The rain pattered lightly against the glass as Ethan sat quietly in class, his eyes staring blankly at the board. The lecture faded into background noise as a memory crept into his mind—one that refused to die.
It was during high school, years ago.
.........
Ethan lay on the cold pavement of a back alley, blood trickling from his mouth, surrounded by laughter and cruel insults.
"You're worthless. Why don't you just disappear?" someone shouted.
Fists rained down. Kicks landed on his stomach. Bags and shoes stomped him like garbage.
The worst part wasn't the pain. It was the people walking past, seeing him suffer, and doing nothing. Some even laughed.
Then—
"Hey! Get away from him!"
A sharp voice cut through the noise like a blade. Everyone turned.
A girl stood at the end of the alleyway, her black hair tied back, her uniform messy but her posture confident. Her name was Serena Kael.
She didn't wait. She grabbed a long pipe from nearby construction and charged forward.
Crack! One bully's arm bent at a weird angle.
"Crazy b*tch!" someone shouted, but they ran.
She threw the pipe aside and knelt beside Ethan.
"Can you stand?" she asked, gently helping him up. "Don't worry. I've got you."
From that day on, she never left him.
She sat with him at lunch. Studied with him after class. Defend him every time someone mocked him. And slowly, the broken boy she saved began to smile again.
It wasn't immediate. But slowly, they became friends.
She'd drag him to the library, force him to eat lunch, throw paper balls at his head when he tried to skip class. She didn't treat him like a broken toy. She treated him like a person.
And that was enough.
They laughed. Argued. Fought over stupid things like which drink was better — cola or mango juice. (She always said mango juice. He always picked cola just to annoy her.)
Then came the day he held her hand for the first time.
A dare turned into truth.
A glance became a kiss.
Secret meetings, late-night talks, hand-holding beneath the desks—Ethan had never known warmth like Serena. She was light in his darkness.
Before Ethan knew it, they were in a relationship.
It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't fireworks. The kind of relationship that made him forget the world could be cruel.
She'd smile at him like he mattered. Like he wasn't a failure. Like he was worth it.
But the world never lets light shine for too long.
...... …
The rumors started slowly. A whisper here, a snicker there.
"Isn't she always hanging around that teacher?"
"Didn't you see her leaving the staff room late at night?"
"She's probably sleeping her way to grades."
"Pretty sure she's his personal stress relief."
"She's always with that poor boy. Maybe she likes being dominant."
"Bet her mother's the same."
They called her things Ethan didn't want to repeat. Whore. Slut. Gold digger.
Serena tried to ignore it. She smiled through clenched teeth. But Ethan could see the way she gripped her bag tighter, the fake laughs, the growing silence.
One day after school, she finally broke.
They were sitting on a bench outside the school gate.
"Ethan," she whispered. "Did you... did you tell anyone anything? About me? About us?"
He frowned. "What? No. Never. Why would I?"
Her voice trembled. "Because people are saying horrible things. About me. About my family. That I sleep with teachers. That my parents are whores. They said I'm only using you."
Ethan shook his head. "I would never. Serena, I swear—"
She nodded, not looking convinced. "Okay. I believe you."
But something had already shifted.
The next week, she stopped coming to school.
She didn't reply to texts. Didn't pick up his calls.
Ethan went to her house. It was locked. Curtains drawn. No lights.
Then, one day, she returned.
Walking into school like a ghost. Pale. Empty.
Beside her stood Axel Crowne, a third-year transfer with a sharp jawline, arrogant walk, and eyes like knives.
Ethan rushed toward her. "Serena! Where were you? I've been worried sick—"
She walked past him without a glance.
Later that day, he found her on the rooftop.
It was raining. Hard.
She stood near the edge, water dripping from her hair, soaked to the bone. Axel stood beside her like a dark guardian.
Ethan stepped forward. "Serena... please talk to me."
She turned slowly, eyes dull. "Let's break up."
The words hit him like a punch. "What? What are you saying?"
"You should meet my fiancé. Axel."
