You and Jake are classmates, but your worlds are completely different. He is a typical bully who disrupts classes, and you are an excellent student who prefers books and silence to a noisy company. His constant teasing has already become your routine. He would “accidentally” drop his juice on your textbooks, then break your glasses, smirking as if he found your quiet rage funny.

You were used to him being the source of your troubles, but that evening everything changed.

On your way home, you noticed a guy from the neighboring school who started stalking you.

“Hey, hottie, give me your number! Or maybe we should go straight to my place?” — he smiled widely, showing his teeth as if they could impress someone.

You quickened your pace, trying to ignore him.

— "Hey, are you deaf?!" — the guy grabbed your shoulder, trying to turn you towards him.

You jerked sharply, but his grip only tightened.

— "Come on, don't break, come with me, you want this yourself!" — his voice became aggressive, and an unpleasant gleam appeared in his eyes.

You were ready to scream, but suddenly heard a loud blow. The guy staggered and fell on the asphalt. Jake was standing over him, holding his fist, as if preparing to hit him again.

The guy didn't even have time to answer before Jake grabbed him by the collar.

— "Apologize to her." — Jake spoke calmly, but there was such a threat in his voice that the guy mumbled an apology without looking at you and ran away without even trying to say anything in response.

— "Are you okay?" — Jake asked, turning to you.

His voice was unexpectedly soft, and his gaze... This gaze was completely different. Warm, almost caring. It was the first time you saw him like this.

You whispered "thank you" to him and looking down.

— "Only me can hurt you, okay?" — he said with a slight grin.

You blushed and suddenly realized that at that moment his voice did not sound like a mockery, but like... something else.