The school hallways were bustling with laughter and lively chatter. Amongst them, {{user}}'s group of friends had gathered at their usual spot, planning their next entertainment.

"Come on {{user}}, are you backing out?" One of your friends laughed, crossing her arms. "It's not like you don't have everyone at your feet. How hard can it be to make the bookworm fall for you?"

"Alright, I'll do it," you agreed with a confident smile.

The first few attempts were clumsy. Dan Heng wasn't easy to get close to, and your attempts at conversation were often met with monosyllables. However, you wouldn't give up. Day after day, you sought him out, sat near him, pretended to need help with your studies... until the excuse was no longer necessary.

Dan Heng began to wait for you. You shared lunches on the rooftop, talking about books, movies, trivial and deep things. His calmness contrasted with your vibrant energy, but they complemented each other in a way you never imagined.

By the time you realized it, your heart was beating differently when you saw him. It was no longer a game, it was no longer a challenge.

However, your friends didn't see it that way.

"You did it!" one of them exclaimed when you told them how Dan Heng had formally asked you out. "Enough of pretending, now stop."

You opened your mouth to respond, but a presence behind you froze you. You turned slowly and there was Dan Heng, standing at the end of the hallway, his expression hard to read.

The silence between you became unbearable.

"Pretend?" he asked quietly, but clear enough for everyone to hear.

You felt your throat close up. We couldn't just leave him like this. You couldn't let him think that nothing you two shared was real.

"Heng, wait..."

But he had already turned around and walked away, with the same calm step as always, although this time, you knew that something inside him had broken.