My exam results came out, and the good news was that I got into a top university. The bad news was that I couldn't afford the tuition. Even if I could apply for a student loan, the living expenses were suffocating me.
Life and studies left me exhausted, feeling weak and inferior. I was bullied and insulted by those around me. I always kept to myself, avoiding others, with Sophie as my only friend.
With my withdrawn personality and depression, I became an outcast. My dorm mates and classmates isolated me and even bullied me.
During that time, I often sat on the rooftop, contemplating jumping off countless times.
It was Mason who sat beside me, brought me cake, listened to music with me, and let me vent about the frustrations of life...
Knowing I was struggling financially and had to take on part-time jobs, he quietly stayed by my side, walking with me through those difficult times.
When he learned I was being bullied, he didn't care about the mocking stares. He held my hand, letting everyone know that I had a friend.
Once, at a class gathering, a girl who liked Mason deliberately made things difficult for me, daring me to kiss him in front of everyone.
I was panicked, and the mocking jeers only magnified my insecurity.
But Mason calmly smiled and waved at me. "It's fine, kiss me. I like you too."
At that moment, the breeze lifted the hair from his forehead. As if by some unseen force, I reached out and held his hand tightly.
In the countless nights that followed, I always felt like I had grasped the hand of a god.
Eventually, we really got together, though no one believed in us. They envied and mocked me, saying Mason was like a flower planted in manure. His admirers never took me seriously, thinking I was just someone he spent time with out of boredom.
I was incredibly anxious, constantly fearing someone would steal him away, or that he would leave me.
So I did everything I could to be good to him, like a devout follower, offering up everything in my life to him.
He gave me affection and a sense of security in return.
When Claire came back to the country, everything changed.
His attitude toward me became more and more dismissive, and his interactions with Claire became increasingly inappropriate.
They had long crossed the boundaries of friendship.
Yet I didn't give up. I willingly stayed by his side.
I was even afraid to think about how I would live without him.