My High School Crush Kissed Me On A Bet To Humiliate Me. Now He Transferred To My College And Wants A Second Chance. Should I Give Him The Satisfaction Of A Response?
Polite Indifference
The texts started the next day. Nico sent me a meme about our shared biology class, then an invitation to a concert happening on campus, then a question about the homework assignment for the class we apparently both had on Thursdays.
I responded hours later with brief, helpful answers. Never flirty, never encouraging, just pleasant enough that he couldn’t call me rude, but distant enough that he couldn’t mistake it for interest. The texts kept coming over the following days: more memes, more event invitations, more homework questions. I could feel his frustration building in the increasing frequency and the slightly more desperate tone. He had nothing to work with because I wasn’t giving him anything. I wasn’t angry enough to fight with or interested enough to pursue. I was just politely, consistently unavailable in every way that mattered.
Saturday night, Leilani dragged me to a party at a house just off campus. I hadn’t planned to go, but she insisted I needed to get out and have fun instead of spending another weekend studying. The house was packed with people from various friend groups and classes. I was getting a drink in the kitchen when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around and found myself face to face with Johnny Kemp.
He’d been one of Nico’s closest friends in high school, one of the guys standing at the back door that night watching and laughing. My stomach tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. Johnny asked if he could talk to me for a minute. I followed him to a quieter corner of the living room.
He said he’d been wanting to apologize for what happened at that party senior year. He told me he was an immature jerk back then and he was genuinely sorry for laughing and being part of something so cruel. I studied his face and saw real guilt there. I told him I appreciated the apology and that I’d moved on from it. He seemed relieved and we ended up talking for 20 minutes about how much we’d both changed since high school. He mentioned he’d cut back on drinking and was taking school seriously now. I told him about my research and my plans for graduate school. It was strange but good to see that people could actually grow.
Before he left to find his friends, Johnny said something that stuck with me. He mentioned that Nico talked about me constantly these days, always trying to figure out why I was being so distant with him. Johnny said Nico seemed genuinely confused about why I wouldn’t give him a real chance. Like he couldn’t understand that his past behavior might have actual consequences. I thanked Johnny for the information but didn’t elaborate on my plans or feelings. I kept my cards close and changed the subject. We said goodbye and I went to find Leilani.
Enter Rocco
Monday after my engineering study group, Rocco Bowman walked me back toward my apartment building. We’d been casually seeing each other for about a month, nothing serious but nice and easy and comfortable. He was smart and kind and treated me like I mattered. Halfway across campus, he asked if there was history between me and the guy who kept showing up wherever I was.
I’d noticed Nico at the library again that morning, sitting close enough to watch me but far enough to claim coincidence. I gave Rocco the basic story without too much detail. Told him about the bet and the kiss and the humiliation. Told him Nico had transferred here and was now trying to reconnect like nothing had happened.
Rocco listened without interrupting and his response was simple. He said I deserved way better than someone who would treat me like that. He said he wasn’t worried because he could tell I wasn’t interested in Nico at all.
The next day after our shared Thursday class, I was talking with Rocco outside the building about the upcoming exam. I saw Nico walking toward us from across the quad. His expression shifted when he saw Rocco standing close to me laughing at something I’d said. Nico’s smile faltered and something that looked like jealousy crossed his face before he caught himself.
The next afternoon, Nico texted asking if I wanted to study together for the biology exam. When I said I already had a study group, he asked directly if Rocco and I were dating. He tried to sound casual but I could read the tension in his words. I texted back that we were seeing each other casually, nothing too serious. I watched the three dots appear and disappear several times before his response finally came through saying that was cool and he hoped I was happy. I could picture him staring at his phone, processing this new information with visible discomfort, realizing he wasn’t the only option anymore.
