I Am Redemption

At birth, I made local news for being too handsome. By my first birthday, wealthy families were already proposing marriage pacts.

After two girls ended up hospitalized over a fight about me, my parents moved and used cosmetics to conceal my facefinally granting me normalcy.

Thats when I first experienced life without the shield of good looks.

One day, after being called an ugly freak and locked in an abandoned classroom, a girl climbed through the window: Faye. She took my hand and said seriously, Kian, looks arent everything. You are who you are.

My heart skipped. I studied hard and followed her to university.

The day I got my acceptance letter, I was ready to confessbut she asked me first: Kian, will you be my boyfriend?

Joy washed over me. For three years, she cared for me entirely, making me the envy of everyone.

Until a party, when Faye had to do the ice bucket challenge with the person next to her: either me or Nolan, the campus heartthrob.

She chose me.

As ice water soaked my head, my heart froze just the same.

A bone-chilling cold shot through me, from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet. I shivered violently.

The atmosphere in the private room hit a fever pitch, all thanks to that bucket of ice.

Everyone was hooting and hollering.

"Faye, you're a real hero! Nolan is our campus heartthrob, the face of our university! Better to sacrifice your own boyfriend than the handsome guy!"

"Yeah, who would want to see Nolan get drenched? If he caught a cold and ended up in the hospital, we wouldn't see him for days!"

"No other guy at this school even comes close."

Nolan just smirked, basking in the adoration like he was born to it.

Someone playfully shoved a microphone in Fayes face, interviewing her like a news reporter.

"Miss Dawson, could you tell us what psychological factors led to your decision?"

Their eyes were gleaming, hungry for gossip.

Faye rolled her eyes and pushed the mic away.

"You guys need to chill. I only picked Kian because Nolan has a cold."

With that, she walked over to me, dabbing at my face with a dry towel. I always used the best waterproof makeup, so nothing had smudged. The tan skin, the constellation of freckles across my cheeks, the slightly puffy eyesit all remained perfectly intact.

With my hair plastered to my scalp, I knew I was far from handsome.

I could already hear snickers from across the room.

A few guys who had never liked me spoke up.

"Seriously, Faye, why are you with Kian? There's not a single thing about you two that matches."

Everyone thought I wasn't good enough for Faye.

I'd heard it a thousand times since we started dating.

Usually, Faye's face would darken, and she would tell them to take it back. Then shed reassure me not to overthink it, that she didn't care what they said.

But this time, she didn't say a word.

Nolans gaze was fixed on her, and I saw Fayes eyes flicker towards him from the corner of my vision.

A bitter, indescribable sourness rose in my chest.

I reached for Faye's hand, but she instinctively slapped it away.

I stared at her, stunned.

Realizing what shed done, Faye quickly grabbed my hand again, but her eyes darted away, unable to meet mine.

Just then, someone piped up, "Uh oh, I think Nolan's had too much to drink. Faye, you're the only one here with a car. Can you give him a ride?"

"Sure," she agreed without a moment's hesitation.

She turned to me.

"Kian, Nolan lives in the opposite direction from you. I'll call you a cab, you can get home on your own, okay?"

Before I could answer, others chimed in.

"What's the problem? He's perfectly safe looking like that."

"Come on, Kian, don't tell me you can't find your way home without your girlfriend."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My chest felt tight, like it was being crushed.

I gripped her hand tighter.

"Faye, I..."

I was about to say Id go with her to drop Nolan off, but then Nolan let out a pained groan.

Faye immediately tore her hand from mine and rushed to his side.

I was left standing there, frozen, as the noise of the room swirled around me.

"I think Nolan has a fever."

"My bad, my bad. He was already sick, I shouldn't have pushed him to drink."

"I'll take him to the hospital!" Faye said, her voice laced with panic.

She helped Nolan up and hurried past me, her shoulder slamming into mine so hard I stumbled and fell to the floor.

I watched her go, not once looking back, until she was out of sight.

After being soaked with ice water and then waiting in the cold wind for a cab, it was no surprise that I woke up with a fever the next day.

I called my advisor to get the day off, then I called Faye.

The phone rang for a long time before someone picked up.

"Faye, I have a fever..." My voice was a hoarse croak.

There was a pause on the other end, then a man's voice answered, laced with an arrogant, triumphant tone.

"Faye's asleep. Should I wake her?"

My entire body went cold. It took me a moment to find my voice.

"Nolan? Is she at your place...?"

He chuckled.

"Technically, I'm at her place. I was on an IV until late last night, and my house is too far, so Faye brought me back to her apartment."

He paused, then continued, his voice oozing with a sense of inevitable victory.

"You know, Kian, if I wanted to, I could take Faye from you anytime."

"But honestly, competing with you for a woman... it's not even a challenge."

His words were dripping with pride and confidence, as if to say you're not even worthy of being my rival.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. "Faye isn't a toy," I said, my voice cold.

