Speechless as ever. I'm not someone that talks a lot, so I just kept quiet, even after his last sentence. I just didn't know what to say. What do you say to somebody that is breaking down before you, drowning in tears? "It's going to be okay,"? No. That sounds way too... weird. I don't know if everything is going to be okay for him.

... Fuck it.

"Do you want a hug?"

"W...what?"

"Do you... w-want a... h-hug?"

He just looked at me dumbfounded. He looked like he'd seen an alien of some sort.

"Why would I want a hug? And why would you want to hug your bully? Are you insane?"

"I-I mean...", fuck I shouldn't have said anything. I always say dumb shit.

"...Yeah. I'd like a hug."

Oh. That wasn't so bad, I guess.

He startled me when all of a sudden he moved towards me and put his head on my chest, laying on the ground with his legs folded. He looked like a scared child. It was actually... sad... seeing him in this position.

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"Uh... th-th-this isn't a h-h-hug. It's c-c-cuddling..."

He lifted himself from me after that and looked into my eyes.

"Oh. I didn't know. I've never had a hug before. But whatever it was, I... liked it... it felt good... even if it was just for a second..."

... Fuck it. Again. Whatever.

"...You can... do that... again... if... you want to... of course..."

He didn't even wait a second longer and returned to the same position as before. If I can get the courage to say all that stuff to him, I can also be brave enough and put my hands around. I wrapped my right hand around his neck, reaching with my palm into his hand. His hair was so soft, and the warmth his body radiated entered mine.

I guess you're not the only one who likes this.

And he started crying again. For the third time. Or fourth. I can't remember, but I didn't mind it. I could feel my chest getting wet due to the amount of tears that were soaking my hoodie. This guy had a lot on his plate. Far more than what he's done to me. It's heartbreaking seeing him tear apart like this. I could hear him sniffling now too. He started to tremble in my arms. I never thought I'd see the all-mighty personal bully of mine from Verdant Valley High so... vulnerable... and so... broken...

"T-thank you..."

"F-for w-what?", even in this miserable state of his, I was still stuttering around him. I still fear him.

"For l-l-listening to me... and for... th-this..."

Oh, that.

"A-anytime..."

After he was done crying on my shoulder, or rather on my torso, we stood up and I got my third

threat of him going after me and ending me on the spot if I tell anybody else about this, to which I assured him for the third time as well that I wouldn't.