Blurb：
After confessing my feelings to my childhood friend Alex, his roommates—Liam Soren, the arrogant star swimmer, and Finn Shaw, the doll-faced classmate—mocked me relentlessly. Even Alex’s polite rejection couldn’t shield me from their cruel laughter. Now, as I avoid Alex and navigate the shame, I find myself confronting Finn’s taunts head-on. Will my quiet life ever return, or will this humiliation spiral further? Dive into a story of unrequited love, friendship, and revenge among college roommates, where Maya Young’s confession sets off a chain of events that challenges pride and relationships.
Content：
Confessing to my childhood friend turned out to be a mistake.
His roommates made fun of him for a whole semester.
Out of sheer anger.
I confessed to everyone in his dorm.
All except one—
The one who laughed the hardest.
I like you.
I confessed to my childhood friend, Alex.
The moment the words left my mouth, I heard snickers.
Not from just one person.
I looked up. Alex was suddenly surrounded by his roommates.
One of them, tall and well-built with defiant, arrogant eyes—
Laughed the hardest.
He was clutching his stomach, laughing so hard he couldn’t stand straight.
I knew him. He was the star swimmer at our school, Liam Soren.
“I can’t—the boring bookworm actually has a crush on you?”
The one on the far right was my classmate, Finn Shaw, with a doll-like face.
Shaking his curly hair, he said scornfully, “Alex is something else, even the silent type speaks up for you.”
Like a malicious Bichon.
“Alright, everyone, stop laughing. What if Maya Young gets her feelings hurt?”
The one telling everyone to stop laughing had a slim build and a gentle, handsome face.
He seemed sympathetic, but the slight lift at the corner of his eyes betrayed his mockery.
I ignored them.
My gaze was fixed on my childhood friend, Alex.
Alex was always proper and gentlemanly.
He was slightly startled but first raised his hand to stop his roommates from laughing at me.
Then, in a soft voice, he politely rejected me.
“Thank you for liking me, but I think we’re better off as friends.”
“Friends can last longer than any other relationship.”
“I hope you find someone more suitable.”
The sting of rejection had just begun to rise.
The three guys next to him started mimicking Alex’s words in singsong, sarcastic voices.
“Ooh~”
“I. Hope. You. Find. Someone. More. Suitable~”
In that moment.
Burning shame sent that sting rushing up into my nose.
I didn’t dare lift my head; tears hit the floor.
Alex’s roommates made me realize one thing.
Being liked by me was something shameful.
I had embarrassed Alex.
Once I realized I was causing Alex embarrassment,
I started deliberately avoiding him.
Alex and I were in the same class.
He was the class president; I was the vice president.
He handled tasks like collecting homework and handing out tests.
Every time he walked over to me,
I’d duck my head like a quail, too afraid to look up.
Avoiding any chance of eye contact.
Alex and I were childhood friends, living in the same neighborhood.
So we used to walk home together after school every day.
Alex, ever the proper one, seemed unwilling to lose my friendship outright, or to let other observant classmates notice the awkwardness between us.
So he’d come over to me as if nothing had happened.
He’d call my name softly.
“Maya, shall we walk home together?”
I didn’t look up.
“N… no.”
I couldn’t see Alex’s expression, but I heard a soft sigh above my head.
His voice was gentle.
“Alright then. Be careful on your way home.”
As soon as Alex finished speaking, I heard the toxic Bichon snickering nearby.
Ever since my failed confession, whenever Alex talked to me,
Finn would make some kind of noise nearby.
Not wanting to cause a scene, I pretended not to hear.
But this was getting ridiculous.
I looked up and met Finn’s eyes.
His face still held traces of the lively smile he hadn’t yet wiped away.
I asked softly and sincerely, “What’s so funny?”
“Maybe I should walk home with you after school instead.”
Finn instantly froze, like a puppy that had been kicked.
His body, which had been swaying on the desk, went rigid.
A flush spread across his pretty face.
Flustered and angry, he said, “In your dreams.”
So you think my affection is shameful? Well, let’s see how you like a taste of that shame.
I turned away with a sense of grim satisfaction.
