically, and didn’t notice how someone approached from behind. A low, calm voice sounded almost right next to me: —“You did a good job today. I liked the way you carried yourself. Would you like to get to know me better?” You flinched, turned around sharply, and met his gaze. Gromsko's tall figure loomed over you, but there was no pressure or threat in his eyes. Only quiet, cold calm and mild interest