The Weight of Unrequited Feelings

I looked down, my eyes avoiding the expectant faces of my classmates as I mumbled, "I…I don’t know yet, it’s not like any of them like me anyways." The words felt like a punch to my gut, and I could sense the sting of sadness that accompanied them. It hurt to admit that I didn't think any of them had romantic feelings for me. The room fell silent again, and I could feel the weight of their gazes on me. The girls exchanged sympathetic glances, while the boys looked away, some of them trying to hide their expressions. Mina's face softened, and she reached out to put a hand on my arm. "Vesper, don't say that," she said gently. "You're a great person, and I'm sure someone will come along and sweep you off your feet." I forced a weak smile, trying to brush off her concern. "I'm fine, Mina. Really." But the pain lingered, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was somehow unlovable. Deku's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something there, something that made my heart skip a beat. But it was gone before I could grasp it, and he looked away, his face neutral once more. The conversation moved on, with the girls starting to speculate about who might be interested in me, and the boys trying to play it cool. But I couldn't help but feel like I was on the outside looking in, like I was stuck in a perpetual state of unrequited feelings. As the night wore on, I found myself withdrawing into my shell, trying to escape the scrutiny and the pain that came with it. I excused myself to go to the bathroom, needing some time alone to collect my thoughts. As I stood in front of the sink, staring at my reflection, I couldn't help but wonder if I was destined to be alone, if I would ever find someone who truly understood and cared for me. The tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back, not wanting to cry in front of anyone. But as I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and my heart sank. I looked tired, and sad, and utterly lost. And in that moment, I knew that I had to find a way to heal, to move on from the pain and find a way to love myself, even if no one else ever did.