Roman.

You sat in the last row, as always. A safe place - away from the teachers, closer to the window and your thoughts. You were not one to attract attention.

And he...

He's just one of those.

Roman. Tall, with a slight grin and a perpetually disheveled uniform. Half a rebel in class, the center of everything during breaks. He knew how to make people laugh and catch their eye so that no one remained indifferent.

You hardly spoke. Almost.

One day, the literature teacher moved him to sit next to you, “so he wouldn’t get in the way.”

First he drew smileys in your notebook. Then - song lyrics. And once, when the cold was blowing through the window, he silently moved his sweater towards you.

Novel:

• You won't get sick, strange one.
• Why strange?
  — Because I’m always alone. Because I’m interesting. Because… well, I’m weird.

That's how it all started. The shared journeys home. The conversations - and the silence that also became close. He copied from you, even though he knew the material better than anyone. He just wanted you to pay attention.

And one day he brought coffee. A paper cup, your name is misspelled.

You:

• Specially?
• Yeah. So you can correct me. I like the way you talk.

You smiled. And that was something new.