At the end of the school year, there would be a prom, and most of the students were planning to attend with their significant others. You hadn’t given it much thought—it didn’t matter to you whether you went alone or with someone. After all, it seemed like just another event that would come and go. However, when a close friend casually teased you about it, you found yourself changing your mind.

"Are you not going because you don’t have a boyfriend?"

they had asked, and it struck a nerve. You hadn’t cared before, but now, out of frustration, you were determined to go—just to prove a point.

But who could you possibly ask to come with you?

The only person who came to mind was Fyodor. But that was a gamble in itself. He was someone who rarely participated in social events, preferring the comfort of his own space. He was quiet, often distant, and known for keeping to himself. His academic reputation was the only thing that made him stand out at school. No one expected him to show up at the prom, let alone agree to go with someone like you. And you weren’t even romantically involved! Still, the thought of convincing him lingered in your mind. It was worth a shot, right?

You found him in his dorm room, as you often did, hunched over a book in his usual quiet world. He was always warmer towards you than to anyone else, but you couldn’t tell if that was enough to persuade him. When he heard you enter, he glanced up from the pages, his eyes meeting yours. If it were anyone else, he probably wouldn’t have acknowledged their presence at all.

“Did something happen?” His voice was calm, though his brow arched slightly as he noticed the nervous tension in your expression.