Episode 1: Hate at First Sight
Author: Mariam
Male Lead: Miles • Theo
Female Lead: Katie
Side Characters:
Julie • Smily • Leo • Damien • Kai • Zehao
— Authors pov —
The soft glow of sunrise slipped through the thin curtains, pulling me out of sleep. I groaned, my body aching with exhaustion, but forced myself to sit up anyway.
I reached for the clock beside my bed—and my heart nearly stopped.
“7:00?!”
Panic rushed through me. We only had twenty minutes before school started.
I jumped out of bed and ran to my little brother’s room.
“Zehao! Wake up!” I called, shaking his arm gently at first, then more urgently. “You’re going to be late. Come on, get up.”
He stirred, eyes still half-closed, clearly not ready to leave his dreams behind.
I grabbed his uniform and placed it in his hands. “Go freshen up quickly. I’ll make breakfast.”
Without waiting for a reply, I hurried to the kitchen. The house was quiet except for the faint sounds of movement from his room. I prepared a simple breakfast as fast as I could, my mind racing with everything we had to get through today.
“Zehao!” I called out again. “Hurry up!”
A few moments later, he walked out slowly, dragging his feet toward the dining table. He pulled out a chair and dropped into it with a tired sigh.
“Do I really have to go today?” he mumbled. “Can’t I just skip school?”
I shot him a sharp look. “There’s no way you’re skipping school,” I said firmly. “You need to study hard and become successful.”
Without waiting for his response, I turned and hurried to my room. “I’m getting ready. Finish your breakfast.”
I pulled out my old shirt and slipped it on with a pamt. They weren’t new and perfect—nothing I owned ever was. I couldn’t afford things like that, and honestly, I never thought about spending money on myself.
I worked three part-time jobs. Every rupee I earned went toward Zehao—his school fees, his books, his clothes. Buying things for him made me happy. I never wanted him to feel like he was less than anyone else.
I tied my hair back, letting out a soft sigh as I looked at myself in the mirror.
“It’s going to be a long day…”
Grabbing my bag, I stepped out of the room. Zehao was already by the door, wearing his shoes.
A small smile appeared on my face. I leaned down and kissed his cheek before putting on my own shoes.
“Let’s go.”
We walked down the stairs of our small apartment building together. His school bus was already waiting outside. I waved as he climbed on, and stood there for a moment, watching until the bus disappeared down the street.
Only then did I turn away.
Adjusting my bag on my shoulder, I started walking—on my way to university.
As I walked toward the university, I let out a quiet breath.
Maybe it was time to introduce myself.
My name is Katie. I’m nineteen years old. I lost my parents when I was sixteen, and since then, it’s just been me and my little brother, Zehao. He’s eleven now.
I work multiple part-time jobs to take care of him. It’s not easy, but I don’t have a choice—and I don’t regret it.
I used to be a topper in college, and somehow, I managed to earn a full scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities. A place meant for the rich.
People like me don’t belong there.
Everything I own is old—my clothes, my bag, even my shoes. And the students? They never let me forget it. Their whispers, their laughter, the way they look at me… like I’m nothing.
And then there’s him.
Miles.
My bully.
He’s never alone. His two closest friends—Damien and Leo—are always with him. Rich, arrogant, and completely aware of the power they hold. They never miss a chance to humiliate me, to remind me of where I stand.
I don’t fight back.
I can’t.
I don’t match their status, and I’ve learned the hard way that rich kids can cause the biggest trouble.
So I stay quiet. I endure it.
Just a few more months.
That’s what I keep telling myself
.
Just five more months… and I’ll graduate. I’ll leave all of this behind.
I don’t know how I’ve managed to face Miles for this long, but somehow, I have.
My steps slowed as the university gates came into view.
The place I feared the most.
I stopped for a moment, my grip tightening on my bag. Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady my racing heart.
Then, with quiet determination, I stepped inside
I kept my head down as I entered the university, quietly making my way through the hallway.
Before I could react, someone stuck their foot
out in front of me.
I tripped.
My books slipped from my hands as I hit the floor, pain shooting through my knees. Laughter erupted around me, echoing through the corridor.
I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
But I did anyway.
Miles stood there, a smirk playing on his lips, arrogance shining in his eyes. Behind him, Leo and Damien watched, clearly entertained.
“Well, well… our joker is here,” Miles said mockingly. He looked me up and down before scoffing. “Pathetic loser.”
They walked past me, and as they did, one of them kicked my leg on purpose, making the laughter around me grow louder.
I clenched my fists, slowly pushing myself up from the floor. Ignoring the stares, I gathered my things and walked to my locker.
I opened it—
And froze.
Ink had been splashed all over my books. Dirt and trash were shoved inside. And right in the
middle was a picture of me… with the words “poor loser joker” scribbled across it.
My chest tightened.
