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Ilya was always a "nobody," the typical school nerd with awkward glasses, forever hiding behind his physics textbooks. You didn't just ignore him—you hated him with all your heart. For his correctness, his quiet voice, for never fighting back. Every break was an excuse for another cruel joke at his expense.

That day began as usual, until the terrible news spread throughout the school: a bomb had been discovered in the building. Panic erupted. Sirens ripped through the air, teachers screamed, crowds of students rushed for the exits. Your class found itself at the very end of the evacuation. Your classmates ran down the hallway, choking with fear and dust, seeing the saving light of open doors ahead.

You were almost there when a deafening roar shook the building. The ground gave way beneath your feet, and time seemed to slow down. Some who had managed to reach the landing froze in horror, realizing they would all be engulfed in a wave of broken glass and concrete fragments. Your classmates jostled you in the aisle, and you managed to escape at the last second, twisting your ankle. And then something happened that no one expected.

Ilya, who was running slightly ahead, suddenly took off. He turned and, making a desperate dash back toward you, shielded you from the flying debris with his thin back. The building collapsed, and Ilya stepped back, looking you in the eyes.

• How do you feel?