Chapter 1 New Life, new friends
Hope... What is hope anyway? Is hope just something to believe in or it is just to cover up one's feelings of doubt? If anyone can just hope for something like a present, a good life, things will turn out for the better, will it come true? Something like that is just wishful thinking, a feeling of optimism. What can one only cling to hope accomplish in life? I have always been intimidated and bullied by others when I was only a young, innocent child, kept trying to see the positive sides of things like my mother told me too. I was raised by a single parent until my dad left me when I was seven. At that time, I never knew why he would just leave us like that but I felt nothing but sorrow and the look on my mother face, crying all night and till she slept. That day onward, I promised myself and my mom that I would never want to see her sad and I would do anything to keep her smiling. As long I can see her smile everyday, it was rewarding enough for me. So, I trained and worked dilligently to excel in my grades in grade school so that I can gain recognition and respect from others. But, still the other students remain vigilant as if they did not know I exist or maybe they do because they only came to me to ask for help with their homework or tutor them. "Is this the school life that I want, to be seen only as an errand student?" I thought to myself once while sitting in class in the midsummer of 2009 and stared out the window, looking at the sky. It was a nice blue sky, with fluffy clouds hanging above, looking at them just set my mind at ease.
Just when I was about to take my time building castles in the air, until there was loud thud. As I turned around, I saw there were a couple of bullies that tried to pick on a student. It was a girl with light brown layered hair and greenish-brown eyes being pushed around in circles by three bullies. Our class was claimed to be the worst class despite we are in the first class but I guessed that it depends on how one perceives someone. "Again, seriously... These guys are just a bunch of jerks, causing trouble time and time again.", annoyed by this ruthless behaviour. But, it does not seem too serious and I rather not butt in because I had a rough experience with bullies from before, leaving me with bruises and abrasions. Because of that, I was not going to relive that all over again. However, I heard someone crying and it was that girl again, until they held her against the wall and tried to tape her mouth shut. "You little girl, better keep quiet. If you wanna cry, go cry me a river instead!" said the head bully intimidating her while laughing meniacally. "Boys, keep her restraint until I taped this little crybaby here." he commanded his followers while pulling up some cellophane tape. The trapped girl begged them to stop doing this but they just enjoyed the fun of picking on the defenceless. "Please... Please someone help me! Don't let them do this, I beg of you all!" crying while yelling for help but no one stood up for the poor female student. The bullies took one good look of the other class, impressed on how we fall in line, knowing our place not to intervene.
After witnessing everyone's rooted state, the bully pointed out, "No one is going to help? Who wanna play hero now? No one? Good then, I mean who would just risk their own safety for someone else?" Everyone else just whispered to one another about who knows what. The girl tried her hardest to break free but she was just overpowered by three delinquents that are taller and bigger about a head. It was just metres apart until the bully taped her up, I saw her eyes filled with something that I never hoped to see - Despair.
Unexpectedly, I just drove my clenched fist into the top dog's face and sent him down to the ground on his back. Everyone gasped in shock to my retaliation and backed away as things began to look grim. I then shoved the other two away and attended to the distressed student. "Are you all right, girl? Don't be scared, I'm here to help." I checked on her and assured her safety. Then, the followers got their boss to his feet. "Oh, looks like I was wrong, a hero huh. You should have stayed out of this from the very start." attempting to startled me as he cracked his knuckles. Things were about to get rough so I got into a defense position, holding my fist in the air like a professional martial artist. The bullies hurled insult, calling me a complete, utter fool and other harsh insults that I rather not mention before advising, "One last chance, get loss and I may just let you off with this one, champion. Don't think just because you are number one gives you the right to stick ypur nose where it doesn't belong."
For a moment, I stood there in silence and I sighed, "Goodness no. This ain't about my position or my feats. If you really want to know, I just hate bullies like you messing up other people's lives. Screw you and your gang, picking on someone innocent like Chihiro!"
The moment I mentioned the victim's name; the little girl was astounded yet curious to how I knew her name despite the fact that we have not actually talked to each other yet in the first half of the semester. I was not really much of the social type and I guessed that was holding me back. Nevertheless, those eyes reminded me of despair itself; feeling of hopelessness back in grade school. It was like I was too naive to think that bullies can be reasoned with. Worse of all, those around me were all just witnesses watching, idly waiting around until the fight is over. That was what bothers me - No sense of justice and integrity to fight for what was right. Anyway, those eyes of hers just reminded what it felt to be small and vulnerable.
