I envisioned my comeback. Of course it was far too late to actually act it out; the time had long passed in order for me to have any stance. It was still something I did often, normally before bed, remembering the earlier troubles in the day. High school had never been all that easy for me socially. Whilst I had the grades to keep me up in the top classes, I wasn’t liked by many in my class. I couldn’t understand why exactly. I was polite and never interfered with others’ business, and helped those who wanted to understand something more clearly. By far I wasn’t the smartest in the class, but I assumed my desperate nature to fit in by being as friendly as I could, got me into the abusive system of being used for my better understanding on subjects, especially in science. The worst part about it was that I knew I was making it easier for everyone to walk all over me. It was almost like I stupidly thought if I helped them, then one day they’d speak to me more than on how to calculate the force of an object.

There was one student in particular who took advantage of my ways. His name was Jared Lewis, and he was by far the most popular student in my year. I had always believed the highest class was one that the student body would have avoided before I entered high school, much like it had been in my previous schooling. However, Jared was the captain of the soccer team, had one of the top scores in class, and not to mention was handsome. I hated the fact that even though he was the biggest abuser in my life, I still thought of him as attractive. Wishing for him to see me in a nicer light than how he currently saw me was like waiting on a miracle to cure cancer. I didn’t get why, when I had helped him for three years with some of his homework that he persisted on calling me degrading names. At first I had been shocked, wondering where all the “oinking” noises would come from when I’d be walking down a corridor. Boys could be highly immature, even the ones with brains, and for awhile I brushed it off. By my last year of high school however, it had up scaled to being called fat in numerous ways possible. I didn’t want to believe I was ginormous like he suggested I was, but after listening to it for years, it was hard not to believe something was right about it. My mood, as well as my grades had dropped, and coming to school would send me into a nervous frenzy. When he was sick it was the best days I could ever have. But normally he was there, sitting in the back row, snorting snide comments out and the teachers all allowed him too. After all, it’s not like I had ever complained to them about it. Jared was the star of the school. It’d be like telling on royalty. Pointless, as he held the authority in the school.

So it was no wonder I spent so much of my time trying to repaint the scenarios in my head, and hoping that graduation would come faster. The second half of the year was more difficult on us all, and having Jared distract me was making it harder for me to keep so calm about it. I’d had enough of only standing up for myself in my mind that one Thursday, during lunch, I snapped unexpectedly.

“What did you just say to me?” he asked, somewhat shocked at my outburst. I too felt the same emotion, regretting instantly for having spoken up.

“Y-you heard me, I said grow up.”

“You’re telling me what to do?”

“Hasn’t this game been going on for long enough now Jared? It’s really getting old. Surely you don’t think I’ve heard it all now and am hardly affected by your stupidity,” I blurted out, wondering why I was so confident about lying. The truth was he’d dragged me down to the lowest point in my life. I was amazed I could even kick back with such a comment.

He stepped closer to me and leaned into my face. “I’m stupid?”

“Your immature antics are.”

“Says you? The piggy who can’t stop eating?”

“Wow, original.”

“What is wrong with you today Ellis? Forgotten your place in this school?” he sneered and then chuckled. “After all these years of being quiet, and letting me copy from your book in hopes I’d accept you, you’ve decided to talk up? Well there’s no chance now that I’m going to stop.”

“Was there ever a chance?” I asked bluntly, becoming aware of the crowd gathering around us all. I swallowed roughly. “Jared, you think you’re amazing because you are good at sports and have everyone believing you’re so smart. Without the help I’ve given you over the years, you would have failed the percentage of our classroom in more than two subjects. And just because you’re good looking doesn’t mean you can treat people like this forever. You’re just going to be a pathetic bully for the rest of your life, and people are going to get so sick of your .”

“Oh really?” he asked and I nodded firmly, although my body felt weak from the confrontation. “Well then, perhaps your right. But you know, you’ll forever be a pathetic loser who tries too hard to get everyone to like her. How could anyone like a person as filthy as you? It makes me laugh.”

“I can always lose weight,” I objected, and tried to smile. I probably looked like I was cringing instead. “You however, will always be a prick cos there’s no cure for that disease.”

I went to walk passed the boy when his hand shot out to grip my upper arm tightly. I let out a cry of pain as he dragged me back. His blue eyes were cold, and penetrated right into my soul. I shuddered. “You’ll regret that Rochelle.”

I noticed his fist was raised, and it dawned on me that I had possibly enraged the worst opponent ever. Clamping my eyes shut, I flinched and waited for the blow. After a few seconds, I half opened my eyes, wondering why I hadn’t felt anything. I couldn’t see Jared anymore, a person now blocked his path. I realised he was no longer holding me either and I snapped out of my reverie, noticing a fellow classmate now stood between us. Kim Hyun Joong had never been one to bother with others in class, in fact the only time you heard anything from him was when he answered a teacher’s question. It was like he was barely there; no one bothered him, or noticed him. I was startled to see him now standing between us, his hand wrapped around Jared’s fist.

“Hey, Asian boy, what are you doing?!” Jared cried as Hyun Joong flung his fist away roughly. “Don’t you know not to interfere with my business eh?! Don’t they teach you manners in your country?”

“They teach us not to hit women, or pick on people so much it destroys them,” he replied calmly and Jared scoffed. “Hasn’t this gone on long enough now?”

“F*** off gook!” Jared immaturely called before stomping off, his group of friends all racing after him. The crowd immediately dispersed, all interest forgotten. I glanced up at Hyun Joong, who was the only one left.

“Thanks,” I said genuinely and he nodded once, picking up his back pack and with a final glance in my direction, headed off to the library.

It was then that I forgot all about the hardships I had faced, having only thoughts of the new hero in my life.