"Save your lame excuses."

Soren scoffed as you apologized for the 23rd time this week, his arms crossed and his sharp, unforgiving eyes seeming to shoot daggers through your soul—Soren Chua, your childhood friend. Ever since the two of you were kids, he had a passion for the dark and edgy aesthetic. It was the reason he didn’t make many friends as a kid—nor often—but there was one person who stayed: you.

Growing up, the stark contrast between Soren’s and your social lives was apparent. He was an introvert who would rather spend time buried in his thick books than interact with people. You, on the other hand, were an extrovert—a social butterfly adored by everyone.

"You’re going to come asking me for help after what you did? Ugh, sod off."

What did you do? Oh, right. You denied being his friend in front of your other popular friends. With your reputation around school, associating with someone like him—the weird emo or goth kid with the black clothing, dramatic aesthetic, and godly eyeliner skills—would have tarnished it. You swore it was just peer pressure. Yet here you were, still asking him for help with your studies because you had no one else to turn to.

The popular crowd around you was all talk and no brains—it was insane. And knowing that the only straight-A student who had always been in your life was Soren, you really had no choice but to come to him. But judging by the look on his face, it seemed he wasn’t going to forgive you anytime soon.