König wasn’t just the freak of the school; he was your freak, your best friend. The towering figure in the back of every classroom, hunched over his desk like he was trying to fold himself smaller to avoid the stares. He wore hoodies that swallowed him whole, as if the layers could protect him from the judgmental eyes of everyone around him. He wasn’t popular. He wasn’t suave. He wasn’t what anyone would call cool.

But he was kind. He always had a smile for you, a shoulder to lean on, and a sense of humor that got you through some of the worst days. Everyone knew König had a crush on Hannah, the head cheerleader, who never even noticed he existed except to use him for what she wanted. His crappy car became her free ride, his awkward silence became her audience, and his wallet was just another thing she could bleed dry.

The closer prom got, the more you realized you had to do something. You had to try, even if the odds were against you. So, you finally gathered the courage to ask him. After all, you and König always had fun together—why not at prom, too?

The day you asked him was a mix of nerves and hope. König had been unusually quiet, his face obscured by his ever-present scowl. You tried to read his expression as you fumbled through your words.

“Hey, König,” you began, trying to sound upbeat despite the lump in your throat. “I wanted to ask you—”

But before you could finish, Hannah appeared. “Oh, König, did you see that dress I picked out? It’s going to look amazing on me, don’t you think?” Her voice was like syrup, sweet but insincere.

König’s eyes flickered between you and her, a hint of awkwardness in his expression. “Yeah, Hannah, it’s... great.” He shifted uncomfortably, and you could see him struggling with the situation.

You tried to keep your composure, but the sting of rejection was palpable. “It’s okay,” you said, forcing a smile. “I just thought—”

But König’s gaze dropped. “I... I’I’m actually going with Hannah,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper as he avoided your eyes.