When he was on the verge of completely giving up and sinking into the darkness of depression, she appeared. A girl with a sweet appearance, short dark hair, and a personality that seemed to shine with its own light. She was one of those people who, no matter the context, radiated warmth and kindness, as if every smile of hers could clear the densest clouds.

Not only that, but she was also considered one of the most popular figures around.

He, on the other hand, was the antithesis of all that. He passed completely unnoticed, almost like a shadow in the crowd's chaos. Nobody seemed to notice his presence, but that didn’t bother him at all.

And then, something unexpected happened.

One ordinary day, as he seriously contemplated abandoning his studies, she approached him. Her voice surprised him—soft yet firm, making it impossible to ignore. He turned his head to respond, and in that moment, he saw her for the first time. For a brief instant, he was completely captivated by her beauty. It was stunning, but it only took him a few seconds to regain his composure. He knew better than anyone that appearances weren’t everything.

They talked for a long while, far longer than he ever could have imagined. And against all odds, the heavy mental burden he carried almost completely faded away. As they exchanged words, an unfamiliar sensation began to invade him: he felt relaxed, comfortable... even happy. It was such an unusual emotion for him that he couldn’t help but reflect on it:

How is it possible to feel so at ease talking to someone?

When the conversation ended, he found himself wishing it hadn’t. Barely three hours had passed since he left campus, and he already missed her. That night, insomnia took hold of him, his mind filled with thoughts of her, imagining the moment he would see her again.

It wasn’t her beauty that kept him awake. Though dazzling, what truly captivated him was how incredibly easy and pleasant it was to talk to her. Her words felt like a melody he wanted to hear over and over again.

Time passed, and the two became friends. He began to find meaning in things, but he knew well that much of this newfound purpose revolved around her. Going to classes was no longer a torment; it was an opportunity to be near her. He knew basing his life on someone else was a ridiculous idea, but he couldn’t help it. He was happy. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged somewhere, even if it was only by her side.

However, as time went on, that friendship began to feel like it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.

After a year of sharing laughter and confidences, he mustered the courage to confess. He didn’t plan anything elaborate or complicated—it wasn’t his style. He simply called her to a quiet spot, far from the noise of others, and opened his heart to her.

But, as he had feared deep down, her response wasn’t what he had hoped for.

Her words were a direct blow, though devoid of cruelty. She rejected him kindly, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

Why did he know he would be rejected even before confessing? Well, for Ezechiel, the answer was painfully obvious. How could a woman as special and perfect as her even consider someone like him? With his unkempt appearance and lack of confidence, he felt he could never measure up to someone like her.

However, what surprised him most wasn’t the rejection itself but the way it happened. Her face, unmoving, didn’t show a shred of emotion as she turned him down. To top it off, she revealed she had a boyfriend.

Boyfriend?

Between them, there had always been a relationship of trust. They shared all kinds of things, from everyday trivialities to deep conversations. But not once—not even once—had she mentioned she was in a relationship.

When he got home, he couldn’t hold back. He didn’t even take off his shoes before throwing himself onto his bed. Tears spilled out uncontrollably as he clung to his pillow as if it could somehow console him. It was his first love. And though he knew it would be hard to forget her, he also knew he had to try.

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The next day, the routine carried on. He woke up early, as usual, and headed to the university. But that morning, he was resolute: he would make a definitive decision about his studies. Once there, he sat in his usual spot, his heart a little restless as he waited for her to arrive.

As always, he was among the first to get there. And, as always, she appeared with that smile that could brighten any place. She sat down next to him, as if nothing had happened, while he, with his heart in his throat, tried to act normal.

Although he tried to hide it, a part of him couldn’t stop thinking: To her, I was never more than a friend… I knew it, but it hurts more than I imagined.

Lost in those thoughts, he suddenly noticed movement beside him. She turned toward him and, with a determined gesture, extended her open hand toward him.

“Ezechiel!” she said, her expression serious but her tone kind. “Let’s forget what happened yesterday. Let’s go back to being those friends who support each other, okay?”

Ezechiel sighed. He knew he couldn’t ask for more. If being just friends meant he could keep sharing moments with her, then he was willing to accept it.

“Alright,” he murmured, slowly raising his hand to meet hers.

But just as their hands were about to touch, she did something completely unexpected. In one swift motion, she grabbed his hand and pulled it directly onto her chest.

The soft sensation of her breasts left his mind blank.

Wha… WHAAAT?! he screamed internally, unable to process what was happening.

“W-What… what’s going on?” he stammered, his face turning crimson as he struggled to meet her gaze.

She gave him a playful, mischievous smile, clearly enjoying his reaction, but almost immediately, her expression shifted. Now she looked scared, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Help! He just grabbed my breasts!” she screamed, her voice trembling with fake panic, as if she were utterly terrified.

Ezechiel, meanwhile, was completely stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened. His mind refused to process the situation.

The few students in the room turned their eyes toward him. Though he didn’t look at them directly, he could feel the weight of their stares—heavy with judgment and contempt, as if each one of them were accusing him of something unforgivable.

Suddenly, several of the girl’s classmates stood up from their seats at the back, shouting words of support for her. When Ezechiel glanced at them, he immediately realized they were her friends—or rather, her accomplices.

When he turned back to her, he saw a completely different expression on her face: a malicious, twisted smile, full of glee, as if she were savoring every second of his anguish.

Panic began to consume him, and without thinking, he grabbed his things and bolted out of the classroom. As he sprinted through the hallways, his mind spiraled into chaos. He had believed she was different, someone he could trust. How could I have been so stupid?

The stress ate away at him. Every time he tried to calm down, the fear surged back stronger. It felt as though the air was growing heavier, as if he couldn’t breathe. With his stomach churning, he rushed to the bathroom, searching for a refuge where he could hide from it all. There, in that tiny stall, the tears began to flow uncontrollably. He hugged himself, trembling, as he tried to make sense of how his life had reached this point.

The message was filled with cruel words, dripping with hatred. Insults about his appearance, his weight, and everything she had learned about him during their time as "friends." Attached were several altered photos of him, showing him somehow groping her chest with a lecherous expression on his face.

What the hell...?

But that wasn’t all. There were threats as well. She demanded money, or else she would go to the police and present the photos as evidence.

Ezechiel collapsed to the floor, kneeling, unable to hold back his tears. He screamed in despair, wondering how his life had come to this point. Deep down, he already knew the answer, though he didn’t want to admit it. It was obvious. This had been her intention from the beginning—a way to blackmail him and extort money from his family.

Ezechiel locked himself in his room, cutting himself off entirely from the outside world. He stopped attending university; it didn’t matter anymore. He only left when absolutely necessary—to go to work—but soon he was fired. The panic attacks made it impossible for him to perform his duties. It was as if everything had crumbled in the blink of an eye.

The weight of humiliation was unbearable. His family, upon learning what had happened, tried to manage the damage. They did everything they could to ensure the scandal didn’t come to light, protecting their reputation at all costs.

But for Ezechiel, none of that mattered anymore. His life had become complete chaos. He withdrew into his room, surviving on junk food with the little money he had left. He spent his days playing video games, isolated, with no strength or desire to do anything else. He only went out when absolutely necessary, to buy the bare essentials.

His life had hit rock bottom. And he didn’t know if he would ever be able to climb out of the dark pit he had fallen into.

-TO BE CONTINUED-