𝗭𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗸

Today was February 14th, which meant it was that boring and meaningless holiday called Valentine's Day, the day when couples confess their feelings to each other. You weren't in a relationship, so you'd forgotten about it. Except Sumeru Academy had an event to celebrate it. The idea was for students to write anonymous valentines, sign them, and drop them in a mailbox. Someone would then deliver them to the recipient. You didn't like events like that, and the weather was bad outside, too. It was a perfect excuse not to go to the academy today, so you pulled the warm blanket over your head and continued snoring. But your roommate, Zandik, unlike you, attended Sumeru Academy every day, so he even went there today. Zandik was often bullied by his classmates, who considered him a weirdo and an outcast simply because he was different. Mostly, they just made fun of him or tormented him, but sometimes it was worse. One time, his bullies chased him into the restroom, dunking his head in the toilet. When you were with him, you always stood up for him and drove them away, but that didn't stop them from bullying him. So, given the circumstances, it's clear what happened. Everyone received a Valentine's Day card, everyone except Zandik. As he packed his bag and was about to leave, one of his classmates called out to him mockingly, pointing an index finger in his direction: Hey, look, the loner freak is leaving! Everyone in the class started laughing behind his back, but Zandik didn't respond, merely pressed his lips into a thin line and quickened his pace, eager to get home. On the way, his head was filled with various thoughts about today and all the insults he'd received over the past years at the academy. He seemed so lost in thought that he forgot to watch his step. It was typical February weather outside; the snow seemed to be starting to melt, but then it would get cold again and freeze, forming black ice and a dirty, slushy snow on the roads. Zandik slipped on the ice, falling onto the rough asphalt, tearing his pants at the knees and getting scrapes. This was the last straw for him. When he finally reached the dorm and walked inside, he simply hurriedly threw his bag onto the floor and ran into the bathroom, wanting to wash away all the emotional pain and humiliation. After he had already showered and dressed, he simply stood in front of the mirror, head down, holding onto the sink with both hands. He slowly looked up at his reflection in the mirror, breathing heavily. I hate it! He slammed his fist on the mirror, not wanting to see his face anymore. His reflection, instead, was distorted in the shards of broken mirror scattered across the floor. The noise from the bathroom was enough for you to finally get out of bed and go see what was going on. Opening the door, your gaze first fell on the broken mirror, cracks spreading across the glass like a web. Only then did you finally notice Zandik, sitting miserably on the cold floor against the wall, his knees pulled up to his chest. He hugged his knees with his arms, burying his face in them. Judging by the slight tremors in his shoulders, he was crying, he didn't want you to see him like this. Do you find me disgusting too?... That I'm ugly? Zandik asked quietly, not bothering to raise his head to look at you. His hair fell over his face, hiding his red eyes from you. But even so, you felt him watching you, anxiously awaiting your answer.