At the bustling Polytechnic University of the Philippines, students hurried between classes, their conversations blending into a chaotic hum. Amidst the crowd of aspiring Electrical Engineers, one figure moved quietly, a transfer student who had recently joined the ranks. He wasn't the type to draw attention—boyish good looks, sure, but his lanky frame and unassuming presence seemed to make him invisible in the throng.Except to the wrong people."Hey, you! Transfer boy!" a voice rang out, cutting through the chatter.Santiago—his real name hardly known to anyone—glanced over his shoulder, already knowing who it was. Eric, the Taekwondo champion, stood there with that smug grin, cracking his knuckles. Lance, the Chess Club tactician, lingered beside him, arms crossed and an all-knowing smirk on his face."Look at him," Lance muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Thinks he's too good for us. Probably trying to outshine everyone with his grades."Santiago kept his gaze lowered, gripping the strap of his backpack tighter. He had only been at the school for a week when the bullying started. They had singled him out almost immediately, like predators sniffing out easy prey. His quiet demeanor, combined with his slender frame, made him an easy target.Eric's heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway as he approached. "You think just because you're some new kid, you can waltz in here and ace your classes?" Eric shoved Santiago hard, sending him stumbling into the lockers. "You're not gonna make it here, stick boy."Santiago straightened himself, the sting of the metal lockers fading as quickly as it came. He didn't retaliate. That only seemed to fuel their aggression. But he could feel eyes on him—students stopping to watch the daily ritual. Some looked away, unwilling to get involved. Others whispered, wondering how long he would last.Lance leaned in, his voice a low hiss. "You know, it's not just about brains here. You need more than that to survive. But hey, maybe you like being a punching bag."Eric laughed, clapping Lance on the back. "Yeah, maybe it's his thing. What do you think, transfer boy? You like getting tossed around?"Santiago didn't answer, biting back the retorts that swirled in his mind. Every day, they found him. Every day, they pushed him a little harder. But something in his eyes stayed steady—an ember of defiance they hadn't yet extinguished."Hey, stick boy!" Eric's voice boomed across the crowded Engineering lobby one afternoon, his lips curling into a sneer as he cracked his knuckles. His broad figure blocked the light streaming through the windows, casting a shadow over the study table where Santiago sat, hunched over his notebook.Santiago barely looked up. His calm expression never wavered as he slowly scribbled notes, but his silence only seemed to irritate Eric more."You think you're smarter than us, huh?" Eric jabbed, stepping closer, the menace in his voice unmistakable. He stood right in front of Santiago, looming over him like a storm cloud about to break.Santiago sighed softly, closing his notebook with quiet precision. "I'm just here to study," he replied, his voice level, almost too soft for the tension in the air.Eric wasn't satisfied with that. He slammed his fist down on the table, causing a few students nearby to flinch and glance nervously at the scene. "That's not what your grades say, transfer boy! Third place, right behind me and Lance! You trying to show us up or what?"The challenge hung in the air, thick and charged. Lance, standing a few feet away with his arms crossed, gave Santiago a cold smirk, as if daring him to say something—anything—that would give them an excuse to make things worse.But Santiago just sat there, eyes lowered. Then, without a word, he began packing his bag, slow and methodical. The bullies watched him, expecting anger, or at least fear. Instead, Santiago shouldered his backpack, stood up, and walked away. No retort. No resistance. Nothing.Eric's fists clenched in frustration, watching Santiago's retreating figure. "You think ignoring us is gonna work?" he shouted after him, but Santiago didn't even turn around. It had been like this for three months now. No matter what they did—shoulder checks in the hallway, cruel whispers in class, or the occasional shove—Santiago never reacted.And it drove them mad.His grades continued to soar, his name climbing the academic ranks, and his quiet resilience, instead of breaking him, earned him a small but loyal circle of friends. They marveled at how he could shrug off the daily harassment with nothing more than a calm look and a firm grip on his books."He's not normal," Lance had muttered to Eric one day, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "No one just takes this for months without cracking. He's up to something."But Eric didn't care. "Doesn't matter what he's up to. We'll make him crack eventually."As Santiago disappeared into the bustling crowd, Lance's eyes followed him. "Yeah," Lance said under his breath, a calculating look in his eyes. "Eventually."One sweltering afternoon, Santiago stood in line at the ATM near the gym, waiting to withdraw his allowance. The rhythmic hum of the machine was broken by something far more jarring—voices, loud and harsh. Turning his head, Santiago saw a scene unfolding near the gym's entrance. Eric, towering and intimidating, had cornered a girl against the wall. Andrea.Andrea, the popular, pretty girl everyone knew, her face was tense, eyes wide with discomfort. She pressed herself against the brick wall as if it could somehow shield her from the unwanted attention."Come on, just one date," Eric was saying, his voice dripping with false charm, his grin cocky and insistent. He leaned closer, blocking her path. "You won't regret it, I promise."Andrea's face tightened as she shook her head, her voice shaky but resolute. "No, Eric. I already told you no. Stop it."Eric's smile didn't falter, but his eyes darkened. He stepped even closer, trapping her. "I don't take no for an answer, Andrea."Santiago felt his fists clench instinctively, his pulse quickening. He wasn't the type to rush into fights—he had avoided conflict his whole life—but something about the fear in Andrea's eyes struck a deep, raw nerve. His thoughts raced, weighing his options, but before he could second-guess himself, his feet were already moving. He stepped forward, heart pounding in his chest."Leave her alone, Eric."The words came out stronger than he expected, cutting through the tension. Eric froze for a second, slowly turning to face him, his grin widening like a predator who had just found new prey."Well, well, well," Eric drawled, taking a step back from Andrea but only to size up Santiago. "Look who decided to play hero. The wimpy transfer student."Santiago's heart thundered in his ears, but he didn't back down. His hands curled into tight fists, every muscle in his body tense. "I said, leave her alone."Eric's laughter echoed through the empty gym entrance. "You really want to get involved in this, stick boy? Do you even know what you're getting into?"Santiago's throat went dry, but he forced himself to speak. "Yeah, I do."Eric's smile faded, replaced by something darker—something dangerous. "You've got guts, transfer boy. Too bad it won't save you."The punch came out of nowhere, a brutal arc that landed squarely on Santiago's jaw. His vision blurred as he stumbled backward, the world spinning for a moment. Before he could recover, Eric's foot connected with his ribs—a sickening crunch that drove the air from his lungs. Santiago collapsed to the ground, gasping, but the kicks kept coming, each one more vicious than the last."Stop it!" Andrea's voice rang out, but her pleas were drowned by the thud of Eric's boots against Santiago's battered body.Santiago's friends, who had been across the street, rushed toward the scene, shouting for help. A few students gathered, whispering, unsure of what to do, their faces a mix of horror and fear.By the time anyone dared to intervene, Santiago lay motionless on the ground, blood trickling from his lip, his body bruised and beaten. Eric stood over him, breathing heavily, as if waiting for Santiago to rise again, but there was no movement. He gave Santiago one last glance before turning back to Andrea with a smirk."See what happens when people try to play hero?" he said before walking away, leaving a stunned crowd and a broken Santiago in his wake.Andrea knelt beside Santiago, her hands trembling as she gently touched his arm. "Santiago... I'm so sorry..."But Santiago didn't hear her. He had already slipped into unconsciousness.For three agonizing days, Santiago was nowhere to be found on campus. His usual seat in the lecture hall remained empty, his presence in the library vanished, and no one had seen him at the cafeteria. The incident at the gym spread through the Polytechnic University of the Philippines like wildfire, fueling a frenzy of rumors."He transferred schools. I heard his parents pulled him out," one student murmured between classes."No, I heard Eric broke a rib, and now he's in the hospital," another whispered."Maybe he just ran away," a third chimed in. "Can you blame him after what Eric did?"The stories grew wilder with each retelling, but one thing was certain—Santiago's absence cast a shadow over the campus. Even Eric seemed quieter, walking through the halls