Chapter 2

Brian Robinson and I had been childhood friends, the kind who'd known each other since we were toddlers. Our parents had been close friends for over a decade, living right across the hall from each other in the same apartment complex. Even from a young age, I liked Brian.

Back in elementary school, I was often bullied by other boys. There was one boy who was particularly nasty; he'd sit behind me and yank my hair, stick gum on my chair, and even hide little sparklers in my desk. I'd run to the teacher in tears, but after scolding him, she'd smile and say he was probably just acting out because he liked me.

I didn't buy it. The boy didn't change his behavior, so I went home and told my parents. They were furious and wanted to confront the teacher immediately. Martin Robinson, who was visiting at the time, heard the whole story and called Brian over, instructing him to look out for me at school from then on.

Brian and I were the same age, but we weren't in the same class. The next day during break, Brian came over and dragged the troublemaker out, giving him a stern talking-to. Brian had always been tall for his age and was naturally assertive, so he had the boy and his friends backing down in no time. Before leaving, he gave them a final warning.

"If anyone dares to mess with Gabrielle again, you'll have to deal with me!"

That's when I started to have feelings for him. From that point on, I became his little shadow, following him everywhere. Brian wasn’t too thrilled initially, thinking it wasn't cool to hang out with a timid girl like me. But I was persistent, always chasing after him, calling him "Big Brother Brian" with unwavering affection.

Years went by like this, and he gradually softened towards me. I noticed that his gaze lingered on me longer, and when our eyes met, he sometimes seemed lost in thought. Other times, he'd get startled, blushing and fumbling to change the subject.

Martin Robinson jokingly suggested that since we got along so well, maybe we should have a child engagement. Brian didn’t say anything, but he held my hand tightly, and I saw his ears turn red. My heart swelled with happiness, and I declared loudly, "Yes! I want to marry Big Brother Brian!"

However, everything began to change once we started high school. At the end of our first semester freshman year, a transfer student joined our class.

Her name was Mae Parker. Apparently, she transferred because of her parents' job relocation. She was known for her excellent grades and striking appearance. On her first day, she breezed into the classroom with light brown curls, smiling as she spoke to the teacher.

"Ms. Campbell, it’s natural, the hair color. Just born with light hair, and it's naturally curly."

Then she turned and scanned the class. When her eyes landed on me, she paused, stared for a moment, and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Oh my god… help… where did this Barbie come from… hahahaha. Everything pink, my gosh, even in high school. Are you still trying to be cute or something? How awkward."

Everyone in the class followed her gaze to me, and my face flushed crimson.

I loved pink, I really did. Almost everything I owned was pink—my backpack, my tumbler, my hair clips, my shirts, my sweater, my phone case; even my keychains had to be pink. Because of this, I’d been talked about quite a bit. Boys in elementary school would tease me, calling me attention-seeking or high-maintenance, and sometimes girls would say I was just trying too hard.

But most people were kind, with many girls complimenting me, saying I was super cute and that pink really suited me. It was the first time I was publicly ridiculed so bluntly, leaving me feeling both bewildered and humiliated, wishing I could disappear into a hole in the ground.

"Hahaha, sorry, I'm just kinda blunt when I speak. Don't get mad, little princess," Mae added, winking playfully at me.

"Enough with the comments on your first day," came Brian’s impatient voice from the back. I turned, seeing him frowning at Mae, clearly displeased.

Mae raised an eyebrow, eyeing Brian. "Oh? The princess’s knight in shining armor has arrived?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?" Brian snapped, slamming his hand on the desk as he stood up.

The teacher quickly scolded him and told him to sit down, before assigning Mae to the only empty seat in the classroom, which just so happened to be right in front of Brian’s desk. And just like that, they became desk neighbors, one in front of the other.