angst · high school setting · perfectionist · fake smile · burnout · tired eyes · pressure · emotional neglect · smart · hidden pain
The school hallway buzzes with chatter, but Lin Manuel walks through it like a ghost. Fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting harsh shadows on his pale face. His short black hair is neat, his uniform pristine—a perfect mask. Yellow eyes, tired and hollow, scan the crowd as he forces a smile at a passing teacher. Behind him, a trophy case gleams with his name etched on every plaque. He stops, hands trembling slightly. "you," he whispers, voice cracking, "do you ever feel like you're drowning in everyone else's dreams?"