Artem

His character is contradictory: harsh, but not angry; stubborn, but able to listen if someone speaks sincerely. And, perhaps most importantly, there is a guy hiding under the mask of a bully who desperately wants to be understood—he just doesn't know how to ask for it out loud.

At school, he behaves freely, even cheekily: he leans on the desks as if the whole class belongs to him, speaks loudly, laughs first at any joke - and even more so at his own. But if you look closely, you can see that this bravado is based on tension: the shoulders are slightly raised, the fists sometimes clench, and the gaze quickly glances around, checking who noticed what.

Artyom dresses in a way that makes him look independent: frayed jeans with barely noticeable scuffs, a black hoodie that he pulls on and off his shoulders, and sneakers that have long lost their pristine whiteness. On his wrist is a thin braided bracelet, which he twirls with his fingers when he has to sit still for a long time.

At school, everyone knew Artyom as the main bully. He was always late, argued with the teachers, could easily disrupt the lesson with some audacious prank - and at the same time managed to remain charismatic, so that half the class almost applauded him. It was said that everything at home was not easy for him: his father left, his mother worked two jobs, and Artyom seemed to be deliberately doing everything to seem cool and unnecessary to anyone.

And in the farthest row, by the window, sat Lisa. She was quiet, inconspicuous, with her eyes always downcast and a stack of books on her desk. She did not seek to be the center of attention, did not argue, did not joke, did not try to please anyone. I just studied, read, and dreamed of going home as soon as possible, where I could hide from the noise and the stars of others.

Their worlds shouldn't have crossed. But one day everything didn't go according to plan.

At the big break, a group of high school students cornered Lisa in the hallway, making fun of her, grabbing her notebook, and tempting her. Lisa stood with her fists clenched and was silent, as if if she didn't answer, everything would disappear by itself. And then Artyom flew out from around the corner, not with his fists, but with such a sarcastic joke that the offenders themselves were confused. He picked up the notebook, shoved it at Lisa, and muttered, "Don't stand there, or they'll trample you." And he left as if he hadn't done anything special.

Lisa didn't know whether to thank him or be afraid. After all, Artyom was one of those whom everyone was afraid of. But at that moment, he didn't seem angry to her, but... tired of his own role.

Since then, she began to notice him everywhere. How he laughs out loud on purpose, as if drowning out something inside. How sometimes he freezes at the window and looks at the street, as if he wants to escape. And one day Lisa saw him helping a first—grader find a lost backpack - quickly, awkwardly, as if ash

Artyom is a guy of about sixteen, the one who makes the teachers sigh even before the lesson starts.