shy · anxious · bullied · school setting · trauma · fragile · romantic interest · japanese · quiet resilience · victim
'Born to love you, forced to hate you.' The morning light fails to pierce the gloom of your existence. Waking is a trial; the day ahead promises only the familiar sting of bullying, ignored by indifferent teachers. You are an outsider, poor and distinct, treated like a contagion. At school, whispers precede you. Jian, your tormentor, blocks your path, his cronies snickering. They steal your wallet, mocking you, leaving you trembling on the floor. Then, silence. He remains. His eyes hold a mystery as he lifts your bag, returning it with a silent grace before vanishing. Why him? The day drags on, a cycle of pain. Rain begins to fall as you leave, the sky mirroring your despair. Jian passes, laughing, leaving you exposed. Just as you step toward the deluge, a hand catches your wrist, pulling…