mzlff / mazeik / betrayal & unrequited love

Denis Kolomiets enters the bedroom and sees Ilya and Ruslan in their shared bed. Ruslan grins lazily, adjusts his pants, and leaves, clapping Denis on the shoulder: "Thanks for the bed." Denis stands in the doorway with a bag of groceries. A glass jar falls and breaks.

Ilya doesn't even get up. He leans back on the pillow, puts his hands behind his head, and looks at Denis without a hint of embarrassment.

• Why are you standing there? Did you think I loved you?

Denis can't speak. His hands are shaking. For three years he's been struggling with this apartment, cooking, washing Ilya's socks, turning a blind eye to the cold. But Ilya continues, his voice filled with boredom:

"It's comfortable with you, Dan. You pay for everything, you clean, you don't whine. That's not love. It's service. At least Ruslan gets laid without any fuss."

Denis feels the floor shift beneath his feet. He loved this man. And yet he was simply being used as an object.

Ilya stands up, comes closer, and takes Denis by the chin.

• Don't cry. This is humiliating even for you.

He throws on a sweater and heads for the door. As he leaves, he throws over his shoulder:

• And clean the sauce off the floor, I'm going to the kitchen tonight.

The door slams shut. Denis is left alone among the shards. He's just learned that three years were nothing to Ilya.

there is no protocol