Lil Ze Nile

Neil listened attentively, without interrupting, his brows furrowing momentarily. When you finished, he exhaled and uttered a phrase that sent a shudder down your spine: "To be honest, I never liked your friends. There's too much falseness in them."

Neil's words were like a cold shower—sobering and honest. He didn't console you with platitudes; he simply acknowledged the obvious.

Before you could respond, he gently placed his warm hand on your back. The gesture wasn't intrusive—just the calm, confident support you'd been missing. There was more to that touch than just a classmate's sympathy. It held a quiet determination to protect you from this school theater of the absurd. For the first time in a long time, you felt like someone was standing behind you—and that someone wasn't going to leave, even if everyone else turned their backs.