I swallowed hard, forcing the tears back. I
I wouldn’t cry. Not here
Not in front of them.
Closing my locker quietly, I walked to the classroom and took my usual seat at the last bench, trying to make myself as invisible as possible.
But I could still feel his eyes on me.
Miles.
A few minutes later, the professor walked in, holding a stack of papers.
“Alright, class,” he said, placing them on the desk. “I’m going to announce the results of your review test. Stay quiet.”
The room fell silent as he began calling out names, handing back papers one by one.
Occasionally, he frowned at some results, clearly disappointed.
Then—
“Miles.”
The class seemed to pay more attention.
The professor looked at his paper, then at him.
“You failed. Again.”
He slammed the test sheet onto Miles’ desk. “This is unacceptable.”
A wave of laughter spread across the classroom.
And before I could stop myself…
I smiled.
Just slightly.
For once, he wasn’t the one laughing.
But I didn’t realize the danger in that small moment—because Miles saw me.
The laughter faded as the professor continued.
“Katie.”
I stood up, my heart pounding.
“Congratulations. You scored 99 out of 100. Excellent work.”
For a second, the room went quiet.
He gave me a small approving nod. “Keep it up.”
I murmured a soft “thank you” and took my paper, quickly sitting back down.
A small smile formed on my lips as I looked at my score before carefully placing it in my bag.
“Open your books,” the professor continued. “We’ll finish the last chapter.”
I took out my book and focused on the lesson, trying to ignore everything else.
Trying to ignore him.
But I didn’t notice the way Miles kept staring at me—
His eyes filled with anger.
I kept my head down, writing notes and avoiding everything around me.
After three periods, the bell finally rang.
“Alright, class,” the professor said, gathering his things. “See you tomorrow. Make sure to study.”
Students quickly got up, chatting as they made their way out toward the cafeteria. Within minutes, the classroom was empty.
Except for me.
I didn’t have anything to eat anyway.
So I stayed back, pulling out my notebook and starting on my homework, trying to keep myself busy.
Then—
Thud.
The classroom door slammed shut.
I flinched, my heart jumping at the sudden noise. Slowly, I looked up.
Miles.
He stood by the door, his expression unreadable.
My grip tightened around my pen as he began walking toward me—slow, steady steps, his eyes never leaving mine.
“You were enjoying it, weren’t you?” he said, his voice low and controlled. “When the professor humiliated me.”
Fear crept up my spine. I quickly stood up, shaking my head.
“No, I—”
“I saw you smile,” he cut me off sharply.
My breath caught in my throat as he stopped
right in front of me.
Too close.
Before I could move, he grabbed my collar and yanked me forward. I stumbled, forced to meet his gaze.
For a second, it felt like the air disappeared.
He raised his hand, as if about to grab my hair—
“Why are you so mad?” I said suddenly, my voice shaky but firm enough to stop him.
He paused.
“If it was just a smile, why does it bother you so much?” I continued, my heart pounding wildly.
“Everyone was laughing at you. They were all making fun of you… and you didn’t react.”
I swallowed, forcing myself to keep going despite the fear in my chest.
“You know why you’re actually angry.”
His grip tightened slightly.
“You’re not mad because I smiled…” I said, meeting his eyes. “You’re mad because I got better grades than you.”
For a moment, he said nothing.
He didn’t want to admit it—but it was true.
He never hated me because I was poor.
He hated me because I was better.
Without warning, he shoved me back into the chair.
“You’re lucky I’m letting you go right now,” he said through clenched teeth. “Otherwise… I wouldn’t have stopped myself.”
His jaw tightened, like he was holding himself back from doing something worse.
I gripped the edge of the desk, forcing myself not to flinch. But inside, my heart was racing, trembling with fear.
Miles turned abruptly, walking toward the
classroom door. He unlocked it and left without another word.
The moment the door shut behind him, the tension broke.
I let out a shaky breath, my body finally relaxing.
Resting my head against the desk, I closed my eyes for a second.
I was safe.
At least for now.
Outside, on the terrace, Miles stood alone,
looking down at the students below.
But his mind wasn’t there.
It kept replaying the moment in the classroom—how close you had been, the way you looked at him without backing down.
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“I have money. I have everything,” he muttered under his breath. “So why does it feel like she’s better?”
The thought irritated him.
Annoyed, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, taking a slow drag.
“Get a grip, Miles,” he said to himself. “She’s nothing.”
He exhaled sharply, trying to convince himself.
“Just a poor girl… not even worth thinking about.”
But no matter how much he tried—
He couldn’t get you out of his head.
I left before the class even ended.
I didn’t feel safe staying there—not after what had just happened.
By the time lunch ended and students began returning, I was already gone.
Inside the classroom, Leo and Damien were sitting casually on Miles’ desk, talking and laughing.
A moment later, Miles walked in, his expression distant and uninterested.
