Inequalities [Lookism X Reader]

FOURTEEN : New Transfer Student

You slowly open your eyes, greeted by the familiar ceiling you've grown used to seeing every morning. The light from the sun slips through your curtains, landing softly on your face, making you groan in protest. Your alarm clock blares loudly beside you, determined to drag you out of bed. You sit up groggily, running a hand through your tangled hair, yawning as you squint against the brightness of the morning. A familiar drowsiness pulls at you, tempting you to lie back down and drift off again.

Without your dog around to pester you awake, mornings have become harder to face. D/n, your mischievous little monster was always there to nudge you out of bed or bark relentlessly if you tried to ignore him. He even had the audacity to threaten your things, chewing up one of your favorite figurines without an ounce of remorse. You'd cried for hours, but the stubborn mutt had ignored your heartbreak, completely unbothered. Now that he's not around, though, the house feels emptier, almost unsettlingly quiet.

Half relieved and half lonely, you finally swing your legs over the side of the bed, dragging yourself up before sleep pulls you back down again. You shuffle out of your room, still in your oversized pajamas, your hair a chaotic mess, and without even the slightest thought of taking a shower—because, honestly, the water's probably freezing this early.

You plod into the kitchen, rubbing your eyes, hoping to scavenge something to eat. But just as you start rummaging through the fridge, a loud knock echoes from the front door, startling you. You already know who it is—he's early today. With a groan, you glance around for the clock to confirm just how much time you've got.

"Damn it, Daniel, why are you here so early?" you mutter, squinting toward the living room to spot the time. When your gaze finally lands on the clock, your stomach sinks.

Oh, no.

It's not just early—it's late. You've got fifteen minutes left until class starts.

"Shit!" You bolt toward the front door and fling it open, and, of course, there he is—Daniel. He's already dressed for school, standing there with a neatly pressed uniform and a look of mild disbelief on his face.

He opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out at first. His eyes sweep over you, taking in your disheveled hair, oversized pajamas, and the sleepiness still lingering in your expression. A smirk twitches at the corner of his mouth, but his words are edged with exasperation.

"Don't tell me... you just woke up," he mutters.

You glare at him with a groggy, unamused look, your brain too sleepy to come up with a witty response. Bitch, isn't it obvious? you think to yourself. For a brief moment, you find yourself noticing how good he looks in that uniform. Why haven't I noticed that before? you wonder as your gaze travels from his shoes to his neatly buttoned shirt, finally meeting his eyes again.

"Sorry, Daniel," you mumble. "I think you should go on without me. I'll catch up if I can."

At first, Daniel frowns, clearly reluctant to leave you behind. "Are you serious? We're already late—"

"Please?" you cut him off, hands pressed together in a pleading gesture. "Just go. I'll be right behind you, I swear."

He hesitates for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh. The disappointment is obvious in his eyes, and it's not just because of the time. He wanted to walk to school with you, as always, but he doesn't say that out loud. Instead, he gives you a gloomy nod and turns to leave, his shoulders drooping slightly.

You watch him disappear down the path, feeling a small pang of guilt in your chest. You sprint to the bathroom, the cold water shocking you fully awake as you take the fastest shower of your life. No time to care about the chill biting at your skin—you've got a class to catch. Dripping wet, you rush back into your room, throwing on your uniform haphazardly. There's no chance for breakfast—not even a quick snack—so you snatch up your bag, shove your things inside, and make a mad dash for the door.