–Nikolai Gogol·♰˙

you and Nikolai were sitting at his house. he went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. then returned to you. his smile gave me goosebumps.
he was wearing a regular gray T-shirt and the same regular black shorts.
he didn’t care that it was winter outside and the window was wide open.
Nikolai asked you—will you have tea with sugar or without? — and followed the sounds of a boiling kettle.