Warning: Child Abuse

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He hit his face in anger "Useless!" He hit him again on his arm. Laurent was on the floor, sobbing.

"S-Sorry. I'm sorry" Laurent whispers as he catches his breath. Tears flowing down his face. His father didn't care at all.

The father was supposed to hit him again but he stopped himself and sighed in disappointment "Imagine the ridicule we'll get if they knew how low your grades were! We are the Rañins! We have a reputation to uphold!" 

"Some of your classmates are children of other big shot companies. Some of them are already training to be the next in line" His mother interrupted coldly, she was an emotionless woman after all, "Do better next time and show them what a Rañin can do" 

Laurent slowly stood up from the floor, trying to stop himself from sobbing "Y-Yes…" he clenched his teeth in anger but he couldn't do anything.

He was an only child. His parents married for money. They were happy they had a son instead of a daughter. But Laurent was rather slow on things which often made his father angry.

♡♡♡

Laurent had a lot of bruises so he bandaged himself up and tried to hide it as best as he could. He had to think of their reputation.

He was on his way to school when he saw that scholar kid, Matheo Pascal. He must be really smart to get into this school with just a scholarship… This school doesn't accept others easily, he’s the only one with a scholarship here. He thought.

"Why is your uniform different from ours? It's so low quality, look at the stitches" Some girls pointed at his clothes, laughing at him.

Another one mentioned "And his shoes? Is nobody at this school noticing this? How is this even legal?!" 

Laurent chose to ignore it. What if they tease me too? My father will hit me again. He walked and got out of there as soon as he could.

♡♡♡

It was lunch time. Laurent was eating with some of his friends as usual, the friends his father wants for him. He isn't even talking to them. 

Teo caught his eye because he was eating alone, he thought. Must be tough being in a stuck up school like this, where people are beyond annoying.

"What is that, dude?!" Some other guy walked past Teo and saw what he was eating. "What is that?" The guy looked disgusted.

This caught some people's attention causing them to look at Teo's food too. He brought a home-cooked meal.

Others laughed and others gagged. Laurent sighed. They really have nothing else to do?

Some guy gagged "I-It looks disgusting and burnt! And it smells disgusting!”

Teo slammed the table, surprising everyone, he angrily walked towards that guy and grabbed his collar "Disgusting? Say that about my mother's cooking again and you're the one who's gonna be fucking burnt. Leave if you don’t want your collum fractured" He used his free hand to stab his fork on the table, scaring the guy even more.

Everybody was shocked, including Laurent. He actually chuckled a bit. He's something else… But what the hell is a collum?

"B-Bro chill" The guy was trembling, it was obvious he was trying hard not to "We were just playing around" 

Teo pushed the guy and went back to his seat and continued eating in silence, ignoring everyone's stares and murmurs.

"What is that attitude?" 

"That's some behavior… As expected"

"Are all kids in the slums like this?" 

"Not surprised. He is from the slums" 

Those are some of the words Teo heard but he chose to ignore it. He continued eating his mother's cooking which was full of love, trying to fight back his tears.

♡♡♡

It was time to go home so Laurent was walking towards the gate, waiting for their driver to come pick him up.

Suddenly someone bumped into him, causing him to fall, his arm hitting the ground caused him to scream "Ow!" He had bruises and bandages on that part of his body.

"What a baby! I didn't even bump into you that hard" Instead of helping him up, the guy scoffed at him and left.

Teo quickly ran up to help him "Are you alright?! You look like you're in pain! Is your brachium okay?! Your lower extremity—" He was about to help him up but Laurent cut him, stretched his arms and waved no.

"D-Don't touch me!!" Laurent exclaimed in surprise. He didn't want anybody knowing he had injuries.

Teo frowned "Oh! Sorry!" He held both his hands up, surrendering, assuring Laurent that he wouldn't touch him.

Laurent realized how loud his voice was. He stood up immediately and was about to clear things up but the driver arrived "I-I gotta go" He ran to the driver in a hurry, leaving Teo there.

♡♡♡

I feel so bad for yelling at him… Laurent thought, his guilt eating him up. It was bad that he wasn't helping him every time he got bullied but now he yelled at him too.

The driver looked at the rear view mirror to observe Laurent "That was Mr. Matheo Pascal, the scholar, yes?" 

Laurent scoffed. Even our driver knows that kid. Probably because he's the first scholar our school had.

"None of your business," Laurent answered, looking out the window. My father probably told the driver to keep an eye on me. He’s always keeping an eye on me one way or another… I’ll never escape him.

♡♡♡

That Pascal kid must be really smart. Maybe he can help me study? Laurent thought to himself while reading a book in his room.

He was interrupted by someone outside "Laurent! Outside, now" He moved quickly, stumbling all around just to get outside.

"Yes?" He slowly went out of his room, his father and mother were there. After all the things they've done to him, he knew what was coming.

His father sounded extra angry "I heard you're hanging out with that scholar kid?" 

Laurent clenched his fists behind his back, he wanted to scream at him so bad but he couldn't "I wasn’t! But I-I just thought maybe he could help me?" He felt instant regret after those words came out of his mouth. They didn’t even really hang out, he even yelled at him.

His father stood up and slapped him "Help? From a NOBODY? A Rañin asking help from a poor boy like him?!" He hit him again, he clenched his teeth and breathed heavily from all the anger.

