With a dead expression, Linus stared out of the window, his eyes reflecting the blue sky as if they were one. As Mr. Dietrich's stern voice echoed through the back of his consciousness, everything just seemed too boring to even care about it. Meaningless.

His gaze wandered back down to the empty sheet of paper in front of him as he picked up a pen and started drawing something. But quickly, it turned into an aggressive, aimless scribbling of frustration.

In the corner of his eye, he noticed some girls watching him and giggling. But he paid them no attention; instead, his gaze shifted to the empty seat across from him at the other end of the room. It had been empty ever since the beginning of this school year. But he couldn't shake off the feeling of something being off about it.

It was as if someone had painted a beautiful picture, only to intentionally leave one big blank spot on it, ruining the entire aesthetic.

Long after the bell rang, he still sat motionless in the room. It wasn't until the next bell, signaling the end of the break, that he realized he had to get up to change classrooms.

Listlessly, he trudged through the hallway, like a punching bag being pushed forward by the ebb and flow.

With a loud creak, the locker door clung open. Books, notes, and various odds and ends were scattered inside. Linus loved his chaos. Within it hid an order only he could see. However, amid all the mess, one detail stood out.

Finally, some life came to his eyes. He reached for the white item and examined it for a while. A strange feeling of déjà vu washed over him.

A letter…?

The envelope was completely white—except for a small red sticker sealing it shut. It was in the shape of a heart.

A love letter...?

Skeptically, he glanced left and right down the hallway. Maybe the sender was still nearby?

No, pretty unlikely.

Unless they wanted to watch him open the letter, like a stalker or something.

Was it really a love letter?

Perhaps it was just another of Marlon's bad jokes.

The thought made him pause.

Marlon...? He hasn't been around for some time...

But there's no way someone would confess their love to him. It had to be a prank. From whoever.

A disappointed sigh escaped his lips. Since when had he become so paranoid?

What ever...

Linus was done with it. What did he have to lose? He was already at the edge of his psyche. This time, curiosity would prevail.

He hastily tore open the envelope—yet, carefully enough not to damage it. Impatiently, he unfolded the letter and began to read.

His eyes scanned the paper like a figure skater sliding on frosty ground.

Until they froze.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

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Dear Linus,

I'm sorry for what happened at the party.

I just wasn't myself.

And I hope you can forgive me.

If you're willing to give me a second chance, please meet me at the Literature-Club today after school.

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KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!!!

Hasty knocking echoed through the room of the Literature-Club before the handle slowly descended towards the ground as the door creaked open. First a crack, then enough for a head to pass through.

"I'm glad you're here—" said a voice, before pausing in confusion.

Linus looked with vacant eyes at the door of the Literature-Club. It felt as if it were yesterday that he first stood here. And if it hadn't been for Leopold, he probably still would.

Leopold...

Who was that again?

The memory seemed within reach, but it vanished behind a wall of dirty, distorted glass in the depths of his mind.

He hesitated to look at the door for a while longer before noticing that it was already slightly ajar.

A surge of curiosity swept over him.

Who would await him behind it?

He took a step forward and leaned in.

His right eye closed, the left focused on the gap between door and wall, his ears perked up.

Then he recognized two people from a side angle.

A white-haired boy sitting on the oval table in the middle of the room. In front of him stood a girl, her hands shyly hidden behind her back, her sight a delight.

They were talking.

But Linus couldn't hear what about.

He leaned a bit further forward, making sure not to draw attention to himself.

Again, he looked at the girl. She laughed amusedly, a trilling melody that echoed loudly through the room.

Maya... Maya from the Literature-Club...

I can't believe it... How could I forget...?

But that boy… who was he?! And what the hell were they doing here? They're looking at each other so intensely… Was this going to be a love confession?!

"I... I wanted to tell you something, Aki," Maya whispered hesitantly, her eyes darting wildly, as if they're about to run away.

Akira, on the other hand, remained calm and looked at her questioningly. Especially questioning was his glance at her arms, still folded behind her back. "Yes...?" His voice was uncertain.

Clearly shaken, as if she hadn't expected him to respond, Maya began to stutter. "S-so, it—well, you know—I... um, I..."

"Get to the point, I don't have all day," Akira said dryly, looking at her with incomprehension. Then his gaze shifted to the watch on his arm before scanning the room.

Suddenly, Maya's left hand shot forward, presenting Akira with a red, round object. "Th-this is f-for—is for y-you!"

"An apple?" Akira raised an eyebrow inquisitively, then looked at Maya with a gaze that seemed to make her heart beat faster.

"Y-yes! It's a s-sign of my..." She hesitated.

"Your what?"

Maya winced histerically. She seemed to struggle within herself, as if there was something pulsating inside her, threatening to burst out at any moment, as she was desperately trying to hold it back.

Then she blurted out stutteringly, "L-l-l-love!!"

Akira looked at her as if being disappointed. Then he looked at the apple again. He didn't know what to say. Sure, it was a nice, juicy, apple, and he loved food, but did she really want to win his heart with this? Wasn't that a bit childish and... gullible?

"Oookay...?" With a shrug of his shoulders, he took it from her. "Is that all?" The expression in his eyes tried not to conceal that he was visibly unimpressed. Perhaps he even did it intentionally to crush any hope she had of a response to her feelings. Cruel and compassionate at the same time.

But Maya didn't give up.

She leaned forward, her flowery scent enveloping Akira in a magical way. Her hair now surrounded him like a veil of golden velvet. Her hand rested on his shoulder before she shifted her weight forward at him.

Akira felt her warm breath glide along his throat, as the weight of her chest rested against his. Maya looked deeply into his eyes and suddenly came incredibly close to his lips.

Akira froze.

What was this feeling in his chest?

What... What was suddenly going on here?!

It was at that moment that the door swung open widely and Linus entered. He had seen enough. Shocked, he stared at the two.

"Wh-what are you doing?!" He asked accusingly.

Who did this random guy think he was, making advances on his Maya?!

He should be the one confessing to her. This wasn't fair.

"What—" Akira's voice cut off abruptly.

What Linus saw then, he wouldn't believe was real. It was as if everything was crumbling before his eyes.

Instead of love sparking between the two, a red stain spread across Akira's chest.

Inside his upper body was a massive wooden stake, that continued to soak with blood each passing second.

Akira's desperate gaze shifted from Linus to Maya, down to the wound where she firmly held the stake in her hand and continued to drive it deeper into him.

Linus' voice cracked as he whispered, "Ma…ya…?"