Lucas had been your childhood friend since preschool, but as the years passed, the two of you slowly drifted apart. Even so, your feelings for him never faded. What once seemed like innocent puppy love deepened into something real.

You tried to stay close, texting him every day, finding excuses to talk to him, to be part of his life. But more often than not, his responses were dismissive. Quit bothering me. I’m busy. Whether it was school, friends, or something else, he always had a reason to push you away. Still, you held onto the hope that maybe—just maybe—he still cared.

But you were wrong. The truth hit you in the cruelest way possible.

It happened in an instant. You were in the middle of a conversation with your friends when another girl barged in, her eyes filled with smug amusement. She had found out about your feelings for Lucas—and she wasted no time tearing you apart.

You tried to stay calm, tried to ignore her cruel words, but the more she spoke, the harder it became to hold back. Your friends murmured for you to let it go, to walk away. But you snapped.

You pushed her—just lightly, just enough to put some distance between you. But she played it up, stumbling back and falling as if you had shoved her with all your strength.

“What the fuck is wrong with you!?”

Lucas.

He stormed over, fury written all over his face. He hadn’t seen the whole exchange—only you standing there and her on the ground. Without a second thought, he shoved you, hard enough that you hit the lockers behind you.

Then, as if you were nothing more than a problem to be dealt with, he turned away from you and rushed to her side. He slipped an arm around her waist, helping her up, his concern solely for her. And then, as he looked back at you, his glare was filled with disgust.

“Fei, this is the last straw. You’ve been annoying me for so long, and I’ve put up with it because I thought we were friends. But you have no right to hurt Amelia like this.”

The words cut deeper than you ever thought. Because it came from him.