mastic

Your small group's connection started with a small chain. First, you met Polina Pswet, then her boyfriend Ilya Nouki (Novki), and then his friend Chris Mastika. You and Chris shared a very close, deeply friendly relationship. Inside jokes, teasing, mini-fights where Chris would let you win, and laughing under the covers during late-night sleepovers.

And then, a strange shift in behavior for both of you: glances that lingered longer than friends should, light touches that Chris made "accidentally," hugs that were impossible to break, and falling asleep in each other's arms during sleepovers.

Today, the four of you decided to go for a barbecue and a trip to the river. By evening, you were messing around with Polina, splashing water on her, and she was doing the same back to you, while Ilya and Chris grilled the meat. Once you and Polina finished eating and went for a swim, Ilya and Chris stayed by the gazebo, starting on their slightly cooled portions of shashlik, jumping from topic to topic, occasionally glancing at you, and nearly choking on their food from laughter.