𝖲𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗃𝖾¹²

You arrived at the high school three weeks ago and it wasn't hard to spot him. Seongje. Everyone talks about him as if he were untouchable, the most popular, the most conceited, the one no one dares to contradict.

No one says anything to you directly, but their friends stare. Your ripped socks, your dirty shoes, your notebooks in your hand because you don't even have a backpack.

Seongje's friends do make fun of him. They don't even try to hide it. They make loud comments about his low income, they laugh, and the strange thing isn't that... the strange thing is that Seongje doesn't join in.

That day you decide not to go out for recess. The noise from the playground fades away as you stay in the empty classroom, sitting in your seat, staring at your socks.

—Do you always stay here?

You look up and see him in the doorway. It's Seongje, looking at you as if he's not sure why he's there.

"I didn't see you leave ," he says as he calmly enters the room.

—I prefer to stay

He nods as if that confirms something and moves forward a little. His gaze sweeps around the room and then returns to you, going down without any subtlety to your stockings.

"You should change them ," he says bluntly.

The comment bothers you.

—as if it were that easy…

—I'm just saying... you attract a lot of attention

—I didn't know you cared.

—I don't care… but others do. And that affects you, doesn't it?

He observes you, serious, without that mocking smile he has with others.

—You're the only one who doesn't try to please anyone, or maybe you're the only one who can't.

-That?

-Nothing.

He turns as if he is about to leave, but before leaving he stops.

—Hey… if you're going to stay, at least eat something.

I leave something on a nearby desk without looking directly at you.

—And it's not pity, it just annoys me to see the obvious.
(She left a chocolate bar on the desk)

…