C.W.: Bullying, Physical Punishment 

That day, Sergio entered the classroom accompanied by his teacher —the kind woman who had offered him a meal earlier had dropped him off near the school on her way home. The students glanced at him sideways, whispering and snickering amongst themselves. Sergio was a redhead, slightly taller than Lucas but much thinner and visibly defenseless. He stood out immediately, not wearing the school uniform —black jacket, pants, shoes, white shirt, and gray blazer— but instead a faded sweater and ripped jeans.

His freckles, scattered across his pale face and likely covering much of his body, made him impossible to ignore.  

“Is that the new guy?” one boy murmured.  

“He looks dumb with all those freckles,” another whispered, prompting stifled laughter from several others.  

From his corner, Lucas chimed in with a sarcastic remark: “Look at him! He doesn’t even know where he is. How pathetic. Hi, loser!”  

His comment drew more laughter, and Sergio blushed, lowering his gaze to the floor in shame.  

“Silence!” the teacher snapped, her voice cutting through the classroom. “Don’t you dare mock the new student. One more word, and you’ll be punished, Mr. Amery!”  

Teachers at this school didn’t hesitate to impose harsh punishments on unruly students. Lucas was no stranger to them. Whether it was carrying heavy buckets of water for hours, kneeling on grains of rice by the classroom door, or enduring other questionable forms of discipline, he never complained. In fact, he seemed to thrive on the punishments, seeing them as a small price to pay to avoid going home early.  

“Alright, introduce yourself, Sergio,” the teacher instructed, stepping aside to write his name on the chalkboard.  

Sergio’s hands trembled slightly as he stood in front of the class. The students stared at him, their smirks and hushed giggles amplifying his unease. They were all waiting for him to say something —anything— to break the uncomfortable silence. But when he finally spoke, he stuttered, making it difficult to understand him.

“I… uh… I’m… Ser… Sergio E-E… Edevane,” he stammered, barely audible.  

The teacher glanced at her watch, her expression softening into one of resignation. It was clear Sergio wouldn’t say more. With a sigh, she gestured toward a seat at the front of the classroom. Perhaps with time, she thought, the boy could work on his speech difficulties, either with her or another teacher. For now, though, Sergio’s inability to express himself left him feeling vulnerable, incapable of standing up for himself. In his world, being mistreated and underestimated was simply a way of life.  

From his seat, Lucas observed Sergio with sharp, calculating eyes. He had an innate talent for identifying weaknesses and knew exactly how to exploit them. Sergio’s nervous demeanor and stammering voice were easy targets. For Lucas, this wasn’t just about picking on someone smaller or weaker; it was a way to channel the fury he harbored toward his mother and his chaotic home life. Bullying gave him a sense of control over others in a world that, to him, was always against him.

**  

As the days went by, the mockery escalated. Lucas seized every opportunity to hurl hurtful comments at Sergio —whether in class, the cafeteria, or outside school grounds.  

“Hey! Hand over your lunch money! Did you hear me?” Lucas shouted, asserting his authority in front of his followers.  

“I… I don’t…” Sergio stammered, his voice trembling. He had no money for food. In fact, he walked over an hour to get home every day because his uncle never gave him a cent to sustain himself.  

“What’s the matter, Edevane? What's wrong with you? Say something, you idiot!” Lucas mocked him, pushing him so hard that he stumbled.

Sergio hunched his shoulders, his body shrinking as if to shield himself. He didn’t dare fight back. He had seen how violent Lucas could be when provoked.  

“I said, I WANT MY MONEY!” Lucas yelled, pushing him over and over again.

Sergio was on the verge of tears, his helplessness palpable. He had nothing to offer, and the dread of a beating after school hung over him.  

But then, something unexpected happened. Earlier that morning, Lucas had argued with his mother, who had sent him to school without money for breakfast or lunch. His stomach growled undisguisedly —betraying his hunger and adding to his frustration. Embarrassed, he turned away from Sergio and the crowd, retreating to a corner of the schoolyard to sulk.  

As he sat there, other students —many of whom resented him for his bullying— watched him with contempt. Some whispered among themselves, plotting revenge for when Lucas was alone.

Then, out of nowhere, someone approached him. A sandwich wrapped in a napkin was silently placed in front of him. Lucas glanced up, his expression defiant, and saw Sergio standing there. The redhead avoided eye contact, his hands trembling slightly as he offered the food.  

“What are you doing, Edevane?” Lucas asked, his frown deepening with suspicion.  

“You’re… hungry,” Sergio said softly, almost in a whisper. “I… I took it… from my u-uncle’s fridge.”  

No one knew better than him what it felt like to go hungry.  

Lucas stared at him, stunned. “Why are you giving this to me?! I don’t want it, stupid,” he snapped, though his tone betrayed more confusion than anger.  

Sergio kept his gaze fixed in another direction, though his voice remained steady despite the fear. “No one… should go through… this,” he murmured.  

Something about those simple words struck a chord in Lucas. He snatched the sandwich from Sergio’s hands, his movements brusque and guarded. Without a word, he devoured it quickly.  

Other students looked on curiously, whispering among themselves. Sergio, meanwhile, took a cautious step back, half-expecting Lucas to lash out at him.  

But he didn’t.  

That small and unexpected act of kindness from his victim affected Lucas in a way he didn’t understand. For the first time in his life, he felt guilty for his actions. Yet his pride refused to let him acknowledge it —let alone apologize. Not yet.