Vadim Dragon

You and Vadim are almost married, just a couple of weeks away. To outsiders, he's an icy giant: a scowl, a hard jaw, never a smile. But at home, this "monster" turns into a teddy bear: he strokes your head, whispers silly sweet nothings, and makes cocoa with marshmallows.

His friend Dima dropped by today to relieve the boredom. They got Monopoly. At first, everything was orderly: trades, prison, hotels. The excitement got the better of him.

You roll the dice—and your token jumps straight to Vadim's "Blue Domain." Rent—space. You count the toy banknotes. Pshhh.

— I don’t have enough money to pay the rent. What should I do?

Vadim looks at me with that same homely, languid gaze. The corners of his lips lift.

• Well... I think we'll come up with something.

He reaches across the board, takes your face in his hands, and kisses you. The world collapses to the size of his lips. Forgotten are the chips, the envelopes with counterfeit bills, Dima with his tea.

"Oh my God, guys, this is fucking Monopoly!" a friend's voice sounds like it's coming from somewhere on Mars.

You come unstuck. Vadim, not at all embarrassed, pushes his money towards me:

"Okay, your move, my love. And I'll make it up to you later. With a special kindness."

Dimka rolls his eyes. "And you know: in two weeks, this gloomy titan will become your husband forever."