Chapter 6
From that moment on, with distance stretching between us my quiet crush faded into nothing.
+25 BONUS
I never thought I’d run into an old high school classmate–Pierce Moore, our class president.
The moment he saw me, he pulled me into a warm hug, launching into an endless stream of high school memories.
Not once did he mention my struggles or poverty.
There was only the joy of reuniting with an old friend.
“Sora, our class is having a reunion tomorrow. You should come!”
I instinctively refused.
I was never close to any of them.
Back then, I was too busy worrying about where my next meal would come from to care about making friends.
The only one who ever looked out for me was Pierce, who used to check in and ask if I needed help.
“Don’t say no just yet. A lot of people still care about you. When you dropped out, so many classmates asked me about you, but by then, you already moved, and I couldn’t find you. Are you doing okay now?”
“I’m doing well.”
“Seriously, you have to believe me. James Thomas, Laurance Brown, Rain Clarke, Leslie Jones all asked about you,
“We even have a group chat. And guess what? Leslie had a crush on you! She cried when you left.”
I blinked in shock.
Someone had a crush on me?
Back in school, I was scrawny, malnourished, and sickly pale.
The idea that someone had secretly liked me was almost unbelievable.
Pierce burst out laughing.
“I’m serious! You had that whole brooding prince look going on. And your eyes–man, they were sharp and clear. We all liked you. Come on, just go. It’ll be fun to catch up.”
For a moment, I hesitated.
But then I thought–why not?
I wasn’t that struggling kid anymore.
I had made it.
With my five–figure salary, I could at least afford to socialize.
