John's silly misadventure

Bedtime has always been my most hated moment of the day. When all the lights are off, and the only thing to accompany me was blackness, I was left with nothing but my thoughts. Consciousness is a nasty thing, you think you can control it, but the voices in your head say otherwise.

First, you let him steal Kiri. Next, you let him steal Abigail. Grow some backbone loser.

Just like this one. I mean it wasn’t even relevant as well, since when was objectifying girls a thing that I do? But, sure, I agree that I need to stop being such a coward.

Kiri’s boyfriend had no relations with Abigail, and yet he was the one that saved her. How does that make you feel?

Shameful. I feel shameful, does that ease you?

So, what if I knew Abigail beforehand, does that make me more prone to have protected her instead? We only talked a bit just because we were classmates for a year for god’s sake. She’s nothing more than an old acquaintance.

But you did like her somewhat.

What the fuck is your point here then? Or do you just want to torment me?

Say, it must be easy to take the easy way out right, John?

As I grit my teeth while the incoherent mess was permeating my mind, I tried my hardest to divert my attention to something different.

Fighting shadow people. On my mobile phone. Upgrade weapons. Buy magic spells.

I didn’t care if it was dumb or meaningless, I’d rather have these kinds of thoughts about a crappy mobile game than those irritating ones. And so, as I accumulate all my brainpower into imagining black figures trying to touch each other, somewhere along the night I dozed off. Only for those voices to accompany me through the day.

It was now recessed at my school, and usually, I would dig my face into my phone and play by myself. It was sufficient for my enjoyment, and so I never asked for anything else.

Didn’t you learn your lesson?

But since these are here now, it was no longer content for me. Consequently, I walked out of my class and got on my way.

Through the classroom’s window, I eyed around to find the girl I was looking for. With kids running around and gathered in cliques, it was apparent to have been troublesome to find her. Yet, she appeared starkly before me, like a fish out of water.

Abigail sat in the corner, where strings of gold pierced through the window glass to adorn her vivid image. On her hand, a small book, as if appropriating itself to match her slender fingers. And, with a serene expression, her visage was still, and I could no longer distinguish whether she was a human or a statue. Like a final touch, tiny dots of dust were floating around her, pulling me into the mesmerizing painting before me.

No. I told myself.

As I diverted my perception, my face was now towards the hallway again.

Pussy.

I slapped my cheeks with both hands in an attempt to bring me back to reality. And I shook off all the dreamy vibes that were getting into my head.

Just keep getting scared of something even remotely deep, are you?

I paid no mind to it, for seeing the sight of Abigail serene and undisturbed was enough for me. It was ample, and I didn’t ask for anything more. My skin abruptly crawled, and I felt a sudden urge to return to my safe place, to start distracting myself again. Knowing so, I trudged back to my classroom.

As I ascended the stairs toward my destination, the more my feet hastened. Then quickly, I had already arrived at the hallway, before turning to my classroom. Only to have them enter my field of vision. The group of bullies.

“Damn, is he really not here? And we came all the way to his class to ask him questions.”, one of them said.

The tallest one from the group reached his hand up to his right cheek, caressing his purple swollen bulk.

“Yeah, guess we’ll remind him who he truly is when he gets back eventually.”

I hid myself back into the stairs promptly and slid my side for observation. When it was clear they hadn’t seen me, I made a run down.

You do know you’re going to have to enter the class eventually, right?

Shut up, what the fuck do you want me to do, fight all six of them?

Sooner or after you will have to. So why are you running now?

I kept up my pace, and it wasn’t long before I had already set foot on the school grounds. I gathered my view toward the school gates, and I continued to sprint.

You can’t keep running forever.

Sudden lacerations spread through my legs, and the end of my run was suddenly met. In contrast with my now immobile bottom half, my hand dangled around looking for something to get a hold of. Until, my pocket was reached, and in my sight was my mobile phone. Like a habit that I’ve repeated numerous times, my fingers dashed above the screen and pressed the games section. Only for a final press just above the game icon to be halted, and a burst of wrath replaces it.

I really do just always take the easy way out, don’t I?

Always scared of confrontation, always scared of progressing into something deeper.

Running away from other people, running away from all my troubles.

Took you that long as well.

My teeth tremendously clashed, and blisters begin to form on my hand from a strong grasp. My phone was lifted up, and its fate has been set.

“Yo! That’s a complete waste of a phone.”

A sudden shout broke me out of my reverie, and I turned to look at my phone’s savior.

“Yeah, we thought you were chill dude. No need to be that angry over a game.”

Shit, I must have looked like an angry loser there didn’t I. Trying to save face, If I had any left, I responded.

“Y-Yeah. Didn’t know I had that gamer rage in me. Haha.”

