I looked down at my hands, a haze settling over my memories of sitting in the back of my classroom at my old school when I was high school. I used to be confident—maybe even a little too childish. It was my first time attending school after being homeschooled for most of my childhood. I felt enthusiastic and eager to make friends, always striving to be attentive in class.
I thought this would be the perfect school year for me.
Then, a girl seated next to me leaned over. "Hello! My name is Francine. Are you new here?"
"H-Hello My name is Jonah and Yes, I just transferred," I replied.
"Wow, that's nice! Do you have any hobbies?" she asked, her enthusiasm infectious.
"I enjoy reading manga and light novels," I answered, feeling a spark of excitement.
Since childhood, I had loved watching anime, which naturally led me to dive into manga and light novels whenever I couldn't wait for the next episode. My excitement grew as our friendship blossomed.
"That's great!" she said, her smile brightening the room.
We talked throughout the entire class and walked home together after school, quickly becoming friends and chatting through messaging apps. For a long time, we were inseparable. Francine began sharing her problems with me, and we supported each other through school activities.
We started visiting cafes to talk about our hobbies and school projects. She was reliable and never hesitated to help me with assignments I struggled to understand.
I finally had a friend.
But then, everything changed. I had a confrontation with Gerald, one of the school's "famous boys," a star athlete whose presence loomed over the hallways. He probably resented seeing a transfer student like me getting friendly with everyone.
He approached me one day, his expression radiating hostility, a predatory glint in his eyes.
"Who the f*ck do you think you are?!" he spat, the words dripping with contempt. "Do you think you're some kind of hot shot?!"
A chill raced down my spine at his confrontational tone. Every instinct urged me to back down, but I forced myself to stand my ground. My heart pounded in my chest, the silence around us amplifying the tension.
"Why do you care?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt, a thin veneer of confidence masking my anxiety.
"You think you can just waltz in here, acting all high and mighty? You just transferred here; know your place!" He shot back, his words laced with disdain. He turned to walk away, but not before throwing one last parting shot over his shoulder.
"I don't need to explain myself to a little bug like you," he sneered, his laughter echoing in my ears.
I stood there, the weight of his words crashing over me like a wave, a mix of nervousness and anger swirling in my gut. I felt exposed, like a target marked for ridicule. As he walked off, I took a deep breath, trying to reclaim my composure, but the encounter left me rattled. I turned away, attempting to shake off the encounter and continue with my day, though the unease lingered, gnawing at my thoughts.
He had a crew of friends in our class and beyond, and soon I began to feel isolated. Despite this, my enthusiastic spirit remained resilient, and I continued to push for a positive school year.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
My vision shifted, transporting me back to the day I regretted the most...
It was like any normal day.
YOU ARE READING
Timeless Regrets.
RomanceA young, silent college student accustomed to his predictable routine encounters a girl from another country, whose vibrant spirit shakes him from his self-imposed isolation. As their friendship blossoms, he is forced to confront the regrets and pai...
