Liam could feel the weight of his parents' words hanging over him like a cloud as he walked into school the next morning. It wasn't that they were wrong. He had always been the focused one, the kid who didn't need distractions or friends. He had lived in his own world of numbers and logic, and it had been fine. But Lily… she had changed things.
But now, he needed to go back to the way things were. Back to being just Liam, the serious student.
As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, Liam quietly slid into his seat, purposely choosing one far from where Lily usually sat. He didn't look her way, though he felt her gaze on him immediately. Normally, they'd sit together, or at least exchange a playful smile, but today was different. He buried his face in his notebook, pretending to focus on the lecture. But the truth was, he couldn't focus at all.
Lily didn't let it slide. After class, she caught up to him in the hallway, her usual cheerful bounce in her step. "Liam, hey! Where've you been all morning? I've barely seen you."
He forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Just… busy. I've got a lot to study for."
She tilted her head, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "Busy? You've never been too busy for me before."
Liam's heart twisted at her words. He hated this. But he remembered what his father said—You don't need distractions.
"Yeah, well… I'm trying to stay ahead. There's no room to mess up," he replied flatly, his eyes darting to the side.
Lily stopped walking and grabbed his arm, pulling him gently to face her. Her smile was still there, but it was softer now, tinged with concern. "You're acting weird. Did I do something wrong?"
Liam's stomach dropped. He couldn't let her think this was her fault. But he couldn't tell her the truth either. So he did what he was starting to get used to—he shut down.
"No, it's not you. I just need to focus on my studies. That's all."
Lily stared at him, clearly not satisfied with his answer, but she didn't push. "Okay, Mr. Genius," she said with a light chuckle, though the brightness in her eyes dimmed. "Don't forget about your friends while you're busy being perfect."
He forced a smile, watching her walk away, her usual energy seeming a little more subdued. His chest tightened with guilt, but he turned away, retreating into his mind where everything was supposed to be simple—logical.
For the next few days, Liam threw himself completely into his studies. He stopped sitting with Lily at lunch, stopped walking her home after school, and even stopped replying to her texts. He told himself it was for the best. He needed to stay focused, just like his parents said.
But as the days passed, he couldn't shake the feeling that something important was slipping away. Every time he glanced at Lily from across the room, sitting by herself or laughing with others, a sharp pang of regret shot through him. She was still smiling, but it wasn't the same.
In those quiet moments between study sessions, Liam found himself thinking about the past. About the moments when it was just the two of them, laughing at something silly, or when Lily would pull him out of his shell, dragging him into the world with her carefree attitude.
Now, it felt like that world was closing off. The walls around him were back up, but this time they weren't protecting him. They were suffocating him.
One evening, after another long day of avoiding Lily, Liam sat at his desk, surrounded by textbooks and notes. His phone buzzed, but he didn't bother checking it. He knew it was probably her. Instead, he stared at a photo pinned to the corner of his bulletin board. It was an old picture of him and Lily from when they were kids—smiling, carefree, without a worry in the world.
Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had always been an introvert, analytical, preferring his own company to that of others. Before Lily, he hadn't had any close friends. And now, he was back to being that version of himself—a perfect student, always thinking ten steps ahead, always calculating the risks.
But the difference now was the emptiness.
He'd gone back to his old self, but it didn't feel right anymore. Sure, he was getting his perfect grades again. But the hollowness inside him was undeniable. He was more alone than ever.
Liam stared at the photo for a long time, a gnawing feeling in his gut. The perfect life his parents wanted him to have—was this really it?