And saw Alex looking down at me beside me.
His gaze was calm and unreadable.
After I clapped back at Finn,
I thought it was over.
I wanted to return to a peaceful school life.
Study quietly, and quietly distance myself from Alex.
If my liking you causes others to laugh at you, then I won’t bother you anymore.
I’ll avoid appearing near you so they won’t associate me with you anymore.
But being in the same class meant we inevitably had to interact.
The teacher assigned Alex to work on the class bulletin board.
I was always careful and meticulous, and I was decent at drawing.
So for class duties, the teacher specifically asked me to help Alex.
The next day, Alex was waiting for me downstairs at my house.
He was slim, standing tall like a green bamboo stalk.
I couldn’t pretend not to see him, so I braced myself and walked over.
Alex handed me the design draft for the bulletin board, his gaze still clear and gentle.
“We’ll follow this design today.”
“Okay,” I murmured.
Alex seemed oblivious to my awkwardness and unease.
He chatted with me like always.
“You did great on the monthly exam. I saw you jumped to fifth in the whole grade.”
“The cafeteria has a new wrap—a flatbread rolled with spicy strips and a starchy sausage. Seems like a lot of students like it.”
Just some casual small talk.
Normally, I’d rack my brains to keep the conversation going.
But this time, I was too embarrassed; I just wanted to escape.
Avoidance might be cowardly, but it works.
So I stayed silent, keeping a meter’s distance between us as we walked.
Alex kept talking, and I didn’t want to be rude and just walk away.
Finally, as we neared the school, Alex seemed to run out of things to say.
He took a deep breath, paused for a moment.
He’d just made a sound like “Hey—”
I immediately gripped my backpack straps tighter, swung my five-kilo backpack,
“I gotta run to the bathroom, see you!”
I shot off like a cannonball.
Right at the school gate, I smacked right into someone.
I looked up. Tall, with a careless expression.
It was Liam.
When he saw it was me, a teasing smile touched his lips.
“Oh, the little bookworm from the next class. In a hurry to find Alex?”
Next to him was that “two-faced” guy from last time.
I’d since learned this “two-faced” guy was the school heartthrob, Noah Green.
Noah covered his mouth, laughing softly, and gave Liam a light push.
“Oh, come on, look at you.”
Alright then. None of you are going to let this go, huh?
That one incident became a joke they used to mock me and Alex for an entire semester.
I looked up sharply.
I smiled right at that heartthrob, Noah Green.
We honest people smile very genuinely.
Noah was taken aback for a moment, then lowered his gaze and responded with a gentle, clear smile.
Like a white lotus slowly blooming.
“I was in a hurry to find you.”
“I saw you playing the violin at the talent show last time.”
“You’re really talented. I just wanted to say that.”
“I’ve said my piece. Goodbye.”
Noah’s lips parted slightly.
I paid them no more mind.
I just kept running, backpack straps in hand.
As I rushed through the school gate,
I thought I heard Alex’s voice.
Calm and gentle.
“What… were you all just talking about?”
I seemed to have found a way to deal with them.
I decided to take turns confessing to all the roommates who’d laughed at Alex.
I’d leave out Liam—
He’d laughed at me the most.
I wanted him to know.
Even if I’m the trashiest person in their eyes, I would never like him.
Looking at my reflection in the glass, I studied my face.
Bangs, black-framed glasses, round face.
I was timid, with strong boundaries; afraid of bothering others, I barely initiated conversations with other classmates.
I only talked more with Alex. The rest of the time, I just followed the routine and studied.
My looks were average, my figure a bit chubby. The kind of person who blends into a crowd.
Teachers and classmates would describe me after some thought:
“Maya’s a quiet, well-behaved kid.”
I was just an ordinary, honest person.
Confessing to Alex was my act of bravery—a cowardly, secretly crushing me doing the one thing she knew she shouldn’t.
If you all think my courage and my affection are a stain on your “excellent” friend,
a tool you can use to attack Alex,
then I’ll make sure every single one of you gets stained, too..
I like breaking everything down into small steps.
Every task has a progress bar in my mind, with detailed steps.
