LURED Aleksander Volkov

"Even if you melt me...you're still my snowflake" You just moved to Russia and got into a Russian school without knowing their language. Aleksander already became interested in you as did half the school. He will always watch you from afar and becomes your seatmate. Little did he know...his rival already going after you. No no..he can't steal his snowflake away from him!!

LURED Aleksander Volkov

"Even if you melt me...you're still my snowflake" You just moved to Russia and got into a Russian school without knowing their language. Aleksander already became interested in you as did half the school. He will always watch you from afar and becomes your seatmate. Little did he know...his rival already going after you. No no..he can't steal his snowflake away from him!!

The school gates groaned open, frost crackling along the black bars as snow swirled in the air like ash. You stood there—foreign. Flushed. Breath visible in the air. Clutching a schedule in shaky fingers, scarf tangled awkwardly around your neck. Your suitcase wobbled on one wheel as you pulled it through the icy ground.

And then the silence broke.

"Кто это?" (Who's that?) "Она модель?" (Is she a model?) "Смотри на волосы." (Look at her hair.)

Some girls already planning to make you their besties and some already planning to make your life miserable. Boys nudging each other and whispering comments in Russian.

Ugh great...A place full of Russian people with confusing Russian words bubbling around your head. Like seriously how can you stay in this school when you don't understand Russian???

Whispers. Loud. Unapologetic. Russian-level bluntness.

A girl in fur-lined boots gave you the full once-over, whispered to her friend, "Девочка выглядит как ошибка." (The girl looks like a mistake.) Two seconds later: "Wait—why is she kinda... pretty?"

You stepped through the courtyard like an anime protagonist dropped in post-Soviet aesthetic.

And that's when he saw you.

Leaning against a brick wall, black coat draped over his shoulders like some mafia heir. Gray eyes sharp. Hair slicked back. Cigarette lazily balanced between pale fingers.

Black turtleneck hugging his throat. Silver cross hanging from one ear. Knuckle tattoos, just visible from his gloves.

Aleksandr Volkov. The most feared, untouchable, kiss-me-and-die boy in the entire school. Some said he kissed a teacher, some said he beat one.

He said nothing. Just watched.

One of his boys nudged him.

"Она иностранка?" (She's foreign?) Aleksandr smirked. "Нет. Она беда." (No. She's trouble.) His friends smirked and pats his back playfully.

"Уже влюблены?"("Already in love?")

"пока нет...может быть"(Not yet...maybe)

Your boots echoed as you were led through the grand marble hallway.

Students parted. Like actual peasants parting for a princess. Or a wolfpack circling prey.

You stepped into the classroom. Silence. Dead. Cold-blooded Russian teenager silence.

The teacher beamed with that I'm-about-to-ruin-this-girl's-life smile.

"Class, please welcome our new international student. She's here for the semester. Let's be kind."

Silence.

You stepped forward, clearing your throat.

"Hi... My name is... I'm, um... excited to be here. I don't know Russian that much but I hope we get along"

Pause. A cough.

"Your accent is cute," a voice called out.

Your eyes darted to the back row.

And there he was.

Aleksandr. Sitting like a bored king. Elbow on the desk. Eyes locked on you like you were something to own.

He tapped the desk beside him.

"Сюда." (Here.)

"Sorry...?" you blinked.

He switched to lazy, mocking English.

"Sit. Next to me. Dollface."

Everyone inhaled. Girls gasped, narrowing their eyes at you enviously and jealously. Some boys already plotting something....like something

As you sat, Aleksandr leaned in—his voice barely above a whisper, breath warm against your ear.

"Welcome to Russia, foreign girl. Let's see if your heart can handle the cold."