"What the fuck do you want now?"

Without saying a word, he grabbed my wrist and everyone looked at me with pity as I was dragged out of the classroom.

He was quiet for the whole walk. It was the first time he isn't harassing me the moment he sees me. It was almost concerning.

Eventually, we got to the door to the rooftop where students weren't allowed. But I noticed a bolt cutter lying in the corner and realized he must have planned this. I thought it'd be the day I die.

I expected to see his gang waiting for us, but there was no one. He walked to the railing and stayed quiet for a few minutes and when I realized he wasn't going to do anything, I hesitantly went to stand next to him.

"You don't have to be so nervous around me." he sighed, "At least not anymore."

"I'm not going to bother you ever again," he glanced at me, "And I'm sorry. For everything I've done and put you through. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I have something to tell you before I'll leave you alone forever."

He stared at me and I was baffled by what he said. Never in a million years would I have thought that Darren Maguire would ever apologize.

"Well, go on."

He bit his lip and broke eye contact for a moment, then mumbled something under his breath, "... Like ..."

"What? I couldn't hear you."

"I like you."

I took a whole minute trying to figure out whether he was joking.

"I'm not sure when, but," he peeked at me but turned away to look at the view before continuing, "I've started to feel sorry for all the suffering we put you through. I didn't want to be a part of the bullying anymore and I didn't want to see you get hurt."

"You are the reason of the bullying, Darren. I don't need you to feel sorry for me when everything's been your doing." I was shocked at my courage to talk back at him. Usually, I'd be kicked in the face if I tried to speak, but he was being so different.

"No. I don't like you because I'm sorry. And– And I'm not pitying you or anything like that. I genuinely like you, Alex. Like, like like you, and, wow," he slapped his palm on his face, "This sounds so fucked up and I know I'm not going to have a chance so I might as well confess it all. I want to be with you, I want to hug you, I want to kiss you, cherish you, protect you. And I've been beating myself up for nights because I've been so fucking horrible to you. I've been the one hurting the person I love the most."

I was astonished by this sudden confession. I wanted to confront him and accuse him of attempting to play such a sick prank on me, but he looked genuine. All those times he wore that twisted sadistic expression on his face while watching me cry and bleed because of his friends, that was all gone. The guy in front of me looked sad and, honestly... A little lonely.

"Why? Why did you ever treat me like that? What was the whole point from the start? And how big of a hypocrite are you for accusing me of being gay when you're the actual homosexual here?" I scoffed, more demented than ever, but I didn't want to my anger to take over. "Why did it have to be me?"

"I don't know." he sighed, and slumped down onto the ground. Burying his head into his hands, he repeated, "I really don't know."

"That's not good enough. From the first day of school, ever since meeting you, every day has been a torture for me. Physically and mentally. I go home to my family and I have to make up outrageous lies to excuse my injuries. Do you know how many times my bones have broken? I wanted to kill myself at some point, too. Now you're saying you like me? But you can't do something as simple as to tell me why you did everything you did? That's not good enough. Apologizing doesn't take anything I've suffered away."

There were tears in his eyes just as there were in mine, but we both had different reasons.

"I hate you."