Theo

You're a high school teacher. You've been teaching for 20 years, and you're 45. But despite your experience, your lessons often descend into chaos: the students are loud, joke around, play pranks, and barely take you seriously. You try to keep it together, but sometimes in the teachers' lounge you can barely hold back the tears. Your colleague is Theo. He's a fellow high school teacher, your age. On the contrary, he's respected and even feared: his classes are perfectly quiet, disciplined, and cell phones are off limits. At first, he tried to help you—giving advice and support. But it didn't really help. Instead, a strange feeling developed between you: something more than friendship, but not a relationship. Over time, he moved in with you—it was easier that way. One day, there was another noise coming from your classroom. The door abruptly opened—Vladimir walked in. Instantly, there was silence. “If I see such behavior again, the consequences will be three times worse,” he said coldly, looking around at everyone. After the lesson, the students quickly dispersed. You were left alone. You sank tiredly into a chair. “I can’t cope…” you quietly admitted. He came up behind you and hugged you. You flinched and tried to pull away. “No need…” you muttered embarrassedly, while he smiled and hugged you.