“When the music calls me, I answer. When the melody takes me, I sing. When the rhythm moves my heart, I dance for it. When the lyrics touched my soul, I write it. I am more than just an artist. I am the music. And I hope you hear me”

-Yoo Yeon Woo

“My dreams aren’t just dreams. They are my future. I may not know yet who, where, or when, but I will be someone, I will be there, and I will make my name known. One day, far into the future, I will look back at where I am right now, and I will be amazed to see how long and far I have come.

My dreams will come true. I know I will make it one day, and I know I will not be alone. I can feel it. I might not have it all figured out yet, but I can see where it’s headed. The idols will see me. They will love me. They will know me. And they will hear my voice. And they will dance for it.”

-Keiran Louden

“Have you ever had a crush on someone?” My classmates ask me that all the time. And my answer would be just a simple ‘no’. They would think that I’m a gay. But for some reason, I couldn’t see girls more than a friend. I would just pretend and lie to them that I had a crush on a girl so that they would not think that I’m gay, even though they would say that why would someone like me fall for someone as beautiful as her?

Life’s been tough for a weak guy like me. I only have my mom ‘cuz my dad left us when I was just 3 years old. I didn’t really know the reason. I am just a normal, ugly but smart guy which made people bully me. They would call me ‘Nose Titan’ because I had a big flat nose. My friends; Helen, Tristan, and Natan would comfort me after the bullies made fun of me. At least I have them…for now but not for too long. Because soon before our long quiz, I found out that they just used me so that they could have good grades. All the comforting after the bullies made fun of me were just a plan so that I would think that they were my true friends. They were smiling and laughing all around as they were talking all about me. That I was so slow-witted, dumb, ugly, weird, and other bad stuffs. I went home that day feeling backstabbed even though they were not actually a friend. I cried and cried all night ‘til my eyes were swollen. But, it’s not that bad.

I was absent from school for three days and my ‘Fake Friends’ keep calling me which I didn’t answer. Until I decided to go to school. When I reached the gate, Helen came close to me and dragged me inside the school and brought me to the restroom. She grabbed my hair and pinned me to the wall. I moaned in pain as my head hitted the wall hard.

“Where were you?!” She asked me roughly. Then two boys showed up. It was Tristan and Natan.

“You won’t answer huh?” She punched me in the stomach and grabbed me by the collar.

I did not answer because I didn’t know what to say. They didn’t stop hitting me until I lost conscious and was rushed to the hospital. My mother was worried about me and couldn’t stop crying. When I woke up my mom immediately told me that I was going to be transferred. I was able to recover quickly.

When I got home my mom told me that I was going to be enrolled to another school. Though it will just be a few months there because it is my last year there and I’ve spent a few months already. So, I told mom that I’ll just finish my last year there. She was hesitant about my idea to continue to that school. But, I comforted her and said that I’m going to be fine.

The next day, I got a news that Helen, Tristan, and Natan will be expelled from school. The principal called me and said that she would want my presence in her office. The moment I got to the principal’s office she quickly stood up and came to me, she held my hand and greeted me. She asked me how have I been. I smiled at her. She actually had never changed. She is Ms. Harlissa Kelley. My 7th grade teacher. And now she’s the principal. I was her favorite because of my intelligence. I always make her proud by giving her straight A’s. My classmates would think that Ms. Kelley gave those good grade because I was her favorite. And that’s how I got bullied over and over again.

A few months passed and I finally graduated. I took a scholarship exam to a Science Based College. It was a few weeks later when I got the letter that I was accepted with a monthly allowance. The school was on the other town and that’s the only place that has a school that accepts scholars, so I had no other choice. The school was very far so my mother suggested that I should live in a boarding house near that college so that I won’t have to travel back and forth. That way, I won’t have to spend a lot of money. I didn’t agree to mom at first but mom told me she’d visit me every month. I was very hesitant but my mind told me that it would be a good way to save money, so I agreed.

