Chapter 10 - All Too Well (Flashback)

I was roaming through the vast corridor, to the men's locker room, clutching both straps of my bag. I know this is not my usual route but I'm looking forward to seeing Romeo there.

It's almost five and nobody else's walking, the only sound on the background was the sole of my shoes clapping the floor. Then there's a sudden grasped on my bag, snatching me through the comfort room.

"Are you lost, boy?" he asked scaring me, it was Astro and beside him were James and two other athletes.

"Why should a junior student get lost?" I tried not to freak out but they're frightening me, I could feel my heart's palpitating. Astro closed the door and smirked evilly.

"Let me go!" I raised my voice, sitting on the tiles, they are laughing.

"Try not to fight against the boss, or else - "

" - or else what?" I halted James, his eyes brightened with disbelief. I'm projecting brave but inside I'm shaking. Both boys shouting 'boo' while James scoffed and Astro's forehead wrinkled and said, "This!"

I squirmed on the floor as he kicked my stomach like a soccer ball, groaning in pain, my eyes served with tears.

"What now pip-squeak? - hold him gentlemen." they pulled off my backpack and throw it away, James and the other boy clasping me, pinning through the wall, and the other guarding the door.

"Let go of me." restraining from their grips badly.

"No one will ever hear you neither will help, so scream as you want!" Astro striding towards me, spitting out on his face and I chuckled.

Did I just wake the devil inside of him? - I forgot he's already the devil. I know there's no way in hell I can escape from them, so, why not fight, at least.

He rubs the back of his hand through his face - pissed. James and the other jaws chop down and reactions outraged of what I did, Astro released his lightning punches - through my abdomen and my mouth, the rest were mocking as I made my fall and groaning.

"I didn't do anything to you, why hurt me? - bully!" I can tastes blood from my lips, I started to cry, my knees and hands supporting my weight on the floor as I watched the blood dripping from my mouth. He cackled sickly.

I didn't deserve this.

"Help!" I started to scream, I can feel the pain from my body, they just chortled at me like I was nothing.

"Help!" and seems to be my dead-end, tears cascading down my cheeks. I gained my weight and tackled Astro and let out some punches on his face before the others seized me.

"Hold him idiots!" he yelled angrily as he stands up, pushing me by the chest, making me tumbling on the ground. In the blink of an eye kicks from these wicked athletes landing on my body, I keep screaming, shielding my face with my arms. And it's like an eternity of pain striking me - they halted.

"Enough! let's locked him up!" and they're striving to exit leaving me like a boneless fish, I can't stand up. But they left the door unlocked and started running, as I heard someone's approaching.

The door creaks - opened.

"Holy - Kris, what happened?" and he never hesitated to assist me, he let me sit on the floor.

"Help me clean up - I don't want my parents to know about what had happened to me." I was breathless and gulping some blood, Romeo's eyes bulged.

"What? They deserve to get punished, let's report them to the guidance office tomorrow." he contradicted.

"And I don't want the whole school to know what happened here!" I darted my irritated looks, I know despite what happened I'm having a bit attitude.

"Just help me cleaned - please!" I requested I could tell he's a little indistinguishable of what I've said. Why I didn't want to do what he wanted. I know that's always the right thing but I have my own reason.

He helped me unbuttoned my uniform and my inner shirt was been left, he turned on the faucet and wet the cloth on the running water, standing in front of the mirror, I could see the lump on my lips.

"Ow! Could you just be a little more cautious." I told as he tapped my swelling lips.

"Why did they do this to you?" concerned drawing upon his face, he holds my hand, my lips' in 'O' shape breathing rapidly.

"I don't know, they hate people like me, maybe." and grabbed my backpack to go home. Romeo's eyes unfocused and initiated to drag the freight of my bag.

"That's not true," he told,

"What other reason do you think why he did this? - They did this!" I said with conviction and I stormed off. He called my name to decrease my speed, yet continuing my pace. Astro was his friend and probably he was on his side - but he cares for me too, I can feel it.

"He's a dork, you told me," I spoke, clearing the silence, we're walking down the sidewalk and the sun's setting.

"Yeah. But he never does that to anyone, or to me." his stares nailed at me and I stopped.

"Could you please stop being an idiot? Of course, he was your friend and he'll never do that to you, duh! But to me, he did!" my index finger pointing on his chest, stroking it.

"I told you he's not my friend." he corrected, we keep our motion, my hands trace all the pain I'm feeling from my body.

"Or should I say - best friend! Do you want me to remind you that you lied to me about him! Huh?" I spit bitterly.

"I wanted to believe that, but I'm not brainless, okay?" I rolled my eyes, he didn't say a word after that, his face darted into the ground, silently.

"I'm not your enemy here Kris, I'm trying to help." his looks chaotic as he snatched my hand and halted.

"I am your friend now, trust me." my eyebrows furrowed, my lips thinned and I pushed him.

"Tell that to those bully and I might believe you." Then I left him.

We've reached our house after long minutes of walking and he lengthened his grip of my bag, I accepted it.

"I'm sorry for being harsh on you but, uhm - thank you for assisting me till here." he smiled delicately, exposing his white teeth, we're smiling at each other.

"No worries, and you can call me if you want to talk, okay?"

"Yes, I know."

"But believe me Romeo - I don't want to see you again!" then I went inside of our house, I left him with his jaw dropped - completely unable to find why did I say it as the door banged before him.

I walked passed by my mom after she greeted me and wrinkle appears on her face and my sister on the couch doing her homework, dad's not home, yet. Her concerned sights following my trails upstairs.

I put down my bag on the side table and get undressed rashly. I looked at my reflection on the mirror and bruises been painted on my body. I am sobbing, I locked the door and jumped straight on my bed, hiding under my duvet.

"All I wanted was to see him, that's all - is this the price for wanting it?" I hissed, I rolled over, staring at the ceiling and a flashback occurred on my mind on what happened earlier.

- flashback -

"Enough let's locked him up!" Astro blurted out, I looked at him in a vehement manner, he curled his lips.

"And stay away from Romeo," he added, walking closer to me and pressed his muddy soccer shoe on my chest.

"Do you think Romeo will literally hang out with you? Let's say, yes, but that's only for now, he was just confused like the others.." my eyes were shaking as well as my lips, I don't get what he's saying but he was pissed and purely devil.

"Don't think that what happened today was a threat or something, I'm trying to protect Romeo and his reputation because that's what, are friends supposed to do. I hope you'll understand 'sunshine' and what occurred to you is only our tremendous misunderstanding." he slapped my face twice, slowly. And that's the secret Romeo mentioned me about. I gulped and the water escaped my eyes.

"Hurry, someone's coming." James hushed and they're striving to exit leaving me helplessly, and I can't stand up. But they left the door unlocked due to surprise as I heard someone's approaching. Astro and his group started running cowardly.

- end of flashback -

"Kris are you all right? Open the door, honey." There are knocks on my door and my thoughts shifted away, her voice was as concerned as Romeo and mom keep knocking the door gently.

"The door was closed for a reason," I told, trying to conceal my shaking and hoarse voice.

"Just go!" I shouted.

"You know that we're willing to listen, mom and dad and your sister Carly." she continued, I walked to the door and leaned my ear, I heard them talking but inaudible.

"Just don't miss the dinner, Kris, Okay?" dad announced.

"Okay, I will."

"I love you both," I said, cupping my eyes, I sniffed and then smiled, I'm lucky to have a family like them, a mom and dad that loves me for who I am and not for what I am.

"We love you too." my parents said in unison.

"And supper's almost ready."