Almost blind | Haobin

16| love story in motion |16

Zhanghao stepped out of the car, his fingers clutching the strap of his backpack like a lifeline. The brisk morning air clawed at his skin, tousling his hair into disarray. He shivered, the thin fabric of his new school uniform offering little protection against the cold. It felt alien, this uniform-structured and suffocating. He couldn't even recall the last time he'd worn one. Homeschooling had become his cocoon, a safe shell, and stepping out of it felt like exposing himself to the world's prying eyes.

The towering school building loomed before him, its windows glinting like a thousand unblinking eyes. Hao swallowed hard, trying to bury his unease beneath a mask of detachment. But the mask was thin, barely holding up under the weight of his fear.

Inside, the hallways were a chaotic blur of motion and sound-students weaving through the corridors like a frenzied river, their voices crashing together in a deafening roar. Hao's vision faltered, the kaleidoscope of movement and color overwhelming his already strained eyes. The world around him swam, and for a moment, he stared at the floor, grounding himself.

His breathing quickened, and his nails dug crescents into his palm as he forced himself to move. He needed to find his classroom-2.B. The second floor, he reminded himself, though the map in his head was jumbled, each hallway twisting into an indistinguishable maze of lockers and doors. The idea of being late, of all eyes turning to him in judgment, clawed at his chest.

Gathering every ounce of courage, Hao spotted a group of students lingering by the lockers, their laughter cutting through the noise like sharp edges. His steps faltered as his stomach churned, but he pressed on. Just ask. It's not that hard.

"Excuse me," he said softly, tapping one of the boys on the shoulder. "Im looking for my classroom and.." he started, but his mouth closed quickly, just how it opened.

The boy turned, and Hao's heart sank, his words dissolving before they could leave his lips. His chest tightened as he took in the sharp, familiar features-features he'd seen just days ago.

It was him. The boy who bumped into him when he was waiting for his dad outside the principal's office. Hanbin? Hao wasn't entirely sure he'd remembered the name correctly, but the face was unmistakable.

Hanbin's eyes narrowed as he scanned Hao from head to toe, recognition flickering in his gaze. How utterly pathetic, he thought.

"Lost already?" Hanbin's voice was laced with amusement, his hands slipping casually into his pockets. His smirk was sharp, almost cutting. "I thought your father will lead you to the classroom," he said, making others in the group laugh.

Hao's mouth opened, but no words came out. The boy before him stirred a distant memory from his childhood-a time when they were close. But the Hanbin he remembered wasn't wrapped in this thick cloak of arrogance. He was different. The air between them felt heavy, crackling with unresolved tension.

Hao took a small step back, his instincts urging him to retreat. He felt the weight of Hanbin's gaze, sharp and scrutinizing, as though Hao did something wrong. The intensity of it made Hao's skin crawl, and he couldn't shake the growing discomfort. What had changed in the years they'd been apart?

"I don't have time for this," Hao muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He turned to leave, but Hanbin's voice stopped him.

"I'm just messing with you," Hanbin said, his smirk widening as he waved off his friends. "I'll show you the way. What's your claas?"

Reluctantly, Hao followed, the two walking side by side through the bustling hallway. "Its 2.B" Hao said, making Hanbin hum.

"You're lucky you ran into me," he said, his tone oozing self-satisfaction, making Hao glanced up, his brow furrowing. "I could've asked someone else," he replied, his voice quieter but tinged with defiance. He dont like when someone is messing with him like this.