The Boy No One Dared to Sit Beside

He was still asleep when I sat down.

Head tilted back, one arm folded, the other dangling carelessly off the side of his desk.

I kept quiet.

The whispers around us grew louder.

“She’s really sitting there…”

“She’s gonna regret that.”

“Dead girl walking.”

I ignored them. I’d already survived worse than scary rumors.

But then—

His eyes opened.

Dark. Sharp. Cold.

His brows furrowed the moment he saw me.

“You,” he muttered, voice rough from sleep. “Why are you sitting here?”

I glanced at him, then returned to my notebook. “Because I’m in this class. And this is the only empty seat.”

“You should’ve stayed standing,” he said bluntly.

“Then maybe you should’ve told the school to keep this desk as your personal shrine.”

His jaw tightened. “Tch. You’ve got a big mouth for someone so small.”

“And you’ve got a small brain for someone with such a big reputation.”

He blinked, surprised.

A few students around us gasped.

I didn’t care.

I was done letting people scare me.

But of course… right on cue, she arrived.

Silvia.

Flowing hair, pink ribbon, eyes wide with pretend innocence.

“Oh no…” she gasped softly, stepping between our desks. “Nia, why are you disturbing Raiyan?”

She turned to him, voice honey-sweet. “I’m really sorry about my sister. She’s… different.”

I could almost feel her trying to wrap him around her finger, like everyone else.

“She doesn’t know how to behave sometimes,” Silvia added with a sad little laugh. “It must be hard for you to deal with her.”

I said nothing.

Let her dig her own grave.

Raiyan stared at her. His expression unreadable.

And then—his fist slammed down onto the desk.

BANG.

The whole room jumped.

Silvia flinched, her eyes wide, lips parting like she was about to cry.

“I don’t like it when people interrupt me while I’m talking to my deskmate,” Raiyan growled.

Silvia’s fake smile shattered.

“I— I just—”

“Go back to your seat,” he snapped. “And next time, try minding your own business.”

She stood frozen for a beat, eyes glassy, lips trembling—like she was the victim.

Like she hadn’t just tried to embarrass me.

Then she turned and stormed off, her friends rushing to comfort her like the whole world had collapsed.

I didn't even look at her.

Instead, I stared at Raiyan’s hand.

There were thin red scratches where he’d hit the table. A small bead of blood welled on his knuckle.

“You’re crazy,” I said, digging into my bag. “Why would you slam the table like that?”

“Tch. I’m not bleeding,” he muttered, glancing at his hand.

I pulled out a tiny bandage from the back pocket of my pencil case. “Yes, you are.”

“What are you—?”

“Shut up and give me your hand,” I said calmly.

He blinked.

I took his hand gently, ignoring his stiff posture.

He didn’t stop me.

I wiped the blood with a tissue, then carefully pressed the bandage onto his skin.

All the while, he just stared at me.

“Done,” I said, letting go.

“…Why do you have bandages in your pencil case?”

“In case someone punches furniture like an idiot.”

He gave a small scoff. “You’re seriously weird.”

“You’re seriously dramatic.”

A pause.

Then—he chuckled.

Just a small one. But it was there.

The class started, but he kept sneaking glances at me.

At first I ignored it.

But by the fifth time, I whispered without looking, “If you keep staring at me, people are going to think you’ve fallen for me.”

“Please,” he whispered back. “I don’t fall for girls who act like grannies.”

“I’m sorry, who just got a bandaid from a granny?”

He smirked.

“Do you always fight everyone like this?” he asked under his breath.

“No. Just the ones who aren’t worth running from.”

He tilted his head slightly, still watching me. “You’re… interesting.”

“You’re annoying.”

He laughed again—quietly this time.

At recess, I stood to go.

“Where are you going?” he asked, like a dog pretending not to care when its owner grabs the keys.

“To breathe,” I replied. “Away from you.”

“Hmph. Whatever. Don’t trip on your own pride.”

I walked off, but I swear I saw him watching me leave, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

And maybe I shouldn’t have…

But I smiled too.

Because for the first time in this life—

Someone didn’t look at me like I was a shadow.

Someone saw me.

Someone snapped at Silvia.

Someone let me speak.

And weirdly enough… that someone was a boy everyone feared.

Maybe he wasn’t a devil.

Maybe he was just another soul thrown into the dark.

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