COUGH

The bitter taste of smoke filled my mouth and lungs. Cigarettes were awful, but it was the only thing to get me off edge. Social anxiety defeated me everyday despite being a Psychology major. What a joke.

The only time I feel comfortable enough to talk is when I am presenting, but even that is a struggle in itself. I know I am not helpless, but people scare me. They scare me because they have complex emotions.

Dogs will love you no matter what. Cats will treat you like a peasant without fail. Rabbits will hop away in a constant state of fear. You can predict these outcomes for the most part. People, on the other hand, are difficult and unpredictable.

The moment you think you are safe from slander you find yourself eating lunch with the librarian until the end of your high school days. Unnecessary baggage happens and then you get trauma and social anxiety.

Despite being confusing and difficult to work with, I have a knack for figuring people out. I can figure out their habits, their insecurities, their flaws, their baggage and so on. I know the right words to make someone grovel and the words to make someone feel understood.

At the end of the day, everyone wants to feel valid. I want to feel valid. And so, I want to be a therapist and help those in need. I will listen when no one else will.

CRUNCH CRUNCH HUFF

A small girl came into view from the swings I sat on, seemingly not noticing me as she is out of breath. As she is catching her breath, I noticed her fists curl into a ball on her knees. Her head lowered before she let out the loudest wail I have ever heard filled with anger, despair, hatred, and so much more.

"For a small girl, you really are intimidating," I stated without much thought.

I watched the girl whip her head around, startled but not frantic. She looked disheveled and exhausted from her run. It seemed as if she overworked herself. She had (h/c) colored hair that shined in the moonlight. Her (e/c) irides glistened, reminding me of the stars. She was dressed in casual running attire from sneakers to shorts and a t-shirt. I watched as her brows furrowed a bit as she analyzed me too before responding.

"Well, for a guy who looks well put together, you really shouldn't be smoking, especially on a playground," she smirked.

I chuckled, taking another puff and successfully blowing out smoke this time around. The awkward silence was killing me. Why was she still here when she does not even know me?

"You know, you can start running again if you want. I'm not sure who you're running from, but they might catch you now if you don't start up again," I mumbled, directing my attention to the ground as I know I probably came off as disgruntled.

She only giggled, causing my gaze to shot back up at her. There it is, the confusion I stated previously about people. I think this is the first time in a while since I have been wrong about someone's intentions.

She placed her hand on her hip and the other on her mouth to hide her bright smile.

"I really don't want to- I'm out of shape, but I guess I need to if I want to walk on the track team for MHU," she finally retorted.

My Hero University is the same school I attend, what a coincidence.

"Yeah, you seemed out of shape after all that huffing and puffing you did there," I grinned, having trouble hiding my own amusement.

"Oh please, maybe say that again when you're not smoking in front of me," she responded with some attitude.

Ouch, really hitting hard with my smoking problem again. I guess I deserve it for being too playful toward a stranger.

However, I only chuckled, "Yeah no, you're right," taking another puff of my smoke.

"Well, I hope you have a good night, see you around," she said, getting ready to run again.

"You too, track star," I responded thinking about seeing her run for my university.

"It's (y/n)," she mumbled.

"Shinso," I stated before she disappeared into the night in the direction of campus.

I finished my smoke not too long after and headed back to my dorm. I wondered where (y/n) resided and what major she declared. I wondered if I would see her again and if I did, then would she talk to me? This was a strange feeling I felt. I have always been drawn to people anyways as they are hard to read but easy to influence once you figure them out, but I feel more comfortable in her presence.

Odd.