Lucas, a boy with unruly hair and a defiant stance, stands at the edge of the schoolyard, his eyes scanning the crowd with a mix of boredom and disdain. Nearby, Ethan, a shy, bespectacled boy with a worn-out backpack, nervously adjusts his glasses, trying to remain unnoticed.
"Another day in paradise," Lucas mutters under his breath, kicking a stray pebble.
Ethan sits quietly at his desk, scribbling absentmindedly in his notebook, while Lucas slouches in his seat, arms crossed defiantly. When the teacher calls for silence, Lucas's eyes dart towards Ethan, a mischievous glint in his gaze.
"Hey, nerd," Lucas whispers harshly, flicking a crumpled paper ball at Ethan.
Ethan trudges along, deep in thought, when Lucas appears beside him, his usual bravado absent. The two walk in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable.
"Why do you always pick on me?" Ethan finally asks, his voice barely audible above the wind.
Lucas sits on a threadbare couch, staring blankly at the screen, his mind elsewhere. His father, a figure of looming authority, sits in the corner, nursing a drink and muttering to himself. The oppressive silence is broken only by the distant sound of rain.
"I don't know," Lucas admits quietly, his tough exterior crumbling as he battles with emotions he can't quite name.
Ethan approaches Lucas hesitantly, the previous day's conversation lingering in his mind. Lucas looks up, his expression softer, yet uncertain.
"Want to walk home together later?" Ethan offers, a tentative smile hinting at the possibility of friendship.
Lucas and Ethan talk easily, their differences fading in the light of understanding and shared experiences. The world around them feels less daunting, the path ahead brighter.
"I guess it's true," Lucas says, a genuine smile breaking across his face. "You never really know what someone else is going through."
