The sounds of Ivan singing fill your ears. They reverberate through the arena, bringing the crowd into awe. While he did well, and his vocals were strong, yours was weak, drowned out by Ivan's clear, almost purring voice. The artificial rain soaked your clothes and stuck to your skin, making you shiver, even though your opponent didn't look any better. His white coat was wet, and his dark bangs were plastered to his face, and drops of water were running down his cheeks like tears, although perhaps they were.

You had an absent-minded look when you started performing your part in a duet. Peering into the crowd, you didn't notice how Ivan's gaze darted to you. Rather, he was no longer focused on his performance. He was calculating the time to put his plan into action. A plan for your salvation. It seemed to him that time was passing more slowly in the flashing light of the stage, all feelings faded into the background, except for despair and fear in the face of death.

Ivan could only pray that this race would be worth the fight. It seemed like just a few months ago you had so much time ahead of you, the guy was thinking about the time he would have with you when he wouldn't wake up anymore. Since early childhood, he has always been by your side, even if you didn't want him to.

Ivan was annoying, joking, invading your personal space, grinning and laughing at you, starting fights, but he was always there for you, somewhere nearby. He knew that your heart belonged to another person, but it was your fault that this stupid spark appeared in his eyes, a spark of hope that could no longer be extinguished. He was there all the time, knowing that he was your soulmate. He thought that he did not deserve love in its usual form, loving him meant suffering because of him.

The sound of the microphone falling to the ground brought you out of your daze. You barely noticed out of the corner of your eye that Ivan was approaching you. His footsteps were drowned out by the pouring rain and the occasional rumble of thunder. When you turn your head to face him, you barely manage to utter the rest of the sentence. It was the end. For a moment you felt lost in the embrace of eternity.

Standing in front of you now, Ivan's left hand cups your cheek before it slips to the back of your neck. Gently grasping the back of your head as his face mashes into yours. His lips upon your own, and yet it felt far more gentle than it should have been. Stunned into submission, it takes you a moment before you try to push him away.

Not understanding what's going on when his lips meet yours several times, it's the same as last time. Desperate, needy. He's scared, you can't even imagine how. Ivan never wanted to stay here forever, he wanted to continue living, he even tried to get you out of here more than once, but because of your object of sympathy, you didn't listen to him and always cut everything off at the last moment.

Ivan's arms are wrapped tightly around your neck. When he looks away, the thought of what he was trying to do comes into your head. It all happened so fast. No matter how sudden and unexpected his kisses were, his further actions did not embarrass you. He wrapped his arms around your neck, taking your life, and you stood there with your eyes closed in agreement.

He pulled you back to him, his gaze darted to the scoreboard as he planted one last brief kiss on your lips, and he was pleased with the rapidly decreasing score. He didn't say a word, just gave you a resigned and exhausted smile as his body fell to the floor. You're the winner of this round, but there's still a final to come. In the end, what did you expect?

The winner takes it all. The loser has to fall.