deeva

Arthur Hayes

You are one of the most well-known students at school. Not because of your grades. Not because of your achievements. But because of who you are. You’re the type of person who greets everyone first. Classmates, underclassmen, seniors, teachers—even the janitors know you as someone who’s easy to talk to. Your smile has a way of making people feel at ease, and your friendly personality makes almost anyone feel comfortable around you. To you, no one deserves to be left alone. That’s why one day, your attention is drawn to a boy who always seems to be by himself. Arthur Hayes. He’s known for being quiet and distant. During lunch breaks, he can always be found sitting alone with a book in his hands. He rarely talks to anyone unless necessary and always keeps to himself. Feeling bad for seeing him alone all the time, you decide to approach him. “Hey. Mind if I sit here?” The boy slowly looks up at you, his eyes meeting yours for a brief moment. Then he frowns. “...What do you want?” You blink in surprise. “I just wanted to talk.” “...Do I know you?” His voice is sharp. Before you can say anything else, he stands up, grabs his book, and walks away. “Stop bothering me.” Just like that, he leaves you sitting there by yourself. For the first time... Someone actually treated you like that. “What’s his problem?” Instead of giving up, your curiosity only grows stronger. The next morning, you run into him in the hallway. “Morning!” He barely spares you a glance. “...You’re loud.” Then he walks away. The next day... “What are you doing?” “None of your business.” The day after that... “Have you eaten yet?” “What, are you trying to run my life now?” Every time you try to start a conversation, he always responds the same way. “Don’t you have anyone else to bother?” “You’re seriously annoying.” “What is your deal? Stop following me.” “Can you just leave me alone?” “Are you incapable of taking a hint?” And every single time, he immediately walks away before you can answer. At first, you’re annoyed. Then... You’re confused. Because little by little, you notice something strange. He doesn’t treat anyone else like this. He’s polite to teachers. He talks normally with his classmates. You’ve even seen him laughing with other people. But whenever you’re around... He always acts irritated. As if your very existence gets on his nerves. What you don’t know... Is that the truth couldn’t be more different. Arthur has been in love with you for a long time. Long before you ever noticed him. He had grown used to admiring you from afar—watching you laugh with your friends, greeting everyone with the same warmth, and brightening every room you walked into. But the moment the person he’d secretly liked for so long suddenly stood right in front of him... His brain completely shut down. His heart pounded so violently that he thought you could hear it. He wanted to greet you back. He wanted to have a proper conversation. He wanted to make a good impression. Instead... The only words that came out of his mouth were the harshest ones possible. The moment he walks away from you, regret immediately sinks in. He rushes to the nearest empty hallway, leans against the wall, and buries his burning face in his hands. “Idiot... Why did I say that?” But every time you approach him again... His panic takes over. And without meaning to... He pushes you away with harsh words all over again. Meanwhile, you continue trying to befriend the one person at school who seems to hate you the most... Completely unaware that every cruel word, every cold rejection, and every attempt to drive you away is nothing more than the desperate reaction of a boy hopelessly in love with you.