[[Riiiiing! Riiiiing!]]
Eric's eyes snapped open as the blaring alarm yanked him from sleep. His heart pounded as he glanced at the clock on his nightstand.
7:40 AM.
Throwing off his blanket, he bolted upright, nearly tripping over his own feet. His school uniform was in a wrinkled heap on the chair. He hadn't even ironed it last night.
"No time for that now!" he muttered, quickly pulling on his clothes.
He sprinted out of his bedroom, taking the stairs two at a time. The scent of fried eggs and warm toast filled the air. His mother, Maria, stood at the kitchen counter, her back turned to him as she prepared breakfast.
"Eric, slow down," she said without turning around. "Come eat before you go."
"I can't, Mom!" Eric rushed toward the door, slipping on his shoes in record time. "I'm already late!"
Maria turned, concern flashing in her eyes. "At least take a piece of toas—"
"Sorry! Gotta go!"
He dashed out before she could say anything else.
{{Bus Stop – Morning}}
The moment he turned the corner, his stomach dropped. The school bus was already pulling away from the curb.
"No! Wait!" Eric sprinted forward, waving his arms. "Stop the bus!"
The bus driver didn't hear him. Or maybe he did and just didn't care.
Behind him, laughter erupted.
"Oh man, that's pathetic."
Eric flinched. He knew that voice.
Dwayne.
He turned his head slightly, his worst fears confirmed. Dwayne stood with his usual group of lackeys, a cocky grin plastered on his face.
"Look at him," Dwayne jeered. "Running like his life depends on it."
One of his friends snickered. "Maybe he thinks if he runs fast enough, he'll grow some actual muscles."
Eric clenched his teeth and kept running. He refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing him react.
Then something flew through the air.
A half-empty soda can smacked against his shoulder, spilling sticky liquid down his sleeve.
"Oops." Dwayne grinned. "Didn't see you there."
Eric's fists curled, but he forced himself to keep moving.
Luckily, just then, the bus screeched to a halt.
Panting, Eric scrambled up the steps and into the vehicle.
{{School Bus – Morning}}
The moment he stepped inside, all eyes were on him. Students whispered, snickered, or simply ignored him altogether.
Great. Just another day of being invisible, except to the ones who loved to humiliate him.
As he walked down the aisle, seat after seat was quickly occupied. No one wanted to sit next to him.
Except one person.
Lily.
She gave him a warm smile, patting the empty seat beside her.
"Sit with me, Eric."
Eric hesitated for only a second before slipping into the seat. He barely had time to exhale before Lily turned to glare at Dwayne.
"You're such a jerk," she snapped.
Dwayne just smirked. "Aw, is little Lily defending her boyfriend?"
His friends burst into laughter.
Lily's cheeks turned red. "He's not—"
Eric gently tugged on her sleeve. "Forget it, Lily. Let's just sit."
She huffed but didn't say anything else.
As the bus rolled toward school, Eric leaned his head against the window.
A memory surfaced, uninvited.
A much younger Eric, barely six years old, stood in the doorway of their home, tears streaming down his face.
"Daddy, don't go!" he had sobbed, clinging to his father's leg.
His father.. tall, strong, and unshaken, knelt beside him, resting a large hand on Eric's shoulder.
"Eric," his voice had been steady yet gentle, "I have to go. There are people out there who need me."
"But it's dangerous!" Eric had wailed. "What if something happens to you?"
His father had smiled then, warm and full of confidence.
"I'm strong," he had said. "Stronger than any villain out there. I'll always come back to you and your mom."
Eric had believed him.
He had believed in that strength.
Until five years ago.
{{School – Morning}}
Eric knew the moment he stepped into the classroom that something was wrong. The way students snickered. The whispers. The amused glances thrown his way.
Then he felt it.
Something sticky. Something… in his hair.
Lifting a hand, he hesitantly touched the back of his head. His fingers met the disgusting, gooey texture of..
"Gum," he whispered in horror.
Dwayne and his friends cackled.
Eric's stomach clenched.
Then..
"ERIC!"
The entire class fell silent as Mrs. Santos' voice rang across the room.
His teacher's sharp eyes zeroed in on him.
"Why are you so filthy?" she demanded.
Eric shrank under her glare. "I—I don't know…"
She sighed in exasperation. "Go clean yourself up. You're excused for now."
Eric lowered his head and quickly grabbed his bag, walking out of the classroom.
As he left, he heard Dwayne snicker.
"I need to use the bathroom too, Mrs. Santos," Dwayne said.
Eric's stomach sank.
{{School Hallway – Near Lockers}}
WHAM!
A force shoved him forward.
The locker door slammed shut behind him.
For a moment, Eric was too stunned to react.
Then he heard laughter.
"Hope you like your new home, loser," Dwayne sneered from outside.
Eric pounded on the metal. "Let me out!"
Dwayne just chuckled. "Have fun in there."
Footsteps faded.
Eric closed his eyes.
Another memory crept in.
The television screen flickered in the darkened living room.
Five years ago.
Eric had been watching, frozen in horror.
His father was on the screen, battling a monstrous figure cloaked in shadow.
Hagorn.
A man with demonic powers. A supervillain feared across the world.
His father fought bravely. But it wasn't enough.
Eric watched in helpless terror as his father made the ultimate choice.
The camera zoomed in just as his father, battered and bleeding, turned his gaze toward the lens.
His lips moved.
No sound came.
But Eric understood.
"Protect your mom. I love you, son."
Then, in a blinding explosion of light..
his father was gone.
And Eric had never felt so powerless.
{{Bus Stop – After School}}
As they walked home together, Lily crossed her arms.
"You should tell your mom."
Eric shook his head. "You know I can't."
Lily frowned. "Why not?"
Eric let out a slow breath.
"Ever since my dad disappeared five years ago… Mom's barely holding it together." His voice lowered. "I don't want to add more stress."
Lily sighed but didn't press further.
{{Eric's House – Evening}}
"I'm home," Eric called.
"Welcome back," Maria said.
Then she saw the gum in his hair.
She frowned. "Eric, what happened?"
He hesitated.
"I… slipped and fell in the trash outside."
Maria pursed her lips but said nothing.
Later that night, Eric sat in his room, staring at a framed photo of his family.
His father's face stared back at him. Strong. Proud. A hero to the world.
Eric's grip tightened around the frame.
A hero. A legend.
But to Eric, he was just a father who left too soon.