POV: Bryan
Bryan couldn't focus for the rest of the class.
Everyone was still whispering about what had just happened — Maria slapping Rachel, the way she stood her ground, the look in her eyes. But for him, the noise faded into nothing.
His mind was spinning.
That face… that voice… that calmness.
He kept seeing her.
The way she looked at Rachel.
The way she smiled like nothing could touch her.
The way she carried herself now — confident, fearless, beautiful.
He tried to shake the thought, but it wouldn't leave.
There was no way this was the same Maria he used to mock. The same one who cried in corners, who hid behind her books.
But it was.
He knew it deep down — that spark in her eyes was the same.
Before he even realized what he was doing, he stood up suddenly, the chair screeching against the floor. The whole class looked up, startled.
Joe blinked. "Bro, where are you—"
Bryan didn't answer. He walked straight to Maria's desk, his heartbeat hammering against his chest.
Maria looked up, confused, her pen still in her hand.
"Come with me," he said quietly.
Becky frowned. "Excuse me?"
Bryan ignored her. He reached out, grabbed Maria gently but firmly by the wrist, and pulled her up from her seat.
"Bryan, what are you doing?" Maria asked, startled.
"Just come," he said again, his tone unreadable.
The class went silent as everyone watched him lead her out.
Becky stood halfway up. "Maria—"
But Maria gave her a small nod, signaling she was fine.
Bryan walked quickly through the hallway, his grip still firm. Maria's heart pounded, not from fear but from confusion — and something else she couldn't name.
They reached the school garden — the quiet, hidden side that most students never went to. The wind was soft, the air still.
Bryan stopped near the old stone wall, turned to face her, and before she could say anything, he stepped closer, pinning her gently against it.
Maria's breath hitched. "Bryan… what are you doing?"
His eyes searched hers, intense and uncertain. "You're going to tell me who you really are."
She blinked, confused. "What?"
"Stop playing games!" he snapped, frustration breaking through. "You can't just walk into class looking like that and pretend nothing happened! Who are you? What did you do?!"
Maria's lips trembled slightly, her heartbeat echoing in her chest. She stared at him for a moment, her throat tightening.
Then, softly — almost in a whisper — she said, "I'm Maria."
Bryan froze.
Maria swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "I'm the same girl you called a pig. The same one you laughed at. The same one you said wasn't good enough."
Tears threatened to fall, but she blinked them back.
Bryan's hand dropped from the wall, disbelief flooding his face. "No… that can't be. You— you look nothing like her."
Maria took a small step forward, her voice firmer now. "But it's me, Bryan. It's really me."
He shook his head slowly. "What did you do? How did this happen?"
There was a long silence between them — the kind of silence that carried years of pain.
Then Maria suddenly pushed him back, her eyes blazing. She grabbed his collar, pulling him close, her voice trembling but strong.
"Yes, this is me, Bryan! I'm Maria — the girl you mocked, the girl you insulted, the one you made feel like she was worthless! The one you called a pig!"
Bryan stared at her, speechless.
"I changed," she continued, her voice breaking. "I worked out day and night! I starved myself! I cried myself to sleep wishing I looked like the girls you noticed!"
Her hands trembled as she tightened her grip on his collar. "I did everything just to become someone you'd look at — someone you wouldn't laugh at."
Bryan's lips parted, but no words came out.
Maria blinked back her tears and whispered, "You want to know the truth? I loved you, Bryan. I loved you when you didn't even see me."
Bryan's eyes widened. "Maria…"
"But you never cared," she said, her voice sharp again. "You just saw me as a joke. Now I'm no longer your 'pig,' so stop staring at me like you finally see something worth seeing."
She released his collar, her hands falling to her sides. For a moment, she just stood there — her chest rising and falling, her eyes glassy but fierce.
Then she stepped back, straightened her uniform, and whispered, "Now you know."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing softly against the garden path.
Bryan stayed there — frozen, silent, his heart pounding in his chest.
He wanted to move, to call her back, to say something — anything — but no words came out.
All he could do was watch as she disappeared down the path, the same girl he once mocked now walking away with more strength than he'd ever had.
For the first time, Bryan Benson didn't know what to do.
That night, Bryan lay flat on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
His room was quiet — too quiet. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner and the echo of Maria's voice replaying in his head.
> "Yes, this is me, Bryan! I'm Maria — the girl you mocked, the girl you insulted, the girl you called a pig!"
