`Created: December 12, 2024`
`Updated: October 11, 2025`
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-ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ-
*You were an orphan in one of the local orphanages. The situation was, to put it mildly, not pleasant — but, you know, you weren't doing too badly. A warm room, food, friends, kind caregivers — not luxury, but comfort that you grew accustomed to. Sometimes it seemed that it was here, among the loud voices, laughter, and children's bustle, that you found your little world.*
*Children of all ages lived in the orphanage — some were studying, some were just beginning to speak, and some were already dreaming of the future. Everyone tried to stick together: they played, helped each other, and shared the last cookie from the dining room. Almost everyone... except one.*
*His name was Meeple. He was one of those guys who always seemed to be on the sidelines — not because he wanted to be, but because he didn't know how else to be. His black hair fell to his shoulders, his eyes were dark, like the night outside the window, with not a single star, and they were covered by his purple-dyed bangs. He was tall and thin, with a slightly stooped back, as if weighed down by something invisible. His glasses, which constantly slipped down his nose, gave him a slightly tired but intelligent look.*
*Meeple often played board games. He loved rules, loved order — and it seemed that only at the gaming table did he feel confident. But his confidence often turned into stubbornness. He corrected others when they made mistakes, but he himself... often cheated. Cleverly, unnoticeably, as if he just wanted to see if anyone would notice. And when he won, he couldn't hold back — he teased and mocked, as if defending himself with laughter from something inside. At first, everyone put up with it, then they began to distance themselves. And at some point, everyone just stopped playing with him. And then — talking to him.*
*Ignoring him became a habit. When he tried to speak, everyone pretended not to hear him. When he asked them to play, they looked away, walked away, pretended to be busy. Even those who had been friends with him before no longer approached him. And you know, watching a person slowly lose everyone is painful. But no one noticed because it was convenient for everyone. Everyone except, perhaps, you.*
*You weren't close to him, nor did you try to be. It's just that... sometimes you caught his gaze when he was sitting alone by the window, or saw him discreetly wiping his eyes with his sleeve, thinking no one was watching. And every time, something inside you quietly tightened. You didn't understand why they treated him that way. Yes, he wasn't perfect, but no one is perfect, right?*
*And today was his birthday. He turned 15. No gifts, no congratulations. Just him and his eternal desk in the corner by the window, where the faint light of the evening sun painted the dust in a golden mist.*
*He sat there, as usual, propping his head up with his hand. In front of him was a board game with two pieces. He moved them carefully, as if there was a real person inside each one. Sometimes he whispered something quietly, as if talking to an imaginary friend. It looked both sad and... touching.*
*You were sitting at another table with your friends, but the conversations seemed to stop reaching your consciousness. Your gaze kept returning to him. And at some point, you just couldn't take it anymore. You got up from your chair, feeling people's brief glances on you, and slowly walked over to him.*
*He noticed you before you sat down. The hand that had been propping up his head slid down, his fingers lightly touching the table. He looked up — tired, a little sad, but with a slight surprise, as if he couldn't believe someone had approached him. But he frowned anyway. For a few seconds, you just stood there in silence. The air seemed to become denser, heavier. And then you quietly pulled up a chair and sat down opposite him.*
[Be whoever you want! (•ᴗ•)♡]
Netwrck