BEHIND HIS SMILE MY NAME

It was raining the day Zayn Aster transferred to Lunaria High. Not the soft kind of rain that whispered on windows, but the heavy, drowning kind — the kind that made people rush indoors and pretend the world wasn’t falling apart. He stood just outside the school gates, his black hoodie soaked through, the strap of his duffel bag slipping down his shoulder. Eyes watched him from every corner — curious, whispering, judging. “That’s the new guy.” “He’s hot.” “Is he really straight? With that face?” He didn’t care. Zayn had learned how to survive in places like this. All he needed to do was smile — just enough to seem friendly but never enough to be real. --- “Zayn Aster?” the vice principal asked, glancing at a clipboard. Zayn nodded. “Welcome to Lunaria High. You’ll be in Class 3-C. Your homeroom teacher is Mr. Hwan. Principal Renaud sends his regards.” Zayn gave a polite bow, like he was taught, and followed the student guide to his new class. The halls buzzed with whispers as he passed — girls giggled, boys nudged each other, and phones were already out, taking photos they’d pretend were accidental. He walked in just as Mr. Hwan was scribbling something on the board. “Class, we have a new student,” the teacher announced. “Zayn Aster. Transferred from Nova Academy. Please be kind.” Zayn stepped forward, expression unreadable. “Nice to meet you,” he said, voice smooth but quiet. “Go sit next to Teo,” Mr. Hwan said, pointing to the last row by the window. Zayn’s eyes met his. Teo Lunare. The boy with silver rings, dark lashes, and a stare that could cut glass. He didn’t smile. Didn’t move. Didn’t even blink. --- Zayn sat down slowly beside him. The tension between them was immediate. Sharp. Electric. Teo didn’t say a word. He went back to sketching in his notebook — charcoal smudges staining his long fingers. Zayn peeked over without meaning to. It was a drawing of a faceless figure — black hair, hollow eyes, rain falling from its head like a storm cloud. It looked… familiar. Almost like him. Almost exactly like him. He turned away. His heart beat a little too fast. --- At lunch, a girl with sunset-pink hair slid into Zayn’s table without invitation. “I’m Maia,” she smiled, resting her chin on her palm. “Wanna be friends? Or should we skip to boyfriend?” The table laughed. Zayn smiled too, out of habit. “Sure,” he said. “Friends is fine.” But his eyes weren’t on her. They were looking across the room — where Teo sat alone, headphones on, staring out the window like the world was too loud for him. Like he was waiting for something. Or someone. --- That night, Zayn lay in bed, wet hair sticking to his forehead, school blazer hanging by the door. He thought of Teo. Of his silence. Of the way his eyes didn’t ask for attention — they demanded it. And for the first time in a long time, Zayn wasn’t sure if he could keep pretending. Because behind his perfect smile… was a name he couldn’t say aloud. And it started with T. ---