At the populated hallway was Jackie walking to his locker. He was already done with today's classes and was just coming right from MR Eddie's office as he was done presenting his project. Getting to his locker he found it decorated with stickers displaying all sorts of curse words. He stripped off one of the stickers, taking a look at it, 'Son of a Moron' was what grazed his sight. He looked at the other stickers, each bearing distinct abusive and curse words.
In anticipation to see the one's responsible, he looked behind him, but to no avail no one appeared suspicious, everyone was busy with whatever they were into. Turning back, he detached all the stickers from his locker, on some of stickers were silly drawings. Bulling was an inescapable fate for anyone from a humble background being part of an elite school. This was what he passed through in occasions, though he wasn't the only one facing such bullies, crumping the papers he tossed them into the bin nearby.
"Jerks" He muttered under his breath.
After he was done with the business he had with his locker, he locked it and headed to depart the school premises. He needed to evade any upcoming trouble, it seemed like targets were aiming at him again. He was about to exit the block, when he felt a bit discomfort in his bladder. He needed to visit the rest room.
….
After he was done easing himself, he exited the restroom area with his head covered by a hoodie and his bag resting on his back as usual. He heard an obscured noises at the other hallway. Curious to know the source of the noises, he walked towards the direction the noises were emitting from, on getting closer, the noises became more audible and defined. He could clearly tell what was going on.
Jackie's eyes widened, as his eyes turned out in proving his ears right at the initiating noises. Some bunch of folks surrounded and were brutally pounding on a guy he couldn't really identify.
Fear engulfed him but at the same time fortitude to help surged in. He was about to set on his heels out of there, but he hesitated. He needed to help that guy. At first he thought he was the only one being bullied not knowing that they were others who were facing the same challenges as him, probably even worst.
With no certainty on what to do, he summoned all the courage left in him with thorough knowledge that he was about to take the most stupid attempt of his life, nevertheless he needed to do something. The way he perceived it, those folks might either end up killing the guy or might leave him in near death state.
"Hey!" He voiced, drawing their attention to him. His eyes widened a bit in surprise, they were the same guys he had previously encountered at the basketball court.
Tom leaned over the wall puffing a cigar, his gaze resting at the coiled guy on the floor collecting the beatings of his life. Suddenly they heard someone called, which disrupted their reveling operation. Looking at the direction to see who it was that had a dead wish, their eyes fell on a familiar figure. The recollection hit Tom, they have met this precise person, probably at the court. They glanced at one another and returned their eyes back to the boy in dismay. They were not expecting anyone to interrupt them, most especially a peasant.
"Wow!" Exclaimed Tom "See who we have here" He matched the victim's head so hard that he left out a groan. He took a few steps towards Jackie, clapping.
"I think you have gotten a companion" Referring to the survivor, Tom gazed at him.
"Why can't you pick a man of your own size?" Jackie countered, gathering all his courage. His voice sounded more as a challenge than a question with no idea on what his next fate would be.
"And you fit perfectly well for our size" Uttered Tom with a hint of sarcasm, tailed by mischievous chuckles.
"Literally, that's not what I mean" Fear already drilling a hole inside Jackie, he felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Tom looked back at the group of guys behind him, he left an exaggerated chuckle and turned his gaze back at the poor soul masquerading braveness.
"Now forming a hero, right boy? That will be the greatest regret of your life"
"Just let the guy go" Voiced Jackie, pretending to look all bold. Despite the fear eluding him, he managed to equip boldness not wanting the fear inside of him to reflect, considering that it would only escalate the catastrophe that was to befall on him.
"Guys get that Pork" Came Tom's commanding voice.
Jackie had heard the rumors that those guys were fraters, but, but why were they making troubles? Judging by the view of things, it seemed like the one puffing cigar minutes ago was the boss, considering the way he ordered those guys around, perhaps he was of a high rank in their fraternity.
His instinct wanted him to hold his ground, but as those five guys kept stomping towards him, fear washed down his spine. He had to run for his life.
Seeing that the distance between them, were getting covered, with no second thought, he set on his heels, running as fast as he could. As there was no other choice left, he needed to act like a coward he was… for now.
"Yeah, run coward, run!!"
He heard from the guys running after him. He made his way through the congested meandering crowd of people in the hall way and out of the building, he disappeared from their sight.
He wouldn't take such risk ever again, his action today was unbelievably ridiculous. What was he trying to do, fight those guys? The trouble he had tried so hard avoiding these recent days, he had gotten himself attracting.