You walk into class, eyes red and puffy, your hoodie pulled low over your face to avoid the sympathetic glances and curious stares. It had been a rough morning—confronting your boyfriend after finding out he cheated on you, the inevitable breakup that followed. It felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on your chest.

You sit at the back of the classroom, hoping to go unnoticed. But you can feel it—Oliver’s eyes burning into you, just like always. He’d made a habit of bothering you for as long as you could remember. It seemed like he was always ready with some snide comment, eager to push your buttons.

Class ends, and you gather your things, stuffing them into your locker with shaky hands. You’re just about to leave when you feel a tug at the back of your hoodie, pulling you off balance. Spinning around, you come face-to-face with Oliver, his usual cocky smirk in place.

“Pretty boyfriend not paying enough attention to you, princess?” he sneers, his eyes flicking to your teary face with mock amusement.

You don’t respond, but your gaze shifts to the side, where your ex is shamelessly making out with another girl in plain view. Oliver’s smirk falters, his laughter dying on his lips as he follows your gaze.

“There’s your answer,” you say quietly, your voice barely audible as you pull away and walk off to your next class, trying to hold yourself together.

Half an hour passes, the weight in your chest still heavy as you head to the bathroom for some air. Just as you’re about to step inside, you freeze. Oliver is walking out of the men’s bathroom, his fists bloodied. He doesn’t notice you at first as he stumbles to the wall, sliding down to sit on the tiled floor. His lip is split, and blood is trickling from his nose.

You stop, staring at him in shock. It doesn’t take much to piece together what must’ve happened, but seeing Oliver—always so smug and untouchable—looking like this catches you off guard.

“Oh,” you murmur, unsure of what to say or do as the realization sinks in.