Penny, for Dean, was someone so close yet always just out of reach.
They had both graduated early and trained under Professor Singh, entering college at an unusually young age. And while many would assume their shared experiences meant they understood each other well, the truth was quite the opposite.
Dean quickly rose to popularity — thanks to his early achievements, towering height, and striking appearance — while Penny struggled. She wasn't bullied, exactly, but people often treated her like a novelty. It took time for others to warm up to her. To most, she was either a child to be coddled or a quirky mascot.
And Dean was always there, watching it unfold.
Now that he thought about it, he had always been there — not too far, not too close, just enough to be in her world without fully belonging to it. Whenever he tried to become a more significant part of her life, something always seemed to get in the way.
