It’s Monday.

I go to school,

But there’s a different vibe.

People give me dirty looks,

Trip me on purpose,

Spill water,

Drop their lunch on me.

I am taken to the bathroom before 6^th period.

It’s a group of guys.

Leader?

He is Duho.

He used to hang around Luhan

He shoves me against a gross,

Slimy,

Wall.

I can feel his breath.

It smells foul.

Queers aren’t allowed,

He growls.

W-what?

I stutter.

He wraps his hands around my neck,

Squeezing slightly.

I could end you now,

End you before you spread the disease.

He mutters,

More to himself.

His gang just watches,

Watches as I struggle for air.

In the back,

I see a small male,

Looking at me, scared.

I recognize him,

He is Baekhyun.

We used to be friends,

Once upon a time.

On the same day,

We both told each other we were gay.

One year,

He was in a class with Duho,

And that’s when he changed.

He was a closeted gay.

He hung around Duho to cover it up.

He stopped hanging out with me in 7^th grade.

He looks away,

Covering his eyes.

Duho lets me go.

He looks behind him,

Trying to see what I was looking at.

He doesn’t catch on, fortunately.

By now,

He has no motivation.

So, he takes his gang and leaves.

Baekhyun hangs back.

I’m so sorry,

Baekhyun bows.

I did something terrible.

I forgive you,

I tell him.

No, you don’t understand.

What is it?

I-I told him,

He swallows.

I told him you were gay.

I stare at him,

My previous best friend.

We were sworn to secrecy,

Even if we weren’t friends.

How could you?

I spit.

He was going to beat me!

Baekhyun cried out.

You could’ve lied,

I growled,

Blind with rage.

How could he?

I can’t walk around,

Pretend to be anti-social.

Now everyone knows why.

I run out,

And to my locker,

Only to find Luhan waiting for me.

He sees my troubled look,

And drags me outside.

I tell him what happened,

He curses,

Then comforts me.

I start to cry.

I really should stop.

I need a tougher skin.

It’s embarrassing.