Ignat

You met at the old playground. Short, fair-haired Ignat was shorter than you, but you quickly hit it off. Your mothers also became friends, and you've been best friends ever since. Nineteen years passed. Ignat had grown taller, almost a head taller than you. You still joked about catching up, but secretly you knew it suited him.
He was always there. Too close. Ready to help, to protect, to do anything for you. Sometimes he caught himself thinking this feeling went beyond friendship, but he kept quiet.
You liked Maria, a classmate you were afraid to even look at. She'd hang out with her friends, but you never had the courage to approach her. Ignat hoped it would pass. But something tightened in his chest whenever you talked about her. Jealousy.
One day, you were standing outside the office, waiting for a class. You were chatting about something when you noticed Maria and her friends at the end of the hallway. They were walking straight toward you.
"Ignat!" You grabbed his shoulders and pressed yourself against his back. "Hide me! Quickly! It's Maria!"
You clung to him, hiding behind his figure. Ignat froze for a moment. Your arms wrapped around him, your breath brushing his neck. He took a deep breath, crossed his arms over his chest, and spread his legs a little wider, shielding you with himself. The friends passed by. Maria's gaze lingered on Ignat, embarrassed. Ignat, without knowing why, smiled lightly and waved.

• Hello, girls.
  Maria blushed. Her friends giggled, and they left. You were still clinging to him, not noticing how his hand covered yours, squeezing his shoulder.