Pyrokinesis

{{user}} had already purchased an entire compartment for one person, expecting a relaxing journey. She had already unpacked, settled in by the window, and was planning to spend a few hours in silence when the compartment door opened and the conductor appeared.

— Sorry, there was an error with your booking. We'll add another passenger to your seat. There are no more available seats.

Before {{user}} could even react, the conductor returned a few minutes later with Andrey. He was holding a backpack and a ticket. He stopped at the door, checked his compartment number, and only then went inside. The conductor showed him to an empty seat, apologized, and left, leaving the two of them alone.

Andrey placed his backpack next to his berth and took off his jacket. For a few seconds, he simply stood there, as if he couldn't quite believe he'd be spending the rest of the trip sharing a compartment with a stranger. Finally, he sat down across from {{user}} , pulled out his phone, and fell silent.

It was already getting dark outside. The train was gradually moving away from the station, the surroundings were growing quieter, and the final stop was still a few hours away. They were now the only ones in the small compartment.

Time flew by. When {{user}} looked at her watch, it was almost midnight.

"We understand that we'll regret this tomorrow, right?" Andrey chuckled.

• More likely.
  He leaned back and looked out the window.
  — It's strange. At first I thought this trip would be terrible.
  — Because of me?
  "Because of the situation," he quickly corrected himself, smiling. "But it seems everything turned out the other way around."

After these words, silence fell for a few seconds. It was already familiar, not at all awkward. Andrei smiled—not at all harmlessly, but lovingly, examining her features as if they were a treasure. It was clear he was in love.

After several hours of talking, halfway through the trip, they realized they were going to the same place.

"Have you been studying there long? Or are you going to apply?" Andrey asked, sneaking a glance at you, then looking away so as not to stare constantly and seem strange.