Chapter 3

After class, Noah Miller appeared at the classroom door.

“I’m looking for Luna.”

No one dared to speak.

I sat in my seat, afraid to look up at him, even more so, unwilling to walk out that door.

But Noah Miller clearly saw me.

He walked straight in, his voice laced with concern: “Luna, I saw the photo. Are you okay…?”

—Noah Miller *had* seen it.

I clutched my textbook, using it to hide the tears that blurred my vision.

A crushing mix of shame and humiliation threatened to swallow me whole.

Around us, a chorus of snickers.

Noah Miller’s expression hardened: “Who’s laughing?”

“Luna is your classmate. Is it really that funny to witness her distress?”

Every word he spoke pierced my heart.

The guy who started the laughing scoffed.

“This is *our* class. What we laugh at is none of your damn business! Don’t think you’re hot shit just because you’re the student council president…”

Before he could finish, Noah Miller grabbed his collar and punched him.

Noah Miller and I were different.

He was pure, excellent at everything, the most dazzling person in the entire grade.

Yet, somehow, a stray kitten in the corner of the sports field had brought us together, drawing us closer.

Noah Miller never understood why I always cried without warning.

He would just quietly stay by my side, then pat my head and say:

“Luna, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, just don’t cry.

This world, after all, always has some good waiting for you.”

I uncontrollably fell for him.

Turns out, getting close to an outcast like me indeed came with a price.

“What the hell are you playing at, pretending to be Mr. Nice Guy? You saw Luna’s photo, didn’t you? What do you think, pretty hot, right?”

The guy Noah punched kept spouting trash talk.

“Defending her so much, did she let you feel her up or something…”

Tables crashed, and I rushed forward, pulling Noah Miller back.

“Noah, stop fighting.”

I heard myself sobbing.

Yes, what could be more humiliating than this?

If… if only I could die, that would be a blessing.