On a typical weekday, the school cafeteria buzzed with activity during the cherished breaktime. Silvia meandered the bustling scene, her tray laden with an assortment of food, and her eyes scanning for a vacant table. As she inched her way through the crowded space, a sudden collision sent her tray crashing to the floor, splattering her once-pristine uniform with an unsightly mess. Startled, she looked up to see Jared, already retreating without so much as a glance in her direction.

The surrounding students, ever eager for a spectacle, wasted no time in launching into a chorus of whispers and hushed conversations, their words mingling with Silvia’s embarrassment. Among the onlookers stood Camila, her protective instincts urging her to intervene and stand up for her friend. Yet, Silvia subtly signalled her to hold back, and with a sigh, Camila reluctantly complied, her inner frustration simmering beneath a calm exterior.

At a nearby table, Aiden sat, a composed observer of the unfolding drama—a detached presence with a neutral expression concealing any hint of his thoughts or motives.

 

Silvia stood alone in the men’s restroom, desperately trying to wash away the majority of the food stains that now marred her uniform. The acrid scent of urine that permeated the restroom did nothing to assuage her already foul mood. She decided to give up her jacket, folding it and setting it aside after a tentative sniff confirmed the presence of the pungent chicken soup residue. The mingling odours around her only compounded her growing headache, but nothing weighed on her mind more than the haunting image of Jared.

“So, this is what he meant by ‘watching my back from now on’,” she mumbled to herself. “Just tolerate it, Silvia.”

Unbeknownst to her, beyond the archway leading to the restroom, an unknown figure clad in a male uniform loitered, a silent observer of the scene. Without making any attempts to engage with Silvia, the mysterious individual departed.

 

As the days dragged on, Silvia found herself ensnared in a ceaseless torment at the unforgiving confines of her school, with Jared as the persistent perpetrator. Each passing day brought with it an endless barrage of aggression—shoves against lockers, calculative attempts to send her sprawling to the ground, and whispered taunts that bore into her soul like a relentless drill. She gritted her teeth, trying to fortify the fragile dam that held back the torrential surge of negative emotions threatening to engulf her.

Bruises, once foreign to her fair skin, now bore silent testament to the physical toll of her constant harassment. They blossomed like painful constellations, scattered across her body, paying the price for her very existence in this oppressive environment. The battle she waged, both within her own turbulent heart and against the unyielding forces of cruelty, was an unending struggle—one that threatened to swallow her whole in the unrelenting darkness of her daily ordeal.

 

Aiden and Dane convened atop the desolate school rooftop, their figures silhouetted against the backdrop of the dull, overcast sky. They leaned against the high railings, feeling the chill of the wind pass their bodies. A silence, pervading unspoken thoughts, hung in the air like a foreboding mist.

It was Aiden who finally broke the silence, his voice a mere whisper carried away by the wind. “Dane, have you noticed Silus getting harassed by that guy lately?”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you not noticed? It’s been happening a lot over the past few days.”

“Tell me more.”

“You know that guy, Jared? It seems like he’s been bullying Silus.”

Dane’s eyes widened in shock, his mind racing to process this revelation. The rooftop seemed to grow even colder as the weight of the situation settled upon them. A solitary raindrop then fell to the rooftop’s ground.

 

The morning light struggled to permeate the dimly lit homeroom, its weak rays filtered through the heavy rain that cloaked the day in a shroud of foreboding. Silvia sat at her desk, bearing a band-aid on her right cheek, a feeble attempt to conceal the bruise that bore witness to Jared’s violent outbursts. The atmosphere in the room was heavy with tension, like the calm before a storm.

Camila, seated nearby, grappled with her own emotions, her rage simmering beneath the surface as she resorted to scratching her legs with her nails beneath her desk in a futile attempt to quell her frustration.

In the shadows, Dane sat behind Silvia, his attention momentarily drawn to the bandage on her face. His reaction was immediate and unsettling. Time seemed to stand still as he froze in place, his mouth agape, his gaze fixated on the visible evidence of the brutality that Silvia had endured.

The plague of the situation bore down on them all, casting a dark pall over the classroom.

 

As the heavy rain gradually subsided, the brooding clouds reluctantly surrendered to the emergence of a radiant sun. The day progressed, leading the students to their physical education class. They trudged outside to the school field, which still bore the remnants of the recent downpour. A concrete path meandered through the field, its surface covered with muddy puddles.

