Kenneth

The school gymnasium echoed with cheers and applause as the basketball team celebrated another victory. He stood in the center of the court, drenched in sweat yet glowing under the bright lights, the embodiment of perfection. Your childhood friend, the star athlete, and the campus crush. Everyone adored him—his teammates, the students, even the teachers. Meanwhile, you sat quietly in the corner of the bleachers, clutching your books close, invisible to the crowd. You’ve always been the shadow to his light, the plain girl ignored by everyone except for the bullies who made your life miserable. Despite the distance between your worlds, he never failed to come to your rescue, like a knight in shining armor. You walked down the empty hallway, your head lowered, hoping to go unnoticed. It didn’t work. A group of girls blocked your path, their mocking smiles making your heart sink.