I am flying into this beautiful, provincial town not for the first time. It is about 2 hours flying from Moscow. I've always liked this town, and now I am waiting to meet Kostik with much interest. He shall meet me at the airport, as we had agreed. When I emerge from the airport building, I see a guy -- average height with short, boyish hair. He has an attractive, beautiful face and a slight but athletic build. Another guy is standing near Kostik. He is a little taller and older. "It must be Kostik's friend," I thought, " the photographer." As I approached Kot, he smiled and said, "hi! I am Kostik."

Some minutes later, we choose a small, summer cafe in the town to relax over coffee. The cafe claims a high level of western influence, but has some deficiencies that are very common in Russian provinces. It is here that we begin our chat.

Anton: - The first question right now, what do you think about your popularity on the internet?

Kostik: - Well, I'm not sure that I deserve it. What popularity? I don't feel that I am anything special, just a regular guy. I think it's normal for people to be interested in other people, but it doesn't necessarily make them better than somebody else. But, I have found out many things about many people over the last year, of course -- living in many different corners of the world. That is unbelievably interesting to me -- to find out many new things. I had never noted before that the world was such a big one! And I had never noted before that in different parts of the world live the same people as I am, and their lives are very similar to mine. I think I am very lucky because I have met so many friends around the world. I feel as if I could knock on their door tomorrow and be welcome as a guest.

Anton: - You are probably getting a lot of email messages. How do you deal with that?

Kostik: - To be honest, this is one of the biggest problems. I am really getting a lot of messages all the time. I am always reading them -- it's very interesting. But it's a big pity that I can't answer them all. My English isn't so good [we call it school English], and it takes me so long to answer even one message. That is why a large number of messages remain unanswered. It's a pity because I want to answer them all. But that is really very difficult as you can understand.

Anton: - What do the people who write you think about that?

Kostik: - The majority understand. Usually they write - "I'll be very glad to receive your answer if you have time". Somebody feels disappointed. But what can I do? Should I hide my email address? I think not.

Anton: - Have you tried asking someone to help you answer your mail? Something like a fan-club?

Kostik: - By the way, fan-clubs. I was very impressed when I got to know that my fan-club was created in the USA. That was not my doing, because I don't think I am some kind of movie-star. I am a normal guy. But I can't tell them to stop. I have to think that it's normal. Some time ago, here, another fan-club was also created in my city. I tried to discourage them but to no avail. By the way, our interview is also their work (smiling). But, in any case, I am very glad if clubs like those can encourage people to communicate and to find new friends. I like that.

Anton: - What they usually writing about?

Kostik: - Many messages are from people who thank me for a little virtual travel to Russia with me. They also thank me for a beautiful site. Many ask me to tell about my life. It's a pity that I am unable to write to everyone about my life. That is why I want to tell more on my pages. But that takes a lot of time which I have not enough of. Many ask to send my photos. But I am answering and reading messages on one computer while my photos are on another in a separate place. That is why I am unable to send my photos by email. And that is why I am trying to publish them more. There's also an amount of email with sexual content. But what kind of sexual relations can be discussed by email? (laughing). Sometimes, they try to provide help -- they want to send money or other things. But that is mostly impossible for me. There are many problems related to our laws. Help from the other side is a good thing, and I appreciate their generosity, but I want to do everything by myself. This is very important for me.

Anton: - What kind of people mostly write you? What age? Who more? Male or female?

Kostik: - So many different people are writing to me, it's difficult for me to categorize them. There are many teenagers like me. People in middle age. And many messages from older people -- many remembering themselves when they were young, like Mr B, the Fossil [laughing]. Males write more often. I think that is why there are more men on the internet than women. Girls are writing, too. But they're often very shy. Pity. *smile*

Anton: - I have heard that there are many gays included your fans. What do you think about that?

Kostik: - Yes, that is true. I am getting many messages from gays. And I don't see any problem with this. Is sexual orientation important when you are talking? The person is important to me. And talking with any human can be very interesting.

