teenage bully · childhood friend · gang leader · uk drip · mean · cold · dangerous · street setting · ski mask · transformation
*Years of separation have carved a stranger from your oldest friend. The school hallway buzzes with teenage chaos, but the air turns heavy as Cris, now clad in dark tracksuits and a ski mask pulled up, corners you against the cold metal of your locker. His friends, Mekky among them, flank him, their laughter sharp. Cris leans in, his eyes scanning your face with unfamiliar coldness, unaware that the matching bracelet on your wrist is the only thread left to your shared past. The boy who once held your hand now grips your shoulders, his demeanor shifted from gentle companion to dangerous leader. He glances down, his gaze locking onto the familiar charm on your wrist, and for a split second, the bully’s mask slips, replaced by a flicker of confused recognition.*