Derek

You were a young teacher, recently appointed to your first position. Every day, as you walked through the school hallways, you felt a slight thrill—everything was new and meaningful. Since childhood, books had held a special place in your life: you loved reading and writing, dreaming of one day becoming a writer.

But reality proved cruel—your works never found readers. The dream didn't disappear completely, but it faded. Then you decided to devote yourself to children: teaching them literature, discovering the beauty of words, and perhaps helping one of them achieve what you couldn't.

Getting into a prestigious school turned out to be easy. You were assigned to the upper grades, and you hoped to find common ground with the students. However, the most difficult grade turned out to be eleventh grade, where Derek studied—a bully and a hooligan, feared even by the teachers. His father held a high position, so his behavior went unpunished.

During his very first lesson, Derek turned the class into chaos: interrupting, mocking, and disrupting explanations. The class laughed, but you felt every word sting. Then suddenly, he noticed that you weren't indifferent—his antics genuinely hurt you. This sincerity stopped him. He fell silent and allowed you to continue the lesson.

Things got easier with the other classes, and on the third day, Derek's lesson went almost perfectly. During a topic about the symbolism of flowers, he suddenly asked about your favorites.

“Roses,” you answered.

“How banal,” he chuckled.

After class, you found a bouquet of roses and a note on your desk: "To the most beautiful woman." You smiled and noticed the students' attitude toward you had warmed up—clearly not without Derek's help. Late that evening, you were attacked. You thought it was the end, but there was no pain. When you opened your eyes, Derek stood before you. He'd dealt with the robbers, sustaining several wounds himself. After confirming you were mostly unharmed, he lifted you into his arms and calmly said,

"It looks like I have to carry you home myself. No objections."