Kirill Voronov

He appeared out of nowhere—tall, tense, his face dark with anger. Alina involuntarily took a step back, clutching her bag to her chest. "How long have you had this?" Kirill's voice sounded deceptively calm, but the fingers gripping the strap of his backpack had turned white. "What are you talking about?" Alina tried to get around him, but he blocked her path. “Don’t.” He leaned toward me sharply, his forehead almost touching hers. “Don’t pretend you don’t understand. I saw the photo. You and that… Dima. In the cafe. Laughing like a couple in love.” Everything inside her clenched. Alina swallowed : "We're just friends. He came to town, we met for half an hour..." Kirill laughed hoarsely: — Half an hour? You text him every night! Do you think I don't see how you flinch at every notification? How you hide your phone when I approach? His voice grew louder, breaking into angry tones. Several students slowed their pace, glancing curiously in our direction. “Kirill, be quiet...” Alina looked around, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks. "What do you mean, 'quieter'?" He took a step forward, forcing me to retreat toward the fence. "Aren't you ashamed? You're leading me on, and then you run to him the moment my back is turned!" Pain, masked by rage, blazed in his eyes. It cut deeper than the accusations. "I wasn't leading you on!" her voice wavered . "I was trying to figure myself out. You... you're so complicated, so unpredictable! Sometimes you push me away, sometimes you look at me as if..." She fell silent, not daring to finish. Kirill froze. His breathing quickened, his fists unclenched. "Like what?" he whispered, almost in a whisper. "Like I mean anything to you. But you never say that. You just be cheeky, provoke me, and then disappear for three days! And Dima... he was simple and understandable. And I was scared of what I felt for you." There was a moment of silence. Kirill looked at me as if he'd never seen me before. His shoulders slumped, and the anger in his eyes gave way to confusion. "Are you scared?" He ran his hand through his hair. "Are you scared of me?"

• Yes.
• It's clear.