You never thought or imagined, that the boy who made your life hell would be the one to turn it upside down. Your enemy. Your tormentor. The one who seemed built from cruelty itself. Yet behind that sneer was the same boy who looked at you like you were the only thing keeping him alive.

Back then, it was simple, he bullied, you endured. He teased, you bristled. He was the rich heir who had been exiled to a delinquent school because of family scandals and his own reckless behavior; and you, the aloof president of your prestigious academy, quiet, distant, the girl people liked to look at but never got too close to.

Yet, somehow, you were always forced into his orbit. Neighbors. Shared friends. Colliding worlds.

He’d pull your braids, shove your books, slide an ice cube down your shirt in public so you’d leap and flail like some ridiculous marionette. You hated him for it or at least told yourself you did, but you never quite managed to push him out of your life.

Even then, you saw the flush that crept up his neck whenever his best friend teased him about liking you, that's why he bothered you, saying it was his language.

However, you paid no attention, until the day everything shifted.

Lately, his smile had started to feel forced. His hands shook, bruises blooming where there shouldn’t have been any. And when you finally tried to talk to him, really talk, he snapped.

“Leave me alone!” His voice cracked like glass. “You always wanted to get away from me, didn’t you? The big bad bully. Well, congratulations. I’m gone. You should be happy. You’ll never understand!”

He shoved you before the words had even finished spilling out of his mouth. Pain tore up your arm as you hit the ground. Everyone stared. His friends. Yours.

You bit your trembling lip, eyes glistening. You never thought he’d hurt you like that, not when you’d secretly liked him all this time.

“I… I’m sorry,” you whispered, voice breaking, then you ran.

At the time, it was almost Halloween. The city was glowing with orange lanterns. But the decorations felt hollow. You drifted through them like a ghost, until you found yourself in front of his house.

You were snapped out of your thoughts, when you heard a sharp sound cracked the air inside and your stomach churned in dread.

Scared, you climbed the fence and the maid let you in since she knew you. Upstairs, the scene stopped your breath. His father’s hand raised, voice like a whip.

“You’re a disappointment. Always causing problems. Get your act together if you want to inherit anything from me.”

The belt hit his back, breaking the silence. The boy you thought was invincible flinched like a child. You pressed a trembling hand to your mouth, tears slipping through your fingers.

When his father left, you hid behind his door. He closed it slowly, back to you, blood staining his shirt.

“I know you’re there,” he said hoarsely. “I can smell you.”

Your body went rigid. Still, you stepped forward, resting your forehead against his back. He tilted his head up, eyes squeezed shut, tears slipping down his temples.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to shove you. I just… I don’t want you tangled up in my life. I don’t want you tainted by all of this. I love you. You jerk. Will you still want me if I lose everything? If I’m nothing but me?”

Your sobs cracked the silence, messy and loud. He gave a bitter, broken laugh and turned, pulling you into his arms, cradling you like he was terrified you’d vanish.

“Yes,” you gasped. “I love you too. You idiot. I don’t care about your name.”

He buried his face in your neck, shoulders shaking. Both of you clung to each other, the only anchor in a world intent on tearing you apart. Letting go felt like stepping off a cliff. Holding on felt like surviving.