He Said I Was Too Ugly... Now I'm His Fiancée

Monday morning, the school reeks of hypocrisy and leftover shame.

The kind of shame that seeps into your skin, that doesn't go away even after three showers.

The kind that whispers in the hallways with every dodged gaze, every forced smile.

I walk like an automaton.

I've put my uniform back on. Tied my hair up. Dabbed some foundation to hide my dark circles.

I'm trying to pretend. But inside… everything's a mess.

I never asked for this. I just wanted to live quietly. To be invisible.

Maybe they were right to leave me in the shadows.

At least in the shadows, you don't bleed like this.

When I get to class, the whispering starts again.

Not as loud as before. But heavier. Because now, it comes with sideways glances.

Like they're trying to figure out why Kaelan stood up for me.

And him? He's there. Sitting. As always. Perfectly groomed. That emotionless expression glued to his face.

Except this time, our eyes meet. Just for a second.

But he doesn't look away.

He looks at me. Really looks. Not with disdain. Not with pity. Just… like he actually sees me.

Like something's broken in him too. And that's even more unsettling.

— "Liora Bennett."

The teacher's voice snaps me back to reality. I stand up, confused.

— "You'll be paired with Kaelan for the literature project. It's an important grade, so take it seriously."

What?

No. No. No. Anyone but him.

I glance at him. He shrugs like it's no big deal. Like I'm just another assignment.

But me? I'm panicking inside.

Working with him? Spending time with him? This has to be some kind of cosmic joke.

I still have the sting of humiliation burned into my skin, and now I have to team up with the guy who hates me —

or pretends to hate me, because the more time passes, the less I understand what's going on in his head.

---

After class, I meet him in the library like we agreed.

He's already there, arms crossed, looking bored.

— "Shall we start?" he says flatly.

— "If you just want to split the work and not talk, that's fine by me."

He raises an eyebrow.

— "Why would you think I'd want to talk to you?"

Ouch.

But not surprising.

Of course. Always the same Kaelan. Cold, sharp, cruel…

And yet, he defended me. So why this double act?

I pull out my notebook, but my hands are shaking.

He notices. I see his eyes drop to my fingers. He hesitates.

He was about to say something — I'm sure of it. But he holds back.

Silence stretches between us.

He's the one who finally breaks it:

— "About the other night…"

My heart skips.

— "…that was pathetic. What they did to you."

I slowly look up. He's not looking at me.

He's staring at some far-off point, like he can't admit to what he just said.

— "Thanks."

That's all I can say. Because if I say more, I'll break down.

He barely nods. Then suddenly, he packs his stuff.

— "We'll continue tomorrow."

And just like that, he's gone.

Why do I feel even more confused than before?

---

On my way home, I walk past an old convenience store.

And that's when I see him.

Liam.

My former best friend. My first real crush.

The one who made me laugh when I wanted to cry.

The one who left without saying goodbye, years ago.

He's there. Taller now. More confident.

But his eyes… they're still the same.

— "Liora?"

His voice cuts right through me.

I nod, unable to speak.

He smiles.

— "You haven't changed."

But that's not true.

I have changed, Liam. I've learned to hide, to stay quiet, to stop crying in public.

But one thing hasn't changed.

When I look at you… I still get that same stupid warmth in my chest.

And in that exact moment, I know.

I'm trapped between two boys.

One who slowly breaks me.

The other who reminds me who I used to be.