The phone rang and vibrated slightly on the table. It was 6:30 AM. time to wake up.
Charlotte's hand reached out from under the blanket, sluggishly, to press the stop button. The bedroom light was still on from the night before, but her bag was ready beside the outfit she had chosen before falling asleep.
"Ah…"
She sighed deeply, then shifted her hips and slowly sat up, as usual like an earthworm emerging from the soil. The blanket still clung to her body, and her thick strands of hair covered her face before slipping down to her shoulders as she sat.
She blinked, adjusting to the harsh light, then pulled the blanket off her legs and stood up.
She straightened her pajamas as she walked slowly toward the bathroom. There, warm water poured over her body, gently awakening her nerves. She brushed her teeth, dried her hair with care, then applied a light touch of makeup.
Today, she had to look elegant. she was meeting Lyudmila in the car, whether she liked it or not.
She stood in front of the mirror, toned down her lipstick, then stepped back and cast a final look at her reflection not out of admiration, but seeking reassurance.
She stepped out of the bathroom, her silk robe slipping off one shoulder. She caught it just in time as she walked toward the bedroom, her expression relaxed and languid. She didn't turn off the lights the sun hadn't risen yet.
She put on the outfit she had prepared: black shorts, a white short-sleeved shirt, and long socks that reached above the knee, adding a soft touch of elegance to her appearance.
She sat before the mirror and calmly brushed her hair, parting it into two braids from top to bottom, tying the ends with slim ribbons. She looked radiant in a modern, relaxed style perfect for a camping trip, though she planned to change later for Lyudmila's birthday party.
She rose from the chair and walked to the nightstand. Picking up her phone, she tapped the screen.
6:57 AM.
She wasn't surprised. It had taken her exactly 27 minutes to get ready. She swiped and opened her chat with Leonid.
Her dark eyes were dim, a faint sadness glinting in them as she read what she had written the night before:
[Charlotte: Can we talk for a bit…?]
[Charlotte: I think I was wrong, so I want to talk to you.]
[Charlotte: Are you ignoring me? Okay… sorry for bothering you.]
Despite her three messages, Leonid hadn't replied yet not even a glance.
She furrowed her brows and whispered,
"What about talking to him now?"
Then shook her head.
"No… not enough time."
She glanced at the clock. 6:58. Two minutes weren't enough to explain something this complicated.
She locked her phone and slipped it into her shorts pocket, then grabbed her small, cute wheeled suitcase and walked out of the apartment with steady steps, having put on black sneakers.
Her heart was heavy with sorrow, and yet she left the sorrow behind.
She paused at the door to make sure it was locked properly, then headed toward the elevator.
She passed by Leonid's apartment, but didn't turn her head. She ignored the door just as he had ignored her messages.
Charlotte stepped into the elevator and closed the door behind her. She stared at the floor until her phone suddenly rang.
Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. Maybe… Leonid?
But the excitement faded as she read the name: Daniel.
She composed herself and answered, lifting the phone to her ear.
"What?"
"Where are you? There's one minute left."
"In the elevator,"
Charlotte replied curtly, then asked:
"Is everyone there?"
On the other end, Daniel looked around before answering:
"Yes, but Lyudmila and I have been here for almost half an hour. As for him, he arrived five minutes ago."
Charlotte noticed the irritation in Daniel's tone, prompting her to ask:
"Who do you mean?"
Daniel was ready to answer, but before he could, Lyudmila's voice cut in, overly cheerful, as she took his phone:
"If you want to know who it is, then come quickly! By the way… he's so hot! A total heartthrob!"
Charlotte furrowed her brows. She hadn't heard that provocative tone from Lyudmila in a while.
"Wait a second how can you compliment him like that in front of me? That wounds my pride!"
Daniel was scolding her, while Charlotte listened silently as she exited the gate and walked toward the car.
It wasn't hard to spot Lyudmila's father's car, the red one that matched his daughter's hair.
"What's wrong with that? I'm just telling the truth," Lyudmila replied with a sweet smile, not a hint of remorse in it.
"The truth? Seriously? You could've just been polite not flirt with him like that!"
Daniel snapped, but Lyudmila raised her eyebrows with a hint of mockery, as if enjoying getting under his skin.
As their bickering escalated, Charlotte muttered:
"I've arrived. I'm hanging up."
She ended the call without waiting for a reply and approached the car with confident steps, hiding a heart caught between disappointment and tension.
She set her small suitcase down by her feet, then reached out and opened the backseat door.
But she froze in place.
Her eyes widened, and a spark returned to them as she stared at the person she least expected to see like this…
Leonid.
Sitting quietly with one leg crossed over the other, looking at her with calm eyes, showing no regret for ignoring her messages up until this very moment.
