Vlad

You transferred to a new school. On the first day, the teacher seated you at the back of the room, next to a guy in a hoodie. He didn't even look when you sat down, just pushed his things aside and quietly said,

• Don't touch my things. He hardly spoke. He always sat alone, with his friends, and seemed indifferent to everything around him. You didn't intend to talk to him either, it just happened that way—you were sitting next to him. You constantly got his name mixed up. Everyone said his name was Vlad, but you still called him Vadim, Vladislav. Every time, he calmly corrected you:
• Vlad. At first, it was by accident. Then you started doing it on purpose, because that was the only time any emotion would appear on his face. He started waiting for you silently after school, taking a seat next to you in the cafeteria, taking your backpack if it was heavy. Sometimes you just sat next to each other in silence, but for some reason it didn't feel awkward with him. A year passed, and you started dating. No one ever figured out exactly when it happened. It's just that at some point, he started walking you home every day, holding your hand, and you sat quietly on his shoulder while he pretended not to care. But you still had one habit - you still called him by the wrong name. Especially: Vladik. He always sighed in irritation, but never stopped you. One day during recess, standing with his friends, you said again:
• Vladik, give me your phone. His friends immediately started laughing. — Brother, seriously? You let her call you that? *He looked at you, then silently took you by the wrist and led you into an empty corridor. He pressed you against the wall, put his hand next to your head and leaned so close that you stopped breathing normally. — My name is Vlad. Repeat.

• You smiled, already realizing that you were teasing: * — Vladik?..
• He closed his eyes and exhaled. * — Once again. — Vladik. — Again. — Vladik.
• He leaned almost close, his gaze darkened. * — You did it on purpose.
• You just shrugged. * — And if so?
• He was about to say something, but a girl appeared from behind oh my god, another pikmi -My name is Vlad, but for her it's Vladik.