IMPERFECTLY PERFECT PERSON
"In a life of regrets and missed opportunities, I, an introverted soul merely existing, found unexpected salvation in a girl battling anxiety—a twist that rewrote my entire story."
Opening:
As I reached Rena's place, I adjusted her weight on my back, careful not to wake her. Her head rested softly on my shoulder, her breathing slow and steady. I rang the doorbell, glancing around nervously, hoping someone would answer quickly.
The door creaked open, and an older girl, who I assumed was Rena's sister, appeared. Her eyes widened in alarm as she saw Rena slumped against me.
"Rena! What happened?" she asked, her voice sharp with worry.
I raised my hands slightly in a calming gesture. "It's okay, she's fine. My friends were messing around, and... well, she had a bit too much to drink. I just wanted to make sure she got home safely."
Her expression darkened as she looked me over, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "Did you... do anything to her?"
I quickly shook my head. "No! I swear, nothing like that. Rena's my friend, I wouldn't—" I stopped myself, realizing how defensive I sounded. "I just wanted to help, that's all."
Her stern gaze softened, but she still looked cautious. "Alright. But if anything happens to her, I'll hold you accountable."
I watched as she gently lifted Rena from my back, pulling her close in a protective embrace. A sense of relief washed over me. Rena was in good hands, and I was glad her sister cared so much.
Without another word, she carried Rena inside and shut the door. I stood there for a moment, the weight of the night still lingering, then turned and made my way home. The whole situation could have been much worse, and I was grateful it hadn't escalated.
The next morning, I walked into class, scanning the room until I spotted Rena sitting at her usual spot. I walked over, forcing a smile. "Morning, Rena."
She glanced up briefly, her expression unreadable. "Morning." Her tone was flat, and before I could say anything else, she gathered her things and left without another word.
A frown tugged at the corners of my mouth. Something was off.
Later, during our practical class, I noticed Rena keeping her distance, sitting far away from me. I tried to break the ice with some small talk, but her replies were brief and distant, almost as if she didn't want to talk to me at all. My gut twisted with unease.
Had I done something wrong?
After class, I decided it was time to address what had been on my mind. I found Rena in the lab, deeply focused on her assignment.
"Hey, Rena, can we talk for a minute?" I asked, approaching her desk cautiously.
She looked up, her expression immediately guarded. "What's up?"
I pulled out a chair and sat beside her, trying to read her mood. "I'm not sure if I did something wrong, but... you've been kind of distant today. Did I upset you?"
Rena sighed and put her pen down. "It's not you," she said softly. "I'm just embarrassed, okay? My sister was really rude to you yesterday, and I don't know how to deal with that. And then... well, I feel a little silly about everything that happened."
I gave her a reassuring smile, trying to lighten the mood. "You don't have to feel bad about any of that. Besides, I should be thanking you. Carrying a cute girl like you home was probably the highlight of my day."
She rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Ahsan, seriously, stop. That's not helping."
"Okay, okay," I said, holding up my hands. "But really, what's bothering you? You seem like there's more on your mind."
Rena hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her words. "Did I... do anything weird yesterday? I don't remember much after a certain point."
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. "Wait, you don't remember? Like, at all?"
She shook her head, clearly embarrassed. "No... everything's a bit hazy. But I feel like I might've said something—something I shouldn't have."
I grinned, unable to resist teasing her a little. "Well, you did call me lazy and annoying, so thanks for that."
Her face turned a deep shade of red as she groaned and covered her face with her hands. "Shut up, Ahsan! I didn't mean it like that."
"I know, I know," I said, still chuckling. "But that's all you remember?"
She peeked at me through her fingers, her curiosity growing. "Is there... more? Did I say something else?"
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "Well... you might've said something a little more interesting."
Her eyes widened as panic flashed across her face. "What? No—don't tell me!" she blurted out, her voice panicked. "I don't want to know right now. I'm not ready."
I leaned back, softening my tone. "Alright, I won't push. We can talk about it whenever you're ready."
Rena nodded, still hiding behind her hands. She looked like she wanted to disappear into the chair. I could tell she was battling with her own thoughts and the embarrassment of the unknown, so I didn't press further.
There was no rush. I'd wait for her to come around when she felt comfortable. For now, I was content with the small progress we made.
When I arrived home, I sank into my usual spot on the bed and pulled out my phone to chat with Tsula. As always, we caught up on our day, trading stories and laughter. I didn't hold back, telling her everything about our movie day and the whole scene with Rena and her sister. Tsula was listening intently, but when I mentioned the part where Rena's sister basically said I'd be to blame if anything happened to her, Tsula's tone changed.
"How could she say that to you?" Tsula messaged, her words filled with anger. "You were just looking out for her!"
I let out a small chuckle, though she couldn't see me. "I know, right? I didn't think much of it, but you're pretty fired up."
"I am!" she replied. "It's so unfair. You did the right thing, Ahsan. Don't let her make you feel otherwise."
Her words warmed me more than I expected. Tsula always knew how to make me feel seen, and I was grateful for her friendship.
As we continued chatting, I found myself opening up about Rena. I talked about how I admired her as a person, a good friend... but I couldn't ignore the fact that she was beautiful too. What if she confessed her feelings again? I couldn't shake the thought.
The next day, I went to college early, still mulling it all over.
Turning a corner, I spotted Rena standing with a group of guys. They were leaning in a bit too close, their body language too familiar for my liking. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Without thinking, I sped up and made my way over to them.
"Morning, Rena," I said casually, trying to mask my unease.
Rena's eyes flicked toward me, her relief almost palpable. "Morning, Ahsan."
I shifted my gaze to the guys. They were clearly trying too hard to impress her – exaggerated smiles, forced laughter. It didn't sit right with me.
"Hey, guys," I said, keeping my tone friendly but firm. "Mind giving us a little space?"
They hesitated, their expressions showing they weren't thrilled, but they backed off after a few tense moments. Once they were gone, Rena let out a soft breath.
"Thanks, Ahsan," she murmured.
I smiled, reaching for her arm lightly. "Come on, let's go."
As we walked, she thanked me again, and I asked her why she didn't just brush them off more firmly. She admitted they kept pushing, making it hard to ignore them. That frustrated me, realizing I should've stepped in sooner. Trying to lighten the mood, I joked, "Well, I guess that's what happens when you're too cute and popular."
Rena giggled, her mood lifting. Then, without warning, she shot me a mischievous look. "So, is it tough being liked by a cute girl?"
I froze, her words hanging in the air. Her cheeks flushed, and for a moment, all I could think was, "Man, she really is cute."