What the—
Luca couldn't complete his words, he gnashed his teeth in fury, but Mr. Bibulus showed him out with a wave of hand.
Luca didn't want to cause trouble for the poor teacher. At least he had many ways to prove the ownership of the book, like the handwriting. As he made his way out, reaching the entrance of the class, he saw a familiar girl. Looking closely, it was Lily Harrison, the gregarious girl who had come running to Luca and claimed the seat beside him on the first day of lecture.
"Ehhh..." Luca wondered, so she was here all along.
Perhaps it was because of those bullies. Hmm... at the very end, nobody wants to suffer alongside another person. People often seek comfort and security, and when faced with adversity, they tend to distance themselves from those who might drag them into further trouble. It's a natural instinct to protect oneself, even if it means leaving someone else to face the hardship alone. This realization made Luca ponder the complexities of human nature and the fine line between self-preservation and empathy.
I wonder how long it will take for them to break my spirit.
He thought as walked out of the class.
After a while of standing alone in the corridor, Mr. Bibulus's lecture finally ended, Luca strode into the class, reaching his seat, the notebook had already been returned.
He heaved a sigh, and just as he wanted to sit down, he heard his name.
"Luca Moonfire," it was the class rep who called. Luca's expression was a mix of shock and curiosity, since the class rep only called him during roll calls or when returning homework.
He rose and went to the class rep's seat.
"Your duty," he said frankly, pointing at the notice board beside the whiteboard and at the same time using his other index finger to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose like a librarian catching someone eating a sandwich in the quiet section.
"I don't need to remind you, do I?" He asked.
Luca was short of words as he kept gawking at his name, which was boldly written on a piece of paper hanging loosely on the noticeboard. Just below his name was another name, although not clear, the first two letters were slightly visible, like the name had just been cleaned. Luca spelled it out as he squinted his eyes like a grandma trying to read the fine print on a cereal box.
"Li... He muttered. Luca knew he didn't have to pronounce it finished, he had already knew who it was, Lily Harrison, Luca's duty partner who had left Luca to his fate, now he was bound to do the work of two people in a week since he had no partner anymore.
What an ugly turn of event...
He thought.
He took the whiteboard eraser from the class rep's desk and started his work.
Halfway to cleaning finish, Mason the big guy approached him.
Luca stopped, curious at the latest occurrence.
"Luca, I thought you were finally meeting my expectations, but what is with this pathetic state, you are hopeless, aren't you?" He bellowed.
What is he talking about, did he want me to retaliate, hmm... You will do more than that to break my unyielding spirit.
Luca thought while looking at Mason scrutinizingly. The big guy wore a look of contempt on his face as if Luca was some lifelong enemy.
Seeing Luca not responding, he rushed to him and locked Luca's shirt with his huge muscular arm, scowling at him.
"Mason, you know violence in the class meant suspension right?" The class rep asked.
Mason released his grip without glancing at the class rep.
Luca who was on the verge of being heaved up from the ground regained his stand, amidst all this, the class grew tense and quiet, Luca noticed Tessa, the ever-lively girl, her chuckling was the only sound heard across the room as she was engrossed in her phone while chuckling at intervals as if what was going on wasn't worth her attention.
Weird...
Luca thought and turned to finish his work
"Why does your resolution falter? You have forgotten that the path of victory is lined with thorns" the big guy continued.
Is he preaching or what?
Luca thought as he continued cleaning.
"I will give you a chance, show me your resolve or walk the path of loser"
Mason concluded and walked out of the class.
Whoa! He just confessed the fact that he was behind the bullyings. Well, I don't mind tho.
Luca was surprised and at the same time, he didn't care.
He finished his duty and went back to his seat.
"Thirty-five cleanings to go" he muttered with his head hung low.
Being on duty throughout the week, Luca with no partner had to do it all alone.
At closing time, Luca packed his things and left for home, he felt someone approaching him from the back as he wanted to pass through the narrow space flanked by two buildings, the computer lab and physics lab, the space opened to the school field which in turn led to the school gate, he looked back, it was Silvia.
Is she passing by also, or what, she probably passing by, perhaps she was going to the library again.
Luca wondered.
"Hi Luca"
Huh? Luca was surprised, did she just greet me?
"H-hi" he stuttered.
Silvia had now caught up with him as they walked side by side.
Perhaps I might be able to see her smile today. He thought.
"I heard you had a fight with Mason's henchboys" she stopped and asked, Luca also stopped at the moment, he risked a glance at her face only to meet Silvia's cold gaze, he glanced away embarrassed.
"Y-yeah, I don't know you heard"
Luca's mind shifted to a few years ago as he reminisced about the gaze, it was in contrast to the bright gaze Silvia had about five years ago.