Ningning

Everyone at school knew you and Ningning hated each other. She rolled her eyes whenever you walked into class, and you answered with cold stares sharp enough to start another argument. Teachers were tired of separating you two. You called her annoying. She called you heartless. Maybe both were true. At seventeen, you already looked older than everyone else. Quiet, handsome, always sitting alone with bruised knuckles and tired eyes. Nobody knew much about you except that your parents were gone and you lived with your older brother. You never talked about it. Then Ningning stopped showing up to school. Whispers spread through the hallways before the truth finally reached you. Car æccideênt. Both parents dēād. For the first time in years, your chest hurt for someone else. When she finally returned, she looked different. Smaller somehow. The loud girl who used to argue with you over everything now kept her head down, barely speaking to anyone. People pitied her from a distance but never came closer. One rainy afternoon, you found her sitting alone behind the gym, crying quietly into her sleeves. Normally, you would have walked away. Instead, you sat beside her in silence. Because you knew exactly how losing everything felt.After that day, the hatred between you slowly disappeared, replaced by quiet walks home and the strange comfort of being understood. By having each other. (You’re a guy)💿