Sophia looked up, she saw Michael Liam, out of all people, to find her in this very vulnerable state
He sat down besides her, he moved his right hand to her right shoulder, pulling her gently into a hug, Sophia rest her head on Michael's chest quietly, he didn't press her to explain, he just...wait for her to feel better
"I just...don't understand why...I did everything Max wanted me to...yet...just because I rejected his idea of having sex, he broke up with me instantly...and let's not forget about how he humiliated me in the public verbally too..." Sophia sobbed into his hoodie
She hadn't noticed one bit that Michael Liam was clenching his fists
"Forget Max, Soph...he does not deserve you one bit" He told her with his nonchalant tone, as if he's not angered
"You don't think I'm a coward?" She asked
"Soph, just because you aren't ready to lose your v-card, that doesn't mean you're coward...I mean...take a look at our group!" Michael then talked about their group
"Manggon? Still has no girlfriend, Bill and Mary? Hopelessly in love, but won't confess, GokuZ and Yean obviously never have any girlfriends before, because they just turned 16 this year, and then there's me...which still got no girlfriend"
"You're not a coward, Soph. If anything...you are so goddamn brave, letting someone outside your family into your life"
"Really?" She looked up and locked eyes with him
"Really" he gave her a comforting smile, a very rare thing for Michael Liam to do
"Thanks, Mike...I felt a lot better now"
"Glad to hear that, and don't forget this: You're already perfect the way you are"
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Later, in the hallway, Sophia was looking at her group
Manggon is rubbing Jason's back after the t-pose incident, while saying something about "You'll get used to it"
Bill is reading "Cat is Car"
Mary is on her phone, reading an e-book
Michael is sketching something in his notebook
Everyone is living their lives the way it should've been
"Well, well, well" That is, until Sophia heard the voice of someone she didn't want to hear anymore
"Max..." She turned to face her ex-boyfriend
"I've found someone better than you in every possible way, someone who's not a pathetic coward like you" Max's venomous tone still hurt her
"Hey, Soph...can we talk for a second?" She suddenly heard Michael's voice in her head, she turned to him, wanting to be sure she wasn't thinking of that incident
But Mike's lips remain closed, confirming that she had started thinking of that incident again
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
5 years ago, at the Sunnicorn High School
It was the homecoming night, students are wearing tuxedos and dresses while dancing to music
"Hey, Soph...can we talk for a second?" Michael, in his dark blue tuxedo approached Sophia, who was enjoying her drink alone at that time
"Sure" Sophia followed him out of the gym
The night is starry, even though it's not entirely quiet, it's peaceful
"You got something to tell me?" She jumped right into the topic
"Okay, so....uhm...." He went quiet, as if he's unsure of how to say it, but then he decided to laugh and shook his head
"Gosh, I'm really terrible at poetic, so I'm going to be straightforward. Sophia...I have a crush on you"
"W-WHAT!?" She exclaimed
"Mhm, I have a crush on you...since you were around like...13 or 14 or something"
"Mike...I...I don't know what to say..."
"Just...say what you feel...about me" he sighed
"Mike...I...I...I'm sorry...but I see you...as a brother"
Upon hearing her response, Michael laughed like it was no big deal
"It's fine...I...kinda expect that to happen...if I'm not mistaken, you're about to go on a date with a guy named Max...right?"
"...." Sophia didn't respond
"He was a...football team captain, yeah?"
"...." Sophia once again didn't respond
"Yeah, the football team captain is definitely better than a nobody like me" Mike ruffled his own hair before adding "Well, I hope you and Max have a very long-term relationship" with a happy smile
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Present
Sophia remember how Mike continue to act nonchalant like it was nothing, though she can tell he was heartbroken
An idea came into her mind, making her lips twitched in a soft smile
"Well, I'm glad for you, Max. Because I also found someone who can treat me better than you" Sophia then confidently walked over to Michael Liam
"Come on!" She coiled her right arm around Mike's left arm before dragging him out with her
Sophia heard Max's angry yells at her, but she no longer cares
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Later, at Nevertown Family's house
"MICHAEL LIAM, YOU BETTER EXPLAIN BEFORE I'LL BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU WITH MY KOREA KING!!!" Manggon's yell echoes through the house as he demand Michael to explain
"Stop there, you overprotective idiot, I was just getting revenge on Max" Sophia stepped in
"And nothing going on between you both?" Manggon raised his eyebrow
"Well..." Sophia trailed off, her cheeks flushed red
"I'ma leave" Michael jumped up and disappeared into the ventilation system, clearly isn't ready for overprotective Manggon
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Mary was studying in the university's library, after trying to memorize the topic for the fifth time, the exhaustion finally caught up to her and she fell asleep right there
Mary had a dream, she was reading a book with Bill, it seems normal at first
Until she realized that they both were reading the *ahem* Sex Education book
Yet, her dream self didn't feel uncomfortable or anything
"Hey, Mary" Bill(dream) called her
"Yeah?" Mary(dream) turned to face him
And Bill unexpectedly lean closer until Mary is very sure that the inevitable had happened
Mary immediately woke up, breathing heavily, her one hand is pressing against her heart, which is apparently pounding so fast that it might bulged out
"T...t...that was..." Mary tried to find the right word, but unable to do so, so she quickly buried herself in the study
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Meanwhile, at the "Truman Lab"
"Ladies and gentlemen! My name is Dr. Marcus Clyde, and I welcome you to the future of humanity, the Truman Lab!" A blonde scientist greeted the tourists
Everyone was amazed by the experiment subjects in the glasses that they didn't realize one bit that there is a shadow figure with red eyes looking at them from the corner of the room
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
To be continued