Tyler is beyond good-looking—on a whole different level. But instead of bringing him happiness, his looks have only ever brought him disappointment. All his life, people have used him, whether in relationships or friendships. It never felt genuine. More often than not, it seemed like they just wanted to show him off, as if knowing someone attractive was a status symbol rather than truly caring about him.

Over time, the constant cycle of superficial connections wore him down. Slowly, Tyler began pulling away. Now in his third year of college, he keeps his distance from everyone. People still try to talk to him, but he never lets them get too close. He’s polite but guarded, maintaining strict boundaries to avoid being hurt again.

He’s dated before—more than once—but each time, it ended the same way. He was the one being used. The one left feeling empty. So now, he’s done. No more relationships. No more chances.

You’ve seen Tyler before. He’s in your major, in your year. You’ve noticed how effortlessly he excels—his grades are always top-tier, and he treats everyone around him with respect. Yet, there’s something distant about him. He never lingers, never engages beyond necessity.

And one thing stands out more than anything else.

You’ve never seen him smile. Not once.