The weekend had arrived, and the school halls were quieter than usual. Students were trickling out, eagerly heading to their weekend plans. Kuze stood by the front gate, leaning against the wall as he waited for Masha. They’d agreed to meet for their “maybe-date” — a casual coffee trip that held so much unspoken weight between them. 
Kuze felt a knot in his stomach tighten. He’d thought about this moment countless times in the past few days. He wasn’t sure if he was more excited or nervous about what this day could mean for them.
As he stared at the ground, lost in thought, he heard Masha’s familiar footsteps approaching. He looked up, his heart doing a flip when he saw her. Masha was wearing a simple, casual outfit, but there was something about her today that made Kuze’s breath hitch. 
“Hey,” Masha greeted him, a smile playing on her lips, though there was a hint of nervousness in her eyes. 
“Hey,” Kuze echoed, standing up straight. “You ready?”
Masha nodded, though her gaze flickered to the ground for a second before meeting his. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
They began walking side by side toward the café, the unspoken tension between them still present, but it wasn’t as suffocating as before. There was something more comfortable about their silence now, a shared understanding that neither of them needed to fill the space with words. They knew what this was — or at least, what it could be.
As they entered the café, Kuze held the door open for Masha, and she shot him a teasing grin. “Oh, look at you. A real gentleman.”
Kuze chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t get used to it. I’m just trying to make a good impression.”
Masha raised an eyebrow as they sat down at a small table by the window. “Trying? So, this is a date then?”
Kuze felt his face heat up as he fumbled with his words. “I-I mean, it could be... if you want it to be.”
Masha leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she smirked at him. “You’re cute when you’re nervous, you know that?”
Kuze groaned, covering his face with his hand. “Why do you always do this to me?”
Masha’s laughter rang out, and Kuze couldn’t help but smile behind his hand. There was something so infectious about her laugh, something that made him forget about his worries, even if only for a moment.
“I do it because it’s fun,” Masha admitted, her eyes softening as she watched him. “But... I kind of like seeing you flustered. It’s endearing.”
Kuze peeked at her from behind his hand, his heart racing at her words. He didn’t know what to say to that, so he just smiled, feeling his chest warm with a strange mixture of affection and nervousness.
They ordered their drinks, and as they sat sipping on their coffees, the conversation flowed easily. They talked about school, their classmates, and even teased each other about the upcoming exams. But there was an undercurrent to their banter — an unspoken question hanging between them.
“So...” Masha started, swirling the straw in her iced coffee as she stared down at the table. “What are we, Kuze?”
Kuze nearly choked on his drink, surprised by the sudden question. He coughed, wiping his mouth before looking at her, eyes wide. “What do you mean?”
Masha lifted her gaze to meet his, her expression a little more serious now. “I mean... what’s happening between us? Are we just friends, or... is this more?”
Kuze’s heart pounded in his chest. He had been asking himself that same question for weeks now, but hearing Masha ask it out loud made it all the more real. 
“I don’t know,” Kuze admitted softly. “I... I like spending time with you, Masha. A lot. And I feel like things have been changing between us for a while now, but... I don’t want to rush into something if you’re not ready.”
Masha nodded, biting her lip as she considered his words. “I feel the same way. I like being around you too. But... I guess I’m scared. What if we mess this up? What if we try to be something more and it ruins what we have?”
Kuze understood her fear all too well. It was the same thought that had been holding him back, keeping him from fully acknowledging his feelings for her. “Yeah... I get that. But at the same time, what if we don’t try, and we end up regretting it?”
Masha’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but there was a glimmer of something else in them too — hope, maybe. She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back in her chair. “You always know how to make things complicated, don’t you?”
Kuze chuckled, though it was a little shaky. “Yeah, it’s a talent of mine.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling over them. Then, Masha looked up at him, a small, tentative smile on her lips. “Maybe... we could take things slow. See where it goes. No pressure.”
Kuze’s chest tightened at her words, relief flooding through him. He smiled, nodding. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
Masha smiled back, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the tension between them seemed to ease. They weren’t rushing into anything, but they were acknowledging that something was there. Something that could grow into more, if they were willing to take the chance.
As they finished their drinks, the sun began to set outside the café window, casting a warm, golden light over the two of them. Kuze glanced at Masha, feeling a strange sense of contentment wash over him. This felt right, whatever it was.
“Hey,” Masha said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence. “Thanks for... for being patient with me. I know I can be a bit of a handful sometimes.”
Kuze laughed, shaking his head. “You’re not a handful, Masha. You’re... you’re you. And I wouldn’t want you to be any different.”
Masha’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away, hiding her smile behind her hand. “You’re such a sap, Kuze.”
Kuze grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Maybe I am. But you like it.”
Masha rolled her eyes, though her smile never faded. “Yeah, maybe I do.”
They left the café a little while later, walking side by side in comfortable silence. As they reached the school gate, where they’d first met that morning, Masha stopped, turning to face him.
“So... maybe we could do this again sometime?” she asked, her voice soft but hopeful.
Kuze smiled, his heart racing. “Yeah. I’d like that.”
Masha nodded, looking relieved. “Good.”
As they parted ways, Kuze couldn’t help but feel like something had shifted between them. They weren’t just friends anymore — not completely. They were something more, something undefined but full of potential. And for now, that was enough.