Anton: - Do you get messages with unpleasant content?

Kostik: - I have to say that, actually, every message is friendly and pleasant to read. I've discovered that there are lots of friendly and good people in the world.

Anton: - Well, enough speaking about your correspondence. Tell me a little about yourself. By the way, what it your sexual orientation? Are you gay?

Kostik: - Ohh, goodness! Again this question! Why does this question surface so much? I think that it's quite a private thing, and it relates only to me and to the person who is in my bed. But who can be in my bed is another question (smiling). In any case, what's more important is that those boys or girls have a chance to be in my bed (laughing). Let's leave this question. I don't believe that this quetion is important when people are communicating (talking) -- well, except for those cases where people are talking about sex. I am not a big fan of such conversations. It is much more interesting to have it (sex). *grin*

Anton: - Well, how's your TeenBox site coming along?

Kostik: - I don't always get the time that I would like to update it. Fortunately, I have a very good friend who is professional, and who has taught me about computers for many years. (Kostik looks thoughtfully at the photographer). He is always teaching me different tricks for making programs, and helps me with creating web-pages. And, of course, he checks all my new pages and suggests what is needed or required to redo. I am grateful to him that I'm getting to know more and more. So, I think that TeenBox is the result of not only my work.

Anton: - Is that him who has shot most of your photos? (looking at the photographer).

Kostik: - Yes, actually all photos were made by his hand. Very often, we take the camera with us when we're going somewhere. Sometimes, he goes to the important events in my life to take photos -- like my "last school bell". But, also, I have to say he comes not only to take photos to record my life, but also he is my friend and we're very often together.

Guy with camera: - Guys, remember what you said? The interview isn't with me!

Kostik: - Viola, he's always the same. He doesn't like it very much if we talk about him. He says he doesn't want to be the center of attention. But I don't agree with him. He has a page on internet with his photos, but he doesn't permit me to publish them, or permit me to publish his name. But I can say that his net alias is "halien". (Kostik glances at the photographer) Well, I guess I'd better stop here before I am wearing his camera over my head.

Anton: - BTW, who invented TeenBox? Who is the author of the idea?

Kostik: - That is him again. [smiling] Some time ago, I had some photos taken in a photo studio. I showed them to him, then he said to me, "the photos are great! This is beautiful. Everyone must see this!" After that, we decided to make a new site with my photos. We also included some stuff about me and my life so that people would enjoy surfing it.

Anton: - What did you expect from a site like that?

Kostik: - Well, I didn't know. I was hoping to find a lot of cyber friends on the internet. I'd always thought that it would be very interesting to correspond with people from different parts of the world.

Anton: - Are you shy?

Kostik: - Probably, yes. I phoned Mr B once. I said about three words and he said about three thousand. [laughing] I am often shy when I am the object of someone's attention.

Anton: - Wonderful! So, how can a shy Kostik be linked with posing nude in front of camera? Tell me something about this.

Kostik: - To say truthfuly, I am not shy about my body. I am a human made by god as is everybody else. I don't think I need to be shy of what was made by god. It does not faze me. I became another Kostik after a year or two. I began to think about some things in other ways. Also, I began to open new values in life. For example, I can freely speak (discuss) about almost any topic. However, there are some topics I would prefer not to discuss with others. Well, [thoughtful] with you I can feel free and talk about anything.

Anton: - BTW, where we can find your naked photos?

Kostik: - Those photos have been made especially for a pay site. I think about that like an ordinary job. I don't think it is correct to show my nakedness for my own ego or on TeenBox, for example. That is why you can find my photos only on a pay site.

Anton: - Are profiting from that pay site?

Kostik: - Yes, of course. I have to say that this site gives me very good financial help. By the way, space for TeenBox is paid for from the pay site's income. And it helps me with my studies.

Anton: - Have you have some other commercial propositions?

