It was enough for my grandfather and me to eat well for months.
But I never wrote him a thank–you letter and approached him.
Instead, I watched from a distance.
Under the bright afternoon sun, he ran across the basketball court, his forehead damp with sweat, his movements sharp and effortless.
Cheers erupted around him, drawn to the effortless confidence in his every move.
Something about that unshakable vitality, that radiant energy struck me like lightning.
For the first time, I understood the meaning of the word “ke.”
And in that same moment, I realized how different I was from everyone else.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 5
I never found the courage to talk to him.
It was just a passing crush–one that belonged to my younger, timid self.
Then, years later, in my first year of high school, I saw him again.
The boy had grown up. The youthful softness was gone.
But that sudden rush of emotion, the violent pounding in my heart terrified me.
The cold, distant boy turned his gaze toward me.
I couldn’t look away.
For a moment, he seemed puzzled, his sharp eyes locking onto mine.
Then, without a word, he gave the faintest smile and turned to leave.
I let out a shaky breath.
My whole body trembled.
The fear of being exposed left me frozen.in quiet panic.
Not long after, my world collapsed.
My grandfather passed away, and that was how I lost my last family member.
By the next semester, I couldn’t even afford school fees, let alone food.
For three days, I wrestled with my pride, forcing myself to gather the courage to seek help.
When I finally did, I went to my high school homeroom teacher, hoping for something, anything.
But the moment I stood before his desk, he didn’t looked up.
“There’s nothing I can do.”
That was all he said.
It was then that I realized that not every teacher cared about their students.
So, I dropped out.
And before I left, I did the boldest thing I had ever done in my life.
I wrote Kian a confession letter.
On the cheapest notebook paper I could find, I poured my feelings onto the page.
Then, I folded it carefully and sealed it inside an envelope glued shut with cheap adhesive.
On the last day of my sophomore year, I gathered every ounce of courage I had and handed it to a senior girl from
Kian’s class.
Chapter 6
