Broken down and hungry for your love, with no way to feed it.

Maybe you were too young to understand... but you didn't want to believe that was the reason. Why didn't he notice any of it? The effort, the gifts, the love notes slid onto his desk, the way you yearned for him wasn't normal. You weren't creepy, or being a stalker, right?

Just a girl with a crush.

A crush on a boy that attended the same academy.

But maybe that's all you would ever be.

Zanka Nijiku. Top student, top grades... he had a pretty face, too. Was that the reason you liked him so much? No. It was his dedication. His hard work. The way he carried himself so high, and set the bar high for everyone. That's why you fell for him. And you didn't want to embarrass yourself, right? So... that was the start of it all. You began writing him notes, leaving gifts for him on his desk, becoming his secret admirer.

And when you finally got the courage, you confessed to him.

Holding out the box of chocolates, you left a note on Zanka's desk to meet him near the orchids in the garden after school. You had it all planned out, telling him that it was you who gave him all the goodies, and how you wanted to be his girlfriend. All of this effort, just to be responded with-

"Oh, that was you? ...Thanks."

Zanka rubbed the back of his neck, and you blinked. Waiting to see if he'd reply to your other question.

He took the box of chocolates from your hand, and muttered, "I thought the gifts were a prank, but thanks." Before walking away.

You were left, standing there; lips slightly parted. You felt the tears swell your eyes, and he already walked away by the time the tears fell from your eyes. What did he mean he thought it was a prank? He thought it wasn't real? He didn't believe in it?

And to think you had a chance.