“Yeah, that’s a surprise. Well, we’ll catch you in class.”

As they diverted my attention, a realization came over me. This group of boys was the one that always invited me to hang out, and so an idea popped up in my head.

“H-Hey!”, I called out to them, and their glance returned to me.

“Whassup?”

“Can I uh- Can I walk back to class with you guys?”

I had anticipated them to be surprised, and it was so, evident through their widened eyes. They looked at each other, with an expression ranging somewhere from joy and confusion, until I was again the center of attention.

“Sure man!”

Though a bit hesitant, I moved my legs and joined their party. Knowing that silence would be awkward, one of them asked me.

“You usually don’t hang out with us, what made you think differently today? Well, besides the fact that you almost smashed your phone.”

“I don’t know, I guess I’m just not shy today.”

As if not expecting such an answer, another guy raised his voice.

“Really? And I thought you only preferred playing games by yourself. Guess most loners want some company after all.”

I paused for a second before replying.

“Yeah, maybe all of them are just too afraid.”

By the time we reached our classroom floor, the bullies were still there. So, I lowered my head and stayed in the middle of my group, praying that they won’t recognize me. In contrast with my accelerating heart, my bottom half was filled with lead, and I cherished every moment before meeting my fate. As each step was made through the classroom door, my vision was more distorted than before. And the only sound that could be heard was the incessant heartbeat.

“You don’t look so well.”

As a drop of sweat dripped down my cheek, I now ascertained that my safety is secured. Along with that came the realization that I must have looked pretty terrified.

“Oh, no nothing. I was just thinking of how goofy-looking that tall guy standing in the hallway is.”

The group of boys snickered.

“You’ve got guts talking shit to him. He’s the big bad bully you know.”

“You’re giving me too much credit, it’s just talking behind his back. Nonetheless, the pig deserves it anyway.”

It seemed that I humored them the second time, and for some weird reason, it felt nice.

Perhaps, I’ve found my new comfort zone.

And so, at each recess, I went out with the new friend group I’d joined. Though a bit taciturn, I managed to contribute to their conversations somewhat, meanwhile also avoiding the bullies. And at the third break, they had given up. Yet, I found myself still following the group of boys around. Then, like a flash, the lunch bell rang.

Habitually, It was time to be on my way to the rooftop, however, a message was sent to me today.

“You’re going to have to eat lunch alone today, I’m busy doing something.”. It was from Kiri.

If this was any other day, my heart would have sunk there. But since I’ve got another company right now, the only thing I felt was relief and excitement for something new.

We sat by the stairs leading up to the school’s main hall.

“Yo, is that all you’re eating?”, seeing that the only thing on my hands was a ham sandwich, Dutch worried. He’s the closest to the leader of the group, always caring about everyone.

“I can give you my banana if that makes it any better.”, offered Lenny, the unhesitant kind one.

“Or maybe you can suck on mine.”, Morgan, the haha funny clown.

“We can just get some snacks on the way back. No worries.”, and finally Hosea, the patient guy, probably the most normal in the group.

And me John, the weird one, I guess. Usually, it would be logical for people of the same interest and personality to get along with each other. However, when it came to just teenage boys, it looked to me that the more variety the more fun a group is.

“I gotta go to the bathroom.”, having finished my light meal, the need to release entailed me.

“Why not just empty them here.”, ignoring Morgan’s unfunny suggestion, I stood up and put motion to my feet.

As I strolled on the pavement, I contemplated how mismatched it was today. Even though my day started with six bastards trying to tail me, it progressed considerably well. And now my mood was so high I could start whistling like those happy people in movies.

“C’mon, what’s wrong with eating my meat?”

If I had stepped ten more times, I would have reached the bathroom on my left. But between me and my destination was the staircase, and an annoying, yet familiar voice which came from it.

I took a quick peek. Abigail and the tall bully eating with each other was what I had anticipated, and also the reality.

“I don’t want your food.”, with a grimace, she backed away. Only for the bastard to approach again.

“Don’t be like that, you sure you don’t want my meat?”, with a stupid-looking smirk, he spoke.

A wrathful flame befell me, and I could feel blisters forming from my grasp. Needless to say, I wanted that pig’s face to be kissing my fist right now.

Then why aren’t you doing it? Don’t tell me again that you-

“Hey, we’re in the middle of something h- Wait it’s you!”

Before I was aware of my position, I had already enclosed them. They were now both looking at me with bewildered faces, although Abigail’s fell more in line with relief. When the fact came to me, my heel instinctively lifted and I took a step back. Yet, there wasn’t a second one. Hesitantly, I announced my reason for being there.

“I-I came here to… Punch you.”