"And she's not like other girls."

Nolan's laughter grew louder.

"So defensive of her? Here, let me play you something interesting."

He played a recording.

Nolan's voice, slurred with alcohol, came through the speaker.

"Faye, you still haven't answered my question from earlier. Why are you really with Kian Monroe?"

"He's smart and kind. He's a good person. Why wouldn't I like him?"

A wave of relief washed over me, and a small smile touched my lips.

See? Faye was different.

But my relief was short-lived. Nolan's voice continued.

"Is that so? Then why did you choose to take me home tonight instead of him?"

"Why have you been stealing glances at me all night?"

"Faye, what if I told you that if you break up with him, I'll be with you?"

My heart seized.

A nervous tension gripped me. Answer him, Faye. Tell him you only love me. Reject him, now...

"Would you really?"

Faye's voice trembled, filled with a nervous, almost hopeful excitement.

My heart plummeted.

The recording ended. Nolan laughed.

"Get it now, Kian? Being handsome really does give you all the power."

I hung up the phone.

I pulled my knees to my chest, hugging them tightly.

I had to admit it. I was scared.

The fever made my head spin, making it nearly impossible to think straight. But one memory cut through the haze: Faye, climbing through that classroom window, taking my hand.

The girl in the white shirt, her face full of righteous conviction. Her palm was warm, sending a steady stream of strength into me.

"Kian, looks aren't everything. You are who you are."

Those words had changed my life.

Before that, I hated myself. My real face brought my family nothing but trouble, and my plain, disguised face brought me nothing but bullies. I had started to wonder if my existence had any meaning at all.

It was Faye's words that made me see myself differently, to focus on my character instead of my appearance.

But I forgot that people change.

Whether she had changed her mind or not, I had to ask her myself.

I took some medicine and slept for a whole day. When I woke up, I saw a long list of missed calls on my phone.

Not a single one was from Faye.

It used to be that if I went more than an hour without texting her, she'd come running to find me, terrified that something had happened.

I let out a bitter laugh.

The answer seemed obvious.

Pulling myself together, I called back the number that had tried me the most: my academic advisor.

She picked up immediately. "Kian, you finally answered! I heard you were sick. About that job hosting the Ivy League professors in three daysyou don't have to worry about it anymore. We've found a replacement."

I froze. "Professor, wait! I'm feeling better, I can do it!"

Over a month ago, the university announced that a delegation from several Ivy League schools would be visiting. They selected a few students to act as hosts.

Thanks to my fluent English and excellent etiquette, I had secured one of the spots.

With the academic credit from this event, I would have enough to apply for a study abroad program at my dream university.

I had spent at least four hours every day for the past month practicing my presentation. Just a few days ago, my advisor was praising my dedication. Why the sudden change?

I rushed to the university to find her, insisting that I was completely recovered and that my illness wouldn't affect the event.

She sighed, then told me the truth.

"I know how much effort you've put into this, Kian."

"But the Dawson family just donated a new building to the school. Faye specifically requested that Nolan Prescott be added to the hosting team, and our hands were tied..."

"What did you say?" I heard my own voice, rough and raw, as if it had been scraped with gravel.

My advisor seemed to remember my relationship with Faye, and a flicker of regret crossed her face.

"I'm not going to get involved in your personal matters. You should go ask her about it yourself."

I found Faye in a practice room, helping Nolan with his conversational English.

Nolans English was so bad he hadn't even passed the basic proficiency test, and his spoken English was a disaster. I remembered hearing that he was short on credits and might have to delay his graduation.

Faye was really going all out for him.

She looked up at the sound of my footsteps, her eyes widening slightly when she saw me.

"Kian, what are you doing here?"

"Faye, was it you who took my hosting spot?"

A flash of guilt appeared on her face, but it was quickly replaced by a look of justification.

"Kian, Nolan will have to repeat a year if he doesn't get this credit. You're not short on credits. Giving him this opportunity won't cost you anything."

"But my study abroad application might get rejected! You know how hard I worked for this!"

"Then just apply again next year! I'll be right here with you, isn't that enough?"

Maybe it was because I'd never spoken to her with such intensity before, but Faye seemed irritated.

"Besides, the hosts they picked are all handsome guys and beautiful girls. Don't you think you'd look out of place standing with them? I'm doing this for your own good, to save you from being mocked again."

I couldn't believe those words were coming from her mouth.

She was the one who used to hold me, comfort me, and tell me over and over not to care what other people thought.

And now, she was the one bluntly telling me how she really felt.

The mockery of others had never been able to hurt me.

But a single sentence from Faye completely shattered me.

The kind, sincere girl I once knew... it seemed she was really gone.

My eyes burned, and my body trembled with anger.

Maybe she had never seen me like this before, because she looked a little scared. She instinctively raised a hand, as if to wipe away a tear I didn't know was there.

