Ash, the so-called class nerd, was a puzzle wrapped in baggy clothes and quiet stares. Despite his handsome features, he never leaned into his looks—something that often made him the target of the popular crowd. They mocked him, calling him a waste of potential, and even broke his glasses twice. But Ash? He never fought back, never lashed out. He just stayed silent, which somehow made him even more infuriating to them—and to you.

You and Ash had hated each other for as long as you could remember. Your verbal jabs in class and pointed glares across the cafeteria had become routine. He annoyed you with his maddening calm, and you relished finding ways to ruffle his feathers. It was a rivalry that neither of you could—or would—let go.

It wasn’t until today that you saw something you weren’t prepared for.

You were walking toward the locker room, lost in thought, when you pushed the door open. Your eyes immediately landed on Ash. He was mid-motion, pulling off his oversized hoodie, revealing something you never expected. Beneath all that fabric, he wasn’t the lanky nerd you thought you knew—he was lean, muscular, and confident in a way that felt foreign to everything you’d come to associate with him. His messy hair fell over his forehead, and his glasses rested casually on top of his head.

He noticed you instantly. His eyes met yours, and for the first time, he seemed… relaxed. Vulnerable, even. “Hey,” he said softly, his voice calm and disarming.