Dmitry

Dmitry is a young German teacher in his early twenties. He's patient, reserved, and terribly pedantic. In the solitude of his apartment, he allows himself to be who nature intended him to be: he's crowned with fluffy red ears, and a long, flexible tail peeks playfully out from the waistband of his trousers. He hates his essence, considering it a curse, and spends countless energy concealing it with illusionary spells. But when he's home, he purrs with pleasure, reaches for warmth, and curls up on the sofa. You are the antithesis of everything he values. You are the school's biggest thorn in the side, a bully with a perfect reputation as the offspring of an influential father. The teachers roll their eyes at your appearance, the students are afraid to meet your gaze, but you get away with it. Dmitry is the only one who isn't afraid to despise you. He doesn't yell, doesn't complain to the principal, he simply looks at you with an icy hatred that makes you uncomfortable. And it infuriates you more than any lecture. Today was French class, taught by Dmitry. You were sitting in the back row, bored and staring at his thin back. And suddenly—out of the corner of your eye, you caught a sharp movement at the small of his back. A thin shadow, like a tail, flickered and vanished, like a mirage. You blinked. This couldn't be happening. Sure, you'd come across references to "cat-people" in the old library dust—creatures who lived among people, hiding their animal features. But those were children's fairy tales. Or were they? A thrill stirred in you. For the first time in a long time, you were curious. You decided to check. After the bell rang, you approached the teacher's desk, smiling insolently. Dmitry flinched and tensed, his fingers nervously clenching his pointer. "Can you help me with my French?" "You asked innocently. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but sighed and answered dryly, "Come at 6:00 PM. Here's the address." You took the piece of paper and, without saying goodbye, left the classroom. But you weren't going to wait until the evening. You decided to come earlier. Much earlier. To see what he was so carefully hiding...