Tiny Bunny?

— Wait there! I need to discuss with you, um, something. His voice sounded quietly behind me, causing me to turn around. Behind me nervously stood my friend. Not knowing where to put his hands, he either put them in his pockets or straightened his hat, trying to control his own moves. Looked like he was getting ready to say something. I approached hesitantly, holding tightly to the strap of my backpack, like it was an armour that could protect me. Romka wasn't a type of person who ever stresses. He made stress everyone nearby by his violent attitude and somewhat wildness, but he never was the victim. — What's wrong? — I unconfidently stepped closer. Romka's braveness faded, but he didn't lose his signature menacing face. It looked funny. I stared at him. Something swayed inside my soul, blossomed from how beautiful he was. Every line of the face seems to have been painted by the most talented artist... And deep eyes... And dark thick hair. He looks like a fearless young knight straight out of a historical novel. I mused that I must draw Roma like this once — not as always brave and strong. I must draw his soul. How many of my drawings are dedicated to Roma? For the second album, completely filled with portraits of one person, I hide it under the bed, covered with a thick layer of blankets. It’s scary to imagine what the parents will say to this if they find it. They won't understand. They won't accept it. They will abandon me if they put the puzzle together into one picture and reveal the secret. After all, this is wrong. It's dirty. It is against rules, against human nature, against true love. It mustn't exist at all. - Let's move away from school, okay? — the proposal sounded with a hint of concern, quietly, as if the friend was afraid that prying ears might hear us. I looked around cautiously. Never before there had been news that Romka could not share with his sworn friend Byasha. There has never been news that needs to be discussed only outside of school. I looked at the gray building behind me - as soon as the bell rang, I made my way from it only home and nowhere else. But Romka’s unexpected proposal changed the route. — Well?.. — I agreed. Romka’s words, coupled with his strange nervousness, alarmed me more and more. The friend nodded, and then hurriedly walked towards the backyard of the school. I stomped behind, crushing fresh, untouched snow with my feet. The world around is so gray - trees, tired people, soaring birds, the sky - everything. Only Roma's eyes were colored. For me. Having driven away this kind of thoughts, I noticed how close we were to the right place - a deserted and remote courtyard, where neither teachers nor students poke their noses around. School bullies often light cigarettes or fight here. Roma stood up, leaning his back against the stone wall, and sighed sharply. — How to start… — he closed his eyes for a couple of seconds, apparently gathering his thoughts. He frowned. — Fuck... — Romka hissed under his breath. I pursed my lips: — Just tell it like it is. — the words sounded timidly. Roma was clearly tormented, trying to finally say what we even came to the courtyard for. I looked at him thoughtfully, as if reading it carefully. What could be the reason? What is tormenting a friend from the inside? My gaze must have prompted him, because he suddenly blurted out: — You... How can I explain this! I’m not some kind of fagot... Um, you... I like you... - Roma frowned and lowered his eyes to the ground, as if hiding from my possible reaction. The heart froze, flared up, and began to warm up with small and quick beats. He likes me? The phrase was repeated over and over again in my head until the words lost their meaning. I took an unsteady step back, barely able to stand on my cold, weakened legs. I must have forgotten to take the nasty pill at breakfast? Surely everything that is happening is a deceptive trick of my sick mind. Nervous exhalation. Squatting down, I ran my hand through the snow, thus bringing myself to my senses. It stings, burns with its icy cover. Real. I began to catch my breath, breath by breath, rubbing my cheeks, glasses, and forehead with trembling hands. The crushed cold began to slowly permeate into the burning face. Everything around is so alive - even the voices are loud and close. And the snow is cold... Roma must have noticed that I sat down on the ground, because he said dejectedly: — You can’t believe, right, that I turned out like this? Look, I even sat down... — the heaviness in every word was audible in his voice. Roma cursed under his breath and turned to me in despair: — Don’t you dare tell anyone. Do you understand? — his voice cracked slightly. Slowly I rose from the ground. The anxiety grew so much that heat and frost mixed into one feeling that pierced right through. Raising my eyes, I immediately encountered the heavy gaze of Romka’s eyes: — I-I... Roma stepped closer, piercing with an evil gaze. — What you? It was unbearable to look into his eyes, so I looked away. — It’s... It’s mutual, p-probably... — swallowing quickly, I felt how dry my throat was. My trembling hands were unbearably inconvenient, and I shoved them into my pockets, squeezing the fabric tightly in sweaty fingers. Knock-knock-knock. My heart was thundering in my ears. I imagined Byasha now running out from behind the bushes, shouting “What a sucker, he believed!”, laughing, clutching his stomach, followed by Semyon and the rest of the class, laughing at how worried I was. I believed it. Confessed reciprocity. And then for a long time, until the end of my school life, I will be named “blue”, as if I was soaked through this word. Sometimes this name will be replaced by another - “faggot”, followed by swearing. Then will come fights. Roma has already performed the scene once. He was good at acting, wasn't he? But for some reason the bushes were silent. No one showed up in a minute or two. Roma glared at me, frowning angrily, and something elusive, but so bright, was visible in his eyes that I was completely at a loss. — Hug me. — the words ejected quicker that I've realised that I'm saying it out loud. — H... Hug? I nodded uncertainly. — Yes. I'll be sure, that everything... Is actually happening. — because of Katya there was a gossip that I'm weird. But I've never told anyone about my disease. Romka probably decided that I was acting out a drama without meaning the literal meaning of these words. Not too briskly, he came up and pulled me towards him. Instantly I took my palms out of my pockets, feeling Roma’s hands touching my shoulders and back. For the first time I had to be so close to him, in such close contact... I even felt and heard his warm breath. I felt his heart beat. How I wish this was true. I desperately grabbed Roma’s jacket with my hands to feel the reality of what was happening. The fabric is a little rough, wet from the snow... Having buried my nose in my friend’s shoulder, I longingly inhaled the smell of his jacket and took a deep breath into my lungs. — Come on... — there was a smile in Roma’s voice. — Why are you digging into me like that? I said nothing. Roma hugged me tighter. I'll definitely draw us.