He had realized he was different from others a long time ago.
Starting from elementary school, hints of first crushes had emerged between the boys and girls, kicking off the beginnings of a pubescent infatuation.
Yet, he felt nothing of the sort. He just devoted himself to studying diligently and excelling academically, avoiding these convoluted matters. It wasn't until middle school when he first recognized that he was attracted not to girls, but to boys.
A good friend of his who was also a boy confided in him, "I like XX."
He felt dismay upon hearing these words.
At first, he thought it was a betrayal of their friendship for the sake of a girl. He felt his friendship had been betrayed. But gradually, he realized it was because he was different.
