House in the wilderness

It was autumn, a beautiful time of year when the leaves turn yellow like gold. They can also turn red like fresh blood. Or they can turn orange like the peel of a tangerine. Wilhelm was walking through the forest after school, as the route home was longer, he could enjoy the beauty of the autumn forest. As he wandered through the narrow paths, a ball suddenly fell from a tree. Wilhelm froze in place and looked up, where he saw Seva in a small treehouse. — Oh... Willy, is that you? —Seva carefully descended the stairs to the ground, and when he saw that it was Wilhelm, he smiled. — Sorry, I didn't mean to, I thought no one was there. — It's okay, — Wilhelm replied with a smile, extending his hand with the ball. — Why aren't you at school? — I finished early, and I assume you're here from school? — Yes, just now... How long have you been sitting here? — Wilhelm ventured to ask. — Not for long, do you want to sit in my house? — Seva boldly suggested. — Well, I guess so, but not for long! My father might scold me... — Okay, let's go already, so as not to waste time! — Seva took Willy's hand and led him to the stairs. There, the two of them went up to the cabin and sat on the pillows. The guys sat there for an hour, talking about everything. Wilhelm looked at the time and jumped up from his seat, picking up his backpack. — Damn it! We've been sitting here for an hour, and we haven't talked much! — Time is flying fast, have you already run? Seva asked calmly. — Yes, Sev, we have to run, my father will definitely kill... — Hey! — Seva took hold of Willie's shoulder. — There's no need to panic, tell them that you were detained at school to help. — And will it help..? — Willie replied in a trembling voice — Well, it's worth a try! Well, go ahead! — Seva gave him a big hug, resting his head on Wilhelm's shoulder. They said their goodbyes, and Wilhelm headed home. The journey was long, and Wilhelm almost ran the entire way. When he reached his door, he pulled out his keys and entered the house, surprised to find that Adolf was the only one home. Wilhelm stepped inside and locked the door. The house was so quiet that you could hear Adolf's own breathing as he sat in his room writing an essay, and Wilhelm's as he just returned home.

***

Wilhelm was sitting in his room, reading a book on his bed. He was so engrossed in reading that he didn't hear his father's arrival, but Adolf quickly reacted and ran out of his room to meet his father. — Father! Father! Wilhelm returned two hours later today! — Heinrich froze in place, and Wilhelm peeked out of his room. When Willy heard what his brother had said, he immediately hid under his bed, locking the door tightly. Adolf continued to talk. — Adi, wait a little, then you'll tell me everything, go do your homework!— Heinrich said rudely and commandingly, and headed to Wilhelm's room. Adolf quickly left the room. Willy himself was sitting on the bed, reading a book while shivering. Heinrich entered the room, clearly displeased that his son had arrived two hours late, despite saying it would be an hour later.

***

After the lectures, the slaps, and the punches to the arms, Wilhelm sat on his bed and cried. The tears were from sadness, not pain. Then he sat at his desk and, taking out his personal diary, began to write: "Entry #23. Dear diary, today I was punched in the arms again, and they are incredibly sore. Also, Seva and I had a cool time sitting in the house and talking, he is so understanding... Adolf again ruined everything, told his father that I came late again. It's good that he didn't know who I was walking with, otherwise I would have got the full... I hope that no one will read my notes. Well, I have to go, I haven't finished reading the book yet, it turned out to be interesting. Well, all the best!" Wilhelm put down his pen and put the diary in a secret place, which he always closed with a key. After all that, he sat down on the bed and picked up a book, and began to read. He was so immersed in the book that he had forgotten where he was.

***

So the days and months flew by... After school, Vsevolod and Wilhelm met at this house and chatted about everything, the guys supported each other in difficult moments, about which they shared. They spent an hour talking, and after that they went home. One such day, Wilhelm returned home, closing the door behind him, he saw the irritated look of his father. In his hands was his diary... Wilhelm dedicated the notes to Vsevolod and his hatred for his father. As soon as his gaze fell on the diary, his body was thrown into a small tremor, he almost fell, but leaned against the wall... Wilhelm's heart was pounding so hard that it almost jumped out of his chest. — And how do you explain that to me, Wilhelm? — Henry asked his son, who was standing trembling by the wall. His voice was very insistent and firm, so it was useless — What exactly..? — What the hell is this about sympathy? For a boy? Have you lost your mind? — Heinrich threw his diary aside, approached him, and grabbed him by the collar. — You don't have to answer. I'll give you newinstructions. First, you will no longer speak or interact with this Sev. I will inform his mother. Secondly, you are not to be home in an hour, but in 30 minutes at most, is that clear?! — Ja, Vater, ich verstehe… — Wilhelm said quietly and fell to the floor. Heinrich pushed him to the floor, and he himself moved away and picked up the diary. — I'll throw it away, no more personal diaries, so there won't be any! — Heinrich went to the trash and threw the diary there. Tears came from Wilhelm's eyes, he stood up abruptly and ran to his room, closing and sitting in the corner. He cried bitterly and hard, because he didn't want their communication with Vsevolod to end.

