Unchanged

Prologue

"I've feelings for you."

"Are you pulling my leg here?"

"no I'm being dead serious here."

As the snow continued to pour down heavily at the October revolution park in Rostov-On-Don, Vladmir looked at Melania's flustered face with eager eyes. His handsome blue eyes seemed to search hers, looking and waiting patiently for an answer. The weather had not been kind to them, but Vladmir didn't care. He was too busy reminiscing his high school days with Melania and how the pair grew fond of each other with every passing day. Now ready to embark on life's tiresome journey, he didn't want anyone else to be beside him throughout the journey than his very best friend, his first and true love.

"I-I don't know what to say, Vlad."

"Well when you get right down to it its just a yes or no." He chuckles.

"What if I reject you?" Melania looked at Vladmir with eyes that told a thousand stories.

"It's entirely your choice. I'll understand. But I don't wanna keep this inside me because it has been chopping away at the bit and I just couldn't stay without telling you. I know that it will affect our friendship in ways more than one, but I'm willing to go there and do whatever needs to be done to make this work." Putin paused.

"If you would have me, of course."

The silence was deafening and the tension pulpable. Emotions clouded both of their minds, unclear of what to say or do. They love each other that is of no doubt, yet the desire to add a new chapter to a very good friendship seemed almost inexplicably preposterous.

"I can't, Vladmir."

"See, there we go. That wasn't so hard right?"

The world came crumbling down in front of Vladmir, his movement froze. He looked at Melania with a smile, yet one could clearly tell that It was a forced one. The little color that was in his face left him. He looked like he was about to collapse. He felt his stomach churn and flip inside him, his mind racing to come up with something to say to her reply. The heavily pouring snow didn't seem to bother him at the very least. Its funny how simple words can have an impact on someone's entire course of life. Vladmir tried his best not to cry, not to break down in front of his friend who he loves more than life itself, not to hug her and tell her that his whole life has shattered down, not to show that his knees were giving way to a bottomless pit of rejection and sadness.

"well, may I ask why, Melania?"

"I should have told you this sooner.", Melania Said.

"I got an opportunity for a modelling job at Slovenia. My father had some friends who worked at an independent magazine and he put a good word for me and I got the job. Vlad, I have to move away. I can't stay here. Wait, please hear me out. I love you so much. Its not that I don't that I had to say no. Vlad, long distance relationships are hard, and who knows how long I have to stay at Slovenia for my job?"

"I can come with you." Vladmir said with no hope in his statement at all. He fully knew that he didn't have the financial means to go to Slovenia with her, even if he wanted to with all his heart. He could barely meet ends even now from waiting tables and fixing automotives. He cursed himself silently.

"You know you can't, Vlad." Melania tears up, keeping in mind the probability that this may be the last time she ever sees him in a long time. If fate were to wash them at the same shore, so be it. She wanted to be with Vlad. She wanted to spend every day sitting next to him, every moment in his presence. But alas, the hands of fate aren't in the control of Melania nor Vlad.

"Alright then. Good luck on your job. I'll root for you." Vlad tried to sound as strong and bold as he can, but a boy can only hide his emotions for so long. Warm tears rolled down his chiseled face, his slender and thin hands trembling, not from the cold, but the thoughts of his life without Melania in it. His vision became blurry with tears, his jaw trembling.

"Vlad, I-" her words were cut short as Vlad walked towards her and embraced her in a tight hug. The world stopped. Time stopped. It was just the two of them, reveling in the moment. It was something out of a movie. The snow had decreased to a light drizzle, and the rides at the park stood still as they too were grieving with them. Tears flowed down Melania's eyes as she grasped him tighter, never wanting to let go, never wanting to part from his grateful grasp. Sobs escaped her throat, and Vlad let go and looked at her eyes. They seem to tell so much. He wanted to drown in those hazel eyes.

"One day, we will meet. And when that day comes, I'll be ready for you. I'll wait for you. I'll remember you. Always."

"I love you, Mel."

"And I you, Vlad."

The atmosphere was chilly and cold. The day was cold and dark and dreary. The pair had to part ways. Call it what you will; Fate, destiny, love. Perhaps it was not meant to be. Perhaps greater things awaited them in the future. As Vlad looked at Melania exit the park in quick strides, he looked at her figure vanishing into the snowy background, wondering if he can ever be the same, if his life would ever go back to normal. He looked at the heavens as the snow poured down gently in Rostov-on-Don, the weather taking pity for him as he slowly walks out from the park.

+hi yall hope u liked it. also feel free to recommend me ideas and stuff or areas i should improve on. any constructive feedback is greatly appreciated. thank you :)+