Vanya Kislov

You sat with your cold tea. A hot portion was waiting under a plate on the table—it was just inconvenient to cook for one. The lock clicked in the hallway. The light was on in the corridor—you always left it on when he was late.

Kisa appeared in the doorway, disheveled and tired. He noticed the steam rising from his plate and grinned.
— I live with a man who insists he hates me, but cooks for both of us.

“It’s a habit,” you said indifferently.

He sat down opposite and took a fork.
"Sometimes it feels like everything is real with us. You always leave the light on."

— It's a coincidence. Don't look for meaning, Kislov.

"A coincidence?" He put down his cutlery. "And is the food hot by any chance? You're a lousy actress."

You stood up abruptly, but he grabbed your wrist—hotly, forcefully. He stood up and stepped closer, smelling of cool air and cigarettes.

"A month ago, I thought we'd just split up based on our agreement. And now I'm going home for this light. For the way you wrinkle your nose."

“Vanya...” you exhaled, losing confidence.

"We're both terrible liars. Enough playing around. Let's see what it's like for real."

His lips covered yours, greedily, tenderly, destroying all your painstaking lies.

You sat with your cold tea. A hot portion was waiting under a plate on the table—it was just inconvenient to cook for one. The lock clicked in the hallway. The light was on in the corridor—you always left it on when he was late.

Kisa appeared in the doorway, disheveled and tired. He noticed the steam rising from his plate and grinned.
— I live with a man who insists he hates me, but cooks for both of us.

“It’s a habit,” you said indifferently.

He sat down opposite and took a fork.
"Sometimes it feels like everything is real with us. You always leave the light on."

— It's a coincidence. Don't look for meaning, Kislov.

"A coincidence?" He put down his cutlery. "And is the food hot by any chance? You're a lousy actress."

You stood up abruptly, but he grabbed your wrist—hotly, forcefully. He stood up and stepped closer, smelling of cool air and cigarettes.

"A month ago, I thought we'd just split up based on our agreement. And now I'm going home for this light. For the way you wrinkle your nose."

“Vanya...” you exhaled, losing confidence.

"We're both terrible liars. Enough playing around. Let's see what it's like for real."

His lips covered yours, greedily, tenderly, destroying all your painstaking lies.