***

The next day, after school, as usual, with a sad face, Wilhelm met with Seva. — Willie, is everything all right? — Vsevolod inquired. — No... I have some bad news for you, but I don't want to tell it! — Wilhelm clutched his legs to his chest, and tears began to flow from his eyes. — William, honey, don't cry! Tell me, what happened? — Seva sat down next to him and hugged him tightly. There was a thump in Wilhelm's chest, his heart began to beat faster, his breathing quickened, and he began to cry harder. — Will you tell me? — My father… I found a personal diary, threw it away and told him to stop communicating with you! — Willie burst into tears even more — Willie… And why… He didn't say.? — No… He just said to stop! Seva took a handkerchief out of his pocket and started wiping Wilhelm's tears. — My mom told me to stop too... Because you started studying poorly because of me...— — But it's not true..! Dad lied..! — Wilhelm clung to Seva, burying his head in his chest. — I don't want to break our communication.! — Me too... Willie, look at me, — Vsevolod took his face in his hand and raised it so that they looked back at each other, — I wanted to confess to you... You are for me... A little more than an ordinary best friend... I... I! — Before he could finish, Wilhelm interrupted him. — Do you love me? — Willie said quietly. — Yes... Please, let it be our secret... I promise I will love you... For the rest of my life. — Seva, I... — Before he could finish, he felt his interlocutor's lips on his own. Vsevolod kissed him on the lips, trying to prolong the kiss. Wilhelm instantly blushed and tried to pull away, but he enjoyed it... Willy responded to Seva's kiss, placing his hands on his shoulders. When they parted, a thin line of saliva could be seen between them. Both men were breathing heavily. — I'm sorry, Willy, for this... I... I couldn't resist... — Nothing... Okay... I'll probably go, — Wilhelm stood up, letting go of Seva, he went to the exit, — Goodbye, Sevush... Maybe we'll see each other again... After such words, Wilhelm left... They stopped seeing and communicating with Vsevolod, and then Heinrich began to notice strange behavior in his eldest son... He stopped reacting to reality in any way... He didn't know what to do, so he took his son to a psychologist. The psychologist said that Wilhelm was in an unconscious state. Heinrich didn't know what to do, so he simply ignored his son's condition.

***

10 years have passed, Adolf and Wilhelm have grown up, their paths have diverged, when Adi at the age of 13 tried to kill Willy, but he did not know that his brother survived. After Adolf was put in a psychiatric hospital, Wilhelm began to live as if anew.

***

Wilhelm walks through the streets at night, suddenly a man bumps into him with his shoulder, Willy slightly screams, turning to him: — Man, could you be more careful? — I'm sorry, Mr. — When the man turned to him, they both saw something familiar in each other. — Seva..? Is that you? — Wilhelm looked at the man in surprise, feeling an incomprehensible emotion at the sight of him, even though they had been separated for 10 years. — How do you know..? — he was about to ask, but a voice interrupted him. — Willie..? Tears of joy welled up in Vsevolod's eyes, and he led him into an alley, embracing him. — Willie! It's been 10 years! How many years? How many winters? I've missed you so much! — Yes, I have too! — exclaimed Wilhelm quietly, unable to smile because he had forgotten. Willy embraced his old friend. — Listen, it's been a long time since we've seen each other, but I have a question that's bothering me... — Yes, and what is it? — Do you still love me...? — Wilhelm asked softly, lowering his head down. — Of course, what kind of questions?! — Vsevolod tightened his embrace. — I thought I'd already forgotten... We haven't seen each other for 10 years... — Forget it! Come to my place? I'm lonely anyway, but at least you can keep me company. — Okay, come on...

***

When they entered Seva's apartment, Wilhelm gasped... It was so spacious and comfortable that it reminded him of that treehouse. — What the... This apartment has the same atmosphere as the one where we used to meet after class... — I did it on purpose to remember those times! The guys changed their clothes and went to the kitchen, where Vsevolod fed Wilhelm and made him some tea. Over a cup of tea, they discussed the events of the past 10 years, what had changed and what hadn't. They laughed together about their childhood experiences.

***

The guys were no longer drinking tea, but vodka. The drunken guys were still laughing at stories from their childhood... Vsevolod got up from his chair and approached Wilhelm... He took Wilhelm's face in his hand and brought his face close to Wilhelm's, leaving only a few inches between them. — Willie, smile, what happened. — E ... Well ... I have an unconscious consciousness ... Yes ... — Clear ... I will correct, Williusha! — Vsevolod touched his lips with Wilhelm. As in childhood, he blushed, but responded to the kiss. Willie's hands rested on Vsevolod's shoulders, and Seva's hands rested on Wilhelm's head and waist. The kiss this time was longer ..