теплый (Warm) горячий (Hot). Красивый (Beautiful).

лето. (Summer).

The main words that one would hear amongst the street of the busy community during this time of year. The town hums with life - crowded markets, shouts of children playing down the street, the smell of baked goods and diner food. It's Chaotic, yes, but still home.

Well. Sort of.

Eunwoo isn't exactly a native here in Russia. His parents moved from Korea before he was born - for business, they said . Not that he particularly minds. Russia is quite beautiful, in its own cold and unpredictable way.

"Eunwoo!"

That, and he wouldn't have met one of his best friends.

"Dude, why're you sitting here alone?"

"Hm?" Eunwoo turns from his book to see Maksim grinning at him. "Is that an issue?"

"I mean, no, but you look depressed as fuck."

Eunwoo snorts. "Gee, thanks Maksim." He stands, stretching his arms up towards the sky, then back down to his feet. "Alright!" He swings his backpack over his shoulder.

"Yeah! You excited?" Maksim asks, grinning widely, a bounce in his step. "This movie marathon is going to be the best fucking one yet. My mama is making us some killer snacks back at the house."

"Is she really? That's nice of her."

Eunwoo's voice is soft- smooth like velvet. It almost sounded like a songbird, one that could put you in a trance. Unlike Maksim's.

His friend instead sports a much harsher voice. One that is laced with a thick accent, a trait his whole family has. But, it curls into something that gives you goosebumps. Sometimes, when Maksim whispers, it almost makes Eunwoo flush... Not that he's attracted to his friend, because he's not, but he has a thing with low voices... and Maksim has an unfairly deep one for their age.

They'd been friends ever since they were young. They had met back in kindergarden, Eunwoo remembers the memory quite clearly. It was the first day, and he had been quite nervous being in such a large room with so many kids - overwhelmed. The room had smelt of glue and the sound of scissors slicing through construction paper along with children laughing filled the area. He was too afraid to join the other kids, hiding and making himself as unseen as possible. That first day, he sat alone at one of the small circular tables during craft time, staring at the empty chair across from him. Maksim had walked right up to him and acted as if they had known each other for years. — until Maksim bounded over, paint on his hands and a grin too wide for such a small face.

"Доброе утро! Можем ли мы быть друзьями? Ты прекрасна, как этот цветок."

Eunwoo blinks, cheeks dusting a light pink out of embarrassment as he stares at the other boy with a blank expression. "I-I'm sorry I don't know what you're saying-"

"Oh! English!" The other boy gasps. "I know English! Let's be friends!"

From that point forward, it was history. They've been unbreakable ever since.

"Mama! We're home!" Maksim shouts as the two of them walk through the large oakwood door. It's almost comically big, the way it looms over the whole entrance, it's white oak is almost a bit too white, the air inside a bit too clean - hell, even the walls looked expensive.

It was no lie that the Volkov's had money. And a lot of it at that - old money, probably. Eunwoo never asks, it'd be rude.

"Ah! Мой сын (My son!)! Welcome home, honey. You too Eunwoo!"

Mrs. Volkov is a nice woman. She's always been soft spoken, sometimes being as quiet as a whisper with a hint of jasmine and matte pearl jewelry, Mrs. Volkov is the image of perfection.

"Thank you for having me again Mrs. Volkov!" Eunwoo beams as he slips off his shoes. Something catches his eye - a glimmer at her neck. "Is that a new necklace? It looks lovely-"

"Ughhh would you stop trying to score bread-points with my mama?!" Maksim groans, grabbing Eunwoo by the arm. "We've got movies to binge!"

Mrs. Volkov has always said that Maksim and Eunwoo were like a perfect pair. Sort of like the whole duo things that Americans like to use: Peanut butter and Jelly, Yin and Yang... And she wasn't particularly wrong either.

Maksim collapses onto his bed, the mattress bouncing beneath his weight. "Alright let's get this thing started."

Eunwoo gently places his backpack on the soft lush carpet. Spotless, not a speck of dust, as usual. "I brought some chocolate." He slowly walks over and plops down next to his friend, the mattress hardly dipping from his weight.

"Chocolate?" Maksim perks up immediately at the word. "Oh! My favorite! You're the best." He flicks on the tv.

They had only gotten through around 30 minutes of the first movie before Eunwoo hears a light creak of the door, causing him to turn and look towards it. A pair of brown eyes stare through the small crack.

"Eh? Oh jesus christ." Maksim pauses the movie, eyes hardening. "Rian! Убирайся из моей комнаты! (Get out of my room!)"

"Oh, stop." Eunwoo says, lightly swatting Maksim's arm. He gestures for the younger boy to come in. "Wanna watch with us?"

The door instantly swings open and in comes bounding a shorter boy- Dark crules, round cheeks, a little breathless. He's considerably larger than Maksim, chubby, yes, but cute.

"Yes-" his voice is higher pitch, due to his age. He is only 10, maybe 11. Eunwoo isn't sure.

"Eunwoo seriously?" Maksim mutters, clearly against it. "You're here to hang out with me, not babysit."

"And we are hanging out. Rian won't any trouble, right?" Eunwoo turns to the boy, who nods eagerly.

"But-" Maksim tries to interject but closes his mouth and turns back to the tv, jaw gritting.

Eunwoo slides a bit to the left to allow room for Rian, who gladly clambers up onto the bed after struggling for a moment.

"Maybe if you weren't so fat, you'd be able to get on faster." Maksim mutters, to which Eunwoo shoots a glare at him.

"Maksim, stop." Eunwoo's tone sharpens. "Grow up a little, would you?"

Maksim scoffs, turning to look at his brother who just grins before he loses it. "Alright that's it. I'm telling mama." He throws himself off the bed and stomps out of the room, despite Eunwoo shouting after him.