Including my revenge on those who mocked me.
First target—Finn.
Ever since I’d shut Finn down last time, he’d been quiet for a few days.
But soon, he was back to his old tricks.
After the monthly exam scores came out, Finn was dead last.
Finn’s family was well-off; he’d only gotten into Class 1 because his family pulled strings.
His grades had never been good, the teacher taught fast, so he was always at the bottom.
Although the teacher was somewhat wary of his family background, he dragged the class average down too much.
So when handing back the tests, the teacher couldn’t help but say to Finn:
“If you used even a bit of your brain, you’d realize I explained this problem in class countless times, and you still got it wrong.”
“I’m honestly speechless; you’re two hundred points behind the second-to-last place.”
“Clearly unsuited, yet you insist on….”
The teacher didn’t finish, but the implication was clear.
This wasn’t the first time he’d complained about Finn joining the class mid-semester.
All the classmates turned to look at Finn.
I avoided anything related to Alex.
So I didn’t turn around.
The classroom was silent; the air seemed to freeze.
Then, I heard the sharp screech of chair legs scraping the floor.
Followed by Finn’s raised voice.
Not his usual sarcastic, proud tone, but with a obvious tremble.
“I do use my brain.”
“I just don’t get it, okay? And I’m not even taking the college entrance exam anyway.”
Finn’s words made the teacher even angrier.
The teacher couldn’t help but criticize him.
“If you’re not taking the exam, don’t drag others down. Everyone here is working hard to study.”
“Who am I dragging down?” Finn’s voice sounded a bit hurt.
“Your deskmate, Alex. He got second in the class this time.”
Sorry, but first place is mine truly.
“Stop talking so much in class. You’re even in the same dorm; can’t you learn from him?”
A dull thud.
I looked up and saw Finn, frantic like a mad dog.
He bolted out of the classroom.
Alex immediately stood up.
The teacher’s pride was wounded and he ordered Alex to sit down.
“Stay in your seat and pay attention. Don’t mind him. The school gates are locked; he can’t run away. I’ll call his parents after class.”
The other students in the class lowered their heads.
The atmosphere in the room felt heavy.
I could hear the teacher’s voice becoming noticeably more impatient as he lectured.
I raised my hand and spoke softly.
“Sir, I’ll go find him. I know his parents; I can talk to him.”
My usual goody-two-shoes persona worked like a charm here.
The teacher didn’t question my lie.
He gave me a slight nod.
I walked out of the classroom.
I had no intention of actually looking.
I had no real intention of looking for him.
I was afraid that if Finn lost control, his jealousy of Alex might make him target me again to get back at Alex. I was also scared he’d blab about my confession to everyone.
I thought for a moment, considering the school’s open, unused spaces.
After checking a few spots, I finally found Finn in the auditorium.
He wasn’t his usual sarcastic self.
His head was drooping as he sat in the front row.
When I walked over, he heard the noise and looked up.
Tears glistened on the eyelashes of his pretty, doll-like face.
“What are you doing here?”
His voice sounded tearful, but he was fighting hard not to let them fall.
He looked like a mean-spirited puppy dragged under a spotlight and pointed at.
“Oh, I get it. You’re afraid I’ll tell the teacher you like Alex, so she’ll lose trust in you and Alex.”
“The number one student likes number two? Hilarious.”
“I’d love to see the teacher’s face then.”
He started his nasty comments, rambling on.
I sat down next to him.
I put a finger over his mouth.
He froze, blinking rapidly, his eyelashes fluttering like butterflies.
“I’m not afraid you’ll tell the teacher.”
(I was terrified…)
“I came out because I was worried about you.”
Maybe my eyes were too sincere. He stopped his cursing and turned his head slightly away from my finger.
I chose my words carefully.
“I know you’re upset, so I was worried. The teacher was wrong to say you don’t use your brain.”
“And he shouldn’t have compared you to Alex.”
Mentioning Alex made him react like he’d been poked. Finn immediately glared at me.
“Are you saying I can’t compare to Alex?!”
That’s exactly what I thought.
