Beneath the Bully's Gaze

29

The classroom buzzed with anticipation as Ethan stood at the front, a sheet of paper clutched tightly in his hand. Today, each student was required to share a poem they'd written for their class assignment, a task that seemed simple enough but held an unexpected weight in Ethan's case. He had spent countless late nights thinking about the perfect words, the perfect structure, and even more importantly, the perfect inspiration.

Mira sat in her usual seat at the back, her heart racing. She had helped him craft this poem, pouring her thoughts into every line he had recited. She thought he might express some gratitude, but the scornful demeanor he often wore had returned, leaving her feeling anxious about what he might say.

"Today, I want to share a poem entitled "Chasing Shadows in Daylight"," Ethan began, his voice steady but his gaze wandering, flickering around the room before settling on Mira. For a moment, she felt a spark of hope. Maybe this was different.

He took a deep breath, clearing his throat, and then began to recite:

In a world where the light softly glows,
Amidst the shadows, her true beauty shows.
With laughter that dances like a whispering breeze,
She captures my heart with the greatest of ease.

Mira's heart sank as she listened to the words. She thought about how they might be meant for someone else, a vision of beauty that she could never match. The description felt like it belonged to the girls Ethan often hung out with—tall, slender, with flawless skin and perfect hair.

Eyes that glimmer like stars in the night,
A spirit so fierce, it ignites my soul's flight.
Yet kindness flows from her every embrace,
In her presence, I find a comforting space.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure of how to feel. Was this really for her? Did he even realize he was capturing her essence in those words, or was he oblivious to the connection between the poem and the girl who helped him write it?

Though I'm merely a shadow in her radiant light,
To her, I'll be true, with all of my might.
For beauty is not just what the eyes can see,
But the warmth in her smile that sets my heart free.

As Ethan continued, Mira could see the way his eyes seemed to light up, focusing intently on her. Her breath caught in her throat. Could it be that he was confessing something deeper through his words, or was she merely projecting her feelings onto him?

So here's to the one who makes my heart sing,
My muse, my inspiration, my everything.
If beauty is a treasure, then she is the crown,
A precious gem that could never be found.

Ethan finished the poem, his voice lingering in the silence of the classroom. The words hung heavy in the air, the meaning palpable. Mira's cheeks flushed, a mix of embarrassment and longing coursing through her veins. He looked directly at her, his expression unreadable, but there was a softness in his gaze that made her heart skip.

As the class erupted into applause, Mira felt her stomach twist. "Did you mean all of that?" she dared to ask when the clapping subsided, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan's lips curled into a smirk, masking whatever vulnerability might have shone through during his recitation. "Of course not. It's just a poem, Mira. A bunch of words." He shrugged nonchalantly, the cold facade slipping back into place.

She lowered her eyes, disappointment washing over her like a cold tide. "Right," she replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just words."

But deep down, she knew the truth. Those words had been born from her own heart, even if he hadn't realized they painted a picture of her. As he returned to his seat, a hollow feeling settled in her chest, leaving her to ponder how easily he dismissed what could have been something more.

Little did she know, as he sat back down, Ethan was grappling with the very same realization—his own heart tangled in confusion, torn between the need to uphold his reputation and the undeniable truth he had expressed in front of the class.

In that moment, as their eyes met across the room, a silent understanding passed between them, a shared recognition of the unspoken words lingering in the air like a fragile whisper, just waiting to be set free.

Here's a chapter where Mira sees Ethan with a beautiful girl, and it leads to a moment of painful realization about his feelings and the poem he recited.