When my consciousness had returned, I found myself lying on one of the sterile hospital beds in the school's infirmary. My battered body had been meticulously tended to, the wounds carefully stitched, and bandages wrapped around my injuries. I was draped in that unmistakable blue hospital gown, a stark reminder of my vulnerability.
I turned my head, and there she was , the school nurse. I had only observed her from a distance during school assemblies, but up close, she radiated a beauty that left me momentarily breathless. Her presence, so close, was a stark contrast to the pain I had endured.
She was engrossed in her work, her fingers dancing gracefully across the keyboard connected to the computer. My gaze couldn't help but linger on her, captivated by her grace and elegance. I was so lost in admiration that I hadn't noticed when she finished her task and shifted her attention toward me.
Her voice broke my trance, and I stammered in surprise, struggling to find my words. "I-I'm alright now," I managed to say, feeling a pang of guilt for causing her any trouble. "I'm so sorry for all the trouble I've caused you."
Her response was a warm, reassuring smile. "Don't worry," she said softly, her eyes reflecting the genuine concern she felt. "Taking care of my students is my responsibility, and I can't bear to see any of you hurt." She continued to gaze at me, her eyes probing deeper, and then she asked, "Can you tell me how you got these injuries?" The intensity in her gaze hinted at a curiosity .
Hearing someone care about me was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time. I didn't know how to respond, so I gazed at her for a few minutes and asked, "Can I trust you? Won't you betray me?" I said this because years of neglect had eroded my trust in others.
"Don't worry, you can trust me," she replied with a calm and caring voice.
I turned my face to the left, avoiding her gaze. The longer I stared into her eyes, the weaker my resolve to answer her questions became. If she were to tell David about my confession, he would likely subject me to a severe beating, potentially leaving me with lasting scars.
She approached me, gently rubbing my head, turning my face to meet hers. She said, "You can trust me. Please, tell me who did this to you so I can help. I can't assist you if you keep quiet."
Hearing her words brought back memories of past bullying and the futile cries for help I had made to others. This was the first time someone had genuinely cared about me, and my emotions became overwhelming. A single tear rolled down my cheek, catching me by surprise. It sparkled with the turmoil within me.
I reached up, trembling fingers touching my wet cheek. My fingertips came away moist, and I stared at them in disbelief.
Within moments, another tear followed the first, tracing a similar path down my face. I watched it with a mixture of fascination and confusion, wiping it away with the back of my hand. I realized my hand was now wet with tears.
My breathing quickened, and my heart pounded in my chest. I was crying—my emotions had finally broken through. I desperately needed someone to care for me, to protect me from the relentless bullying. I clenched my fists, trying to regain control, but the tears continued to flow. Then, I felt a warm and comforting embrace.
I looked up, and there she was,the school nurse. Tears glistened in her eyes, and I sensed that she understood my pain. Perhaps I could trust her with the truth. I released her hug and told her, "I am okay now, let me tell you the truth."
"I am being bullied by David and his crew. I asked for help from the teachers, everyone, even my classmates ignored me because of how powerful David's family background is. I had thought about committing suicide all day. The moment I was about to do it, fear always gripped me. I am a coward. I can't even commit suicide," I said, with tears dripping down my eyes.
"I understand, Kazuma. You've been through a lot, but it's going to change from now on," she said while patting me on the back.
Hearing her words gave me some reassurance that things were going to change, but I still had doubts. David's family background was so powerful that if he wished for her to lose her job, he could do it so easily with just his commands. So, I had a lingering feeling of doubt within me.
*Knock, knock, knock* (The sound of someone hitting the door).
The nurse turned her gaze from me towards the door to answer the person knocking. "Who is there?"
A voice I didn't want to hear came next, "I am looking for Kazuma. Someone told me he crawled in this direction." It was David's voice, and hearing it unleashed all the traumas of his past bullying. I started shaking with fear. The only word racing through my mind was, "I am going to die today."
I looked at the nurse, my terrified expression reflecting in her eyes. She gently placed a hand on my shoulder and whispered softly, ensuring only we could hear, "You don't need to worry; I'll protect you."
She turned towards the door and announced, "I'm sorry, but no one came to the sick bay today."
"Alright, let's go, guys," David said, deliberately making his footsteps loud as he walked away from the door.
The nurse turned back to me, heaving a sigh of relief. She reassured me, "Now that it's clear, remember, I promised to protect you."
Hearing those words brought tears to my eyes, and I couldn't contain the gratitude welling up in my heart. "Thank you, ma," I whispered, my voice filled with appreciation.
Suddenly, a deafening crash echoed through the room as the door was violently pushed open, crashing to the ground. Both the nurse and I snapped our heads toward the source of the commotion, startled by the loud impact.
There, standing before us, were David and his two henchmen, who always trailed behind him. David swaggered in with a malevolent grin on his face and taunted, "Caught you Bitch."