Glass Hearts [BL]
Chapter 58: What’s the Worst Thing in Life?

Chapter 58: What’s the Worst Thing in Life?

I’ve always wondered:

What’s the worst thing in life?

Is it being the person everyone sees as a murderer... even when you didn’t commit the crime?

Is it getting kicked out of school because people believe you’re a threat... or not good enough to stay?

Or maybe...it’s falling for someone you’re terrified might never truly be yours.

Or watching your mom slip further away every day because you can’t raise enough money to save her?

Or the constant ache of doubting yourself..... because no matter what you do, you’ll always be the boy who pushed Liam.

The boy everyone whispers about in the halls.

The boy they all wish would just disappear.

My thoughts crashed into each other.

"Mr. Rivera?"

I blinked, the room snapping into focus. It felt like my brain had whiplash. My eyes flicked up to Mrs. Healy.

"Are you still with us?" she asked.

I swallowed and nodded, even though my throat felt tight.

Mrs. Healy’s pen clicked twice against the table. "You still haven’t answered the question. Why should we believe you belong here at Blackwell?"

I dropped my gaze to the gleaming table surface. A blurry reflection of my own eyes stared back... wide and frightened.

My fingers curled into fists on my lap.

I belong here. I belong here. Please believe me...

My chest heaved. A tear spilled over despite me trying to blink it back.

"I do belong here!" My voice cracked. "I’ve worked so hard, I...."

A different board member leaned forward.

"Mr. Rivera... let’s be honest with each other. Why should we take the risk of keeping you here, with your... history?"

History? Like I’m a record in a file. Like I’m a disease they’re deciding whether to quarantine or cure.

I felt dizzy. I dug into my backpack, scrabbling past old papers, my fingers shaking so hard they fumbled the zipper. I pulled out my phone with my trembling hands.

"Because I can prove I didn’t hurt Liam," I burst out. My voice echoed in the quiet room. "I have footage of what really happened that night. I can show you—"

"Enough. Stop talking."

I froze, my phone trembling in my hands.

Mrs. Healy crossed her arms. "We are not here to discuss conspiracy theories, or videos from... questionable sources. We’re here to address your record, your discipline, and your effect on Blackwell’s reputation. It seems like you still don’t understand the question."

Effect on the school’s reputation?

Like I was just...a problem.

A stain they wanted to scrub away.

My throat squeezed shut. I forced the words out anyway.

"I’m really not... I’m not a bad person," I whispered." Please believe me."

Mr. Flynn... the older man at the far end of the table, leaned back, exhaling slowly. "Perhaps, Mr. Rivera, Blackwell simply isn’t the right environment for you."

Not the right environment?

My mouth tasted salty. My eyes twitched. A sob clawed its way up my throat. I tried to swallow it back, but it came out anyway.

"Stop," I choked out. "Please... stop talking like that. Like I’m... I’m some problem you have to get rid of."

My voice cracked.

"I know I messed up. I know I’ve made mistakes. We’ve all made mistakes. But I’m not dangerous. I’m not violent. I’m just—"

I gasped, fighting for air.

"I’m just a kid trying to keep my sister safe. My mom’s in the hospital. I barely sleep anymore. I’m trying so hard to hold everything together, and I’m scared all the time."

My voice broke completely. I wiped my cheeks with shaking hands.

"I don’t want to leave Blackwell. I don’t want to leave my friends. I love it here. I belong here. Please give me a second chance. Please."

The silence that followed felt endless.

The only sound was Principal Han tapping his pen against a folder. Tap... tap... tap. The sound echoed like a ticking clock. Like trying to decide if he should speak.

I couldn’t breathe. It felt like the walls were closing in, pressing down until there was no space left inside me. Part of me wanted to run. Part of me wanted to disappear

The fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly.

My heart was pounding so loudly.

"Mr. Rivera..." Principal Han started gently, but he didn’t get to finish.

Because there was a sudden knock on the door.

Everyone’s head turned. The handle turned slowly, and the door creaked open.

"Excuse me..."

Mrs. Smith..... the detention teacher, stepped inside, her wispy gray hair pinned back in a bun. She wore a floral scarf.

And behind her....

Dominic.

My breath caught in my throat.

He stepped into the room, eyes sweeping across the table. His hair was slightly mussed, like he’d been running his fingers through it. He had a manila folder clutched in one hand.

Principal Han blinked. "Mr. Vale... this is a closed hearing."

Dominic ignored him. His gaze was locked onto mine.... and the entire room seemed to shrink until it was just the two of us.

"With all due respect, sir, ma’am..." He looked directly at Mrs. Healy. "...if you’re gonna sit here and question Ash’s character. I think you’ll want to hear what we have to say."

Mrs. Healy’s brow furrowed. "Mr. Vale, this isn’t the time—"

Dominic held up the folder.

"I have evidence that exonerates Ash Rivera. And it’s time someone listened to him."

I blinked, unable to stop the tears from falling again.

Dominic turned to me, his eyes softening. He reached out and brushed his thumb across my cheek, wiping away the tears.

"You belong here, Rivera. And I’m not gonna let them forget it."

He turned and handed a folder to Mrs. Smith gently. "I’m sorry for barging in without scheduling this formally. But I think... you’ll want to see this."

Mrs. Smith nodded, like she knew exactly what this was.

She walked over and placed the folder right in front of Principal Han, carefully, like it was something precious. Something that could break if handled wrong.

"This isn’t just a defense," she said softly. "It’s the truth."

Mrs. Healy leaned forward. The other board member, Mr. Flynn, adjusted his glasses and stared down at the contents.

I kept glancing from their faces to the folder and back again.

My palms were sweating.

What’s in it?

Why did Dominic look so confident?

Why did Mrs. Smith sound so certain?

God... please let it be something real.