C.W.: Violence, Blood, Bullying  

The next day, a group of students, fed up with Lucas Amery's relentless bullying, decided to take matters into their own hands. Catching him alone near the library in a deserted corridor, they ambushed him. With none of his usual gang around to back him up, Lucas was outnumbered and defenseless. The group attacked him mercilessly, leaving him bruised and bleeding on the floor.  

Lucas sat slumped against the wall, wiping the blood from his face with the sleeve of his shirt. Despite the pain, he laughed wickedly, masking his humiliation with defiance. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, but he refused to let them see his defeat.  

“You’re the worst. Apologize to us,” one of the boys demanded, his tone sharp and unforgiving.  

“Never… bro,” Lucas spat back between labored breaths.  

Not far away, hidden behind a column, someone had been watching the scene unfold. Sergio Edevane stood frozen in place, his body trembling with fear. Witnessing the violence had triggered memories he had tried so hard to suppress—moments when his grandmother had hurt him, leaving scars that time could never erase.

Instinctively, his fingers traced the scars on his arms, a physical reminder of a past that was hard to forget. In those moments of anguish, when he was younger, he would sometimes wet his pants out of sheer terror.

Lucas, despite his battered state, noticed Sergio’s presence almost immediately. Unease flickered across his face. Why was Sergio there? Was he enjoying the sight of him being beaten up? Could he have encouraged the others to attack him? No, that didn’t fit. Sergio wasn’t the type to seek revenge. If anything, his anxious eyes only reflected pity.  

Summoning courage he didn’t know he had, Sergio stepped out from behind the column and cautiously approached the boy. His hands trembled as he pulled a small Band-Aid from his jacket pocket and held it out to Lucas.  

“H-here,” Sergio stammered, his voice barely audible.  

Lucas frowned, his bloodied face twisting in suspicion. For a moment, he hesitated, scanning Sergio’s expression for any hint of malice. But there was none. With a faint sigh, Lucas accepted the offering, his fingers brushing against Sergio’s for the briefest moment.  

Using the wall for support, Lucas pushed himself to his feet, determined to maintain his dignity. Sergio, expecting retaliation, flinched instinctively, ready to flee. But instead of striking or mocking him, Lucas offered something completely unexpected —a faint, almost imperceptible smile. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to offer him his gratitude.

That small act of kindness left an impression on Lucas, though he didn’t fully understand why. He hadn’t sought this connection, but Sergio’s timid bravery was hard to ignore. Approaching someone violent and unpredictable was no small feat; it hinted at a courage within Sergio that even he didn’t recognize.  

Before the other boys could return for another round, Lucas tucked the Band-Aid into his pocket and bolted, disappearing down a nearby staircase. His instinct for self-preservation overruled any desire for vengeance.  

From that day on, something shifted in Lucas. He began to watch Sergio with a new curiosity —not as a target, but as someone different, someone significant. For the first time in his life, Lucas felt a different sensation, something called friendship. Unlike the boys who followed him out of fear and would likely betray him if given the chance, Sergio seemed genuine. And that meant more to Lucas than he could admit.