The warm afternoon sun blazed harshly as Ana scribbled her thoughts in her notebook, feeling every curve and harsh line these letters create. Despite seeking refuge in the school's comfort room, she turned to writing as an alternative way to cope with life's stress. Since starting high school in a different campus, she has been pouring her heart into her notebook – her dreams, fears, desires, untold thoughts, what-ifs, and whatnots. But today feels different. Her pen seems reluctant to obey her commands. Writing, which always flows effortlessly through her like breathing, suddenly meets a barrier. As Ana grimaces, struggling to find the right words, a being abruptly settles down beside her, causing her to startle and drop her pen onto the soft grass of the school's courtyard.

Ana always despises the harsh rays of the sun, so she intentionally chooses to sit on a bench shrouded in shade, yet brightness seems to follow her in strange ways. The uninvited individual alludes with warmth and radiance, much like the scorching sun above with their thick cologne that emanates a fresh scent, teasing Ana's nose, all of which she is unaccustomed to. "I see you enjoy writing." Ana flinches, quickly closing her notebook and guarding it with her feeble arms. Nervously eyeing the stranger from the corner of her eye, the student says, "You know, sometimes, sharing your stories is the best experience in the world."

Ana remains quiet, her mind swirling with uncertainty. Not noticing her discomfort, the student continues, "I'm from the journalism club, by the way. I do lots of writing, too, over there." The student points at the room closest to the floor's comfort room. "That's the club room. We really need more talented writers for our editorial. My heart tells me that your passion will be a great asset to our team. Oh, and here," the student pulls out a crumpled flier from their pocket and sticks it on the table. Ana hesitates, unsure whether to accept the offer. The whole situation was unfamiliar to her; for the first time, another student took an interest in her with no malice, and for the first time, she feels comfortable. It feels natural. Ana grapples with conflicting thoughts. But before she can make a decision, the after-class bell rings. She hastily throws all the items from the table into her bag.

Ana walks out of the school's gate, yanking the ends of her shirt as she passes the rural and desolate path to her home. In contrast to the scenery of her new school full of hope, Ana has to traverse back to the gloomy alleyway. Ana slows her footing as she sees the creaking door of her home, with its ungodly stench of alcohol hovering in the air.  "The hell ya doin' standing 'round there? Ungrateful brat!" Her father screams at the top of his lungs, "Where's yer mother? Tell tha' skank to get back, or I'll slam 'er head on the table. Useless cunt, leaving without food," grumbles her father, a large glass of Tanduay dangling on his hand and a tv remote on the other. Ana is startled, barely, but then again, this is an everyday occurrence. She trudges past him and heads straight to change her clothing, locking the door in her heaven before sitting on its cold, damp floors."I'm home, Mimi."

"Welcome back, Ana."

As a high school student caught up in day-to-day school activities, Ana barely notices that classes are ending. Lost in her thoughts, she reminisces about her recent interaction, the uneasiness mixed with intrigue creeps into her mind. With her hand and pen racing to capture her swirling thoughts in her notebook, she reflects the possibility of a meaningful connection. A blush forms on her pale cheeks as she rests her pen on her desk, "Journalism..." she mutters. She pulls out the flier she took yesterday and stands. With enough courage in her heart, she packs the rest of her things and heads toward the Journalism club.

As more students approach her way, nervousness overtakes her, causing her knees to tremble and her head to spin. Desperate to regain her composure, she hastily made her way to the next door she's most familiar with. "What difference does it make whether you join that damn club or not?" Ana slumps her body near the toilet bowl, catching herself before vomiting. Marie's haunting voice echoed in the walls, "They're such a nice kid. Beautiful eyes, nice smile, enticing like a she-devil. Too bad you'll be a bad influence on them. What if they get ridiculed for hanging out with a weird kid like you, with your troubled family background? If only they knew your history. A deadbeat alcoholic father, an absent mother with two jobs that still can't feed her leaching family, and you," it whispers in her ear, "a miserable, hopeless child." "Shut it," Ana mumbles defiantly, "just shut up!" "You can't escape reality, Ana. Just stay with me, only I can keep you safe in this school. Only I can shield you from harm, from this wicked world you live in."

Ana slams the cubicle's door wide open,  coincidently colliding with another student on the way out. "Hey, watch where you're going!" a student from the back exclaims. "It's fine, Bree," reassures the student Ana bumps into, hurrying to check on Ana, "Are you alright? Wait, you're the girl yesterday!" Their friendly demeanor brings a familiar warmth to Ana's heart, just like the day before. Ana pulls back her hand with a hint of hostility, albeit still uncomfortable with the stranger's touch. "Have you thought about joining the club?" With unease, Ana nods, allowing herself to be persuaded to experience a new phase in her life.

Ana finds her passion for writing flourishing with each passing day, igniting her with an indescribable sense of delight and fulfillment. It's as if her newfound enthusiasm extends beyond writing and it involves something... or someone else entirely. This unique experience introduces her to a whole new level of joy that failed her in her earlier years, and she is astounded by the warmth and happiness it brings into her life. The once-unfamiliar and particularly clingy student has become her main source of inspiration, prompting her to embrace the goodness in life. Perhaps there is more to life than seeking comfort in the confines of familiarity. Ana knows that she has entered into a beautiful fantasy where she is the main character, sharing a profound connection with a significant person. This person's unwavering belief in her, their words of encouragement, and even their lingering scent create a sense of serenity and clarity, making everything seem within reach. The world makes perfect sense.

Such kindness allows her to subdue the darkness she's battling at home. Her mother's cold stares no longer bother her, nor her father's temper tantrums, all she has to do is daydream until tomorrow comes. It was all flawless, but a mere fantasy has its ending. Ana's only confidant stopped attending the club; it used to be once a week until it became a daily occurrence. Ana is left in the dark about their absence. Desperate to reconnect with her dear friend, her trembling feet carry her to the Journalism club. Alas, they are not there. She runs back to where it began, out in the school's courtyard.

As Ana heads towards their destination, the familiar sound of a pen scratching against the paper takes her back to the day when they first met. Despite the loud rustling of the leaves, the anticipation of seeing her only companion fills Ana with excitement. When she finally reaches the student who changed her life, her emotions overwhelms her, and she grasps her chest, pleading for answers. Her friend opens their arms to comfort her, allowing Ana to release all the burden she had been carrying for so long. She cries, more than enough until she feels light-headed. Looking up to see her friend smiling through pained eyes, she asks, "Why did you leave me? Have I done something wrong? I promise I won't do it again! Please, don't go... I need you, please," Ana implored, desperate for an explanation.

Ana's heart sinks as her friend shakes their head and utters, "I'm sorry." It feels as if her world had shattered into a million pieces. For the first time, she had something so beautiful, only to see it slip away right before her eyes. They begin gathering their belongings as they stand up, ready to leave. Desperately, Ana reaches out and takes hold of their hand, begging, "I love you."

"Ana, I can't," they mutter, their face contort with a look of disgust and confusion. "You can't." With that, her friend yanks their arm away and walks out of the courtyard. Ana watches their silhouette fade, her eyes drowning with tears. Overwhelmed with emotions, she rushes to the comfort room, seeking solace in a place she wants to despise. With all her companions, this one is filled with mischief and arrogance, but now every word Marie says echoes in her mind feels painfully accurate. "See? Even your beloved abandoned you, disregarding all the shared experiences as though they meant nothing. Because they're repulsed by who you are. A deviant. What makes them any different from your previous bullies? Oh, I know." The world falls into a hushed stillness. "Because you're you. No matter how much happiness you find, you will always come crawling back - to me, to us. You're alone, Ana. And that will always remain true."