Cesar opened the door of his cubicle and stepped out looking apprehensive and suspicious as he looked at Andrew, he didn't have the slightest bit of idea as to why this man was looking for him but given how Andrew has been treating him all along, he was sure it was nothing good.
" What do you want?" He asked trying to make himself look courageous, worse comes to worst he will just throw his hands at Andrew as well, so what if this guy's dad was some big shot? Did it permit him to bully anyone as he wanted?
Even though Cesar was thinking along these lines, he knew that the world was all about the strong. The one who had money, power and fame was respected and people like him can only grovel on their knees.
" Do you know why you are always bullied?" Andrew did not answer his question instead he asked a question of his own causing Cesar to scrunch up his face, seeing that he wasn't responding Andrew rolled his eyes and then walked closer to him before thrusting the apple into Cesar's hand. "It's because you are a freaking fool, you do not raise your voice, you never hit back and you allow them to walk all over you like some pathetic foot wipe. That's why you are the only one who is bullied, you are so stupid that you don't even learn anything. Can't you see? They only terrify you because you let them scare you off like some freaking pussy cat."
He scoffed before shoving his hands in the pockets of his pants as he studied Cesar's face, the boy was looking anywhere but at him, trembling like a mouse and sneered, " How come I never knew that you were such a coward, continue shivering like this and you won't be able to protect what's important to you one day…. If I were you I would focus on getting stronger knowing that I need it more than anyone else."
After that, he shook his head and then turned around to leave but was stopped when Cesar's trembling voice came from behind as the latter asked, " Ho..how can I get strong? I...I don't even know how to fight."
He hated to admit it but Cesar was right, he needed it more than anyone. Even last night when Mister Richardson came to his house, he could only watch his mother and sister get bullied while staring at the destruction happening within his house silently.
Andrew studied him for a long time, Cesar didn't have the slightest bit of an idea what he was looking for but then he saw Andrew pull out a small card from the back of his pants and threw it at Cesar. " That's the address of my place, a fighting ring… my dad runs it. If you want to get stronger then come there tonight at eight, once I am free I will ask one of my trainers to train you. Of course, that is only when you want to break this chain of putting a stop to all this bullying, if you want to continue with your sniffling, then be my guest."
He shot one last glance at Cesar before turning around and leaving the restroom, Cesar on the other hand clenched the card in his hands.
That day after school was over Cesar had to make a run for it from the school worried that he would be caught by William or his lackeys. More importantly, he was hungry, he didn't eat anything in the morning or the afternoon, and now even the rats in his stomach were lying flat on the surface cursing him for starving them like this.
" I am back!" He shouted as soon as he returned to the small apartment that his mother was renting, Cesar knew that his mother wouldn't be back till the evening but at least, his mother would come back in the afternoon to cook something for Amelia sometimes. He hoped that today was one of those days but when he walked inside the kitchen he was surprised to find that there was nothing inside not even a packed lunch box.
What happened? Usually, his mother would at least leave a packed lunch for Amelia, how come there was nothing in the kitchen? Hungry and tired Cesar walked out of the kitchen before crossing the room and knocking on Amelia's room. " Lia, why isn't there anything in the Kitchen?"
He had to wait for a while for his sick sister to open the door of her room, with a pale complexion and a troubled look on her face, Amelia replied to Cesar. " There was nothing in the house, that is why I asked mommy to bring the lunch box she prepared for me with her, she said that she will come back in the afternoon to make something for me but…" Amelia bit her lips as she shot a worried glance at the clock. " But mommy never came in the afternoon, I am worried about her but her cellphone can't be reached."
" You went to the shop downstairs alone? Lia didn't mom tell you that you cannot leave the house alone!" They did not have a telephone much less a cell phone in the house, if they wanted to call their mother, they will have to go down to the shop on the street where the kind shopkeeper would often allow them to call their mother for free or sometimes at cheaper rates.
" I know, I know but I was worried about mommy," said Amelia with an annoyed look on her face. "It's not that I wanted to go out but that I have to, mommy has never been this late before…how can I not worry and Mister Richardson also came last night, I am scared, brother."
Cesar was scared too but he couldn't show it on his face lest he scared Amelia, so he patted her on the back of her hand before he took her downstairs.
" Uncle Max," called Cesar as he crossed the street and came hand in hand with Amelia to a stop in front of the small candy shop. " Can I make a call to my mother?"
Uncle Max was a kind old man with a genial smile, he always treated the kids on the streets politely, so when Cesar asked him to make a call to his mother, the old man nodded.
"Thank you, uncle Max," Cesar thanked the old man with a grin before picking up the telephone receiver and dialling the number of his mother, this time the call was connected but the one who answered wasn't his mom.