The boy in that photo

I didn’t fall in love with him.

Let me say that first. ( ・∇・)

Back then, I didn’t even know what “love” was supposed to feel like. (*´ー｀*)

I was in eighth grade, doing well in school, getting good scores, being the kind of student teachers liked.

Top of the grade for three years in a row.

Sounds impressive, right?

It wasn’t.

Because the truth was, I had no idea what I was doing. ヽ(￣д￣;)ノ

Everyone kept talking about high school like it was the most important thing in the world.

“Pick the right school. “

“Think about your future. “

“Don’t waste your potential.”

I heard those things so many times they started to sound the same.

But none of them actually answered the question in my head.

What am I even trying so hard for?

I did okay in every subject, but I wasn’t really great at anything.

I didn’t have a clear strength to lean on or a school I clearly fit into, while my friends did—and I couldn’t help but admire how sure they seemed.

And sometimes, it made me wonder if being ‘well-rounded’ was actually enough…

I studied, I did my homework, I got good results.

And still, something felt off.

Not bad, just… empty.

Like I was moving forward without knowing where I was going.

That was my life. _:(´ཀ`」 ∠)

Until one random afternoon.

I was waiting in a senior’s classroom, trying to get help with homework.

She told me to sit for a bit, so I picked a seat near the window and waited.

The classroom was quiet.

A few students were talking softly at the back. Sunlight slipped through the curtains and made everything look warmer than usual.

I didn’t have anything to do.

So I just looked around.

That was when I saw it.

A photo.. Σ('◉_◉)

It was lying on the desk, like someone had taken it out and forgotten about it.

A group picture.

Probably from a graduation ceremony.

Everyone in it was smiling.

Nothing special.

I almost looked away.

Almost…

But for some reason, my eyes stopped.

On one person.

A boy standing slightly to the side.

Not in the center. Not the kind of person you would notice first.

And yet, I did.

His smile wasn’t flashy.

It wasn’t the kind that tried to stand out.

It just felt… natural.

Easy.

Like he belonged there.

Like everything around him made sense.

And for some reason, that annoyed me a little.

Because I didn’t feel that way at all.

“Are you waiting for me?”

I flinched.

The senior walked back in, following my gaze for a second before picking up the photo.

“Oh, this?” she said. “It’s from last year.”

Last year.

I hesitated.

Then, before I could stop myself, I pointed at the photo.

“Who is that?”

She looked at where I was pointing and smiled a little.

“Oh. Him?”

She didn’t say the name right away.

And I didn’t ask again.

But somehow, that moment stayed with me longer than it should have.

I didn’t know it yet.

But that small, pointless question…

was the beginning of everything.

...… ...

I didn’t know his name.
 I didn’t know anything about him.

But for some reason,
 I couldn’t stop thinking about that smile.

And for some reason, that made me a little curious ….

( *｀ω´)

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