"You're so jealous. What's wrong with complimenting Charlotte's boyfriend?"
Lyudmila exclaimed in a playful tone, as if she hadn't noticed the tension in the air.
"I'm not jealous!"
Daniel snapped, but their voices started to fade into the background.
Charlotte was staring into Leonid's eyes, as if the whole world had vanished around her.
And in return, it seemed as though his eyes saw no one else… or so she imagined, until he raised his thumb and pointed to the other side, speaking in his usual dry tone:
"That's my seat. Go to the other side."
He gently pulled the door shut in her face.
Charlotte froze in place, blinking slowly like someone who had just been slapped unexpectedly.
Was he ignoring her again?
Was he really trying to end things? To sever what little remained between them?
Something inside her began to boil… anger, disappointment, or perhaps a nameless mix of both.
"That's enough! I'm not arguing with you anymore. You know what? Charlotte is way more beautiful than you!"
Daniel ended the quarrel loudly, hoping to spark some jealousy in Lyudmila. But to his surprise, she showed no sign of irritation.
She replied calmly and confidently:
"Of course, Charlotte is more beautiful than I am… right, Charlotte's friend?"
She glanced back with a sweet smile, her short hair swaying lightly over her shoulders.
Leonid was still staring through the window at Charlotte, who stood there with a scowl and tightly pressed lips.
He had a sudden urge to tap those lips just to break the pout… but he suppressed it, turning his head toward Lyudmila and replying coldly:
"That's true."
"See? Even her boyfriend thinks she's prettier."
"Aren't you ever going to be jealous of her?"
Daniel raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with both disbelief and resignation. Then he sighed, opened the car door, and stepped out, saying:
"Forget it. You're the most beautiful in my eyes anyway."
"I know that already,"
Lyudmila replied from behind with a grateful smile, but Daniel shut the door in her face without a second thought.
To him, this wasn't the time for flirting or lovers' compliments.
He exhaled sharply, shook his hands as if brushing off a burden, and walked toward Charlotte, who still stood like a statue, anger burning in her eyes.
He had no idea what had just happened between her and Leonid, but something about her expression unsettled him. He couldn't quite understand it but he could guess.
He sighed, approached quietly, picked up her suitcase to put it in the trunk.
As he walked away, he said:
"Why are you still standing there? Come on, get in already."
"Alright, I will."
Charlotte replied in a calm tone, though she was barely holding her shaky voice together.
She looked at the car window, eyes practically piercing the glass and the shadow of Leonid behind it. Then suddenly, she raised her hand and held up her middle finger.
No one noticed... except Leonid, who narrowed his eyes and smirked.
"Charlotte, hurry!"
Daniel called from the back as he closed the trunk.
"Alright."
She lowered her hand calmly and walked to the other side. She opened the door and sat down without saying a word… as if she had done nothing at all.
Leonid was leaning on his arm. As soon as she sat, he tilted his head and looked directly into her eyes.
Despite her composed appearance, Charlotte was overwhelmed with discomfort. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest and wished her hair weren't braided perhaps it could've hidden her face.
"Wow, look at that!"
Lyudmila said cheerfully, pointing at the two:
"We should've done the same! They look like a real couple same style, similar colors."
Leonid raised an eyebrow sarcastically, eyeing Charlotte's outfit that nearly matched his: black pants and a loose white shirt.
The only difference? The shoes. He wore white, she wore black.
Daniel furrowed his brows, eyeing the "currently estranged couple," as he called them in his head, then sighed and said in a serious tone:
"Please respect the car rules… no flirting, no compliments, no intimacy. Got it?"
He stared at Lyudmila and added:
"Especially you."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Driver."
Lyudmila replied playfully and buckled her seatbelt after settling into her seat.
From the backseat, Charlotte buckled her seatbelt. Leonid followed her lead, never taking his eyes off the back of her head. He hadn't forgotten her offensive gesture… and he wasn't about to let it go so easily.
Daniel exhaled slowly as he started the engine and clicked his seatbelt into place at the same time. The clock read 7:17 AM. Luckily, he still had plenty of time to arrive before sunset.
He pressed gently on the gas, and the car moved smoothly.
Silence settled in the cabin, as if everyone feared breaking the fragile peace.
Lyudmila was enjoying the breathtaking scenery outside, while Daniel's eyes stayed fixed on the road.
In the back, Leonid kept his gaze steady on Charlotte. His arms crossed over his chest just like hers and the mocking smile still lingered on his lips.
Despite everything, Charlotte endured his stare, but regret slowly began to creep in.
Maybe raising her middle finger hadn't been such a great idea after all.