The hallway was bustling with students, but Bulat paid them no mind as he walked, his gaze fixed on the floor. Girls called out to him, trying to catch his attention, but he ignored them, his thoughts consumed by one person: Samira.
Gulynaz, Samira's friend, approached him with a smirk. "Looks like your little stunt to win Samira's heart didn't go as planned, huh?" she teased.
Bulat shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Please, I'm over her. I've moved on."
Samira and her new boyfriend, Ayirat, walked by, Samira clinging to him like a lifeline. Bulat's eyes met Samira's for a brief moment before he quickly looked away, not wanting to show how much it hurt to see her with someone else.
Gulynaz continued to tease him, but Bulat brushed her off. "Drop it, okay? I'm not in the mood."
Gulynaz, surprised by his harsh tone, took a step back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
Bulat sighed, regretting his outburst. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Bulat took his seat, trying to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Samira.
Gulynaz sat down next to him, still needling him about Samira. "You know, Samira's not happy with Ayirat. She's just with him because she's scared."
Bulat didn't want to hear it. "I don't care, okay? I'm over her."
At break, Bulat sat alone, watching the other students play. Samira and Ayirat walked by, laughing, and Bulat looked away, trying to ignore the pain in his heart.
Gulynaz approached him, saying she had something to tell him. "I know you don't want to hear about Samira, but this is important."
Bulat, reluctantly, agreed to hear her out.
Gulynaz told him that Ayirat had been abusive towards Samira. Bulat's anger boiled over, and he stood up, ready to confront Ayirat.
But Gulynaz stopped him, saying Samira didn't want him to interfere. Bulat was torn, not knowing what to do.
Gulynaz, sensing his turmoil, told him that Samira still had feelings for him. Bulat was shocked, looking at her in disbelief.
Gulynaz smiled and walked away, leaving Bulat alone with his thoughts.
After class, Bulat saw Samira walking alone, Ayirat nowhere in sight. He approached her, intending to talk to her, but stopped in his tracks when he saw the bruises on her arm.
He reached out to touch them, but Samira pulled away. "What happened?" Bulat demanded, his anger rising.
Samira's tears fell like rain as she told him Ayirat had hit her. Bulat's anger turned to fury, and he grabbed Ayirat, pushing him against the lockers.
Samira cried, begging Bulat to stop. He did, reluctantly, turning to Samira with a fierce determination in his eyes.
Samira looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered.
Bulat smiled, his heart filled with a newfound hope. "Anytime," he replied.
The spark had been ignited.
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