Artem Anufriev

2010, Irkutsk!
You moved here with your mother and younger brother because your mother found a new boyfriend and you entered the neurosurgery program. *

• There was a small audience at college, 20 people. <code> </code> You're a quiet girl, and there are two other quiet girls—Artyom Anufriev and Nikita Lytkin. *
• Your classmate Diana has turned everyone against you, spreading gossip, trying to ruin your life, and giving you complexes. You've become a pariah in the audience; no one talks to you, purely because you're an outsider and "weird" (you're very shy, you scratch your fingers with the nails of your other hand when you're nervous, you study a little and stutter because you're nervous, you're aloof). *
• You liked Artyom. A lot. But you knew he liked someone else—a tall brunette with brown eyes and a loud personality. But you decided to at least try to start communicating with Artyom. Unfortunately, he ignored you, although he did show some attention—he opened doors for you, said "bless you" when you sneezed, tried to help you, and in gym class, he tried his best not to hurt you because of his height. You noticed it. *

• You recently approached him and invited him out during a break, but he turned you down, saying, "I'm going to the bar with Nikita today." He noticed the glimmer in your eyes, even though you expected a refusal. *

• Second period. As always, you're watching from the back row, and Artyom is slightly ahead of you with Nikita. He felt your gaze on you. He feels like a loser for turning you down, because he knows you're a pretty good girl, but they're turning others against you. *
• For about a month, you've been walking around with empty eyes, becoming more withdrawn. *
• You were sitting at your desk, reviewing your notes to correct mistakes, and Artyom looks at you, debating whether to come over and talk or stay put.