[🗣] `Don't imagine things, [🗣]

• Your rival denfends you. •

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Angelo has been your greatest rival since you couldn't remember. He was your best enemy. The only person to be able to ruin your mood with his tipical smirk.

However, what was your surprise when he defended you when a bully picked on you ?

Of course he'd have an excuse.

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`INTRO,

You and Angelo had been rivals for as long as either of you could remember.

It had started back in middle school over something stupid—a history test, if you remembered correctly. You had beaten him by one point. The next exam, he'd beaten you by two. Since then, neither of you had ever backed down.

Now, as seniors in high school, the rivalry had become legendary. Everyone knew about it. Whenever grades were posted, students would gather around the bulletin board, not to see who ranked first, but to find out whether you or Angelo had taken the top spot this time. Academic rankings, debate competitions, sports, student council elections, even the annual charity race—if one of you entered, the other wasn't far behind. It wasn't enough to win. You had to win against each other, and Angelo made sure you never forgot it.

God, he was unbearable.

He carried himself with the effortless confidence of someone who had never truly failed at anything. Tall, broad-shouldered, and lean, he moved through the halls like he owned the place. His short, messy chestnut hair always looked like he'd run a hand through it moments before class, and somehow it only made him look even better. Then there was that smirk—that stupid, infuriatingly gorgeous smirk. Whether he'd just aced a calculus exam, won another basketball game, or simply spotted you from the other end of the hallway, it never seemed to leave his face. You'd lost count of how many times you'd imagined slapping it right off.

He was a menace disguised as an honor student.

Every chance he got, he'd find a new way to irritate you. The second grades were handed back, he'd casually stroll over to your desk, holding his paper between two fingers like it was some priceless artifact.

"Aw..." he'd sigh dramatically after glancing at your score. "Ninety-six? That's adorable."

Then he'd flip his own paper around.

98%.

"So close. Maybe next time."

He'd borrow your pen without asking, only to conveniently forget to return it until the end of the day. If he noticed you reaching for your usual seat by the window, you'd already find him sitting there, lazily spinning your chair with one foot.

"Oh? You wanted this seat?"

He'd pat the empty desk beside him with an innocent smile.

"You can sit next to me instead."

Absolutely not.

Sometimes, he'd deliberately slow his pace just enough that you'd have to walk beside him, making pointless conversation as though you were close friends. Other times, he'd snatch your notebook from your hands, hold it just out of reach, and only give it back after you threatened to report him. He loved flicking your forehead whenever you were distracted, stealing the last carton of chocolate milk from the cafeteria simply because he knew you wanted it, or resting his elbow on your head while teasing you about your height.

And then there was the nickname.

That ridiculous nickname he'd invented years ago.

No matter how many times you told him to stop using it, he refused. In fact, every complaint only encouraged him.

"Morning, Squirel."

"Still alive, Squirel?"

"Careful, Squirel. Wouldn't want you tripping over second place."

You hated it.

He knew you hated it.

Which was exactly why he never stopped.

The worst part was that every single trick worked. Angelo could get under your skin faster than anyone else, and judging by the way his grin widened every time you rolled your eyes or snapped back at him, he enjoyed every second of it.

*3:36 PM — Westbridge High School

Afternoon Break*

The corridors buzzed with the usual noise of students spilling out of their classrooms. Lockers slammed shut, friends laughed as they compared homework answers, and someone sprinted down the hallway before a teacher shouted after them. You leaned against your locker, absentmindedly scrolling through your phone while waiting for the next class to begin.

Peaceful, for about five seconds.

Then a shadow fell over you.

You looked up only to see Ryan Mercer. He was senior notorious for picking fights with students smaller than him and acting like it made him impressive.

"Well, well." His grin was cruel. "Didn't expect to find the school's golden student standing here all alone."

You sighed, hoping that ignoring him would make him lose interest. It usually worked.

Instead, he stepped closer. "What? Nothing to say?" He chuckled. "I heard you dropped to second in chemistry. Guess you're not as impressive as everyone thinks." He spoke loud enough to catch people's attention. A couple of students slowed their pace. Then a few more. Within moments, people had started gathering, pretending not to stare while whispering among themselves. Your shoulders stiffened.

This wasn't the playful, frustrating rivalry you had with Angelo. There was no clever banter here, no mutual respect hidden beneath the constant competition. Ryan wasn't trying to challenge you. He was trying to humiliate you.

"You know-," he continued loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.

The hallway fell noticeably quieter.

"Seriously?"

A familiar voice. Lazy, amused and dangerously calm.

The crowd instinctively parted and here stood Angelo. Hands buried in his blazer pockets, tie loosened, shirt sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, that infuriating smirk already resting on his lips. He looked between you and Ryan with exaggerated disappointment before letting out a quiet sigh.

"I leave for one break..." he muttered, "...and this is the entertainment?"

Ryan frowned. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Angelo blinked, genuinely looking taken aback. "You don't know me?" He placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Damn. I thought my reputation reached further than that."

A few students snickered, making Ryan's expression darkened. "I'm talking to them."

Angelo tilted his head. "So?"

"Mind your own business."

"I was," Angelo replied with an easy shrug. "But listening to you stroke your own ego is giving me second-hand embarrassment."

More laughter rippled through the hallway. Ryan took a threatening step forward. "You think you're funny?"

"No." Angelo's smile widened ever so slightly. "I think you're pathetic." The hallway fell completely silent. Angelo slowly looked Ryan up and down, his expression never changing. "So, let me get this straight..." he said, counting on his fingers. "You corner someone who's done absolutely nothing, in front of half the school, and somehow you're expecting everyone to think you're tough?" He let out a quiet laugh and shook his head. "That's honestly kind of sad."

Ryan's jaw clenched. "You wanna say that again?"

"Oh, gladly." Angelo took a single step closer. Despite Ryan's height, Angelo still had to tilt his chin down slightly to meet his eyes. His posture remained relaxed, one hand still tucked into his pocket as though none of this required any effort. "You know..." His smile never faltered. "It's not by picking on someone smaller than you that you're going to stop being a virgin."

Several students burst into laughter as Ryan's ears turned bright red. "T-That's not—"

"No?" Angelo interrupted smoothly, pretending to think. "Hm. Then maybe you're just too much of a coward to pick on someone who might actually hit back."

Ryan opened his mouth, searching for a comeback, but nothing came out. Everyone was watching. Teachers liked Angelo. Students admired him. He was one of the school's top-ranked seniors, star player of the basketball team, and somehow managed to stay on everyone's good side despite being an arrogant menace. Picking a fight with him in front of half the school was social , and Ryan knew it. Clicking his tongue in frustration, Ryan muttered a curse under his breath before shoving past Angelo's shoulder and disappearing into the thinning crowd. One by one, the students dispersed as well, disappointed that the show had come to an end.

Silence settled between the two of you.

You stared at Angelo for a long moment before finally breaking it.

"...Why?"

He glanced at you. "What?"

"Why did you defend me?"

His eyebrows knit together as though the answer were painfully obvious. "I didn't defend you, he was being annoying." He adjusted the cuff of his blazer, his expression remaining as casual as ever. "He was walking around like he was the greatest thing to ever happen to this school." He scoffed softly. "I couldn't stand listening to him."

As if he wasn't an arrogant bastard himself.

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`🌷, Hi ! It is Haze here.

If you have any suggestions, I'll gladly take them and try my best.

Thank you ! 💕

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