Chapter 1: Battered and Broken
A young boy with several stitches on his face and a bandaged arm as he walked through the hallways at school, his head hung low, trying to divert as much attention from himself as possible.
"Hey, is that David?" Suddenly, one of the sharp eyed students saw him and voiced out, almost immediately, which brought a lot of attraction.
"OMG is truly David,"
"Wait, seriously?"
"After what those three brothers did to him, I never thought he'll come back to school."
"Yeah, I heard they stripped him naked and tied him to the gate."
"What! I thought that was a rumour?"
"No, bro, it's actually true."
"Haha, Loser."
"Yeah, I heard the three brothers are training him to be a shuttle,"
"Nah, that news is outdated."
"I heard they want to rent him out to gays,"
"Damn, talk about a gay,"
Some of them threw baseless remarks, some questions but what really pained Davis was hearing the taunts and jeers from people he even once considered he's friends, tears well up in his eyes. As he quickened his pace and tried to get to the classroom quickly.
Trying to hold back, his tears made his sight blurry. He suddenly stumbled and lost footing, with a "Thud!" Davis crashed headfirst unto the floor. The books he was holding were littered across the floor, some without their covers anymore.
Immediately, the crowd behind him burst out laughing
"Dude, did you see that shitty expression he had,"
"Hahaha, yeah bro he looked like he wanted to cry while wetting his pants lol"
Davis quickly got up, trying to pack all the books and head towards the classroom, he gathered the first book, the second, third, fourth, fifth "it's remaining the sixth one after that am outta here." Davis muttered, but when he was a few centimetres away from carrying the sixth from the floor.
Only to see it being stomped on,
Crunch!
The sound of the bully's shoe forcefully stomped down on Davis's book, crushing it under his weight. The harsh, grating noise of the book's spine and pages being torn easily.
"Oi, pipsqueak lick my shoes, then you can have your book."
Suddenly, Davis heard a voice he was all too familiar with, the bastard whom he thought was responsible for his current state. "Sylvester," Davis muttered under his breath, his eyes gleaming with rage.
Looking at Sylvester, Davis could only hold himself back. "If I act up here, they'll beat the crap outta me, I have to hold, just hold Davis, don't touch him just do what he says"
Sylvester sneers, pressing his foot down harder, a wide grin across his face, relishing every moment of it. As the book's covers are smashed flat. "What's the matter, pipsqueak? You mute?"
Davis shrinked at the sight of his dishevelled book being destroyed right in front of him. His fingers curl, trembling, his nails digging into his palm while his veins bulged. "Bastard," Davis only thought.
"Hey, hey, hey, I like those looks in your eyes. Did I piss you off?" Sylvester squatted down, looking at Davis lying on the floor straight in his eyes."Then do something about it."
"Hahaha, just kidding, stretching his hand out, he tapped on Davis's face twice. "Come meet me after school, alright, I have a gift for you and don't think about running... After all.." He stood upright turning his back to Davis."There's nowhere you can hide."
From his side profile, Davis could see his crazed, deranged smile plastered on his face. Davis also propped himself off the floor. He's gaze downcast, wishing he could disappear into the ground, the sting of humiliation still burning on his cheeks,
He couldn't hold his tears anymore and finally dashed into the men's room."Every day is the same, is the Damn same thing, the relentless bullying, the humiliation, what did I ever do to deserve this."
How can I live like this? Davis, tears fell like a waterfall. "All I wanted was the ordinary life of a student. That's all I EVER WANTED!" Davis shouted at the top of his lungs as he looked at his shrivelled up figure on the mirror
His once smooth skin was dotted with bruises evident to his days in school. His face is now full of patches, and his enthusiastic mindset crushed thoroughly.
After 5 years of living in this private university, Davis had changed from a bright, hopeful young man to a hopeless abused human.
Davis cleaned his tears, carried his books, and went to class. This time, the hall was less crowded, and he could easily find his way to his class.
As he entered the classroom, he could feel the stares full of mockery, the scornful gazes of his classmates piercing him and the whispers and snickers that followed shortly after. His each and every move was being monitored, and Davis was uncomfortable, but Davis could not do anything about it. The treatment his classmates gave him. Showed others just how much Davis was an outsider to them.
"Pfft, as if I'll care." But this was already something Davis was already used to. Even his teachers either alienated him or treated him like thin air. Whether he's suffering or being bullied, they did little to intervene.
Their treatment only nurtured the hatred and anger Davis had.
Taking his seat, Davis head layed low on his desk. "I wish I could just kill myself and get on with it, but those bastards won't let me off that easily either."
"I have to think of a way even if it's gonna cost me my life." he's face looked furious as he scowled, "I'm gonna make them pay."
"Especially Sylvester and those three brothers," Davis said as his palms formed knuckles, almost turning white.
"I never did anything to them, but they actually want to force me to be their slave." Davis blood was boiling at the moment, and the familiar feeling of anger was rising in his chest.
Sylvester was once a good friend of his during their first year. sylvester was a spoilt rich generation, a dork and a dear friend to Davis
Sylvester and Davis, we're basically inseparable. Davis was an orphan and was very poor.
Meanwhile, Sylvester was a second rich generation raised by a single mother who's now in the ICU, they got laughed at together, bullied together, and had fun just like best friends do but all of that changed when Sylvester got a message from the hospital during his 2nd Year in college
"We tried all we could, but your mother's illness was too severe. She said if anything were to happen to her, you should be the first person to know. She left an audio message behind for you. I've already sent it to your messages.
"Sylvester, never forget to be strong, unlike your silly mummy. I know by now I am already gone but please promise me you'll always be the sylvey I know, don't cry too much, Okay dear~ don't miss me too much alright "
"Once again, Mister Sylvester, I am truly sorry for your loss." The doctor said on the phone.
After that day, the friend Davis thought he knew more than anyone became less known than a stranger.