Kostik: - Oh, Yes! One time I received a proposition to be a model in porno movie of any subject. Also, I've had several propositions for photo sessions for advertisments. But mostly, I do not accept small propositions. And that isn't because I think I am too "dear" (laughing). I just want to be a good professional in computer science, and most of those propositions won't change my focus. Also, my time is limited -- I have to do so much. Most of those propositions would require me to travel great distances -- and I have trouble with this. In any case, if I get a proposition that promises to improve my life, I'll probably agree because I like to travel so much.

Anton: - By the way, about travels. How much have you travelled, where and with whom?

Kostik: - I can't say I've experienced much travel. About my travel to Cyprus, that gave me the opportunity to know many new people. That was a very worderful holiday. But the majority of my travels have been within Russia.

Anton: - Did you travel alone?

Kostik: - No. I was too young to travel alone. I had to get approval from my mother. Even at 18, our culture doesn't allow us to travel so far. I need approval from my mother, but she can give it to me only if I travel with an adult she knows well. Now, she has some people that she trusts, that is: herself, my grand father and ... (Kostik studies the photographer again) and him. But my mother can't go everywhere with me because she cares for my little brother, his name Shura. By the way, I did small page with photos of my relatives (his too). My grand father isn't so young to travel very far. So that means I can travel only with my friend (Kostik nods in the direction of the photographer again).

Anton: - Is he something like a spy for you? Doesn't he press you with his authority?

Kostik: - Net, no way! He is my best friend, and I feel myself actually free with him. For example, if I want to jack off then his presence wont stop me! He is my best friend, and when I am with him, I feel no anxiety. Often, I am asked by someone to be their guest, but I can't go without him and he is very worried about this. He doesn't want be an intruder. So, I have to say that rather than go somewhere alone, I would prefer to go with him. I really like to experience what life has to offer, but when you do it alone, that isn't so pleasant.

Guy with camera: - Kot! This interview is supposed to be about you. Remember?

Anton: - Okay. But is he the only person you want to share your pleasure with?

Kostik: - Net, of course. After a time when I'm able to travel alone, I won't travel alone. I'll bring him with me or, if I have a girlfriend, I'll bring her. Anyways, I like to travel in the company of good friends. And not only to travel -- everything! *smile*

Anton: - By the way, tell me about your friends. Do you have many besides the photographer?

Kostik: - Yes, of course! I have many friends my age. They are all cool guys and girls, and I spend much time with them. We have so much in common, and we've known each other for many years.

Anton: - Do they know about your internet sites? And are there many fans from Russia, from your city?

Kostik: - The internet isn't common in our country yet. And my friends don't know about the internet, or what it is. Most of them don't even have a computer. Some of my friends who know computers and the internet know about my sites and my page. By the way, some of them you can see on TeenBox site. Maybe in the future, they'll make their own pages on the internet. I have some friends from Moscow and Baltics countries. I have not got any messages from my own city. Maybe that is because, in our country, a "real man" doesn't need to show his body. And to be "cool" doesn't need to consist of beautiful clothes or cute looks. You also must know that cool clothes in the minds of our teenagers aren't considered cute, but rather clothes that everybody else wears. They dress like clones of their parents. Our teenagers don't prefer originality. Pity.

Anton: - So, nobody knows you in your city?

Kostik: - Not the majority of people, only those invovled in computers. BTW, the local fan-club was created by them. I always find it awkward to talk about that. I don't even know what to say to my so-called fans or how to handle their affection.

Anton: - So, time is gone. Let's meet after the year for another interview.

Kostik: - OK! Agreed!

"We walk around this wonderful city after our coffee and chat. We visit my old friend who asked me to interview Kostik. I finish my job that evening and go home to Moscow. That was an unforgettable day in my life. I'll remember it for a very long time. Kostik is a friendly and pleasant guy, a friend who radiates a positive feeling. If only there were more guys on the earth like he is. He left a warmness in my soul. Happiness to you Kostik!"