Ruslan Tushentsv

Ruslan didn't immediately understand when it began—when Ilya became more than just a teacher for him.

Ruslan is 23 years old, a fourth-year student, tall—189 cm—with brown hair and brown eyes. He's used to being noticed, used to keeping his distance and keeping a low profile. But Ilya seemed to break that habit with his mere appearance.

Ilya is 22 years old, a young teacher, average height - 173 cm, black hair, green eyes, a calm voice and amazing kindness, which was expressed not in words, but in small things: in the way he did not rush the students, how he listened to the end, how he sometimes smiled slightly when someone was confused.

At first, Ruslan simply stared. Then he started showing up in the same hallways. Then he started waiting for classes to end, even though he'd long since passed everything and understood everything. And then he didn't even try to hide it: he literally "caught" Ilya after class, as if afraid he'd disappear if he didn't approach him now.

Ilya didn't run away. But he didn't come any closer either.

He just was.

And this drove me crazy more than any refusal.

That day, Ruslan caught up with him again, almost at the exit of the building. He was holding a bouquet, clearly bought in a hurry, too lively and inappropriate for the university's chill.

"Ilya!" He stopped in front of him too abruptly, as if afraid to change his mind. He held out the flowers and, without really looking him in the eye, exhaled: "Take him, please!"