LUCA'S FIRST POV.
I watched as the greatest sister in the history of sisters— Yes. I said it. Fight me.
Ayana walked away across the enormous field, her hair moving gently with the wind as she headed toward a small convenience store in the distance.
She had gone to buy us water. Probably snacks too if she found any.
I smiled to myself. "...She's actually the best."
The field became quiet after she left.
Only the sound of the breeze moving through the grass remained.
I leaned back against the tree and let out a long breath.
Today... I had officially started learning how to drive.
Which was exciting.
Also... I had officially traumatized Mark.
I slowly turned my head toward him. He was still sitting beside me. One arm rested on his knee.
He looked... Pale. Really pale.
"...Oh."
My smile slowly disappeared. "...I really did that."
I looked down at my hands. I hadn't meant to scare him. I was laughing because I was nervous. Because I didn't know what I was doing.
Because everything felt exciting.
But... Maybe I had taken it too far. "...I'm so stupid."
The words slipped out before I even realized I'd spoken.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
Sometimes... I joke too much.
Sometimes... Everything feels funny to me.
Even when maybe... It shouldn't.
I sighed quietly. "...I always get too playful."
Poor Mark. He always somehow ended up suffering because of me.
I don't even know how.
It just... Happened. I rested my elbows on my knees.
Sometimes... I wonder if people secretly get tired of me.
I hug too much. I smile too much. I laugh too much. I get excited over little things.
I tell people I love them without thinking twice. I like holding hands. I like giving affection. I like making people feel loved.
But... Is that normal?
I looked down at the grass beneath my shoes. "...Why am I different?"
My smile had disappeared completely now.
The cheerful feeling from only a few minutes ago faded into something much heavier.
I didn't even notice how quiet I'd become. "...Hey."
A gentle nudge touched my shoulder.
I looked up. Mark.
He had shifted closer without me noticing.
His glasses reflected the sunlight for a second before he tilted his head. "What's wrong?"
I quickly forced a smile. "Nothing."
He stared at me. "...Luca."
"Hm?"
"You've been smiling all morning." He adjusted his glasses. "Then suddenly... You weren't."
His voice stayed calm. "You can tell me."
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it again.
The words wouldn't come out.
How do you even ask something like that?
How do you ask someone... "Am I wrong for being me?"
I looked away. Mark waited. He didn't rush me. Didn't pressure me.
He just... Waited.
Somehow... That made it even harder not to talk.
I took a slow breath. "...Mark."
"Hm?"
"...I feel bad."
He frowned slightly. "For what?"
I laughed weakly. "...For almost killing you."
That made him smile.
Just a little.
"I really am sorry. I know I joke a lot. I know I'm playful. I know I don't think before I do things sometimes."
I lowered my head. "...Please forgive me."
For some reason... Saying those words made my chest feel tight.
I rarely apologized seriously. Not because I didn't care.
But because... I usually laughed everything away.
This time... I couldn't.
Mark looked at me for a long moment before smiling softly. "...Luca. I forgave you the moment you stopped the car."
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
"You didn't mean to scare me. You were learning."
"...I was terrified."
"...But I know you."
That somehow made me feel even worse. "...Thank you."
He nudged my shoulder lightly. "What else is bothering you?"
I hesitated. Then looked down at my hands.
I started fidgeting with my fingers. Pulling at my sleeves.
Twisting them around each other.
Something I always did whenever I became nervous. "...Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"...Anything."
I swallowed.
"...Is. ..Is this how a seventeen-year-old boy is supposed to be?"
Mark blinked. "...What do you mean?"
I searched for the right words. "...Soft. I like hugs. I like cute things. I cry easily. I tell people I love them. I smile all the time....I don't even like pretending to be tough."
I laughed awkwardly. "...Sometimes I wonder if something's wrong with me."
For the first time in a very long time...
I admitted something I'd never told anyone. "...My friends bully me."
The words sounded strange after finally saying them out loud.
Mark's expression changed immediately. "...Bullied?"
I nodded slowly.
"They call me..." I looked away. "...Sissy. They say I look like a girl. They say boys shouldn't act like me."
"...They laugh." I forced another little laugh. "I usually laugh too. So they think it doesn't bother me."
There was a long silence.
"...Luca." His voice was quieter now. "You don't look like a girl."
I shrugged. "They say I do."
"They're wrong."
"...They're my friends."
Mark shook his head immediately. "No."
"They aren't."
I frowned. "They've been my friends for years."
"A true friend," Mark said gently, "doesn't make you feel ashamed for being yourself."
"They don't mock you until you question who you are."
"They don't make you wonder whether you're supposed to exist differently."
I stared at him. He slowly reached over and took one of my hands.
His grip wasn't tight.
Just... Steady.
"Luca. If someone only likes you when you change... They don't actually like you. They like the version they're trying to create."
I couldn't say anything.
My throat suddenly felt tight.
He continued. "You know what I see?"
I blinked.
"I see someone who's kind. Someone who loves without expecting anything back. Someone who hugs people because he genuinely wants them to feel better. You care. So much. And do you know how rare that is?"
I felt my eyes sting. "...Really?"
He nodded. "I've met plenty of people. Not many have a heart like yours."
I quickly looked away. "...Then why do they keep saying I'm weird?"
"Because people often make fun of what they don't understand."
He sighed quietly.
"But Luca..." His thumb gently brushed across the back of my hand. "...Those people are not your friends."
"If they make you feel small... if they make you question yourself... If they enjoy hurting you... They don't deserve to stand beside you."
I stayed quiet. "...Why didn't you tell us?"
He asked softly. "Me. Ayana. Jake. Mrs. May. Your dad. Why?"
I looked at the grass. "...Everyone already worries about me. I didn't want to become another problem. I thought... If I stayed loud enough... If I kept smiling..." ..Nobody would notice."
The silence that followed felt heavier than anything else.
When I finally looked back up...
Mark was staring at the ground. "...I'm sorry."
His voice sounded different. "I never realized. You hide it better than you think."
I immediately shook my head. "No. No, Mark. You didn't do anything wrong. You aren't supposed to know everything. You've always been kind to me."
"I promise."
He still looked guilty. "...I should've noticed."
Before I could answer Footsteps crunched softly across the grass.
I looked up. Ayana. She was walking toward us carrying a small plastic bag and two cold bottles of water.
The moment I saw her... I quickly wiped at my eyes with my sleeve.
Smile.
Smile.
There.
Much better.
"Thanks!"
I said brightly as she reached us.
She handed me both bottles.
I immediately passed one to Mark. "Here, teacher."
He accepted it with a quiet smile. "...Thanks."
He still glanced at me every few seconds.
Still worried.
I think... Ayana noticed.
Her eyebrows slowly pulled together.
She always did that whenever she was confused.
"...Why," she asked slowly, looking between the two of us, "...does it suddenly feel like I missed something important?"