by Лена Попова·Translated by Novel AI Studio
Саша, burdened by a quiet desperation, volunteers to help Anton decorate his humble apartment for New Year's Eve, acutely aware of their meager budget. Every shared glance, every brush of hands while stringing lights, intensifies the unspoken longing he harbors. He's a stellar student, a hidden smoker, and desperately in love with Anton, a secret he guards fiercely, much like his affection for Anton's cat, Grechka. As the city outside sparkles with borrowed light, Sasha grapples with the fear that his silent devotion will never be enough. The festive night looms, promising either the miracle of reciprocated love or the painful confirmation of his greatest fear: unrequited affection, masked by the facade of friendship. This New Year's Eve could shatter or complete him.
