She only made things worse. I felt I had completely forgotten my pride when instead of celebrating Halloween with friends and my brother, I put on the first thing that came to hand and headed to the nearest subway station. The speed of the train made me feel dizzy for the first time, but stepping out into the fresh air, I felt relief again.
In the center, there was a crowd of people in costumes. I navigated through the crowd, not daring to stop and look at this spectacle. I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. I found the street I needed and pulled out my phone; there were still plenty of people around, and I stood out greatly against their backdrop. In an effort to get through the crowd, I felt my pulse quickening: my nerves were starting to fray, and I dug my nails into the skin of my palms to focus on something other than these masses of people around. I pulled out my phone and found the necessary number. Hearing the rings, I decided that I was indeed foolish and that it wouldn’t lead to anything good. I searched for his gaze; maybe he was celebrating somewhere and didn’t even remember my existence.
— Hello, — I said into the receiver, quickly, afraid to reveal my fear.
— Look up, — Leo replied, as if deliberately speaking slowly, his voice completely the opposite of mine.
I looked up, as he said, and I saw him. In the window. He held the curtain with one hand and was looking at me. All this time, while I was searching for him, he had been watching me.
— Can I come up to you? I need to talk to you, — I asked hopefully. The crowd around me no longer drew my attention; now I was worried about what I was about to do. For a moment, I even thought if I might stab my palm— I was squeezing my fists so tightly.
— Yes, — his voice felt like cold water dousing me, and again my head spun.
I don’t remember how I entered the building and took the elevator. Already standing in front of the door, I thought for a moment about the consequences of my actions, but in a moment, I inhaled and reached for the doorbell. Only, I didn’t have to press it. Before I could even touch the button, the door opened. He stood on the threshold.
— Hi, — I could only say. Leo leaned against the door with one hand, showing indifference in every way: a slight movement of fingers, abruptly raised and immediately lowered eyebrows, and gaze. I looked directly into his eyes, which flitted across my face searching for something. Previously, they seemed to me like murky lakes or a cloudy sky, but this time I saw two cold icebergs, icebergs against which my Titanic crashed time and again.
— You already greeted me, — De Ville noted.
— Yes, right, — why did I come here. — I came to talk to you, — I added.
— I’m listening.
“Don’t pretend it isn’t your fault.”
— Can I come in? — It was, of course, uncomfortable to stand here, but I was still most frightened by the prospect of fainting from nerves. I just had to sit down.
— Come in, — Leo motioned with his hand, inviting me into the apartment. I glided past him. — Sit, — he pointed to the couch, and I sat down. I perched at the very edge while the guy sat across from me in an armchair. The blonde leaned back and looked relaxed, though tired.
— So what did you want to talk about?
— You know, I… — I started, but I was interrupted.
— Do we have anything to talk about, Adelina? — De Ville asked. — I tried to be at least your friend, but you pushed me away, — he leaned closer when he said this and then resumed his indifferent posture.
“Don’t pretend it isn’t your fault.”
— Leo… — I continued, but he interrupted me again.
— Leonardo, — he spoke as my boss, and clearly no longer as my friend or even an acquaintance.
— No way! — I exploded. The blonde raised his eyebrows.
— What?
— Don’t act like this, — I explained.
— Like what? — Is he mocking me?
— Coldly, — the guy wanted to say something again, but I didn’t let him. I came here to resolve this issue, so I would do just that, whether he liked it or not. — No, now you’re going to listen to me and, I swear by Merlin, if you interrupt me – it won’t end well.
Inhale, exhale, everything is okay.
— Leo, I was wrong; I admit that. I should have listened to you, but I didn’t. I’m sorry for that, — well, okay, the first part is there. — But I also don’t understand why you left, why you just started to avoid me? I know that this is not about you.
— No, you don’t know, — suddenly De Ville protested, — no, you don’t know me. Just as I don’t know you, it turns out.
— What do you mean?
— I didn’t even know you had someone and I looked like a fool, — I opened my mouth in shock at such a statement, so he had to explain.
— I meant the brunette from your Instagram.
— You mean my brother? — Leo sat up straight and stared at me.
— Brother? — I let out a breath; his voice became like it used to be. Still surprised, I shook my head. The blonde covered his face with his hands. — Of course, brother.
— That’s...