But what I said was, “No, your foundations are different. Alex has a strong base. You’ve always played around, so your foundation isn’t as good, which is why your scores aren’t as high.”
“I think you’re smarter than him.”
Good heavens, that was a lie.
A normal person would probably think I was insulting him.
But Finn wasn’t normal.
He shook his curly hair, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Then how do you think I can improve my foundation? I need to prove how smart I am.”
Finn seemed to have an idea.
“Hey, you’re first in the class, right? Tutor me.”
He lifted his chin, with a “the young master is granting you a favor” expression.
“I’ll pay you a hundred times whatever I improve by.”
“My family has loads of money.”
A hundred points meant ten thousand dollars.
I knew Finn had some ability.
It was impossible to refuse.
This money was not easy to earn.
Because Finn was really dumb, and his foundation was terrible.
He just wasn’t cut out for studying.
When I tutored him, it took five explanations for him to understand.
I really wanted to quit, TAT.
After school, I tutored him at a bubble tea shop.
The fifth time explaining a problem, he still blinked his almond eyes, looking clueless.
I’d had enough.
I grabbed the coffee on the table and gulped it down, using it to soothe my frustration with his stupidity.
When I looked up to continue the lesson,
Finn was unusually quiet.
I glanced at him; he was sitting in his seat, head bowed.
Only the slight tremble of his pen told me he wasn’t asleep.
“Stop spacing out. Write the steps,” I said, poking him with my pen.
“You… you drank my bubble tea.”
Ah!
I looked down. The two cups of coffee had similar packaging and were placed close together; I must have grabbed the wrong one.
I quickly apologized softly, “I’ll buy you another one. Sorry.”
Finn turned his head away, his cheeks blazing red.
“Don’t worry about it.”
We continued with the problems.
There was some silence and awkwardness between us.
After a while, Finn suddenly said,
“Weren’t you into Alex? I don’t think you have a chance. Lots of people confess to Alex; you’re just the most ordinary, the chubbiest.”
All the guilt from drinking his coffee vanished.
“Oh, that. I don’t like Alex anymore.”
I said it calmly.
“Huh?” Finn’s ears seemed to perk up.
“I’ve realized I quite like you.”
Yeah, how does it feel to be liked by a chubby girl?
Especially for a young master like you, who’s always gotten everything he wanted.
I waited quietly for Finn to stand up and mock me with his nasty words.
The mockery didn’t come.
“W-well… it’s about time you recognized quality!”
Finn turned his head away awkwardly, his mouth trying to stay scornful but unable to stop curving upward.
He seemed to be looking at a billboard outside.
After a while, seeing I wasn’t paying attention,
He turned back and noticed I’d already bought him a new coffee.
“Here, a confession gift.”
I placed the bubble tea in front of him.
“Hmph, I usually only drink Starbucks,” he said, lifting his chin.
So annoying.
Thanks to my tutoring, Finn’s grades improved quite a bit.
Alex, as his deskmate, clearly noticed this change.
Alex asked him, “You figured this one out? Last time I explained it three times and you wouldn’t listen.”
Finn was carefully folding the coffee sleeve at his desk.
After folding it, he tucked it into his math book.
Alex looked puzzled. “What are you doing?”
“Making a bookmark,” Finn said, rolling his eyes.
Alex was silent for a moment. “I can give you the bookmark the teacher awarded me last exam.”
“I prefer this one,” Finn said, slamming his book shut.
As if afraid Alex might look too closely.
I witnessed the whole scene from behind the blackboard where I was drawing.
I’d just finished the border on one side when Alex walked over and casually took the chalk from my fingers.
“Let’s finish this after school. Break is too short; you should go get a drink or use the restroom, not be busy with this.”
I chose my default response—escape again!
I mumbled an agreement and turned to leave.
While Alex was walking toward me earlier,
Finn’s eyes hadn’t left me and Alex.
I thought he was going to say something nasty again.
But instead, Finn trotted over.
He snatched the chalk from Alex’s hand and stuffed it into his pocket.
“She’s busy after school.”
“Huh?” Alex looked confused.
After all, Finn and I had no connection.
