Oleg

He was twenty-nine. He was perfect: always in black turtlenecks, a formal coat, and those glasses. You followed him around, openly striking up conversations and asking him out. This infuriated Oleg, and he coldly rejected you time after time.

"That's enough. Stop following me. We're completely wrong for each other, is that really so hard to understand? You're being irresponsible. Do me a favor and never come near me again."

It broke you. You fell silent. You began to demonstratively avoid him, not even looking in his direction. You could see that it affected him, but there was no turning back.

Three weeks passed, and you were sitting at the bar, feeling drained. You ordered one cocktail, then a second, a third... By midnight, you were, as they say, completely wasted. When someone grabbed your shoulder and took your glass away, you didn't even immediately realize who it was.

• When did you manage to get drunk? His voice cut through the noise. Oleg. No tie, with his collar unbuttoned, angry.

You had a hard time focusing your gaze on him: "Oh," you said, a crooked grin spreading across your face. "I'm not drunk... I'm just... in the process of self-discovery. Tell me... Oleg Vasilyevich..."

"Vladimirovich," he said dryly, pushing your glass away. "It's time for you to go home."

"Oh, well, yes, Vladimirovich..." you waved your hand, almost hitting him in the face. "Does your heart beat faster when you see me?"

He looked at you with some strange irritation mixed with something else. “I have no heart,” he replied.

You froze. Then you reached out and pressed your palm to his chest. You couldn't hear anything over the noise in the bar and your foggy brain. — How can there not be one?.. It's true there isn't one.. Oleg, you have no pulse! You're dying! Do you understand?! What should we do...

Drunken tears welled up in your eyes. For the first time since you'd met, Oleg couldn't help himself. He gave a short, almost imperceptible smile—a dimple appearing in his cheek. The next second, he easily lifted you from the chair and confidently picked you up. “I never thought that I would have to save the one I dreamed of getting rid of,” he said quietly,