“This isn’t right,” she said, her voice tight. “They gave false testimony. But your parents and Valerie’s parents insist on settling privately, and they refuse to pursue what those street punks did.”
“I want to help you,” she continued quietly. “But there’s nothing I can do.”
As she spoke, her eyes slowly reddened.
She was righteous, kind, and beautiful.
“Maybe one day,” I said softly, “I’ll be the one helping you, Officer.”
Then I stood up and asked, “Could you give me your contact information?”
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
She gave me her contact details and told me her name.
Officer Rachelle Pierce.
Not long after, I was taken to the hospital again because Valerie had woken up.
By the time I arrived, the ward and the hallway outside were already packed.
Many students from the school were there, and so were many teachers.
When they looked at me, their eyes were filled with pure hatred.
“Beat him to death!”
As I walked forward, a beautiful girl suddenly stepped out and slapped me hard across the face.
Her reputation at school was terrible. Everyone knew it. When she had been bullied before, I was the one who helped her. After that, she chased after me relentlessly. When I rejected her, she turned against me.
“Do it for Valerie!”
Brandon Wells, a chubby kid, kicked me hard.
Brandon used to be the errand boy for the entire grade. I was the one who stopped others from bullying him. We had never even argued before, so I could not understand why he would strike me, too.
If there had to be an explanation, it was human nature.
“Look!” he probably thought. “This is Marcus, the good student, the rich kid, the handsome guy! Now I’ve beaten him, and he doesn’t even dare fight back. I’m stepping on him!”
That could be exactly what he was thinking.
With every step I took, another blow landed on me. By the time I reached Valerie’s hospital bed, my body was already covered in injuries.
The moment Valerie saw me, terror flashed across her face.
“Don’t come over!” she screamed.
“Please, Marcus, don’t hurt me! I’m begging you!”
She broke down sobbing and hid beneath the blanket.
“You bastard!” Valerie’s father kicked me, fury blazing across his face.
“Beat him to death!” someone in the crowd shouted.
I did not see who it was, but I recognized the voice.
It was Lucas.
Then I was surrounded and beaten.