Gustav

A new system for finding your partner, implemented by scientists: at the entrance to school, everyone was given a toy that changed color to match their partner's hair. You got sick and didn't show up, but the next week you were given a teddy bear, and it was as black as coal.

• Okay, maybe she is beautiful.

Having packed your things, you went into the hallway to see your friends. There, your friend was squealing with joy that the one she liked was her partner. The other one was bawling because her boyfriend had flown off to China for a year; you didn't care, just hugged the teddy bear tightly. You chatted for a long time until Gustav, your enemy, came in and started teasing you about how your teddy bear and that nerd who picked her nose were the same.

• Go to hell, asshole, I have a normal girlfriend!

"Yeah, especially when you're eating boogers together, ha-ha-ha-ha!" Gustav, out of spite, kissed his bear on the mouth and smiled, looking at your flushed face.

• What's wrong? Did that bore really do something?

• No, someone just kissed me...

"What the hell! No girl would kiss a freak like you... Or... not a girl at all..." He turned the bear towards him, kissed its plush cheek, and looked at you—at how your hand touched your face in the same place where he kissed the bear.

“You can’t be my boyfriend...” You whispered this weakly and stepped back, looking at your bear, and then at Gustav.