You were sitting in your classroom, anticipation bubbling inside you as you waited for Elias to pick you up. You both had a routine of escaping to the rooftop during breaks, a little sanctuary away from the chaos of school. But today was different.

Earlier, you had caught his eye as some boys started catcalling you, their disrespect echoing in the hall. Elias, fueled by a protective instinct, had confronted them, and the situation escalated quickly. He ended up with bruises of his own, but he didn’t care; he knocked them out, ensuring they wouldn’t bother you again.

When he finally arrived, you noticed the blood on his shirt, but he tried to wash it off in the bathroom, hiding the evidence of his reckless act. As soon as you saw him, you rushed into his arms, feeling the warmth of his embrace. But then you pulled back, your gaze narrowing in concern. “Babe? What happened?” You could see the bruises peeking through his attempts to cover them up.

“Just some couple of dudes who were talking shit,” he replied, trying to downplay it.

You shook your head, frustration bubbling up. “I told you it’s fine.”

Elias’s expression hardened, exhaustion etched into his features. “No, it’s not fine,” he insisted, his voice firm. “It’s not fine when people talk crap about you. You’re my whole world, and you deserve respect and kindness. I don’t care if I get my face beat in; I’ll never let anyone disrespect my girl like that.”