I knock the door and Vasil comes out with an unemotional face, taking his phone from his pocket and saying "good morning" I reply and I ask him "will we go for a workout?" He makes a large pause staring pensively at me "Yes, just wait a minute" I turn my back and look at the clear sky with the see on the horizon, i turn my eyes on the door and draw my phone, five minutes have been passed and after a while and some turns Vasil comes out with a glooming face,
i look him in the eyes and he does the same "damm you seem like you have to sleep a week" he smirk and walks at the gate opening it, and slowly walking down, I follow him and As we walk I notice him looking pensively at his phone and then leaving it and looking forward.
I ask "is everything alright?" He says with a forced smile "yes, everything is good" we continue, trying to force a conversation, talking about exercises, how we expect the future or anything that can continue the uneven flow, we then reach the park and Vasil swiftly throws his bag and starts stretching, staring with a cold face.
I do some stretches and he stops and grabs the bar doing pull ups "we did back yesterday" he let himself down "you are right, I forgot"
He swiftly drops and do push ups and I drop in front of him "so why are you so moody today?" He look at me as he continue to do push up "I'm fine just a bit sleepy" after a short pause I say "if you say so" we continue talking in some short rests and as we go home I ask "man, what is bothering you?" "Nothing, I'm just a bit tired as I said "I sigh and look in front of me "well, then take a rest for today" "and lose one day staying inside the house?" "You have a point, but we will come again in the future" Vasil doesn't respond for some seconds "still I will not stay inside, and I hope you do the same, Joanna and the others are happy seeing you every day" my eyes freeze for a moment and Vasil let a faint laugh.
We get up and I look forward and with the edge of my eyes I see Vasil smirking "maybe Dane was right" i look at him with my eyebrows up and he shout "it was a joke" I laugh out loud like a crow "I know"
We reach the gate and we shake hands "see you late" and he close the door with force.
The afternoon come and we go to the roof, me and Joanna skt down while Vasil looks plaintive at the stars as he stands, clutching both of his palps, we both look at him and
Joanna speak but Vasil swiftly speak over her voice "what would you do if your father whom you had almost fought with in the past and left you and your mother now tries to contact you?"
Silence surrounds the roof and after many turning stares
Joanna says with an almost audible voice "what do you mean?" He says with an emotionless stare, with his eyes on the sky "He tries to get in touch with us, suddenly calling my mother ten or twenty time a day asking for me " I say with some hesitation "Maybe you can try, after all you have nothing to lose" Joanna adds "I agree with Lawrence, just be weary and don't forgive him so easily, he can just do this for his own gain"
"I know that, it's just, sudden to act like that" Joanna continues "especially from the way you told us he seems desperate, maybe for money or you"
He nods his head and his heavy breath is heard as he gets up and walks toward the stairs "let's go, we are already late" we silently descend and halfway Joanna says "so you" Vasil says swiftly "do you want to play cards when we meet the rest?" Joanna left with her mouth open for a heartbeat "yes, we can order some pizza" I stare
thoughtfully at the stairs as we descend and at the last steps I hear Joanna "Lawrence, do you have anything in mind?" "Maybe come to us for a movie night and order the pizza you said" "I don't think the others would agree, but let's try" we continue to the plaza, closing the distance with the others and Vasil smile brightly and shake their hands, I look at him and notice Joanna doing the same.
He turn his head at us and smile, looking us for a moment, Joanna turns her head forward and I look at him for a second more, looking at me intensely and then looking forward and after a while Vasil says "Lawrence the others agree, should we go to your apartment ?" "yes" and he nod his head and start walking.
We go inside the apartment and everyone takes a sit on the couch or on the floor, ordering pizza and Ellie leaves and comes with a bottle of vodka, looking at me like the others and says "you will not drink today" I faintly laugh "I haven't thought of drinking today or this month"
I bring small cups and Ellie fills them and as I sit Joanna lean her head on me, whispering "you should stop looking at Vasil so intensely, he is alright"
Dane and Ellie start looking at us and whispering and laughing and then Dane asks "what movie should we watch?" Jenny shout "annihilation" and everyone instantly agrees.
As the movie starts everyone shift their eyes on the screen and from time to time I look at Vasil, seeing his hand pushing at the couch or seeing him shaking his legs or hearing him scratching the couch.
The movie ends and everyone gets up, Dane says "I still don't understand the ending" Jenny hugs his back and says with a sarcastic tone "I will explain it to you don't worry" Dane laughs and everyone leaves except Joanna sleeping on the couch.
I look at her for a moment before I feel eyes looking at me, I look back and see Vasil staring at me "you know you smile right?" My smile fades and I say "I know" Vasil lower his voice "you are lucky to have a person like this"
I reply with a smile and a nod and We walk outside with him looking at the starry sky and the white houses on the mountain on the right
"are you still thinking about your father?" He smirk "no im just tired" "by the way if your father hasn't changed do not worry you don't need asholed in your life" my eyes wide open and after a short pause I say "sorry that came out so suddenly
Vasil lay on the bars "do not worry, I don't mind, besides he is an asshole" I let out a loud laugh and suddenly stop "but will you talk to him?" As he look with his eyes wide open at the stars he says "if I see he truly tries to fix himself then I may make a try, but j don't know if I'm ready to forgive him" he let another sigh "anything else that knocks your mind?" "No, I just feel like a weight has left my body
I say nothing and I stare at the stars, staying silent for enough time to get lost in thought
"Lawrence, when are you leaving?" " Almost in one week" Vasil turn his gaze to the view and I say with an energetic voice" until then let's have fun" Vasil smile as he keeps looking at the view and I do the same, hearing only the wind that strikes the branches of the trees, after a while he gives me his hand and look at me inside my eyes
and we both go in our apartments, seeing Joanna still curling on the couch, I shake her a bit and she half opens her eyes, I say with a calm slow tone "Joanna you are the only one left" she close her eyes and says "can I stay a bit more?" "No, your sister will be searching for you" "I told her I may stay out all night, so don't worry" I take a deep breath "so you intend to sleep here" she laugh as she place her hand under her head "yes" I sigh and try to pull her up from her clothes, she open her eyes and gets up and grab me, placing both arms on my head "please let me sleep here" I place my hands on her back "is something wrong?" She says with a weak voice "no I just want to stay a bit more with you, besides we have only one week left"
My eyes wide open and a smile swiftly curves in my mouth I fall on the bed, placing her head on my chest and her hand wrapped above my shoulder, and I tentatively place mine on her back.
She whispers "goodnight" and I reply with the same low and calm tone "goodnight"