But beside her, Nolan let out a sniffle.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have taken your spot. It's just... you said you had a fever, so I thought maybe I had a chance."

"It's just one more year, I can work harder. Faye, give him the spot back."

As he spoke, tears rolled down his cheeks like pearls from a broken string.

As expected of the campus heartthrobeven his crying was beautiful.

Compared to my hysterical state, it was clear where Faye's sympathies lay.

Her gaze fell on my reddened eyes and the dense freckles on my face, and a flicker of disgust crossed her features.

"Kian, when did you become so selfish and cold-hearted?"

"Nolan's family isn't well-off. Do you know what a burden another year of tuition and living expenses would be? Are you only thinking about yourself?"

"I got together with you because I thought you were kind. But look at you now. Is there anything left about you to like?"

My fingers curled into tight fists.

My voice was exhausted. "Then... let's break up."

As I spoke those words, Nolan let out a piercing scream.

Faye didn't even spare me a glance. She rushed to his side, swatting away a bug that had landed on him.

Nolan shot me a smug look over her shoulder.

It was as if he was proving his point.

He could take her whenever he wanted.

It didn't matter anymore whether Faye had heard me or not.

A woman who could be stolen away by a handsome face was not a woman I wanted.

After calming Nolan down, Faye turned around and realized I was gone.

She frowned, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She thought she had faintly heard me say something about breaking up.

She shook her head. She must have misheard.

I had given up on getting the credit from the hosting event, but that evening, I got a call from my advisor.

One of the other student hosts had come down with acute gastroenteritis and couldn't make it.

They wanted me to fill in.

I accepted.

The next morning, I was dressed and waiting at the school gate long before anyone else.

The other hosts started to arrive.

Nolans eyes widened in surprise when he saw me.

I ignored him, silently running through my prepared speech in my head.

A crowd of students had gathered to watch. Someone shouted from the back.

"Why is there something so dirty mixed in with all the handsome people?"

"Yeah, one bad apple spoils the bunch!"

"I thought the hosts were supposed to be the best students in the school. Shouldn't that include looks?"

"Where does he get the confidence to just stand there?"

The loudest insults came from Nolan's fan club. But as more people joined in, the mood shifted, and soon everyone was looking at me with amusement.

I ignored their stares and their whispers.

I turned my head and my eyes met Faye's.

She flinched and quickly looked away, as if she was afraid of anyone knowing we were connected.

A sudden, wicked impulse took hold of me.

I waved at her. "Faye! Don't I look handsome?"

Faye was stunned.

The other students turned to look at her.

"Hey, beautiful, do you know him?"

"Are you that guy's girlfriend?"

"No!" Faye denied it, her voice too loud.

The forced smile on my face froze.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, the pain so sharp it was hard to breathe.

Suddenly, someone slammed into me hard. I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

Something thick and warm was poured over my head.

Nolans voice was full of fake remorse. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't do it on purpose!"

I looked up and saw he was apologizing to a girl next to him.

"You went to all the trouble of making me this oatmeal, and I couldn't even hold it steady."

The girl blushed and shook her head. "No, it's okay! I'll make it for you again!"

"Nolan, you did that on purpose!"

I shot to my feet and swung my hand at his face.

But Faye rushed forward and grabbed my wrist, yanking me back.

She glared at me, furious.

"What do you think you're doing? Nolan just accidentally spilled something on you, and you're going to hit him?"

"He's the campus heartthrob! He represents the face of our university!"

"And what about me? Am I not a student here? Does he get a free pass for everything just because he's handsome?"

"Faye, you were the one who told me that looks don't define a person!"

My eyes were filled with disappointment.

I shook her hand off and turned to leave.

Faye stood frozen in place.

Everyone assumed I had left for good. After all, I was covered in oatmeal, my clothes ruined. Some said I was just ashamed and couldn't stand to be there any longer, painfully aware that I didn't belong.

The guests were about to arrive, and I was still nowhere to be seen.

The advisor was frantic. "What are we going to do with one person missing? Is Kian coming back or not?"

"Professor, he intentionally ditched his duties! You should dock his credits!"

"This is an important day for our school! He should be disciplined!"

"I say we expel him! He's a disgrace to our university!"

Just then, a convoy of cars appeared in the distance, heading for the school gate. Everyone turned excitedly.

The advisor was about to step in and take my place when she heard a voice behind her.

"Professor, I'm ready."

Hearing my voice, the advisor let out a sigh of relief and turned around.

"Kian, you're just in time. Quick..."

The moment she saw me, she gasped.

"Who... who are you?"

As the advisor's shocked voice rang out, everyone else turned to look.

One by one, as their eyes fell on my face, they froze, completely dumbfounded.

Nolans face went deathly pale.

I spoke calmly. "Professor, it's me. Kian Monroe."

A hand suddenly gripped my arm.

Faye stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"You're Kian Monroe?!"