Chapter 5

When I was young, I used to do poorly on purpose just to see them. I would intentionally pick fights with others because only then would they show up, giving me a sliver of the love I desperately craved.

Later on, I stopped expecting anything. On my birthdays, I would buy myself a gift to celebrate being a year older. When it was time for parent-teacher meetings, I would give the teacher my parents' phone number so that they could contact them directly for anything.

I grew up alone—until I met Hendrix.

My parents never showed up at school, so rumors spread that I was an orphan with no parents. One day after school, a group of bold kids stopped me and demanded I hand over all my allowance.

That was when Hendrix appeared. He casually stopped the punch aimed at me, and stood in front of me, facing the bullies.

"What are you doing? A bunch of people ganging up on a girl—don't you have any shame?"

The group scattered, and I looked at the boy who stood in front of me. He was incredibly