Just as Finn was about to mention the tutoring, I quickly cut in.
“I do have something after school today. Family matters; I need to head home early.”
“Oh, I see,” Alex said with a slight nod.
“Do you need any help?” Alex asked me with a smile.
His gaze was warm, like early spring sunshine, making people feel all fuzzy inside.
I shook my head.
No need for your help, because I’m lying.
Nothing’s wrong at home.
It’s Noah who texted me.
Asking me to watch his music competition.
I’d been too focused on studying before and hadn’t heard of Noah.
I asked around and found out he was the student council president, voted school heartthrob on the campus wall.
I suspected he rigged the votes himself.
I didn’t think he was as handsome as Alex.
Many people described Noah as excellent in both character and academics, with a gentle personality.
He was the gentle type like Alex, though Alex seemed more normal than him.
Not constantly building a personal brand everywhere.
After I praised Noah for being outstanding last time, he proactively added me on Ins.
Inviting me to watch the music competition.
Noah participated in many music competitions, most of which weren’t very useful.
Just using certificates to pad his resume.
The music competition was on a Saturday.
Alex texted me asking to do homework together at McDonald’s.
Doing homework at McDonald’s was great—you could eat burgers and drink soda.
I usually would have jumped at the chance, but I was still avoiding him after the confession rejection.
I acted like I didn’t see Alex’s text.
There’s a kind of cowardice called moral victory; I cut him off mentally, pretending he didn’t exist.
That way, I wouldn’t have any expectations.
It’s like someone covering their eyes doesn’t expect moonlight, so they won’t foolishly run toward the moon.
I got ready and headed to Noah’s music competition venue.
Noah asked me to meet him in the dressing room first.
In the dressing room, I saw Noah, already made up.
At our age, we weren’t really into makeup yet. Seeing a male classmate wearing makeup was… awkward.
I felt a bit embarrassed.
Noah sat in front of the mirror, seeming very pleased with how he looked.
He didn’t look at me, just stared at his reflection in the mirror.
After makeup, his thin eyebrows and long eyes, originally a bit plain, now had a touch of glamour.
He did look more handsome than without makeup.
I walked over and handed him a cup of coffee from a cheap chain.
Revenge requires financial resources too.
This was my level.
He glanced at it and said softly, “Oh, just put it there.”
Then he tilted his head slightly, seemingly admiring his own beauty in the mirror.
After deliberately leaving me hanging for five minutes, he seemed to have found his best angle.
Satisfied, he finally turned to me with a gentle smile.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m fifth to perform. You can sit in the front row; the view is best there.”
Not many people were watching this music competition; I felt most of the audience were parents and staff from other participating organizations.
Noah’s organization must be pretty good to get front-row tickets.
“Thanks.”
I thanked him politely, then placed my hands on my knees, looking a bit nervous.
That’s just how us quiet, earnest kids are. We get awkward in strange situations.
Noah glanced at me a few more times, then looked back at the mirror.
His eyes darted between me and the mirror a few times.
After two minutes, I understood what he meant.
“You look… really beautiful, like a star,” I said sincerely.
“Well… I’m still far from being a star.”
Noah said modestly, but the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.
Like a proud peacock.
In the corner of the dressing room, a guy had been side-eyeing Noah and me.
When he heard me compliment Noah, he snorted and deliberately raised his voice.
“Noah, is this your girlfriend? Interesting taste.”
Noah immediately retorted, “No.”
After speaking, he glanced at me, as if worried he’d hurt my feelings, and added, “She’s a classmate. She has excellent grades.”
He emphasized “excellent grades,” as if that was the only reason someone like me could be near him.
“You know, many female classmates come to watch me perform.”
Noah lifted his chin slightly, showing a white-lotus-like smile.
I clearly saw the guy roll his eyes.
Then, with clear malice, his eyes swept over me and said:
“They’re all just tanks. What’s so great about that?”
“I won’t allow you to talk about other students like that. That’s too much!”
Noah immediately stood up. He gave me an apologetic look, then began scolding the guy with heartfelt pain.
I hated that guy.
And I didn’t like Noah much either.
