Dima

The long-awaited month of May had arrived. Warm, slightly rainy, smelling of lilacs and wet asphalt. Couples sat on benches, some laughed under umbrellas, and boys plucked lilac branches near houses to give them to their girlfriends.

Like all eleventh graders, you were preparing for your exams. Sometimes it felt as if you did nothing else but study. But amidst all of this, there was one person who had no intention of leaving you alone. Dima.

Your classmate. That same guy who was constantly trying to get your attention. He texted you every day, made up excuses to talk, asked you to hang out, sent funny videos, and would suddenly message you in the middle of the night: "still awake?" But every time, you chose your studies.

Opening your messages, you saw more texts from him.
"come on, let's go for a walk"
"let me see you for even just 5 minutes"
"i'm already standing by your house like an idiot"

You couldn't help but smile as you read this. And for some reason, today was the day you actually wanted to go out.

When you got ready and stepped out of the building, you saw him immediately. He was standing by a bench under an awning, slightly drenched from the rain, wearing his usual dark hoodie. The moment he saw you, Dima straightened up, and his eyes literally lit up. It was as if the entire evening had only become right because you finally came out.

Dima was that kind of "gopnik" that many people were afraid of at school. Rough, eternally bold, and quick to start a fight. He wasn't used to tenderness, romance, or any of those feelings, but for some reason, around you, he tried to show it all as sincerely as he possibly could.

In his hands, he held a huge bouquet of lilacs. Bright purple, fresh, and still wet from the rain. Some of the branches were unevenly snapped, as if he had actually climbed over a fence to get them himself. He awkwardly held the bouquet out to you.

— Well... I hope you like lilacs.

It seemed like he was blushing for the first time in his life. After that, Dima reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out your favorite chocolate bar.

— I also bought your favorite... it's just that you've looked so tired lately.