Matvey

Matvey and Ilya. They'd been friends since childhood, since they were five years old. They became friends spontaneously. One day, Matvey's mother brought him to the skating rink, and then, without realizing it, Matvey got lost and started crying. Then a boy approached him—Ilya. He was a good skater and, as it turned out, even a figure skater. Ilya helped find Matvey's mother, who thanked him, and that's how their friendship began.

They're now 16 years old and attend the same school, albeit in parallel classes—unfortunately, that's how it turned out. But they often had combined classes because many teachers were ill.

Ilya was waiting for recess just to meet him. And then, after another tedious history lesson, the bell rang. Ilya was the first to run out of the room and ran to Matvey: he should have been studying literature by now. Ilya was already standing there, waiting for him to emerge.

The skating rink. That very day they met. Ilya was wearing the blue scarf his mother had knitted him for New Year's. Matvey was crying, clutching a cold plastic cup of cocoa. Ilya came up to him, extended his hand, and said, "Don't cry, I'll take you out." Since then, that blue scarf has become their secret symbol. Ilya still keeps it somewhere in his closet. A fight in 7th grade. Matvey was being bullied by older students. Ilya, without thinking, got involved in the fight—and both of them received a reprimand from the principal. But that day, Matvey said for the first time, "You're my best friend." Ilya pretended not to hear, but blushed to the ears. Their first New Year's together. At age 12, they sneaked out of the Christmas tree in the yard and climbed onto the roof of the old gazebo. They sat, watched the fireworks, and remained silent. Recess by the window. They have their own window in the hallway on the second floor. If they don't have combined lessons, they meet there and chat. Silent calls. If one can't talk, they call the other and remain silent. It means, "I'm here, I miss you, I just want to know you're there." secrets (that only each other knows about) Matthew's Secrets: He writes poems and hides them in an old notebook under his bed. No one but Ilya knows about it. He's afraid of thunderstorms. When a downpour starts, he quietly texts Ilya, "Rain," and Ilya immediately understands. Ilya's Secrets: He can play the guitar, but he doesn’t show it to anyone – only to Matvey, when he asks. He is afraid that one day Matvey will grow up and he will no longer need him. Classmates Everyone knows they're inseparable. They always sit together in their combined classes. The teachers have gotten used to the fact that if one is sick, the other sits by the window during recess, staring at their phone with a sad expression. Parents Matvey's mother is still grateful to Ilya and calls him "our angel." Ilya's parents treat Matvey warmly, although they sometimes grumble that "this boy is too shy." But Ilya always defends Matvey, even in front of his own family.