Beneath the Bully's Gaze

11

After Ethan saved her from the relentless bullying of her classmates, she felt a strange sense of admiration mixed with confusion about her feelings toward him. The memory of his cold but protective stance lingered in her mind, urging her to acknowledge his gesture in a way she had never considered before.

As Mira stood in front of the mirror that morning, she nervously adjusted the collar of her shirt, the sunlight streaming in through her window illuminating the small box of chocolates she had wrapped with care. It wasn't much—just a simple box of chocolates from the convenience store, but it was the thought that mattered.

She wanted Ethan to know that she appreciated him, even if he made her heart race in ways she didn't fully understand.

With her heart pounding in her chest, she slipped the box into her backpack and made her way to school. The moment she stepped through the doors, she was met with the familiar buzz of students chatting and laughing. Despite the chaos around her, her mind was focused solely on Ethan. Would he accept the gift? Would he even care?

As she reached the cafeteria, she spotted Ethan at a table with his friends, his presence commanding attention. He was leaning back in his chair, a confident smirk playing on his lips as he joked with the others. Mira's nerves bubbled to the surface. She hesitated, her grip on the straps of her backpack tightening.

Taking a deep breath, she approached the table, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on her. "Ethan?" she called out, her voice barely breaking through the noise. He turned to look at her, eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"What do you want, Mira?" he asked, his tone nonchalant but with an edge of something she couldn't quite place.
"I—I wanted to give you something," she stammered, her cheeks warming under the scrutiny of his friends. She opened her backpack, pulling out the small box of chocolates.

"It's just a thank-you for what you did the other day... for saving me from the bullies."
Ethan's smirk faded, replaced by a look of bemusement.

"Seriously? You brought me chocolate? For saving you?" His voice dripped with mockery, and laughter erupted from his friends.

Mira's heart sank, embarrassment flooding her senses. She had hoped for a different reaction—some acknowledgment of her gratitude, perhaps even a hint of warmth. Instead, his ridicule cut through her like ice.

"Wow, look at you, Mira. Trying to bribe me with sweets? That's rich," he continued, a smirk creeping back onto his face. "What's next? A love letter?"

Mira swallowed hard, feeling the sting of tears welling in her eyes. "It's not like that," she managed to say, her voice trembling. "I just thought—"

"What? That I'd suddenly become your knight in shining armor just because you brought me some cheap chocolates?" Ethan interrupted, his tone sharp and biting. His friends laughed louder, and Mira could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as humiliation washed over her.

"I—I'm sorry," she mumbled, clutching the box tightly as if it could shield her from their laughter. "I didn't mean to bother you."

"Yeah, well, you kind of did," Ethan said, leaning back in his chair with an arrogant air. He pushed the box away, the chocolates sliding across the table. "I don't need your pity, Mira. Save it for someone who actually cares."

With that, he dismissed her, turning back to his friends who resumed their banter. Mira stood there, frozen for a moment, her heart shattering into a million pieces. She felt exposed and vulnerable, the laughter echoing in her ears like a haunting melody.

Just as she turned to leave, she heard Ethan call after her, his voice laced with amusement. "Next time you want to give someone a gift, try something less pathetic!"..."Or are you just flirting with me?"

Mira bit her lip, fighting back tears as she hurried out of the cafeteria, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and hurt. How could someone who had once defended her now treat her like this? Was it really just a game to him?

As she made her way to her next class, she couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that clung to her. The chocolates, meant to symbolize gratitude, had turned into a weapon for his ridicule.

Throughout the day, she replayed the scene in her mind, trying to rationalize his reaction. Was he really that cold? Or was there something deeper buried beneath his arrogance? Each thought led her deeper into a spiral of self-doubt.

Later that afternoon, she sat in her room, the discarded chocolates sitting in her backpack—a reminder of the day's humiliation.

She took a deep breath, vowing to not let Ethan's cruelty affect her. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than what he let on.

With a sigh, she resolved to move on, pushing the incident to the back of her mind. After all, she couldn't allow herself to be broken by someone who thrived on torment. But as the evening descended, a part of her still yearned to understand Ethan, the boy who was both her tormentor and her savior.