Grrr! Grrr!
The sound of the bell echoed through the halls of Melville High School, signaling the start of lunch period. Melville High was renowned for its prestigious student body, consisting mostly of wealthy and influential individuals who excelled academically.
However, some things remained unchanged, such as the mistreatment inflicted upon ordinary students by the children of the wealthy. Two things they excelled at with little effort were belittling their peers and looking down upon them with contempt. Their cruelty extended beyond mere condescension; they found joy in bullying others, causing some victims to resort to extreme measures.
Among these victims was Joshua Stephen. His family had struggled in poverty, sacrificing to provide him with the opportunities they had never experienced. They had high hopes that Joshua would graduate from this prestigious institution and lead a better life.
As students emerged from their classrooms, the halls filled with activity. Some engaged in animated discussions, while others slipped away to the back of the school for a quick smoke before returning to class.
Joshua, always prioritizing martial arts books over his studies, still made an effort to excel academically to honor his parents' sacrifices. As the lunch bell rang, Joshua took out the tablet his father had gifted him when he entered Melville High. His friend Sam, known for his acrobatic skills and passion for karate, sat beside him, anticipating Joshua's routine.
"Whose match are you planning to watch today? You rarely bring your pad to school," Sam asked, realizing the bell signified the start of a highly anticipated match.
Joshua paused the video and looked at Sam. "Did you know that out of the 180 types of martial arts in the world, Krav Maga is considered the deadliest?"
Sam chuckled, replying, "Actually, I just learned that now. I've never really had an interest in martial arts besides karate."
"Now I know why we're friends," Joshua responded, and they both burst into laughter.
The reporter's voice filled the air as the match was about to begin: "Get ready to witness a deadly clash between the two most skilled fighters in the art of Krav Maga!"
The opponents stood across from each other, their gazes unwavering.
"The short guy with abs will surely win. He's truly remarkable, never missing a chance to take advantage," Sam stated, fully engrossed in the match.
As expected, Joshua's attention was divided, for his friend Sam's true love was food! Sam wouldn't joke about satisfying his hunger.
Joshua carefully placed his tablet back into his bag and retrieved a manual on different forms of martial arts. Reading the book never bored him; in fact, he had already devoured its content nearly a hundred times.
"Hey, everyone, look at what this weirdo is doing! Reading a martial arts book in this century? Who does that?" mocked one of the popular kids, initiating laughter from his buddies.
The insults and mockery continued, as they continued to demean Joshua for his interest in martial arts.
Joshua sighed but decided to ignore their taunts. He had learned to endure such treatment on a daily basis. Deep down, he harbored a wealth of knowledge and skills in martial arts, though he suffered from a peripheral artery disease that prevented him from seeking proper treatment due to his family's financial struggles. Reporting the bullies to the teachers had proven futile, as they often favored the wealthy students over him, leaving Joshua feeling helpless.
Feeling a surge of anger and frustration, Joshua clenched his fists but restrained himself. He knew that retaliating would only lead to more trouble that he couldn't handle. Instead, he picked up his bag, closed the books, and began to make his way out of the classroom, but not before being detained by the classroom captain.
"Joshua, you really shouldn't be moving around in your condition," the classroom captain warned, concern in her eyes as she glanced at his injured leg.
Joshua brushed off her hand, feeling the weight of his isolation. "Just leave me alone. You're all the same," he muttered before limping away, his walking stick providing much-needed support.
As he hobbled towards the back of the school, Joshua noticed the gang of bullies congregating, their malicious intent clear. They taunted him, demanding he bring them something.
Joshua reluctantly handed over a Pepsi and a popsicle. Despite the constant pressure and mistreatment, Joshua clung to hope, believing that things would change one day.
"Now, what should we do with our obedient 'junkshua'?" the head bully sneered.
"My name is Joshua Stephen," he corrected them, suppressing his anger to avoid further escalation. Engaging in combat was not an option he could entertain.
"What? He even dares to correct me? Well, I suppose his punishment is already determined," the bully declared.
"Beat him up!" the bully ordered, and they proceeded to deliver blows to Joshua. Though the pain was intense, Joshua had grown accustomed to enduring physical abuse. This was his daily reality.
But just as the beating intensified, the sound of the bell echoed through the air, interrupting the bullies' sadistic pleasure.
"Frustrating! The bell rang just when we were about to have some real fun. We need to deal with the person in charge of the bell!" the bully exclaimed, abruptly ending their assault.
Joshua, left bruised and battered, watched as they quickly dispersed, their attention shifting to a different target. His mouth shut tightly, unable to plead for the money they had taken, aware that it was his only means of transportation.
"F***! I'll have to walk home again today. If only my leg wasn't a burden," he cursed his circumstances, filled with resentment.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Joshua rose with wincing pain, clutching his walking stick for support. As he made his way back, he caught the concerned gaze of the classroom captain.
"What happened to you?" she asked, her eyes widening at the sight of Joshua's swollen face and bleeding mouth.
Morgan, Joshua's long-held crush, observed from a distance, her silent presence unnoticed by most. She felt a mix of pity and reluctance to intervene in another's affairs.
"Just leave me alone. I tripped while walking down the stairs," Joshua replied dismissively, pushing away any offers of help before retreating to his seat.
Confused and hurt, the classroom captain wondered what she had done wrong to deserve such treatment. Meanwhile, Joshua asked his only friend in the entire school, "What else do we have for the rest of the day?"
The friend replied with uninterested nonchalance, "I don't know, and honestly, I don't care."
Joshua rested his head on his desk, fatigued and overwhelmed, eventually drifting off to sleep for the remainder of the class.
When the final bell rang, Joshua gathered his belongings and left the classroom, his limp evident as he traversed the school grounds. Much to his surprise, Morgan caught a glimpse of him and deliberated for a moment before approaching him.
"Hello, you probably know my name by now," Morgan greeted him tentatively.
Joshua could hardly believe his eyes, feeling a mix of disbelief and joy. "Yes, Morgan, right?" he replied, mustering a smile despite his pain.
"You didn't trip, did you?" Morgan inquired, her curiosity etched on her face.
"Why ask when you already know the answer?" Joshua responded, a tinge of bitterness in his voice.
Joshua immersed himself in thoughts, realizing that even after experiencing a dreadful beginning, there can always be a beautiful day that follows. "Wow! I'm not daydreaming, this is actually happening," he chuckled inwardly.
"It seemed like you were beaten up, Joshua. Care to share what happened?" Morgan inquired with genuine concern.
Looking up at Morgan, Joshua replied, "I can't fully explain what it is, but I can describe how it feels... It feels terrible. When things are bad, they're truly awful. I feel ashamed for being targeted by those bullies."
Morgan laughed, appreciating Joshua's way with words. "You have a unique perspective. Just take care of yourself, Joshua. You don't need to change a thing. Believe that things will get better." She hailed a taxi, bidding Joshua farewell with a wave.
Joshua pondered if Morgan found amusement in his situation, despite the pain he felt. Nevertheless, he felt grateful for the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with her.
...
"Isn't that the girl the boss has been interested in?" one person observed.
"Yes, that's Morgan. What's going on?" asked another.
"I saw her laughing while limping just now," the first person replied.
"What?" The second person stared at Joshua intently, quickly snapping a photo of him with their phone. "Well, we need to inform the boss about this. How dare someone with a limp approach our boss lady?"