Momoko's obsession - short stories

Befriended Fyodor (1)

Fyodor sat alone in a farther corner of the coffee shop, a near empty cup of tea sitting in front of him. He seemed to be reading a book- that or he was simply uninterested in your presence.

"That looks interesting," you said, taking a seat across from him and offering a friendly smile.

Fyodor looked up, his eyes slightly narrowing as he sized you up. "Oh? Do you happen to have an interest in Russian literature?"

"Not really, unless you're able to convince me," you replied, keeping your smile as you challenged him lightly.

He chuckled—a deep, resonant sound. "I'm afraid you'd be hard to convince, my dear friend. My recommendation is pretty straightforward—a man kills an old woman for some money... And well, let's just say it doesn't end well for him."

"Do you believe what they call karma?" you asked, leaning in a bit, your eyes bright with curiosity.

Fyodor paused, looking thoughtful. "Yes, I do. Everything comes back around, and people always pay for their actions, sooner or later."

"But doing good deeds aren't always rewarded," you pointed out, your smile returning, playful yet thoughtful. You watched him closely, curious if he caught the deeper meaning in your words.

He smirked, getting your point. "True. Good deeds often go unnoticed and underappreciated. But the truly good people don't do kind things for a reward—they do it because making others happy is reward enough, though they often don't get anything in return."

"So tell me..." you smiled mischievously, "are people who benefit from good deeds sinners?"

Fyodor's smirk grew. He seemed to enjoy where this was going. "In a way, yes. If they do something nice and expect to get something back, then they might be seen as sinners."

"Yah~ you're brighter than I thought~," you leaned back, clearly pleased with his response.

Fyodor chuckled softly, relaxing into the conversation. "You have an interesting way of talking. Mind if I ask your name?"

"You can just call me Momoko. I don't really use my real name anymore; it's been forgotten," you said casually, shrugging off any hint of mystery about your past.

"Forgotten, hm? That seems like a tough way to live. I'm Fyodor, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you, Momoko."

"Nice to meet you," you replied, your smile staying put. You brushed off his comment about your forgotten name. People see things differently, and it didn't really matter to you if he thought it was sad or not.

Fyodor took a leisurely sip of his tea, clearly enjoying the slow rhythm of the conversation. "Tell me, I'm curious—how old are you, Momoko? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"Asking a woman her age is quite bold of you, you know," you teased him, playing along with a smirk.

"Yes, yes, I know. I don't know what came over me, you'd think I'd be more cautious. However, I'm rather curious about you. Your mannerisms suggest you're a young adult, yet there's something quite unique about the way you speak."

"Oh, I'm not sure I follow. What do you mean by 'peculiar'? Do you think I'm a weirdo?" you asked, covering your mouth with your hand in mock shock.

Fyodor shook his head. "I didn't mean it as something negative, you're definitely not a weirdo. It's just that you speak in a very—how do I put it... formal way? I can't quite place it. It's actually quite refreshing; I don't usually meet many people who talk like you do."

"Haha, it's nothing really, I just tend to pick up the tone of whoever I'm talking to," you said, smiling again.

Fyodor chuckled softly. "A very interesting trait. I wish I could replicate the personalities of others so easily. The possibilities would be endless—but I'll refrain from prying further. Instead, let me ask something simpler."

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly with intrigue. "Tell me about yourself, if you don't mind."

"Oh my~ I feel like I'm at a job interview," you chuckled.

"Yes, it does seem that way, doesn't it?" Fyodor laughed, leaning back and enjoying his tea again. "I'm just eager to know you better. I've been on the lookout for a friend for quite some time. I'm beginning to get desperate."

"Oh~? A friend, you say?" you replied as the server approached to serve you a cup of black tea. You smiled and nodded at the server in thanks. "What qualifications do I need to fill such a role?"

Fyodor smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You don't really need qualifications to be my friend—that's what makes the position so straightforward. However, it does come with some serious requirements. Would you like to hear them?"

"Oh~ I'm curious," you responded, leaning in.

"Firstly, you must tolerate my sarcasm. Secondly, you have to put up with my cold and sometimes arrogant nature, which can come off as rude. And lastly, you'll need to be very good at keeping secrets and keeping quiet."

Fyodor finished, leaning back and chuckling to himself, clearly amused by his own list.

"And what do I get in return for following these rules?" You kept your cool, the smile never leaving your face.

Fyodor gave a slight shrug. "You get to be my friend. But if that's not enough, I can also offer my protection and help whenever you need it. I'm pretty good in a tight spot."

He smiled, but his eyes narrowed a bit. "Is that not enough?"

You slowly sipped your tea, looking out the coffee shop window. "Mmm...you know, I think I can handle myself pretty well too~"

Fyodor smirked. "I see... You sound confident. I like that in a person. But just how tough are you? For all I know, you might not be able to handle yourself if trouble comes knocking."

"Oh, because I'm confident there would be people willing to lay down their lives for me," you said, the same smile now twisting slightly.

Fyodor laughed. "That's quite a statement. Makes you sound very important. So, you've got my attention... Who would die for you?"

A quick flash of red swept through your eyes. "I'm afraid I wouldn't remember their names since they're not that important to me."

Fyodor caught the change in your expression and tone. He felt a slight shiver as he leaned back, taking a sip from his drink.

"What do you mean, you wouldn't remember their names?"

"Dead soldiers are usually mentioned in books by numbers, not names. Makes sense, right?" Your eyes glinted in the dim light.

Fyodor looked at you for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes, I get it. But you're saying you've had people killed for you, right? That's pretty dark."

"I call them *soldiers*, but they're just people tricked by their own beliefs," you said, a grin of satisfaction spreading across your face.

Fyodor studied you, his eyes narrowing. "You're quite an intimidating woman, aren't you?"

"Does that mean I meet your friend criteria without any special requirements?"

Fyodor burst out laughing. "Absolutely. You're more than capable of being my friend... But I do worry about those around us. Let's hope they can stay out of trouble."

"You're so kind~" you chuckled.

Fyodor kept laughing for a few more seconds before adding, "You're scarily optimistic, you know that?"

"I hope you like that too."

Fyodor smirked, leaning back and sipping his tea again. "Indeed, I do... You'd definitely fit in with my friends. I've never met anyone as unique as you; it's refreshing."...