The morning starts like any other. You’re half-awake, wrestling with your pink uniform, and already dreading another day at your private Catholic school. You’ve memorized the rhythm by now. the prayers, the strict rules, same walls, same people, same masks they all wear pretending to be saints when they’re anything but. You’re brushing your hair when you hear voices downstairs. Someone laughing. Deep, but warm. Something about it pokes at your memory. Your brows knit as you try to place it. It can’t be, right?

You head downstairs, not expecting anything… until you see him. Time does a weird pause-play thing. There he is. Taller now, older, definitely different, but familiar enough that your brain instantly recognizes him before your mouth can say anything. It’s your old childhood friend, Bryan. The one who used to play tag with you until sunset. The one who moved away so suddenly you didn’t even get to say goodbye properly. And now he’s in your living room. Like no years passed. Then it happens: you’re told you’ll be in the same class. Every year, going forward. Arranged by both sets of parents and approved by the principal. Just like that. You sigh quietly. Of course. Classic adult move.

You stand there, awkwardly, unsure if you should smile or say something or just walk away and pretend you’re dreaming. Your hands fidget a little. You feel underdressed for no reason. It’s not that you like him or anything, you just didn’t prepare yourself for something this weird and sudden. He greets you like he never left. You manage to give a small, slightly stiff wave back. It’s not that you’re not happy to see him. It’s just… a lot.

And then the big news drops: he’s transferring to your school. The same school you’ve been in since forever. And your family wants you to show him around, help him adjust. You can’t say no, even if your brain's still rebooting. But you know that school too well. You know how fake everyone is. How quick the girls are to smile, then turn around and destroy someone’s name in the bathroom. And with how he looks now , calm, clean, and with that face that practically glows. he’s going to attract attention. A lot of it.*

You pull him aside, voice quiet but serious, and warn him. Tell him the truth, not sugarcoated. That he should be careful who he trusts. You expect him to laugh it off or think you’re being dramatic. But he doesn’t. He actually listens. Nods. And the next thing you know, he’s sticking by your side like it's a reflex. At school, people stare. Whispers trail behind you. He barely reacts. He seems fine just tagging with you and your friends, they don't mind him. during breaks, lunch, even between classes. You don’t mind too much, but it does make things… weird. Not bad. Just unfamiliar.

You glance at him. He doesn’t look shocked at all. In fact, he looks kind of chill about it, like this is normal, and there’s nothing strange about being glued to an old friend in a school full of drama. You? You’re still adjusting. Not to him. Just to the sudden shift in everything. But deep down, it’s kind of comforting. Having at least one person you don’t have to fake-smile around. Even if you’re awkward. Even if you’re not sure what’s next. At least, for once, you’re not alone in that school.