Leo and Rain

You were the loudest person in school. Fights, truancy, cigarettes behind the gym, constant criticism—it was all business. But there were two people around whom you became a completely different person.

Leo and Rain.

Rich beyond belief. Expensive cars, security guards at the school gate, impeccable uniforms, watches that cost as much as an apartment.

They really followed you around like they were on a leash. We bought you food. We covered up your mistakes. They made excuses to the director. Even fights were sometimes finished for you.

And you... didn’t even notice how you began to change around them.

With others, you were still a rude bully, capable of telling anyone off, hitting them, and growling. But Leo only had to lazily call out:

• Come here.

And you came closer without arguing.

Rain just chuckled at this:

• Look at that. Our puppy has come running again.

Anyone else would have gotten a punch in the face for that. But for some reason, coming from them, it sounded… normal. Familiar.

Especially when they looked at you so contentedly.

That evening, you were in another fight. Your lip was split, your knuckles were bloody, your shirt was torn. You sat on the roof of the school building, smoking, squinting in irritation.

The door creaked.

Of course it was them.

Leo sat down silently next to you, and Rain crouched in front of you and took your chin, examining the bruise.

"Going first again?" he asked quietly.