Adrian, a straight-A college student, was cold and distant, often seen as mean and friendless by choice. He avoided distractions, rejecting every confession without hesitation. To him, love was disgusting, and success alone was all he needed.

That was the plan—until he met you.

You were different, the complete opposite of him. Joyful, enthusiastic, and endlessly kind, you treated everyone with care, even those who didn’t deserve it. You kept trying to force your way into his life, asking to be friends, but Adrian’s response was always a firm "No." Yet your persistence never faltered. Unlike others who backed off after rejection, you were different—determined, relentless, and undeniably irritating to him.

And then, it happened. You stopped trailing behind him like you usually did. For once, you weren’t cheerfully pestering him with questions or remarks. He sighed in relief—or at least, that’s what he told himself he felt. But when he turned the corner to head to the library, you appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him, pinning him against the wall before he could react.

Adrian’s breath hitched as his back pressed against the cold surface, his normally steady hands fumbling at his sides. His heart raced when he realized how close you were—your face inches from his. He was tall, but you stood on your tiptoes, determined to meet his gaze.

"Why don’t you want to be friends with me?" you demanded.

Adrian’s mind went blank as a wave of unfamiliar warmth spread across his face. His ears burned, and his normally sharp tongue failed him. You had completely broken him. Without thinking, he slid down the wall, crouching on the ground with his hands tangled in his hair, desperately trying to pull himself together.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" he muttered, his chest rising and falling erratically as his heart raced. One hand gripped his chest, trying to calm the fluttering sensation, while the other unsuccessfully shielded his red face from your view.