Aron's POV-
The teacher's voice fades into the background, mixing with the scratch of pens and the constant hum of chatter.
I was sitting in the back of the classroom, earphones in, staring out the window as sunlight spills across empty desks and half-open notebooks.
Music fills my ears, building a wall between me and the room full of people who feel miles away. it all blurs into something distant, something I don't care to be part of.
It happens every day.
Girls approach me, one after another, their voices shaky or overly confident, confessing feelings they barely understand themselves. I can see it in their eyes-it's not me they like. It's my face. The mystery. The idea of me they've created in their heads.
I never raise my voice. I never mock them.
"I'm not interested," I say, calmly, every single time.
Some look hurt. Some pretend they aren't. But I don't feel guilty. Affection built on appearance alone means nothing to me. I have no interest in connections that don't go deeper than the surface.
Still, they keep coming.
Day after day, the same hopeful expressions, the same belief that they might be different-that they'll be the one to break through the walls I've built so carefully. They don't understand that the wall exists for a reason.
So I stay distant. I stay quiet. I keep my world small and untouched.
It's easier that way.
The classroom door opens, and the noise level immediately rises. And it shift my gaze towards it .....
A boy walks in, smiling so brightly , like he got some lottery or what.... Too Cheerful. Too comfortable. His laughter spreads fast, and suddenly everyone's paying attention. Even the teacher pauses, as if his presence deserves acknowledgment.
His blue eyes catch the light when he smiles, sparkling in a way that feels almost deliberate. His smile was way too irritating but the eyes ...were filled with somthing .... Maybe something deep to cover somthing .... People smile back, drawn in without effort. Conversations shift toward him .
My grip tighten on book slightly than I brush off the thought nd keep my earphones...
Within minutes, he's surrounded, blending in as if he's been here all along. No awkwardness. No hesitation. Just easy charm.
I turn my gaze back to the window.
Another distraction.
Another reason the room feels noisier than before.
A ripple of whispers followed his arrival. The girls in particular were abuzz, their eyes fixed on him with a mixture of awe and longing. They knew who he was-the transfer student from the prestigious private school, rumored to be both brilliant and devastatingly handsome.
Aron ignored the commotion, focusing on his textbook shutting out the world around him as he had always done but most of the class was distracted by the new addition to their midst.*
A bubbly voice with full of energy broke my attention again and my eyes flickered towards the front, lingering on new boy for a moment longer than usual. His black a bit wavy hair slightly disheveled
" Hey everyone, I m Max Blackwood. I hope you will all help me nd we all be friends " his smile was way too bright .....but eyes were sparkling..
He took his seat in the 3rd row in 2nd line , a row ahead from me
The classroom erupted into a chorus of welcoming calls and curious stares. The girls were especially vocal, their eyes darting between Aron and Max, already sizing up the new competition for Aron's attention.*
Aron remained impassive, his expression unchanging as he watched the scene unfold. He showed no sign of interest in the newcomer, his focus returning to his textbook as if nothing had happened.
The class continued, but the atmosphere remained charged with curiosity and speculation about the new student. The girls whispered behind their hands, casting furtive glances at both Ren and Max, wondering how this new dynamic would play out.*
The bell rings and the class ends. I pack my bag and walk out, already planning to disappear into the cafeteria like I always do.
Then I see it.
Two bigger guys have a smaller student pinned against the lockers. The sound of metal rattling makes me pause. I should keep walking. This isn't my problem.
Before I can move, Max steps in.
He puts himself between the bullies and the kid without hesitation. No fear. No doubt. Just quiet courage. I watch from a distance.
The bullies laugh at him.
"Mind your own business, newbie," one of them says.
I clench my jaw.
I tell myself this is exactly why I stay away from people. Getting involved only leads to trouble. I don't owe anyone anything. I've survived just fine by keeping my distance.
My eyes stay on Max. He doesn't back away. He doesn't look at the exits. He just stands there, like protecting someone is the most natural thing in the world.
I feel irritated. Not at the bullies-but at him.
At his courage.
At his kindness.
At how easily he does what I keep avoiding.