In an abrupt and violent act, a malevolent force shoved Silvia with malicious intent, sending her tumbling headlong into a muddy puddle. Slowly, she lifted herself from the grimy water, her gaze meeting Jared’s cold and heartless eyes as he loomed over her. He felt content in instigating her misery and abandoned her without a word.

Silvia, now completely drenched from the dirty puddle, sat there, her sports clothes soiled and clinging to her body. She stared miserably at her hands and knees, their delicate skin scraped and bleeding from the harsh impact with the rough concrete.

 

Silvia, unable to bear the torment any longer, stealthily slipped out of the physical education lesson, seeking solace in an empty classroom where the lights remained off. Collapsing onto the floor, she clutched her bleeding legs, the frigid room temperature causing her body to shiver uncontrollably. Her wet clothes, clinging to her like a second skin, offered no respite and only heightened her distress. She eventually lost all hope in herself as tears welled up in her eyes.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she whispered, her voice breaking from despair.

In a quiet and unexpected act of compassion, a fellow student from her class entered the room, gently closing the door behind him. Without hesitation, he stripped off his sports jacket and tenderly enveloped Silvia’s quivering body. Kneeling across from her, she recognised him as Dane. With a touch filled with empathy, he reached out and carefully removed her faux glasses, placing them on the floor before wiping away her tears with his thumb.

“Silvia, why are you dressing up as your brother?” Dane suddenly asked.

Silvia’s eyes widened in shock, momentarily paralysed by the revelation. She then shook her head vigorously, attempting to regain her composure. “What are you talking about?”

The resonant chime of the school bell marked the end of the period, interrupting their exchange.

“We’ll continue this conversation after school, Silvia,” Dane assured her.

He left a first aid kit at her side before standing up and exiting the room, ensuring to close the door behind him. Silvia glanced down at the first aid kit, and pinched the jacket he had placed on her, her heart swelling with a mixture of wonder and gratitude. In that moment, despite the hardships she endured, her tensions eased from the unexpected kindness she had received from a friend when she needed it most.

Silvia, her true identity no longer concealed by her brother’s guise, found herself seated in her living room after school, her nerves palpable as she anxiously bit her lower lip. Across from her, Dane reclined in a one-seater, his gaze bearing an intensity that only heightened her unease. The room was ensnared in a heavy silence, and the unstated questions brewing within Dane only deepened her apprehension.

An interruption came in the form of the doorbell’s chime, and Silvia hastened to answer it. Camila had arrived in response to Silvia’s urgent message concerning Dane’s discovery. As they settled into the room, the tension thickened, and Dane’s patience wore thin.

Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he demanded answers. “Explain to me what’s going on. Why are you cross-dressing as your brother and where’s the real Silus?”

Silvia cleared her throat, searching for the right words. “Before I tell you anything, how did you figure it out?”

Dane leaned back, a hint of smugness in his expression. “I’m quite smart, you see.”

Camila snorted out loud mischievously, and she and Dane exchanged intense, playful glares.

Dane pressed on. “Remember when I told you I came by? I thought you were Silus then.”

“Sounds like you stalked her,” Camila commented frivolously.

He disregarded her contempt. “I rang the doorbell a few times, but Silus never answered. At school, you kept answering all the questions the teachers threw at you correctly. I know for a fact that Silus is a dumbass and is incapable of answering anything logical. I guess my suspicions grew, and here we are now. So, where’s Silus?”

Silvia let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders sagging in resignation. “He ran away. My dad didn’t want his future to go downhill, so I insisted on pretending to be him for his sake. What are you going to do now? Spill the beans?”

Dane grinned widely. “No way, this is fun to watch. Let me play along.”

His response mystified her beyond her initial expectations.

After a minute of contemplation, Camila thought of an idea. “Wait a second. Dane finding out the truth might not a bad thing after all. He can help you against Jared. Dane, you know Jared, right?”

“I know he’s been taunting Silvia these days.”

“That’s because Silus used to bully him.”

His oblivion was crystal clear to the girls.

“You didn’t know he was a bully?” Silvia inquired.

