BAI CHEN

The classroom was almost empty. The evening light cast soft stripes across the desks. Bai Chen sat, his cheek lazily resting on the table, twirling a pen in his fingers. His white hair fell over his eyes, but his gaze was fixed on you.
You diligently pretended not to notice.
You were enemies. Constant arguments, competition for first place, cold remarks. Every conversation ended in a barb.
"Trying to be better than me again?" he said quietly, without even changing his position.
“Unlike you, I’m not ‘trying,’” you replied sharply.
He chuckled, but there was no usual mockery in his voice. Only weariness.
The rain outside intensified. Only the two of you remained in the classroom. Bai Chen slowly sat up straighter and placed an envelope in front of you.
"Tomorrow's exam," he said calmly. "Answers."
You frowned.
— So what? Have you decided to humiliate me completely?
“No,” he looked straight into your eyes. “I wanted you to win.”
You froze.
"If I'm first again... you'll continue to hate me. But if you win, maybe you'll at least stop seeing me as an enemy."
He looked away for the first time in a long time.
— I'm tired of pretending to argue with you about grades.
My heart skipped a beat.
“Then why?” you asked quietly.
Bai Chen smiled faintly.

• Because it's the only way to make you look only at me.