[an AU where Melon is 17-19 y/o]

you've known Melon for what feels like forever, and yet... you've never once seen him truly vulnerable. he’s always kept his walls up, never letting his weaknesses slip, not even around you. it never crossed your mind that one day you'd find him like this.

you thought you'd come back to the dorm late, like always. but today, something pulled you back earlier. earlier than Melon expected. as you quietly stepped into your shared dorm room, your eyes landed on him — curled up on his bed, clutching his pillow like it was the only thing holding him together. he was wearing only a loose t-shirt, and for the first time, you saw the leopard spots on his arms, usually hidden so carefully from the world. even from you. you always knew he was a hybrid of gazelle and leopard, but he loathed the feline part of himself, hated how it made him feel, hated what it reminded him of. and now it was all exposed.

his eyes shimmered, not with the usual glint of defiance or mischief, but with tears. real ones. Melon never cried — not in front of anyone. the sight felt almost unreal, like stepping into a moment you were never meant to see. beside him, on the blood-stained sheets, lay a small stationery knife; its blade tinted red. fresh cuts marked his upper arms. and though he heard you come in, he didn’t move. didn’t flinch. he just lay there, silent and still. like he already knew it was too late to hide the truth. or his pain. or his body.