Laurent just took it and looked down… As usual. He held his face, it was warm and wet from his tears. He had no reply to his father.

"It's as if he never learns" The mother muttered, taking a sip of her tea.

♡♡♡

Next day. The same thing happened. Laurent sees others teasing Teo for his low quality clothes. And like always, he walks away.

Even in the cafeteria, instead of picking on his food, they picked on him for lacking money to buy lunch. They did get a little scared but not enough. Many still beat one.

Someone then interrupted and said "You guys got nothing better to do?" That guy was Sebastian, standing up for Teo. The people surrounding Teo while he eats went away.

Teo didn't even dare look at all the people. All he did was stare at his food and eat it while crying. Sebastian was trying to comfort him but he ignored him, not even knowing who he was, Teo silenced everybody in his mind.

Soon, Laurent was in his classroom, he took a peak in his bag. I hope I get to talk to him later. He thought. He brought an extra pair of uniform for Teo, he felt so guilty for yelling at him.

♡♡♡

"Pascal, wait!" Laurent tried to catch up to Teo in the hallways, nobody else was there, it was the perfect time.

Teo turned to look, once he saw who he was he glared at him "What the fuck do you want?" 

"I-I'm sorry for yelling at you yesterday" Laurent trembled a bit, he was kinda scary.

Teo kept walking away, "Leave me alone" 

Laurent panicked, his eyes roamed everywhere. He saw the boys' bathroom and pulled Teo inside there.

"Prick! What the hell?!" Teo struggled but Laurent still succeeded. Both of them are in the bathroom now.

Laurent immediately grabbed the spare uniform inside his bag and stretched his arms to give it to Teo "Here" 

Teo's brows furrowed, he gripped the uniform and leaned in on his face "Are you mocking me?”

"N-No!!" Laurent waved his hands in the air "No, just take it, okay?!" 

Teo pushed the uniform back to his chest "No! I don’t need your fucking pity!" 

Laurent pushed it back to him "You're so stubborn! Just take it!" 

"No!" Teo pushed it back even more aggressively than earlier but this time Laurent reacted differently, he flinched.

"O-Ow" Laurent clenched his teeth. Teo immediately retracted his arms.

Teo was confused "What's wrong with you?" looking at Laurent like he was some kind of weirdo.

Teo touched his shoulder making him wince in pain "Stop that! It hurts!" He swatted his hand away.

"Are you injured? Do you have a contusion?" Teo asked him "You screamed yesterday too" 

Laurent groaned in pain but tried not to "S-Shut up and wear the uniform… You talk so weird" He held his own shoulders, massaging them a bit.

Teo placed the uniform on the counter and grabbed Laurent's wrist, he pulled his sleeve up and saw tons of bruises.

His eyes widened "BRO" while Laurent looked away, wincing in pain.

Laurent wanted to cry at the moment. It was the first time someone even tried to look. Why am I not stopping him?

"You need to go to the clinic!" Teo suggested, letting his wrist go gently. He genuinely looked worried for him.

Laurent stopped him "No! I can't. The nurse will notify my father and then he will–" he was cut off by a very surprised Teo.

"Your father did this?! What the hell is he on?! He's insane! Look at your bruises! Odious!”

Laurent starts crying silently, his silent tears turned into loud sobs. It was the first time ever that someone was angry FOR Laurent, that someone even cared and helped. Even Laurent himself can't get angry at his father, he couldn't fight back. He never thought help was possible so he was always stuck in the same place.

"N-No don't cry" Teo panicked and grabbed a handkerchief, he tried to help Laurent with his tears but it just kept coming, he was sobbing loudly in the bathroom, Teo felt bad "I-I didn't mean to trash talk your father!" 

Laurent grabbed Teo's handkerchief and wiped his tears but he was still crying "N-No, you're right. I couldn't say this before but… Fuck him" 

Teo had no idea but that was the first time Laurent ever cussed.

♡♡♡

Teo was walking with Laurent towards his home. It was quite far but Teo doesn't like commuting, he'd rather use his money for food or to treat his mother some bread from a nearby bakery.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Laurent asked, he was like a stray cat Teo picked up, being scared of his surroundings.

Teo reassured him "I told you it is. Don't come back home if he'll just hurt you again" 

Laurent and Teo left school before the driver could come pick Laurent up.

"Besides. My ma won't mind me bringing a friend home" Teo said, Laurent stopped in his tracks causing him to fall behind.

"Friend?" 

"Yeah" 

"Ma! I'm home! I brought a friend over!! Sorry I forgot to buy some bread. I’ll buy it tomorrow!" Teo's voice was loud. Loud voices weren't allowed in Laurent's home, only his father's.

Teo and Laurent removed their shoes and went in. Their home is so… small. It’s smaller than our bathroom. Laurent thought.

"Son, who is this young handsome guy?" Mary came from the kitchen, she greeted them with a smile. 

Laurent felt warm. He's never been greeted with a smile before. It always felt cold in their house.

"This is Rañin, sorry I only know your last name. Can you treat him? His arms are contused… And who knows where else?! I know you can do it ma! You can do anything" Teo buttered his mother up with a laugh and some compliments.

Mary laughed at his remarks too but then she turned worried once she saw Laurent "Oh come here anak*, let me feed you guys first" 

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* In the Philippines, sometimes other mothers call their child’s friends as if they’re their own! Anak means one’s child.