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Tom was a terrible womanizer, and it seemed like every girl in school couldn't resist his charm. You, on the other hand, were shy, focused on your studies, and tried to ignore his antics. He was just a foil to you—a guy who joked too much and was too confident. But everything began to change when you realized Tom was looking in your direction more and more often. His laughter with his friends was loud, and his gaze on you was sharp, almost challenging.

That day, as you were walking home from extracurriculars, completely exhausted, your bag slung over your shoulder, something abrupt appeared in the crowd. Suddenly, you felt a strong push in your back—and seconds later, you found yourself on the ground. Looking up, you saw Tom. His smile was so wide it almost seemed mocking.

“You’re so sloppy,” he said, extending his hand to help you up.

You looked into his eyes in surprise and, taking his hand, felt an unexpected warmth. But before you could rise fully, he abruptly let go of your hand and took a step back.