Returning to the fight at hand, I took the first blow to my stomach, and I collasped to the ground intentionally. The bully got too excited and dropped his guard so I delivered a swift jab to his chin and he flinched so hard as he stumbled on his back. Then, the his henchmen tried to get the jump on me by landing surprise kicks from front and behind me, quite a near miss, just centimetres apart. Then, I striked back by and gave them a taste of their own meds; kicks to their faces, even left my shoe marks on them. I was having the upper hand until they played dirty and threw chalk powder that blinded me for a moment. I rubbed off the powder and before I could react, they pinned me down and kicked my arms and legs continuously until I nearly vomitted blood. I tried withstanding the attacks but it was also too much for me to bear.
"You, some hero you are! Pathetic and they call you a prodigy? Why don't you just remain obedieny like a teacher's pet, hmm?" the head bully insulted me before spitting on me. They were about to finish me off when I am down until the classroom door was slided open, with the discipline teacher carrying a crossed face, with Chihiro pointing at the bullies for picking on her, me and other traumatised students. With all the crisis and troubled bullcrap they brought to this school, they will be given a suspension to last them a whole year in juvenile prison. If you ask me expelling them would make a good impact on the school's prestige.
As for me, I was asked to be sent to the infirmary for treatment even though I said I was fine. But, Chihiro insisted I should, "Y-you are hurt, aren't you? You need to see a nurse." the little girl tried to advise me to seek medical attention. But, with people watching, I did not want to make a scene so I acted tough, embraced the pain. "It's nothing. I'm fine, nothing to worry. Ahh!" I pretended until Chihiro touched my injured left cheek from all that kicking. Chihiro retracted her hand the second I felt that pain, apologizing immediately and I felt that she was about to burst into tears, "I'm sorry... I-It was my fault that y-you got hurt. The bullies hurt you because of me." I then, "Chihiro, it's alright. Please don't cry. I hurts me to see my friends cry." assuring her as I held her hand in my palms. She calmly held her tears and sniffled.
Seeing that she wanted to help, I refused to turn down help from a sweet, little girl. "Chihiro, about seeing the nurse? Could you help accompany me? Please?" Chihiro bounced back on her feet, motivated to be of help, "You can count on me." she said while helping me get on my feet. I noticed the other students' gazes and I told them to carry on as they were. With that, the class dispersed and tend to their personal business. I began limping as Chihiro and I left the room and headed for the infirmary.
After making it to the infirmary, the nurse there treated my wounds and advised that I just needed rest when I returned home after school. Till then, I was told to rest in the infirmary, the nurse requested the young brown-haired lady to accompany me in case I got lonely when the nurse was needed elsewhere. Apparently, bullies feel pain too.
The atmosphere was too quiet and I was not too sure but I assumed that Chihiro was catching a glismpe of the faintest blush on my face. It was starting to get a little awkward so I tried to start a conversation. "I would like to say thanks for helping me get here. Really appreciate it, Chihiro." giving my deepest thanks for offering her aid. She shook her head and replied, "No, I should be the one thanking you for r-rescu-ing me... It was so scary." Expressing her fear, I assured her that those bullies were never going to bother her again. I'm glad that we cleared the air and a little ice breaking did the trick. She pondered and asked me how I knew her name, "Also, you called my name. You knew me?" As for that, I answered, "I have been watching you for some time now, Chihiro. Not in a weird way, I just see something special in you; a talent. So, I believe you are pretty cool." Chihiro immediately asked me, "Y-you think I'm cool, really?" with her hands together and with her eyes widened with sparkles. "I think you are more cute than cool.", teasing her a little and she just puffed her cheeks.
However, I could see Chihiro was feeling a little upbeat and happy, knowing that someone acknowledges her. I was feeling joy too, being able to restore hope in her eyes. Of course, it was my turn to answer as she asked me for my name, "Please tell me your name. It is only fair that since we are friends now." I then paused for a second before I properly acquaint myself, "Chihiro, my name is... Hanako Yuki. Great to meet you." Something tells me that we were going to be get along just fine.