“I knew he did a lot of stupid things, but not to that extent…”

Camila continued to fill him in, her tone firm. “Yeah, he’s the biggest asshole alive. Jared’s giving back what Silus gave him—torture. Obviously, he doesn’t know Silus is Silvia right now, who’s actually good friends with Jared. He’s hurting her without even realising it.”

Dane redirected his gaze to Silvia. “Why do you think I came here, telling you I know your secret?”

“What do you mean?”

“I came here to stop him from hurting you,” he voiced with sincerity. “He’s gone too far. You don’t deserve any of this, Silvia.”

His heartfelt words caught Silvia off guard, and she exhaled in solace, her tears flowing freely. The corner of the band-aid on her cheek peeled off, revealing the bruise beneath.

Dane was flabbergasted by her sudden tears. “D-did I say something wrong?”

She fiddled the bandages over her knees. “You have no idea how hard it’s been. I was trying to hold it in, but it honestly hurt so much. I’m just happy to know I have you now.”

Dane didn’t take his eyes off her. He came closer, crouching down across her, and gently patted her head. “You did well. I’ll do something about it so you can relax now.” With great care, he stuck the band-aid back onto her cheek.

Silvia wiped her tears away and sniffled. “Thanks, Dane.”

Camila, her arms crossed, observed Dane’s actions towards Silvia with a mixture of relief and suspicion. She couldn’t help but suspect if there was more to Dane’s involvement in Silvia’s life than he portrayed. “Don’t tell me…”

 

Dane reclined into the driver’s seat of his car, Silvia’s secret still lingering in his mind. As he awaited his engine to warm up, he reached into his pocket, his fingers fumbling for his phone. With a sense of urgency and determination, he scrolled through his list of contacts until he found Silus’ name. He dialled the number, his heart quickening with each ring. As anticipated, the call transitioned into the automated voicemail system. Dane hung up the phone, frustration boiling up within him. “Damn it, this idiot.”

 

 The following morning, Silvia nervously surveyed the school hallway, fervently hoping that her misfortune wouldn’t lead her straight to Jared. Lost in her frantic search, she collided with someone, and both of them tumbled to the floor. The person’s books scattered in all directions. Silvia, overwhelmed by a sense of impending danger, instinctively shielded her face with her arms.

“Silus?” a recognisable feminine voice called out.

Silvia cautiously lowered her guard upon recognising the voice as Felicia’s. She quickly gathered her composure, sitting back up, and offered assistance in picking up the books. “Sorry, Felicia.”

Their hands brushed against each other as they reached for the same book, causing Felicia’s cheeks to flush with embarrassment. Silvia extended a hand to help her stand, but Felicia, eager to maintain her pride, brushed it aside and stood up on her own.

“I can get up myself,” she declared, snatching her books from Silvia before powerwalking away, her pink cheeks hidden from view.

Silvia swept the dust off her uniform and turned around, only to find Jared approaching her. Her body shuddered with fear, and her heart raced as she braced herself for his impending harassment. However, just as Jared was about to make his move, Dane swooped in, casually draping his arm over Silvia’s shoulder, dazing her.

He grinned at her. “Hey.”

Dane’s unanticipated appearance disrupted Jared’s plans, causing him to stride past them without targeting Silvia.

She heaved a breath of relief, her heart still pounding in her chest. “Oh my goodness, it worked.”

Dane glanced at her and chuckled, finding her reaction adorable.

 

Silvia immersed herself in her maths work, determined to focus on her studies. Suddenly, a scrunched-up ball of paper landed with pinpoint accuracy on her desk. She unfolded it to reveal a short message: “You should stick with me from now on.”

Curious, Silvia glanced behind to find Dane procrastinating, balancing a pencil above his pouting lips like a clown. She giggled quietly at the humorous sight. With a smile, she wrote a response on the paper, crumpled it up, and tossed it back to Dane.

Her message read, “Don’t you hang with Aiden, who clearly despises Silus?”

Dane swiftly replied, and the paper ball made its way back to Silvia’s desk. She read his response, “I know, but don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out.”

Aware that the teacher might catch on to their paper exchanges, Silvia decide to cease the communication. However, Dane had one more message to convey. He folded a piece of paper into an airplane and skilfully launched it towards her desk.

Silvia unfolded the paper airplane and perused his final message: “Just trust me.”

She stole another glance at Dane, who responded with a playful peace sign with his fingers, sticking his tongue out in a cheeky manner.