Eunwoo sighs. "what the hell."

"Will you be staying the night?" Rian asks suddenly, staring at Eunwoo expectantly. "You can sleep in my room!"

Eunwoo laughs at that, ruffling the his hair. He can't help it. Rian is just so cute. "Probably not. My parents want me home tonight. I spend too much time here- I think they get a bit jealous!"

Rian just stares at him with a frown, looking like a puppy. His chubby cheeks only making his pout go deeper.

"I get jealous too..." Rian mumbes, voice quiet like a little mouse, and Eunwoo could hardly hear him.

"Eh? Why?"

"B-Because... you always come over and spend time with starshiy brat (older brother), instead of me." Rian murmurs, avoiding eye contact as he feels a bit shy admitting his feelings.

Eunwoo blinks before gently smiling. "Well.. Okay, how about next time I come over, I'll hang out with just you. How does that sound?"

Rian's eyes light up and he's jumping up and down. "Yes! I want that!"

Eunwoo laughs lightly before he turns to look at the time on his phone. It's getting later. If they want to finish this movie, they have to get on it now. "You stay here, I'll be right back!" He pinches the other's cheek before clambering off the bed and walking out of the room.

Is he surprised that Maksim is telling on his brother? No. They are still kids after all... even at the ripe age of 16, boys are incredibly immature. Eunwoo has the balls to admit that much.

The Volkov house feels different at night. Mrs. Volkov likes to keep most the lights off unless you're actively needing them on, so the hallways are often dark, shadows creeping endlessly. This house is a maze as it is, being so large.

Finally, he makes his way down the stairs but stops at the last few steps and leans against the wall, listening to the conversation from the kitchen. It's Maksim and Mrs. Volkov, arguing in Russian.

He can't understand a word. He never can.

Being surrounded by Russians all the time, you'd would think that he'd have learned it by now... but he just hasn't. His school teaches mostly in English, and his parents speak Korean at home.

He sighs quietly. He hates it when they argue - especially because it's always about him being there.

"Eunwoo."

The said boy flinches, not even realizing that the conversation was finished. "Ah, yes?"

"You need to stop eavesdropping." Maksim grumbles, but with no real bite to it.

"I can't help it. You were taking too long."

"Why even bother? You can't understand us anyway." Maksim throws his arm around him and drags him towards the stairs, their steps aligning as they take the usual path towards Makism's room. But, Eunwoo's auto pilot shuts off when Maksim suddenly yanks him into one of the many empty rooms on that floor.

"Maksim?"

"Eunwoo. I want to talk to you about something." His tone had suddenly become serious, arms crossed, posture straight - something that Eunwoo hardly ever sees. It's making him nervous.

"Uhm... alright, what is it?" Eunwoo rubs his arm, shoulders hunched in just a bit because of being so nervous. He doesn't like confrontation - especially the negative kind. It's a habit, one that he's carried for years. Being a people pleaser is one thing, but it makes him bend in every direction, reshaping himself around other people's moods.

Maksim catches onto it instantly. "I'm not mad at you, so don't look so miserable." Those words make Eunwoo relax a little, but only a little.

"Then what is it-"

"I know you're a kind person, Eunwoo." Maksim cuts him off, voice low. "But you don't always have to be that nice to Rian."

That catches Eunwoo off guard, causing him to just stand there in shock, eyes blinking rapidly. "Are we seriously having this conversation again, Macksim?" He frowns. "What's the big deal? He's just a kid."

"It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me." Maksim sighs, raking a hand through his hair. "He's always getting in the way when you're here - interrupting us - and you just always let him." His tone is a bit harsher, that accent getting thicker as he grows more upset. "Is it a crime to want to be alone with my best friend?" The last part is quieter though, almost hurt.

Eunwoo looks away, guilt tugging at him. He's always felt bad for Rian- homeschooled, isolated, struggling with his... conditions. It makes sense to want to be kind, he just never thought that he was dismissing Makism's feelings, too.

"I'm sorry, Maksim." Eunwoo finally says, head ducked in shame. "I just... feel bad. Rian only has us, and-"

"I know." Maksim slumps down onto a velvet couch, body hunched over. "It just... irks me seeing him so obsessed with you." His tone isn't malicious, but honest. "Whenever you're not here, he only ever talks about you, and it's weird, dude."

Eunwoo scratches his neck. "Maybe a little." He sits beside his friend. "But I don't mind. He's harmless."

"No, he's not." Maksim replies back instantly, within a second. "He scares mama." He murmurs, fingers gently fidgeting with some hair tie he had around his wrist. "And when he has one of his episodes... he scares me."

Eunwoo sits beside him, quiet. Maksim's words hang heavy between them, the air has thickened.

He knows that Macksim means well. He knows he's trying to protect both his family and his friend. Still, something in his chest tightens at the thought of Rian being described that way scary, unstable.

Despite all their years of friendship, Eunwoo's never actually seen one of Rian's episodes. Maksim always told him it's because Rian takes comfort in him being around.

"My point is," Maksim finishes, "Don't be so nice to him anymore. Don't invite him to hang out with us. Let him figure things out on his own. He needs his own friends - not to steal his brother's."

Eunwoo slowly nods, but the words sit heavy in his stomach. He knows he'll listen, he always does... but he can't help but picture the expression on Rian's face, the way his eyes light up everytime he sees him. It makes something deep inside him twist with guilt.

"Yeah," He says quietly. "Alright."

It's easier to agree than to argue.

"Alright then." Maksim sighs in relief before lightly laughing, back to his usual self. "Let's get back to it, yeah?"

When they step into the hall, Eunwoo glances toward the end. A door is cracked open. A small shadow slips away - quiet, unnoticed.

Rian heard every word.