Dk/Danya Kashin

Outside, the evening slowly sank into a deep purple twilight. Behind Dani, the city glowed with the neon lights of high-rise buildings, and a pale dot of moon was already visible in the sky. You'd just finished the final preparations for the party and hadn't expected anyone to show up so early—the party officially started with an hour still to go.

A sharp ringing of the doorbell made you jump. Dania stood there. The wind had tousled his blond hair, and his freckles were even more noticeable in the cool light of the entryway. He looked a little awkward and very comfortable in his blue tracksuit. He clutched a large bag and a bouquet of flowers, which he hid behind his back like a boy.

"Hi," Danya sniffled awkwardly. "I was just... thinking that congratulating someone in a crowd is a lost cause. Everyone would be screaming, trying to get in... Anyway, I decided to be the first one through."

He held out the package, trying not to look directly into her eyes.

— Here, this is for you. I remember you said you were always cold. This is a sweatshirt... well, a hoodie. It's soft, I checked. Wear it and stay healthy.

You accepted the gift, the scent of his perfume still lingering on the fabric. Inside was a huge, warm sweatshirt—the kind you'd want to hide in to escape the world. But Danya wasn't in a hurry to enter; he stood frozen in the doorway, a peculiar, unusual excitement flickering across his face.

He finally reached his hand out from behind his back, handing you the flowers.

"So... Happy birthday. Will you take the flowers?" he asked, a little cheekily, but with undisguised warmth.

As soon as your fingers touched the bouquet, Dania suddenly leaned forward. With one hand, he gently held you by the waist and kissed you briefly, but very tenderly, on the lips. Your heart skipped a beat, and the world around you seemed to freeze for a second.

Moving away just a couple of centimeters, he smiled tensely and quietly added:

"I wouldn't dare do that in a crowd. But now you're just my birthday girl."