Noah probably also thought I was ordinary and chubby deep down, but he just didn’t show it.
I liked Alex because he never thought I was fat.
His eyes were like calm, clear lake water, always reflecting my true self.
He might have had a hundred reasons for rejecting me.
But I firmly believed it would never be because of my ordinary appearance.
Such a good Alex, yet mocked because of me.
Noah is really awful.
After the guy was kicked out,
The dressing room was just Noah and me.
He wore an “I stood up for you” expression, his face still sporting that trademark gentle smile.
“I still remember you said I was talented. Thank you for the compliment.” Noah lowered his eyelashes, looking innocent.
I hummed softly in acknowledgment.
“You don’t like Alex anymore?” he asked casually, but his eyes were fixed directly on me.
The smile on his lips was like a night-blooming cereus slowly unfurling.
Through the reflection in the window behind him,
I immediately understood Noah’s intention.
This two-face guy, he still wanted to use me to humiliate Alex.
His hands were behind his back, holding a recording pen.
He wanted to coax out any lingering feelings, resentment, or even the slightest hesitation about Alex from me.
Then, he’d share that recording like a trophy.
Back in the dorm, in front of Alex, he’d play it over and over, laughing freely.
Using my “wishful thinking” and “foolishness” as a weapon to mock Alex.
The young man stood before me, his white suit outlining his slim waist.
Like a cold prince statue.
He was smiling, but there wasn’t a trace of warmth in his eyes.
I didn’t answer his question about Alex.
I stood up and said with a smile, “The performance is starting soon, right?”
When you haven’t figured out a strategy, avoid the question first.
I pushed the dressing room door.
It… wouldn’t budge.
The dressing room door was locked from the outside.
I turned and said to Noah, word by word,
“The door’s locked.”
I saw Noah’s gentle expression freeze. He rushed to the door and pushed hard a few times.
It was indeed locked from the outside.
Noah frowned and said quickly, “It must be Zach. That guy who said those nasty things about you. He’s always been jealous of me.”
“My performance is about to start. My mom is watching the livestream. I can’t let her down.”
His voice was raised, trembling, completely losing its usual gentle, composed tone.
“Don’t panic. Let’s call a staff member first,” I said soothingly, pulling out my phone.
“I don’t know any staff numbers. Even if you call the police, by the time they get here, it’ll be too late.”
Noah’s face was pale; he seemed to be remembering some bad memories.
I banged on the door twice hard and shouted, “Hey! Anyone out there? Help! We’re locked in!”
Unfortunately, no one responded outside.
Noah seemed to give up. He sat on the stool.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he wallowed in self-pity: “Forget it. There’s no way I can make it now. Mom will say I’m not as good as others again. Like she says I’m not as good as Alex, even though I’ve tried my best to be perfect.”
He probably thought he looked especially beautiful, strong, and tragic right now.
While Noah was feeling sorry for himself, I scanned the room and saw the window that had reflected the recording pen.
I grabbed the fire extinguisher hanging in the corner and smashed it hard against the glass.
A loud crash made Noah jump.
He frowned, about to say something.
I saw me raise my arm and swing with all my strength again.
Crash—
This time, the glass couldn’t take it.
The entire pane shattered like broken ice, instantly bursting.
Cool wind and noise from outside rushed in.
“Go out through here to get to your competition. You know the way, right?”
I turned and smiled at Noah.
“I’ll explain to them. You go first. Come find me after the competition.”
“You…” Noah was completely stunned, his eyes locked on me.
“Why did you do that?” He blinked, his face no longer wearing a gentle smile but filled with confusion, scrutiny… and a hint of shock.
“I didn’t want to see the moonlight fall,” I said with a sincere, frank smile.
Noah didn’t say anything. I saw him carefully throw something into the trash can.
Then he covered it with a tissue.
He quickly stepped onto a stool and carefully climbed out through the broken window.
I handed him his violin and said, “Good luck.”
Noah looked at me through the broken window, silent for a few seconds before saying,
“Thank you. I’ll pay for the glass. I’ll treat you to a meal after this.”
Hmm.
Second target, confirmed.
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