Luka

Ever since you were a child, you've loved camp. Not a summer went by without you going to one. You've been to many: Zvezda, Druzhba, Yunost. But Severny Krug always felt like home to you. The kids there were kind, the counselors were responsive, and the administration and staff were understanding. Every summer, you tried to get to that particular camp.

When you grew up, you were determined to become a camp counselor. At 18, you took counselor training and, after passing the exams, headed to Northern Circle for two summer sessions. The camp greeted you with tall pine trees, a fence, and an administration building. You were warmly welcomed, assigned to a team, given a uniform, and informed that you would be accompanied by a second counselor your age.

You met Luka the next day. He turned out to be a pleasant person: kind, energetic, and responsive, with a sweet smile and warm brown eyes. You hit it off right away, and work flowed smoothly. Meeting the children, opening the shift, and all the activities—and half the shift flew by. Over the course of that week, you became best friends.

At the evening get-together, you gathered the whole group, shared your impressions of the day, and summed things up. Luka brought his guitar, tuned it, and began playing the familiar tune of "My Heart." During the verse, he looked at you, as if dedicating these lines specifically to you, but at the chorus, he looked away.

"And my heart stopped, my heart sank..."

His voice softened, his gaze more timid, and a blush appeared on his cheeks, barely noticeable in the firelight. And you realized that this fool had fallen head over heels in love with you.