with a smirk that barely masked his arrogance, as if daring anyone to challenge him. No one did.Andrea, however, was consumed by guilt. The memory of Santiago stepping forward, standing between her and Eric, played over and over in her mind like a cruel, unending loop. She had seen the way Eric's punches landed, how Santiago collapsed to the ground, his body curling in pain. She had felt so helpless."Why did he do it?" she whispered to herself one night, hugging her knees to her chest as she sat in bed, her eyes red and swollen from days of sleeplessness. The dim glow of her bedside lamp barely lit the room, but it didn't matter. She was trapped in her thoughts, her heart heavy with the weight of Santiago's sacrifice."What if he's really gone because of me?" The question gnawed at her, twisting her insides with guilt. She wiped at the tears that wouldn't stop, her hands trembling. "What if he transferred? What if..."Her phone lay beside her on the bed, silent. No messages, no updates, no way of knowing where Santiago was. Andrea had tried texting him, asking around, even considering going to his dorm, but fear held her back. The fear that he was gone. That Eric had driven him away, or worse.Her chest tightened with every passing day. Andrea could barely focus in class, her friends noticing her distant stares and quiet demeanor. She couldn't shake the thought: If only I had been stronger, if only I had stood up for myself, maybe Santiago wouldn't have had to.On the fourth day, Santiago returned to campus. The whispers started the moment he was spotted walking across the courtyard, his face marked with fresh bruises—purple and swollen around his eye, a cut barely healing on his lip. But there was something different about him. The usual quiet calm was still there, but beneath it simmered a steely resolve, a quiet fire that hadn't been there before.Santiago didn't stop to acknowledge the stares or the murmurs around him. His steps were purposeful, his focus unshakable as he made his way to the principal's office.The secretary barely had time to look up from her desk when Santiago brushed past her, pushing the door open without knocking. The principal, seated behind his large oak desk, blinked in surprise."Mr. Santiago," the principal sighed, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose as if preparing for an unpleasant conversation. "I've heard about the incident—""That's all you've done," Santiago cut in, his voice low but filled with an edge that hadn't been there before. "Heard about it. But what have you actually done?"The principal frowned, leaning back in his chair as he steepled his fingers. "It's not that simple, Santiago. Eric's father—he's one of the important people in the university. My hands are tied."Santiago's jaw clenched. "That shouldn't matter. Eric's terrorizing students, and you're just going to sit here and let it happen? How many more people have to suffer because you're afraid of positions, and names?"The principal shifted uncomfortably, glancing down at the paperwork on his desk as if searching for an excuse. "Look, I understand your frustration, but this isn't a matter I can handle with a snap of my fingers. Eric's father has a lot of influence. If I were to take disciplinary action, there would be consequences—for the school, for you—""For me?" Santiago's voice rose, his fists balling at his sides. He took a step closer to the desk, his eyes burning with determination. "What about the consequences for Eric's victims? For the students who have to walk these halls in fear every day? You know what he's done, and you're still protecting him?"The principal's eyes flickered with guilt, but he remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line. It was clear—his loyalty wasn't to the students, but to the influential person in the school.Santiago's breath came out in a frustrated huff. He shook his head, his fists unclenching as he turned toward the door. "If no one else will stop him," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone in the room, "then I will."The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the principal in the uneasy quiet of his office. Santiago's words hung in the air like a challenge, the weight of his decision sinking in. As Santiago strode down the hallway, his resolve only hardened.Later that day, Santiago's friends gathered around him at a nearby mall's food court. The clamor of chatter and the smell of fast food filled the space, but Santiago's focus was on his friends, who were clearly anxious."You can't do this, Santiago," Paolo said, his voice filled with concern as he leaned forward, his brow furrowed deeply. "Eric's a national champion. He's got