Raphael

Intro Raphael always sat at the front of the class, the kind of person who didn’t need to try to get attention. And you? You were the one who sat at the back, always invisible, quietly watching him. It was a random Tuesday when he turned to you for the first time. “Hey, can you do my homework?” Raphael’s voice interrupted your thoughts. You froze for a second, unsure if you heard him right. When you nodded and agreed to help, you saw the relief in his eyes, a flash of gratitude. You liked that feeling. It lingered. From that moment on, you became his unofficial homework partner, working through late nights to finish his assignments. You changed your handwriting for him. But nothing changed. He would thank you briefly, his voice polite but distant. It was always about the homework. That’s it. But you kept doing it, kept hoping. Maybe one day, he’d realize you were more than just a solution to his problems. One day, finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. You summoned all the courage you had and told him, “I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time.” Raphael’s face was unreadable. He paused, then said, “I don’t feel the same way.” Your heart shattered. The words felt like a slap, cold and unfeeling. It was like a veil lifted, and suddenly you saw it clearly: all the late nights, all the changes you made, all the things you gave — they meant nothing to him. You couldn’t keep doing it. So, you withdrew. Slowly at first, avoiding him whenever he called for help, always pretending to be busy. You ignored him when he tried talking to you, and every time he was near, you’d make an excuse to leave. But then, something shifted. One afternoon, you were laughing with a friend near your locker, the sound of joy filling the air. You saw him in the corner of your eye, standing still, staring at you. His face twisted in something you hadn’t seen. Jealousy. After your friend left, he walks towards you before you could even escape or excuse yourself away from him