I stood up shakily, feeling a sense of relief, escaping from her gaze. But deep down, I told myself that I would come back!
Not for anyone else, just for the way she looked at me in the end. I swore that I would return and throw the money in her face, then take her roughly!
Exiting the entrance of the entertainment venue, my face was flushed, and I felt a sense of injustice and a heavy heart.
I hated my damn uncle so much. He rarely treated me like this before, but now he had tricked me repeatedly. First, he took all my living expenses, then he tricked me into the FX Internet cafe, and now he left me alone in a place like this.
I didn't know why my uncle was treating me this way, but he had shown me what it meant to trust no one, and to know that "whores have no mercy, and actors have no righteousness."
It was past midnight now, and I had less than a hundred dollars left on me. I walked towards the school, feeling utterly despondent. Every step felt so wretched.
Looking up at the starry night sky and the lonely moon hanging above, I thought of my old friends, my parents, and home – a place where I could be carefree, a place where I could have a worry-free life.
Suddenly, my phone rang, and I saw that it was a text message from my uncle. The content was only one sentence.
"To avoid being fooled, you have to rely on yourself for everything. Strive to become a real man, and don't forget to collect enough money for medical expenses."
Looking at my phone, I couldn't help but curse out loud. I cursed my uncle for being a bastard. He had fooled me into this situation and was now making snide remarks. Was it really fun to manipulate me like this? And what's with the medical expenses?
I returned to school, it was already past one in the morning. The school was closed, but I climbed over the wall to get in. It was pitch black, and I almost fell off the wall and hurt myself. My phone was shattered as well.
My uncle used to say that misfortunes never come singly. Holding my broken phone, I felt like I was at the end of my rope.
The next morning, I dragged my heavy body to the classroom. My eyes were as dark as a panda's, and my whole body ached. Yesterday, I was beaten up in a small alley, but I didn't feel the pain then. It was only after sleeping that I felt the soreness!
If it weren't for my damn uncle's twisted ideas, tricking me into going to the FX Internet cafe and getting into a fight with Gary, I wouldn't be suffering like this! But thinking about it, I felt a bit proud. I had managed to take down Gary without relying on anyone, and that was something I wouldn't have dared to dream of before.
Just as I reached the entrance of the classroom, I noticed a crowd gathering in the hallway. Short-haired Shirley stood out, and Adrian and Bill were among them. I wasn't sure what they were discussing, so I avoided their gaze and headed for the classroom.
"Jim! Come over here!" Suddenly, someone yelled at me. Turning around, I saw Adrian waving at me, and Bill had a mischievous grin on his face. I had a feeling that this wouldn't end well, but I braced myself and walked over.
I thought maybe Shirley was here to settle scores with me. After all, I had fought with Gary at the FX Internet cafe yesterday. If she wanted someone to beat me up at school, it would be terrible luck for me...
"Jim, why didn't you greet Shirley when you saw her? Why are you so rude?" Bill said with a strange tone. I was very unhappy, especially when he was trying to act all tough. It made me really uncomfortable.
I nodded towards Shirley as a form of greeting, feeling strangely vain in her presence. I even had the urge to punch Bill right then and there.
Shirley stared at me intently. She was wearing a white T-shirt and denim shorts, giving off a fresh vibe. But I didn't dare entertain any inappropriate thoughts about her. After all, my cheek was still stinging from her slap yesterday, and it was still swollen!
"Damn it, Jim! From now on, when you see Shirley, you better greet her respectfully. Otherwise, you're in for a beating in the future! Got it?" Adrian cursed nonchalantly, then turned around with a cheeky smile towards Shirley, being all fawning.
Shirley's gaze at me seemed a bit off, even a little surprised. I don't know what got into me, but my brain went on overdrive, and I blurted out, "Mind your own business!"
Those words stunned Adrian and Bill. It was as if they had misheard something. I licked my dry lips, not saying anything more, but I secretly clenched my fists. In that moment, I truly felt like a real man!
Adrian's eyes widened as he stared at me, his face full of aggression. But his eyes were also filled with confusion. I thought to myself that if I could beat Gary, I could certainly handle him!
Initially, I thought Adrian might strike me, and I had prepared myself to defend. However, he didn't make a move. He just kept staring at me. The longer he looked, the more confident I became.
My uncle had once said that in this society, the more you show weakness, the more likely you are to be bullied. Suppressing yourself and backing down won't earn you respect. Only by becoming stronger will others not dare to mess with you. Today, I truly understood the meaning of this statement!
After watching Adrian for a while, he shot me an annoyed look. I just shrugged it off and stared back at him. Even though I was afraid he might bring others to fight me, I was already in a tough spot – no money, no connections, and I couldn't even rely on my unreliable uncle.
Adrian stormed into the classroom, visibly angry. Bill flipped me off as he left. I didn't bother paying him any attention. If that skinny monkey dared to mess with me, I would punch him immediately.
Shirley pulled me aside. I pretended to remain calm while looking at her, although I was extremely anxious. I had already fought Gary, and there was no changing what had happened. I just hoped that my uncle had managed to resolve the issue with Gary after last night.