A normal day in Hyun Highschool, there sat Kang Alex. The top student of the high school. The favored nerd even.. He was described as blunt, stern, cold to almost the whole school. But he wasn't expecting a familiar old face in this school. Especially not him..

'What is he doing here..?' Alex thought to himself. He was clearly surprised to see his only.. One and only childhood friend who had left the city to go abroad with his family. It was none other than.. Liam. Park Liam.. Alex missed him dearly. Who wouldn't? He just vanished without saying anything until the neighbors broke the news down for Alex.

It seemed as though that Liam didn't notice Alex.. For now. He was introduced as the new student for Hyun Highschool. He was instantly becoming a heart throb among the female students.

''Hello, everyone.'' Liam spoke up, voice smooth and velvety. The kind of tone that makes everyone swoon.

''It's a pleasure to meet you all. The name's Park Liam. I'll be part of your class today. So, I hope you'll welcome me warmly.'' He ended with a soft smile.

Alex noticed that some of the girls were gossiping about how good-looking he was. He was weirded out because Liam was just introduced to them.

''Alrighty, thanks for the introduction, Liam. You may go sit beside Kang Alex.'' The teacher said out-loud, surprising Alex. ''Alex. Would you please be a dear and maybe give Liam a tour around the school after class?'' Alex looked up from his paper, ''Huh? Uh.. Sure..''

The teacher nodded and gestured for Liam to take the empty seat beside Alex.

Once Liam had taken his seat beside Alex.. It was a bit awkward to say the least. Liam was not remembering Alex and it broke him. How could he not remember him? He was his friend during childhood. They would always climb trees, celebrate each other's birthday, and everything else that best friends do during childhood, maybe even copy the other one's homework to pass elementary.

After Alex's thoughts subsided, he took a quick glance at Liam. He muttered to himself, 'He looks the same.. Just a bit more matured..'

Liam felt someone staring at him secretly and glanced at Alex, maybe suspecting him of staring since he was feeling it directly towards him.

''Oh, hello!'' Liam spoke up cheerfully, startling Alex. He (Alex) immediately averted his gaze away from Liam.

He felt embarrassed for getting caught. He felt that it was CREEPY. He was a socially awkward geek.

But Liam didn't mind. He thought maybe it could boost up his ego or popularity. He was already popular the moment he step a foot inside this campus.

''H-hi..'' Alex spoke up in an embarrassed tone. Gosh, he couldn't move on from his mistake. Liam noticed this and asked, ''Are you okay? You seem a bit.. Flustered if you ask me.''

Alex shot his head at him Liam, ''I'm not! You're just imagining things!''

Liam was surprised.. In a good way.. Amused if you will. ''Ah, really..? Then I must've been imagining..'' He responded

''Yeah, really..'' Alex replied.

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After classes, Alex didn't forget the favor the teacher asked him. Which was to give a tour to the new student, Liam, also his childhood friend that has forgotten about him. What a jerk.

''Hey! You'll be giving me a tour, right?'' Liam asked cheerfully. There goes that smooth voice. It was a bit annoying to Alex. He absolutely despised popular people because of their arrogance and sky rocketing ego.

Alex took a moment to get his thoughts away, finally replying after a few seconds, ''Yeah, let's just get this over with.''

Liam nodded with an eager smile. He seemed like the type to be called a golden retriever energy. Is he..?

Alex showed Liam the pathways of each room, shortcuts. Even the Gifted Club, where Alex was assigned as a vice president. There were a lot of gifted kids in Hyun High. 

Liam was in awe at how gorgeous the school was, ''Damn.. This is good..'' He muttered.

Alex noticed this and said, ''Right? It just gets annoying when popular kids..'' He looked Liam up and down in.. Suspicion. It seemed that Alex assumed that Liam would be the same as those egoistic, arrogant teens.

''Yeah.'' Alex ended his words with a simple 'yeah'

Liam was quite offended. Did Alex really thought of him as an arrogant prick? Maybe he was.. But he couldn't have been that bad, right? 

''Are you assuming that I am one of those pricks?'' He asked Alex

Alex looked up at him due to height differences, ''Probably.''

Liam was caught off guard. Damn. Alex must've had a troubling experience with multiple popular teens. 

''I promise you that I'm not like them-'' He paused, ''..''

''Maybe I am-..''

Alex looked at him with eyes saying, 'Are you serious or just stupid?'

He sighed and looked away, ''That's the end of the tour. You handle the rest.''

Liam looked at him, ''What? You're really gonna leave me hanging like that?'' he grumbled.. Not too fond of the idea of having to explore the whole school by himself.

Alex walked off with his things, leaving the school grounds and heading home.

Liam was left with a frown, watching Alex left him standing there. He was annoyed but also amused. 

Liam had the skill to easily befriend anyone, and EVERYONE..

But this one.. Was a tough case. Alex wasn't that easy to befriend. Even if he was the favored nerd, he still had a difficult time making friends. Easily becoming a loner.

Things were.. Well, it had been overwhelming and hazardous the past few years. Alex has been experiencing depression due to stress, anxiety and the difficulty to overcome the divorce of his parents. The state his mother is in, drinking all the time, not being able to care for her son, making Alex take matters into his own hands.

His dad hasn't been helping, not even visiting. Just.. Neglecting his previous family.

The once bright, cheerful Alex has turned into a stone-cold boy. 

Liam didn't know this, considering he moved away to somewhere suitable for him over the past few years. 

He had no idea that Alex's life was falling apart.. 

To him.. Alex was just.. A stranger now..

He doesn't remember him, nor acknowledge him that much.. Which was heartbreaking for Alex..

Alex had already lost everything.. Except his academic achievements. But to his mom.. It wasn't enough.

Since then, Alex had been pressured into being the best and only the best.

Meanwhile, his mother. Is clearly the problem, including his dad. Why can't they care for him like the way they did when he was a kid? 

His parents' divorced when he was only 12.. 

He witnessed their fights almost every time.. He would sometimes get involved in their fights. They'd take their anger out on him, insult him. Blame him for everything that has happened in their fights.

Since then, he had refused to look at his parents'. He hated them. Hated how they would make him the center of attention in their fights. Yelling at him at how they have ruined their lives.

He absolutely despised other families that had a happy and healthy relationship with each other.. 

He would always think to himself, ''Why can't I experience the type of relationship they have..?''

He'd have a tendency to blame himself for the disaster that had destroyed his life..

An alcoholic mother who pressures him the most...

A neglecting father who abandoned his family...

Alex would sometimes wonder if he was really worth living. The situation might seem small, but to Alex. It was things that a child should never should've experienced.

The fights, the yelling, the physical abuse, the blaming. The things he had seen as a 12 year old was HELL..