"This is a joke, right? Serena??????"
Her face twisted. She shouted, tears lost in the rain.
"Why did you do this to me, Ethan?!"
He froze. "I didn't—what are you talking about?!"
"All those disgusting rumors. You're the reason people say those things about me. About my family! All because of you, you sold me for money!!!"
"I swear on my life—I never said anything. I would never—"
"Liar!" she screamed. "My parents are DEAD because of you. They couldn't handle the shame. They... they took their lives. Because of YOU."
Ethan's heart stopped.
She was trembling. Her lips were cut. Her palm bled through her sleeve.
He sensed something was wrong with her. Serena's eyes... they weren't angry. They were scared.For some reason he felt she was lying.
He stepped forward, gently. "Serena... something's wrong. I know you. You're hurt. Please—"
Axel stepped in, grabbed Ethan by the collar, and punched him hard in the gut. Ethan gasped, collapsing.
Axel raised a metal pipe.
"Touch her again, and I'll break every bone in your body."
"Stop," Serena said, voice breaking. "Let's go. I never want to see him again."
Back to the present
The rooftop again.
Ethan stood facing Axel Crowne. With him were Lucien, ever-smirking and loud, and Rei Fenmore, the one who entered class with Lucien, stood silent, as if he was bored by everything.
Lucien was the first to speak.
"So this is the great tragic hero. Come to cry again?"
Axel chuckled. "Still dreaming about your little toy?"
Rei stood quietly, arms crossed.
Ethan's voice was low. "Why did you call me here?"
Axel walked up to him, slapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Thought you'd like to know what Serena's up to."
Ethan didn't respond.
"Come on, at least show some curiosity," Axel sneered. "She's doing exactly what the rumors said. Warming every bed she finds. Want a turn? I had enough of her. Got bored. Now it's everyone's turn."
He squeezed Ethan's shoulder harder. There was strength behind it.
But Ethan didn't flinch.
Then—
Crack.
Ethan's fist shot forward, smashing into Axel's face.
Axel flew back, teeth flying, blood spraying.
Lucien's smile vanished. Rei's eyes twitched.
Axel clutched his face. "You little…!"
He turned sharply to Rei. "What the hell are you waiting for?! This was your fight!"
Rei finally moved.
He launched forward.
His punch was fast—too fast. Ethan barely dodged it.
Then a second. It hit Ethan's ribs hard.
This guy's strong. Fast. Calculated. Like he's been trained professionally.
Rei didn't waste movement. Every strike came from the shortest distance. A jab. A hook. A step in with an elbow.
Ethan blocked two. The third slammed into his stomach.
He staggered back.
But something burned inside him.
He pushed forward. Duck. Counter. His fist grazed Rei's jaw.
Rei smiled slightly. "Not bad."
They clashed again. A blur of fists and footwork.
Then—
"Enough!" Axel growled.
Before Ethan could react, Axel lunged forward with a glint of silver.
A blade.
Ethan barely twisted out of the way, but the blade slashed across his ribs. He gasped as blood poured down his side. The wound was shallow—but deep enough to hurt like hell.
Axel stood over him, blade dripping red, his voice cold.
"Now the fun starts."
Rei stepped back, frowning. "Why did you interfere?This was my fight."
Axel glared at him. "And you were losing. You couldn't even bring him to his knees."
He stalked toward Ethan, blade raised again.
But this time, Ethan was ready.
He caught Axel's wrist mid-swing. A flash of rage lit his eyes.
Ethan slammed his forehead into Axel's nose. The crack echoed through the rooftop.
Axel stumbled.
Before he could recover, Ethan twisted the arm holding the knife and drove Axel's face straight into the concrete with a sickening thud.
He rose slowly, blood trailing down his lips, soaking through his uniform. But his eyes were no longer hollow.
Ethan wiped blood from his lips.
"You're right," he said, staring coldly at both of them.
"Now the fun starts."
A/n- Hello, thanks for reading. Send some ps and golden tickets(if you have).