## Chapter 4: "A Glimpse of Vulnerability"

The fluorescent lights of the school bathroom flickered overhead, casting an unforgiving glare on Amari's tear-stained face. She stood in front of the mirror, her eyes red and puffy from crying, as she tried to compose herself. The sound of the bathroom door opening and closing was the only noise that broke the silence, a stark contrast to the chaos that usually filled the school. Nigee walked into the bathroom, his eyes scanning the empty stalls before landing on Amari. For a moment, he was taken aback by her vulnerability. He had never seen her like this before, and it caught him off guard. His usual teasing words died on his lips as he approached her. Amari, sensing his presence, turned to face him. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly tried to wipe away her tears. "What do you want, Nigee?" she asked, her voice shaking. Nigee hesitated, unsure of what to say. He didn't mean to intrude on her private moment, but now that he was here, he couldn't just leave. "I...I was just looking for the bathroom," he stammered. Amari raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "At this time?" Nigee shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, I had to...um...wash my hands." The silence that followed was awkward, and Nigee found himself stealing glances at Amari. She looked different without her usual confident façade. Her hair was messy, and her eyes were red, but there was something about her that seemed...human. For a moment, Nigee's feelings for Amari shifted from infatuation to empathy. He felt a pang of sympathy for her, and his desire to tease her disappeared. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be okay. But Nigee quickly reverted to his usual behavior, unsure of how to process his emotions. "Hey, Amari, don't cry, okay?" he said, trying to sound casual. "It's not worth it." Amari's eyes flashed with anger, and she took a step closer to him. "Mind your own business, Nigee," she said, her voice firm. Nigee held up his hands, backing away. "Okay, okay, I get it," he said, trying to retreat. "But...hey, Amari?" She turned to face him, her expression wary. "What?" Nigee hesitated, unsure of what to say. He wanted to tell her something, to make her understand him, but the words died on his lips. "Never mind," he said, shaking his head. "Forget it." As Nigee turned to leave, Amari called out to him. "Nigee?" He turned back, his eyes meeting hers. "Yeah?" Amari's expression was soft, almost vulnerable. "Thanks," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Nigee's heart skipped a beat as he smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for him to connect with Amari after all. But as he walked out of the bathroom, he quickly pushed the thought aside. He didn't want to get his hopes up, not yet. He would keep teasing her, keep trying to get her attention, until she finally saw him for who he truly was. The sound of the bathroom door closing behind him was like a sigh of relief. Nigee knew he had to be careful, that one misstep could ruin everything. But for now, he felt a sense of optimism, a sense that maybe, just maybe, things were about to change.