"I loved you… but you never saw me."
He ran a hand through his hair, his mind spinning.
He couldn't get the look on her face out of his head — the fire in her eyes, the tears she refused to let fall, the way she walked away without looking back.
It didn't feel like the same Maria he used to laugh at.
It didn't even feel like the same girl who used to run away crying when Rachel mocked her.
This Maria was… different. Strong. Beautiful. Unshakable.
He sighed heavily, shutting his eyes. "What the hell just happened to me?"
Before he could think further, there was a loud knock at the door.
Knock, knock!
Bryan groaned. "Who's that?"
"It's me, bro!" Joe's voice came from outside.
Bryan frowned. "Joe, what are you doing here this late?"
"Open up, man. Don't act like you're asleep."
Bryan sighed, dragging himself off the bed and unlocking the door. Joe walked in with a mischievous grin, holding two cans of soda.
"I brought peace offerings," Joe said, tossing one to him.
Bryan caught it. "What peace offering? I'm not mad."
Joe chuckled. "Yeah, but you're definitely confused. You've been ghosting the group chat since school ended today. I figured something happened."
Bryan rolled his eyes, sitting down on the couch. "Nothing happened."
Joe raised an eyebrow, sitting across from him. "Nothing? You dragged Maria out of class like some movie scene, and now you're saying nothing happened?"
Bryan's jaw tightened. "Don't start, Joe."
Joe smirked. "Oh, I'll start. Spill it, bro. What happened in that garden? Everyone's been whispering. Even Becky said you looked like you saw a ghost."
Bryan hesitated, his gaze fixed on the floor. "She told me."
"Told you what?"
Bryan exhaled slowly. "That she's really Maria. The same Maria I used to—" he stopped, the words catching in his throat. "—you know."
Joe's smirk disappeared. "Wait, she actually confirmed it?"
Bryan nodded silently.
Joe leaned back, whistling low. "Wow. So the glow-up queen really is Maria. Damn."
Bryan didn't reply. He just stared at the soda can in his hands.
After a long silence, Joe asked softly, "So… how do you feel?"
Bryan let out a small, humorless laugh. "I don't even know, man. I feel… weird. Shocked. Guilty, maybe."
Joe tilted his head. "Guilty?"
Bryan rubbed his face. "You didn't see her, Joe. The way she looked at me — like she'd been holding that pain for years. And then she just… said everything. Right there. No hesitation."
Joe nodded slowly. "She deserved to say it."
Bryan looked up sharply. "You taking her side now?"
Joe shrugged. "I'm just being real. You treated her bad, bro. We both did. But mostly you. She was mad, yeah — but she had every right to be."
Bryan sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I know… but it's not like I meant to hurt her. I just—"
Joe interrupted with a teasing grin. "You just acted like a jerk because your ego couldn't handle a girl who wasn't model-thin?"
Bryan shot him a glare. "Shut up."
Joe laughed, opening his soda. "Bro, relax. I'm just saying — karma's fine as hell now."
Bryan gave him a look. "Don't even start with that."
Joe raised an eyebrow. "What? I'm just pointing out facts. Maria's the most beautiful girl in that school right now, and you're acting like it's some tragedy."
Bryan looked away, his voice low. "She told me she loved me."
Joe nearly choked on his drink. "Wait — what?!"
Bryan didn't look at him. "Yeah. She said it. And then she walked away."
Joe's eyes widened. "Wow. So she finally said it. And let me guess — you just stood there, looking dumb?"
Bryan muttered, "Pretty much."
Joe shook his head, smirking. "Bro, you're finished. You can act tough all you want, but I know that look on your face. You're thinking about her, aren't you?"
Bryan sighed, standing up. "She's not my type, Joe. I don't care if she changed her looks. I'm just—"
Joe interrupted again, grinning. "You're just confused because now your 'not-my-type' girl looks like your dream girl."
Bryan froze for a second, then looked at him sharply. "You're annoying."
Joe laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm just telling the truth."
Bryan turned toward the window, his reflection staring back at him. For a long moment, he didn't say anything.
Then quietly, almost to himself, he murmured, "She's really not the same."
Joe smiled knowingly. "Yeah. And maybe that's why she finally got your attention."
Bryan didn't answer. He just stood there, staring out at the night sky — his thoughts a mess, his chest tight.