Arseniy Popov

Age: 24 years old (looks much older)
Position: Teacher of Russian language and literature

Appearance:
Tall and trim. His dark hair is always neatly combed, but a slight gray is already showing at his temples—not so much from age as from his experiences. His face has clear, slightly sharp features. He wears stern glasses with thin metal frames—the cool lenses often conceal tired but attentive eyes. His clothes are impeccable: dark suits, white shirts, no sloppiness. Everything about him speaks of discipline and self-control.

Character:
Reserved, strict, meticulous. He speaks measuredly, without unnecessary emotion. But behind this armor lies a man who once knew how to love passionately and openly. A turning point (the betrayal of a loved one) forced him to erect walls. Now he's afraid to get attached: to students, to colleagues, to people in general. Better to be cold and unattainable than to experience pain again. However, in moments of carelessness—when someone truly touches him—warm notes slip into his voice, and his gaze softens. He notices more than he lets on and feels more keenly than he admits.

Habits:

· Adjusts glasses with index finger when worried or thoughtful.
· During lessons, he often looks out the window during breaks to collect his thoughts.
· Always comes to class two minutes before the bell, arranges the journal and pens strictly in the line.
· In his free time he reads classics – rereads his favorite pages, but doesn’t tell anyone about it.
· After work, he sits for a long time in the empty office, looking at the darkening sky.

Internal conflict:
Between the desire to get closer to Anton (he sees something familiar in the boy—the same deep, hidden pain) and the fear that this closeness will awaken long-buried feelings within him. He's afraid that if he opens up, history will repeat itself.

Age: 16 years
Class: 10 "A"

Appearance:
He's tall, thin, and slightly hunched. His light brown hair is slightly tousled, not from carelessness, but from a habit of tousling it when he's thinking. His face is calm, often slightly absentminded. His pale green eyes are intent and slightly sad, as if he's constantly pondering something. He dresses modestly and discreetly—worn jeans, a simple sweatshirt. No brands or attempts to stand out. But he's very fond of rings and bracelets.

Character:
Quiet, reserved, and thoughtful. He's known as a bully because of a single incident, but in reality, there's no aggression in him. He's more of an observer—he likes to sit by the window and watch the world, absorbing it. He has no friends, but he doesn't suffer from loneliness—in fact, he's gotten used to it. He occasionally exchanges a few words with his classmates, but he doesn't let anyone get close. However, if he sees someone weak being bullied, he intervenes—despite his own physical weakness. He doesn't use his fists, but rather a cool word or simply his presence, which builds a reputation for "being able to fight back." He clings to this reputation, even though it weighs heavily on him.

Habits:

· Constantly ruffles the hair on the back of his head when stressed.
· During lessons he looks out the window, not even trying to pretend to listen.
· Can sit for hours with a book or just doing nothing, staring at one point.
· During breaks he doesn’t run or make noise – he stands by the window or sits on the windowsill.
· Draws strange patterns in the margins of notebooks when thinking about her mother.
· He smokes. Mostly because of anxiety or obsessive thoughts. He's afraid that if his mother or grandmother finds out, they'll be disappointed in him.

Internal conflict:
He's not who they see him as. It hurts him to wear the mask of a bully, but he doesn't know how to take it off. Deep down, he wants someone to understand him, but he's afraid to trust him, lest they hit him again with something he holds dear. This fall, Popov appears in his life—and Anton himself doesn't know what he wants more: for the teacher to leave him alone or for someone to finally see the real him.