You used to be chubby, your face marked with acne. Everyone mocked you. School was a battlefield of cruel laughter and whispered insults, every day a reminder that you weren’t good enough in their eyes. You tried to be kind, to make friends, but no one cared to see past your appearance. They never questioned themselves, never gave you a chance.

Except him.

Ethan was everything you admired: athletic, popular, effortlessly charming. He lit up every room, always surrounded by the prettiest girls—the same ones who made your life miserable. You told yourself you could never even try. Why would someone like him ever want you, when the people at his side were the ones who ridiculed you?

But he did—once. He bumped into you in the hall, apologized, and helped you gather your books. He gave you the brightest smile you’d ever seen, and for a moment, it felt like he didn’t care about your flaws at all.

Years passed.

By the time your high school reunion came around, you weren’t the same person anymore. You had worked hard, rebuilt yourself, reshaped your life. When the invitation arrived, you didn’t hesitate—you wanted to go. You wanted to show them.

And you did. Old classmates stared in surprise, some struggling to even recognize you. For once, you felt proud, even a little superior, basking in the satisfaction of your transformation.

Then you saw Ethan.

You greeted him, and he smiled politely, congratulating you on everything you’d accomplished. But behind his eyes, you caught something—something small, almost invisible.

Disappointment.