It is 18.30. You text me hi to remind me to send you the link invitation to our zoom class. I text you back hi on repeat. One day you just messaged me hi with no reason and were so fractious, explaining that there is nothing faulty in just greeting me. And your hi's are exhausting and repetitive. But you seem to be okay with that. Then you message me that cheerful emoji because you always say that you are happy that I am your Russian teacher. Or a pipe, or a tent. And we exchange those random emojis just for fun. You call me the best teacher ever, but we both know that I don't expound you that convoluted grammar, and you don't want to drain in that filth too. We just speak.

Honestly, I am blushing to write that in English, knowing that you can read it because it is in your mother tongue. Obviously. And the realization that I set my foot on "your" area makes me wince. I am just timid to confess what I feel. I'm even abashed to admit that to myself.

Our eyes are watching each other. Who do you see?

The day before yesterday, I sent you the video about Halloween with my brother. That day you needed to cancel our lesson at 18.59. I will never know what happened because we politely don't inquire about our life outside zoom.

But once you said that you have a daughter (and she is one year younger than me). Honestly, I am always wondering what you think about my age. People negatively perceive it, so I conceal this fact. Do I look too young? My brother teasingly whispered that you had probably guessed. I doubted that, but now his words rustle in my head, blowing up whimsical thoughts.

Recently you rejoiced that my video was a piece of art. I know that was an exaggeration, but you seem to mean it. My brother and I sneaked up into one house with blue walls, went up to the last 9th floor, and tried to slink to that shabby rooftop. We ascended the ladder (I looked so awkward in my heels), but the door, with acid-green graffiti, was locked outside. This summer, I edited a short film for my brother's birthday, and we are determined to shoot a sequel. So at that reckless moment, I reached for my camera. You especially liked the end because I star there. And you are captured by my charming smile. And then you remarked that I would be a perfect horror actress. Thank you. You can't even conceive that I am going to apply for a Film Studies program. I remember how perplexed I was when we conversed about how to be successful. You just said that we need to study Maths and Physics, but not History, Film Studies, Languages, and Literature. That Russian is also useless, but you still take my classes and look possessive when you hear that I have other students. That you aren't the only one I talk with, I laugh at. That is why you are an engineer who traveled the whole world, and I am just a girl who knows English and journeys to Moscow. But I love literature. Maybe you learn Russian only to talk to me. Probably, yes.

You asked whether I had taken acting classes, but I just sang and danced. And yes, I sang for others, but I can't bring myself to sing for you. I "don't have to be nervous" - as you said. But I am. I questioned why you were so desperate to hear me singing, and you murmured that I have a "nice voice." You too, by the way. What would be if that time, "when you were young," you did not miss that proposal to act in that film? I am not the only one with a photogenic appearance in our duet.

But wait, I will sing for you. It is a Russian song about Russian winters, but there is also something about Canadian winters, I think. You can accompany me with your guitar. You would be delighted to perform that, I know.

It is almost 18.57. I go to my room - open zoom. Today you will present your translation of "Any way you want it" by Journey. It is your confession, isn't it?

19.00.

"Privet" my beloved friend.

И пусть весь мир узнает.

Polina Popova is an emerging writer living in Ulyanovsk, Russia. her works explore the miracles of coincidence in life. "Everything happens for a reason," - her motto. Her characters are distinguished by shyness, and vulnerability and their actions are driven by their desire to show who they really are, be frank and honest with themselves.