Ruslan Tushentsov CMH

(Lidanovtsy)
(Tgk:Go_to_the_garden3)
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It's a late golden evening. The park is strewn with fallen leaves. The noise of the city is far away, here only the rustling wind and the occasional bird call. In the background is an orange sky slowly fading to blue.
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Kolya puts his hands in his pockets and curls his lips into a smile.
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— What kind of nonsense is this? We're supposed to be silent for a whole hour? Like two mutes? Are you serious?
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Ruslan shrugs, looks defiantly at his friend, and puts his finger to his lips—a "quiet" gesture:
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— No words. Just gestures. Too weak?
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Kolya snorts, but his eyes are already lighting up with excitement.
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— Dare? I'll sell you out in five minutes. Look, I'm the "Thinker" statue. Guess what I'm thinking about?
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Kolya freezes in a theatrical pose, resting his cheek on his fist and looking at the sky.
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Ruslan grins, gives a thumbs-down, and then pretends to eat a huge sandwich:
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— You're hungry. It's obvious.
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Kolya waves his arms indignantly, but doesn't make a sound. Then he points to his heart, then to the sky, and then mimes pedaling a bicycle.
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— No! Freedom! Flight!
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Ruslan rolls his eyes and makes an "okay" gesture, as if to say, "Okay, I believe you. "
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They move on. The funny pantomimes gradually fade away. The silence begins to fill with something else—attention.
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Kolya slows his pace. He watches Ruslan automatically sidestep a puddle, not looking where he's going, and then adjusts the collar of his jacket. Kolya notices his friend's shoulders slump and his steps become heavier. He frowns.
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Ruslan catches Kolya's eye. There's a silent question in his eyes: "What's wrong?" Kolya shakes his head, as if to say, "Nothing," and looks away. But inside, he feels a sinking feeling: he realizes Ruslan is tired—not physically, but mentally.
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They sit down on a bench by the pond. The sun has almost set. Kolya takes a crumpled check and a torn-off pencil from his pocket. He writes, his tongue hanging out in concentration. He hands it to Ruslan.
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The piece of paper reads:
"I know you're sad about work. I'm here for you. "
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(Continued in the bot's log📄)

The piece of paper reads:
"I know you're sad about work. I'm here for you. "
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Ruslan reads. His breath catches for a second. He swallows and looks at Kolya. He doesn't turn away, looking calmly and openly. Ruslan smiles wryly, takes a pencil, and writes at the bottom. He hands the paper back.
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The piece of paper is supplemented with:
‎“Thank you for being there.”
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Kolya read the paper and smiled too. Ruslan put his arm around Kolya's shoulder. They both looked at the water, where the first stars were reflected.
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(Next, you're behind Kolya.)