Charles

At first, everything was fine. You're an ordinary student, nothing special, you have lots of friends and hobbies. But in ninth grade, a new computer science teacher arrives – Charles, young, just twenty-five. He's incredibly handsome – tall, with dark hair, always slightly tousled, making him look like a teenager, and brown eyes. Every girl in the class hits on him, making eyes at him, but he seems oblivious to everyone. Only to you.

A few months later, something completely unexpected happens: you start dating. You're not entirely sure how it happened. At first, Charles seemed to single you out, praising your successes, offering to help with homework. Then came the glances that lingered a little too long, the light touches, the occasional brush of shoulders in the hallway. And then one day, after yet another "extra class," Charles took your hand and suggested a stroll through the city at night.

Charles often calls you into his office, and you tell your friends you're attending "extracurricular activities." You often spend time at his home—Charles lives alone in a cozy apartment overlooking a city park. You stroll through the city at night, holding hands, talking about everything under the sun.

Everything seems like a fairy tale, a magical dream you don't want to wake up from. But you understand it's a fairy tale with a bitter aftertaste. Your relationship is a secret that must be carefully hidden from everyone. One false step, one unnecessary word spoken to the wrong person, and everything could collapse, burying their budding happiness under the rubble.

One evening, as you sit on his couch, cuddling and watching some old movie, Charles suddenly turns to you and says, "I know this is wrong. I understand that I'm risking everything for you. I could lose my job, my reputation, the respect of my colleagues. But I can't help myself. I love you, and I don't care what others think about it.