You exist in winter

Part 13: A talk

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I returned home, showered, and changed into a black short-sleeved shirt paired with white trousers. By the time I was ready, the clock had struck 5:30. Grabbing the jacket I'd hung by the door earlier, I stepped outside and locked the door behind me. The pub was nearby, so I decided to walk. The evening sun dipped lower, casting a golden-orange hue behind the school. Street lights flickered on, illuminating my path. The rustling leaves carried by the cool breeze brought a sense of serenity to the Moscow evening.

From a distance, I spotted the pub Jay had mentioned. Crossing at the pedestrian line, I waved when I saw Jay signalling me from across the road. He waved back as I stepped onto the cross walk, the green light guiding me to where he waited.

"You've got a knack for showing up on the dot, huh?" Jay teased with a smirk.

"Well, I'm not late, am I?" I replied with a grin.

Jay handed me the menu resting on the table. "Hurry up and order. I'm starving."

"Alright, I'm hungry too. How about you grab the drinks, and I'll pick the food?" I suggested.

With that, Jay headed to the bar, casually flirting with the staff, as was his usual routine. I shook my head and chuckled to myself, already accustomed to his antics.

"Classic Jay," I muttered under my breath.

I scanned the menu, deliberated for a moment, then called over the server to place our order. Afterward, I took a moment to use the restroom and decided to check in on Yulia. Dialing her number, I listened as the phone rang.

"Is that you, Dmitri?" Her cheerful voice greeted me.

I smiled. "Yeah, it's me."

"How's it going with Jay? I bet the food there is amazing!"

"You only ever care about the food, huh?" I teased.

She giggled. "So, why'd you call?"

I hesitated before responding. "No reason, really. Just wanted to check on you."

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm much better now!" she reassured me.

"But staying in the hospital all alone... doesn't it get lonely?" I asked, concerned.

She laughed lightly. "I'll be fine. You and Jay have been taking care of me these past few days, even though you just finished your exams. If you keep this up, I'll feel like a burden."

"You're not a burden, Yulia. If anything, you've helped me more than you realize," I said softly.

"Helped you? How?" she asked, curious.

I chuckled. "It's nothing. Rest up, alright? I'll visit you tomorrow."

"Alright. Enjoy your night out!" she replied.

Ending the call, I returned to the table, where Jay was already seated, engrossed in his phone.

"He's probably getting a bartender's number," I thought with a quiet laugh.

Sitting down, I opened a bottle of beer and asked, "Did you wait long?"

Jay didn't respond, too focused on his phone, so I snatched it out of his hands.

"Who are you texting so intently?" I teased.

He quickly reclaimed his phone. "Just someone I recently met. Nothing major," he replied with a grin.

I took a sip of beer and smirked. "I knew it."

Jay laughed. "Of course you did. We've known each other since forever."

He leaned back, adding, "We're both good-looking, but we've got completely different approaches with girls."

"Speak for yourself. I'm not exactly out there chasing anyone," I countered.

Jay chuckled. "Come on, Dmitri. You've had three relationships, and if you count the current one, that makes four."

"Okay, fine," I admitted sheepishly. "But I didn't pursue them."

"Exactly. That's what I mean. Your cold demeanor draws them in, so they make the first move. I, on the other hand, am the outgoing, confident type, so I take the lead."

"You sure know a lot about this stuff, huh?" I remarked, amused.

"It's intuition," Jay said, taking another sip. "We're alike in so many ways—looks, grades—but our personalities balance each other out. That's why we've stayed friends for so long."

I nodded. "Guess we fill in the gaps for each other. A good friendship takes effort from both sides."

Just then, the server arrived with our food, arranging it neatly on the table.

"Enjoy your meal!" she said with a smile.

"Thank you!" Jay and I replied in unison.

As we started eating, Jay looked up and asked, "By the way, what took you so long in the restroom? Stomach issues?"

I shook my head. "No, I just washed up and called Yulia."

"Really? What did you two talk about?"

"I just wanted to make sure she was okay. It felt odd to be out here while she's stuck in the hospital," I admitted.

Jay considered this and said, "Caring for someone is great, but don't overdo it. Everyone has their own life. If you smother her with concern, it might strain your relationship."

"Speaking from experience?" I asked, intrigued.

Jay nodded and took another swig. "Yeah. I've been through something similar. I've dated plenty of girls, but there was one I genuinely cared about, and that ended because I cared too much."

"Why?" I asked, surprised. "I thought that would make things better, not worse."

Jay laughed bitterly. "I thought so too, but love doesn't follow logic. Balance is key if you want it to last."

He recounted the story of his failed relationship, his voice tinged with regret. It resonated with me, making me think of Yulia's earlier words.

"Thanks, Jay. You don't know how much your advice helps," I said sincerely.

Jay smiled and glanced at the time. "It's late. Let's head back. You've got to visit Yulia tomorrow, right?"

I nodded, and we settled the bill before walking home, chatting until we reached the intersection where we parted ways.

The streetlights cast a dim glow on my path. Looking up at the starlit sky, I couldn't help but replay Jay's words in my mind.

I smiled softly and murmured, "I'm lucky to have a friend like you."

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