But the first thing his eyes did was drift toward your seat.
And then—
He paused.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
You weren’t there.
For a second, he just stood there, staring at the empty desk as if trying to process it. Then he walked over and sat down, still glancing at it without meaning to.
Leo noticed.
He leaned over and slapped Miles lightly on the back. “You okay, dude?”
Miles snapped out of it and quickly looked away, his expression turning cold and unreadable again.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said flatly. “And don’t touch me.”
There was irritation in his voice—sharp enough to make Leo raise his hands in surrender.
“Alright, alright,” Leo muttered.
Damien exchanged a quick look with him. They both knew better than to push Miles when he was like this.
But even as Miles pretended not to care—
His gaze kept drifting back to that empty seat.
And here I was, on the other hand, walking toward the café where I worked.
As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted Julie.
“Hey, Julie. What’s up?” I greeted her with a small smile before heading into the employees’ area to put my bag down.
The café wasn’t open yet—everything was still being set up.
Julie stood near the counter, already in her apron, adjusting her gloves.
“You’re early today. It’s not the weekend—you had university, didn’t you?” She paused for a moment, studying my face more closely. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
I sighed, grabbing my apron and tying it around my waist. “It’s nothing,” I muttered.
But Julie wasn’t convinced.
She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “It’s because of Miles, right?”
I let out another sigh, meeting her eyes.
“He’s always making things difficult for me,” I admitted quietly. “I don’t understand why he hates me so much. From the very first day… it’s like I’m his favorite target.”
Julie’s expression softened. She stepped closer and gently patted my back.
“Just five more months,” she said reassuringly. “Then you’ll be in a better place—and you won’t have to work all these part-time jobs anymore.”
A small smile appeared on my face.
“That’s what’s keeping me going,” I replied. “And… I can’t give up. Not when it comes to my brother. I want him to have a better future. I don’t want him to go through what I’m going through.”
My smile faded as the words left my mouth.
Sensing the shift in my mood, Julie quickly changed the subject.
She walked over to the tables, starting to set the chairs down. “By the way, I got your favorite lunch—your so-called ‘famous’ spaghetti,” she said with a teasing smile.
“And I added extra salad for you. We’ll eat together.”
I looked at her, my heart softening.
She always knew how to make me feel better.
Julie paused and glanced back at me. “Now don’t just stand there. Come on—we have to open the café in fifteen minutes.”
I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts, then nodded.
“Right.”
This time, my smile was real.
I walked over to her, helping arrange the chairs and wipe down the tables, the quiet comfort of her presence making everything feel just a little bit easier.
Back at the university, the second-last lecture was about to begin—but Miles had already lost interest.
Without a word, he grabbed his bag and walked out.
Leo and Damien exchanged a look before calling
after him, “Whoa, dude—where are you going?”
Miles ignored them completely.
They sighed, grabbed their bags, and followed him anyway.
Out in the back parking area, Miles’ G-Wagon was parked. He tossed his bag onto the passenger seat and got into the driver’s seat.
Leo and Damien slipped into the back.
“So… where are we going?” Leo asked.
Miles started the engine, his voice flat. “I heard there’s a café nearby. My head’s killing me. I
need black coffee.”
Not long after, they arrived.
And out of all places—
It was the café where i worked.
Julie stepped forward as soon as they entered, ready to greet them. She had never seen Miles before, so she didn’t recognize him.
i were standing at the cashier when the door
opened.
i looked up.
And froze.
Panic rushed through me the moment i saw them—Miles, Leo, and Damien.
“Oh no…” i whispered under my breath.
Without wasting a second, i ducked down, kneeling behind the counter to hide myselfself.
Meanwhile, Julie smiled politely. “I’ll bring the menu.”
Leo stretched lazily. “We’ll be back in a minute,” he said to Miles before dragging Damien outside to smoke.
Julie walked back toward the counter—and stopped.
She saw me crouched down, hiding.
“Why are you—”
Before she could finish, i quickly put a finger to my lips, signaling her to stay quiet.
“It’s him,” o mouthed silently.
Julie blinked, confused for a second—then her eyes widened in realization.
“IT’S HIM?!” she said out loud.
my eyes went wide in horror as i immediately covered my mouth, nearly lying flat on the floor now.
Miles turned his head toward the sound.
Julie froze.
Thinking quickly, she rested her hand casually on the counter, crossing her legs and forcing an awkward smile.
“I—I’ll be right back,” she said, trying to act normal.
She quickly walked into the employees’ area
The moment she stepped inside, k scrambled after her, practically crawling in panic.
Once inside, i dropped onto the floor, breathing heavily, my heart racing.
“I can’t believe it’s him,” Julie whispered excitedly, lying down next to me. “He’s so handsome—”
my eyes snapped toward her.
i glared at her playfully, still stressed.
To be countinued
