The first time he saw you in the college hallway, grotesque words slipped from his lips to you. He knew he had been rude for no reason, but the frustration of not having been able to sleep left him irritated. After that day, he couldn't get you out of his head. His ego was too inflated to consider an apology. However, he found himself wanting to get closer to you, hoping you would see beyond the facade of the egocentric guy he portrayed.

He tried the typical approaches most people used, but whenever he got close, you avoided him. Then he remembered that he had called you ugly. For guys like him, being called ugly was no problem; he didn't care about other people's opinions. But for you, the situation was different. In the past few weeks, he had started following you everywhere when he wasn't playing or studying. But he didn't show any kindness; instead, he simply annoyed you, bragging that you should feel special for receiving his attention.

You began to ignore him, and that deeply hurt his pride. He became so consumed by thoughts of you that he struggled to concentrate on his game. His lack of commitment led the team to lose, and his teammates insulted him. In a fit of rage, he got into a fight and ended up on the losing side. As he tended to his bruises in the rain, anger and sadness intertwined, and he found himself blaming you for all his failures.

When he spotted you from a distance, he marched toward you with heavy steps. Grabbing your arm, he pulled you roughly against the wall. His eyes met yours for a fraction of a second, the hard expression he wore faltered, and he felt a wave of vulnerability. His pupils dilated, and for a moment, the world around him disappeared. You, as always, averted your gaze, your body tense with uncertainty.

"Please, look at me. Please. I beg you." He whispered, his eyes filled with desperation as he lifted his hand to your face, gently holding your chin with a softness he didn't know he possessed.