Pooh walked to a quieter spot, away from the noise and laughter of his comrades. There, he settled down by a stream that wound through the camp, a place hidden under the branches of the trees. Pavel watched him in silence, feeling his heart beat faster as he saw his comrade shed his mask, even if it was only for a moment. There, in the quiet and the darkness, Pooh seemed different—more relaxed, more vulnerable. He was finally letting go of the armor of perfection he wore for others. 

Pavel, hidden behind a tree, felt a strange closeness to Pooh at that moment. This stolen moment allowed him to finally see the other side, the one that no one saw, and he suddenly understood that he was not only drawn to the mystery, but to the person behind that mask. The curiosity he felt was slowly transforming into something deeper, more personal. 

 Maybe he was willing to take a risk, to show himself too, to break their respective barriers, but for now, he just watched. 

Hiding behind a tree, Pavel watched Pooh sitting by the stream. For the first time, he felt like he was seeing a more vulnerable and authentic version of his comrade, free of his facade of smile. It was then that he saw something he had never noticed before: a tattoo. An imposing dragon, drawn in striking detail, covered almost the entirety of Pooh's back. The light of the moon revealed the scales of the mythical creature, giving this tattoo an aura that was both fascinating and disturbing. 

Pavel felt his heart beat faster. It was as if each curve of the dragon was etched in his memory, each detail catching his gaze and making it impossible to detach himself. 

It was not just a decoration; this tattoo seemed to carry a deep meaning. He understood that behind the perfect image that Pooh projected was a complex past, much darker than he could have imagined. In that moment, he knew he was about to discover a side of Pooh that no one else knew, his body and scales seeming to undulate in the moonlight. Pavel couldn't believe his eyes.

This image contrasted so much with the perfect smile that Pooh displayed in front of the others. 

Pavel, captivated, lost himself in his thoughts, trying to understand what this tattoo represented for him. Was it a symbol of rebellion, of strength, or something deeper, linked to this dark side that he hid behind his mask? The more he thought about it, the more he felt caught in a spiral of intrigues and suppositions, He wanted to understand this dragon, to decipher its secret message, as if, through it, he could reach the very essence of Pooh. As if he were assembling the pieces of a puzzle that was not intended for him. 

But he was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not notice that Pooh had left the edge of the stream. It was only when he felt a presence at his side that he turned abruptly, his heart racing as he discovered Pooh standing right next to him, his gaze piercing and unwavering. 

A subtle, enigmatic smile played on Pooh’s face as he tilted his head slightly, his eyes staring at Pavel with disconcerting intensity. “Did you see anything interesting?” he murmured, his voice soft but defiant, as if inviting him to dare to ask questions, to go further. 

Pavel, disconcerted, felt a wave of heat rise to his cheeks, but he did not look away. For the first time, he found himself face to face with this mystery incarnate, this boy who, despite his appearance, hid a strength and a darkness that attracted him irresistibly. This moment, so close, without their usual masks, foreshadowed a change, a point of no return in their budding relationship. 

Pooh was so close that Pavel felt every breath on his skin, and this proximity made an unbearable tension rise in him, a heat that completely destabilized him. The shivers he tried to repress manifested themselves in spite of himself, his body betraying him in front of this enigmatic adversary. He tried to step back, to lean against the trunk of the tree to regain his balance, but this simple gesture made him stumble.

Before he hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around him. Their faces were only inches apart, and Pavel could feel Pooh’s breath against his skin, every second making the tension almost unbearable, steadying him with a sure and quick grip. Pavel looked up, finding himself face to face with Pooh, his face only inches from his own, and the proximity made his heart beat even faster. 

Pooh, a teasing smile on his lips, whispered in a soft, almost mocking voice, “For a gang leader, you’re really scatterbrained. I wonder how you managed to survive in this environment until today.” 

These words stung Pavel to the quick. Annoyed, he straightened up and replied in a sharp tone, his gaze fixed on Pooh’s, trying to hide his embarrassment, “I’m in this state because of you. And I’m not a gangster, unlike you.” » 

Pooh arched an eyebrow, amused by Pavel’s remark, but his gaze remained serious, piercing, as if he were scrutinizing every corner of his soul. “Unlike me, huh?” he replied in a low voice, leaving an ambiguity that troubled Pavel. He slowly released his hold, but without breaking eye contact, leaving Pavel still trapped in that gaze. 

This moment, suspended between defiance and vulnerability, brought them even closer. Pavel gradually realized that he could not resist this mysterious attraction, while Pooh, impassive in appearance, let out a glimmer of sincere interest, perhaps for the first time. The balance between them seemed about to tip. 

Pooh, still so close, slowly raised his hand and took Pavel’s chin between his fingers, forcing him to raise his face to meet his gaze. Pavel felt his breath catch as Pooh's eyes, dark and intense, seemed to probe every emotion that passed through him. In a soft, almost menacing voice, Pooh whispered, "I'm more than just a gangster."

Those words, spoken with calm assurance, intrigued Pavel beyond measure. As he tried to regain his composure, he asked in a low, slightly hesitant voice, “What do you mean?”

Pooh smiled faintly, a smile that revealed little but held a world of mystery. With calculated slowness, he brushed his thumb across Pavel’s lower lip, a gesture that sent a shiver down his spine. Pavel felt his heart beat faster, every fiber of his being captivated by the moment.

“You should be careful about digging too deep,” Pooh murmured, his gaze burning into Pavel’s. “You risk getting into something you can’t control.”

The silence that followed was charged with tension, a tension that was almost palpable, as if the slightest movement could cause it to burst. Pavel, torn between the desire to know more and the apprehension of what he might discover, remained frozen, his thoughts in turmoil. He realized that despite everything he thought he knew about Pooh, he had only seen a tiny part of what he was really hiding. 

Pooh, satisfied with having sown confusion in Pavel's mind, released his chin with calculated slowness, letting his fingers slide lightly along his skin before turning away. A discreet, almost victorious smile appeared on his lips as he walked away, without a backward glance, aware of the effect he had just caused. 

Pavel remained frozen, alone in the darkness, his heart still beating at a frantic pace, the sensation of Pooh's touch still present, burning, on his skin. That satisfied smile that Pooh had left him as a goodbye now haunted his mind. He understood that this was no accident; Pooh knew exactly what he was doing, playing with Pavel’s limits, daring him to go further. 

As Pooh walked away, Pavel felt a host of conflicting feelings invade him—fascination, frustration, and above all, an uncontrollable desire to break the barriers Pooh had erected between them. This simple moment, although fleeting, marked a turning point in their relationship, leaving Pavel with only one certainty: he was no longer in control of his emotions. 

The veil of certainties he had always worn was being torn, revealing a disturbing truth that he could no longer escape. This dangerous game was only just beginning. 

Since the school trip, Pavel and Pooh had continued their silent game, each encounter fueling the tension that was growing between them. They sought each other out without ever naming anything, defying each other with their gazes, barely brushing against each other, each feeling this unspoken attraction. But none were willing to break the barrier and admit what was happening.