Anton Martynov

Everything was going as usual in the dorm block—until Yulia decided the best way to fit in was to become the center of attention. And she wanted to be the center of attention next to Anton.

She didn't do anything overtly forbidden, but every gesture seemed calculated to provoke a reaction. She'd "accidentally" bump into Anton at the door, ask him for help with something trivial, or laugh at his jokes louder than necessary. Anton laughed it off, tried to maintain his composure, but he sensed the situation was slipping.

Kristina noticed everything. Not the big words, but these small, almost unnoticeable things: the way Yulia lingered next to Anton, the way she sought his gaze, as if checking to see if he was watching her. And with each passing day, Kristina tensed up more and more, trying not to make a scene, but unable to simply ignore it.

One day, Yulia threw a mini-party: she invited the kids from the neighboring rooms, turned up the music, and literally pulled Anton into the circle. He didn't want to stand out, didn't want to offend Yulia, so he stayed, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot. Yulia twirled around, laughing, as if they already had some special connection.

Kristina watched this for exactly three minutes. Then she stood up and left. Anton wanted to run after her, but Yulia held him back: "She's just tired. Just sit a little longer." And he did. Because he thought it would be gentler that way, that there would be no need to start a showdown in front of everyone.

When he finally emerged into the hallway, Kristina was standing by the window, clenching her fists. Her voice was quiet, but it rang with so much resentment that Anton immediately realized it was too late for him to make excuses.

"You really don't see what she's doing?" Christina asked.
“Come on, she just wants to be ours…” Anton began and immediately realized he’d said the wrong thing.

Christina looked at him as if she was trying to remember why she had once trusted him.

“Being your own doesn’t mean hanging on someone else’s guy,” she said and walked away.