years of training. You're going to get hurt again—maybe worse this time."Santiago looked at Paolo and the others, his face a mask of determination. His friends' faces were a mix of worry and helplessness, each of them trying to convince him to back down, but Santiago's resolve was unshakeable. He didn't respond; his mind was already set on what he needed to do.The group fell silent, each of them casting glances at one another, unsure of how to reach Santiago. They watched as he stood up, muttering a quick, "I've got to go," before making his way toward the exit.On the way home, Santiago rode the LRT train in reflective silence. The train rattled and swayed, the dim lighting flickering overhead. Santiago stared out the window, lost in thought, when he spotted Andrea standing near the door of the carriage. Her presence was a beacon of unexpected warmth in the cold, metallic confines of the train.The moment Andrea saw Santiago, her face lit up with relief and something else—hope. She rushed over to him, her eyes brimming with emotion. "Santiago!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mixture of relief and lingering guilt. "Thank God you're okay!"Without thinking, she reached out and kissed him gently on the cheek, her touch light but laden with sincerity. "I'm so sorry... for everything," she said, her voice cracking slightly as she looked up at him, her eyes pleading for his forgiveness.Santiago's lips curved into a faint smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling. The warmth of her gesture softened the hardness in his heart, if only momentarily. "Don't worry about it," he said quietly, his tone soothing and reassuring. "What's done is done. We move forward."Andrea's face brightened a little at his words, though the weight of their shared experiences still lingered between them. As the train pulled into the next station, Santiago's heart felt a bit lighter, buoyed by Andrea's kindness amidst his storm of decisions.The next day, Santiago took his stand. As classes ended, he positioned himself strategically in the main hallway near the principal's office, a bustling area where students frequently passed. His gaze swept over the crowd, waiting for the moment he'd prepared for. And then, through the sea of students, he spotted them—Eric and Lance, with Andrea, her expression a mix of discomfort and apprehension.Eric's arm was draped possessively around Andrea's shoulders, his voice dripping with mockery. "Why do you keep avoiding me, huh? You know you like the attention. It's flattering, isn't it?"Andrea tried to pull away, her voice barely above a whisper. "Eric, I've told you, I'm not interested."Before she could say more, Santiago stepped forward, his voice ringing out clearly in the hallway. "That's enough, Eric."The corridor fell silent as every head turned to watch the unfolding confrontation. Eric's smirk widened into a cruel grin. "Oh, look who's back for more. Didn't learn your lesson the first time?"Santiago's eyes were steely, his resolve unshaken. "I'm not here for a lesson. I'm here to put an end to this."Lance, always quick to back his friend, moved to grab Santiago's arm, trying to restrain him. "You should just stay down, transfer boy," Lance sneered.But Santiago had changed. With a sudden, fluid motion, he wrenched his arm free from Lance's grasp. The crowd watched in stunned silence as Santiago performed a flawless Judo throw, sending Eric crashing to the floor with a thud. The impact drew gasps from the onlookers.Lance, furious, lunged at Santiago with a snarl. But Santiago was ready. With another swift, precise move, he swept Lance off his feet, sending him sprawling next to Eric. The noise of bodies hitting the floor was followed by an eerie silence, punctuated only by the collective intake of breath from the watching students.Santiago straightened up, brushing the dust off his shirt with a calm demeanor. "I've had enough of this," he said, his voice cutting through the silence.Eric groaned as he tried to push himself up, his face a mix of shock and pain. Santiago stood over him, his voice steady and controlled. "Don't get me wrong. I played along with your games because I wanted a quiet college life. But it seems that route failed."He turned to the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the astonished faces. "So, let's fight fire with fire."Andrea's eyes widened in awe as she watched Santiago. "Who... who are you?"Santiago's stern expression softened slightly as he glanced at her. "Just a transfer student, trying to mind his own business. But since that didn't work, I guess I'll introduce myself properly. I'm Santiago, my master would be so mad at me when he hears about this."