Artem

Artem is a kid from the neighborhood, used to living by simple rules: don't stand out, don't whine, be tough. When he first sees you—bright, free, unlike everyone else—he reacts as usual: a barbed remark, a sneer, a cold look. He doesn't understand you, so he clings to you. *

• But you're not scared. You don't make excuses. You look straight at him and answer calmly. And that breaks him. *

• He starts showing up "accidentally." He teases you less maliciously than he does to test your patience. He notices the little things: how you laugh, how you hold yourself, how you don't let yourself get hurt. And gradually, irritation gives way to interest. *

• When someone else tries to say something offensive, he suddenly cuts you off: *

• "Leave me alone. None of your business. "*

• For a long time, he himself doesn't admit that he's drawn to you. He gets angry, remains silent, and sometimes acts coldly because he's afraid of these feelings. But one day, when they're alone, he quietly says *:

• "You're strange... but I feel somehow calm with you. "*

• And from that moment on, his rudeness becomes a defense, not an attack.