The first day of school came and I was away from home. My monthly allowance were enough to rent a dorm not too close form school. It was the nearest dorm to school. The time I got to the school, I was stunned in perfection. The whole school campus was massive and was so beautiful. There were a lot of students wandering around. There were almost 15 buildings. My jaw dropped as I saw one of the smartest student in my class last year, Sheila. She enrolled here too. Everybody looked at her because of her beauty. Aside from being smart, Sheila also has a perfect face. She looked around and saw me. Sheila came closer to me and greeted me. She asked me if we could walk around the school together. I embarrassedly agreed. As we walked around, I could feel that every eyes were on us. Sometimes I even hear them talking about me. I just ignored them and keep on walking without talking to each other. Time passed, and things started to get awkward. She never really talked nor look at me. She just looked at the direction we’re headed and keep on walking. Until we realized that class is about to start. I asked her which class she is. And we were in the same class. She smiled at me and I just smiled back.

When the first class ended, Sheila came up close to me and asked me if we could have lunch together later. I paused, then said “Okay”. She got back to her seat and started reading a book. Lunch time finally came and she came to me and walked passed me. I looked at her confused. She noticed that I wasn’t following her so she turn to me and asked

“You won’t have lunch?”

I just walked towards her and shrugged my shoulders. “Let’s go” I told her.

She nodded and walked with me silently.

She never had a friend because she is not sociable like me. Even though a lot of girls want to make friends with her, she immediately knew that they want to make friends so that they could have fame. Sheila is not easy to fool unlike me who falls for the same trick over and over again.

When we got to the cafeteria, there were long lines of people waiting for their turn. But when Sheila and I joined the line, people immediately stepped aside giving her the way. She smiled and walked leaving me behind. When I tried to follow her the students would tell me to stay in the line. She noticed that I couldn’t pass so she came back took my hand and brought me with her making us the first in line. A lot of students complained but she just looked at them and they just shut their mouths. We finished lunch quickly because we didn’t have to line.

She started talking to me after that. And I thought that would never happen. Soon, I discovered that our apartments are just neighbors. Sheila started to be more open and talkative whenever she is with me. We started to hang out more often and go home together. She also loved K-Pop as I do. We always talk about it when we hang out.

The next day was an unexpected day. It was the day that would change my whole life because I when the class started, Sheila was not around. I called her multiple times but she wouldn’t answer. The only last message she sent me was last night. She said that she’d be going to school but we couldn’t see each other. That’s when I decided to look for her in the school campus. I’ve checked the 1st floor, 2nd, and 3rd. The only floor I haven’t checked is the roof top. I climbed upstairs and tried to open the roof top door but was locked. I looked at the side if I could see a key but there was nothing. It was getting dark outside so I decided to leave. When I was near the 3rd floor, I heard a scream.

“Why me?! Of all people, why me?!” A girl’s voice.

That voice was familiar. I knew that it was hers. It was her voice, Sheila. I quickly climbed back to the roof top and found a hair pin on the floor. It looked a bit rusty. I need to do this slowly or the pin might break. I inserted the pin and twisted it a bit and slowly. I tried a few times until it finally opened. I quietly snug in and hid under a crate. I peeked and saw her crying on the floor. She looked like she was injured. My blood boiled as I remembered everything that had happened to me before and now, It had happened to her. I know how she felt right now. I saw them laughing at her. They looked like they were bullies. I looked for anything that I could use as a weapon and saw a wooden bat, but It was near them so I stood up and shouted at them. I didn’t know what I’m doing. All I knew is that I’m doing this because I didn’t want others especially to my one and only friend to feel what I have felt before.

They all looked at me and one of them spoke.

“Who’s this bastard?” The guy at the back asked. He looked like he is somewhat the leader or the worst bully.

I ran as fast as I can, grabbed the bat and swung it really hard to the guy in front who was the nearest to Sheila and he fell unconscious. They looked at me as if I did the most regrettable thing which was true. I grabbed Sheila and ran. The leader chased us but I threw my bat at him and hitted him in his knee which made him fall. I quickly locked the door and ran downstairs and we hid in one of the classrooms. We heard a banging sound above, they sound like they are trying to make the door break open. I got quiet for a brief moment and a loud noise banged. It looked like they successfully broke the door. We heard footsteps and a door opened; they’re checking on every classrooms. This is getting crazier and crazier. I looked at Sheila and she was crying.

“You should’ve not helped me” She said crying. I tried calming her down and told her that everything gonna be okay and the only thing that matter here is that your okay.

The banging sound is getting louder and louder and means only one thing; their getting close to finding out where we are. It’s too risky staying here so I thought calling a police would help. I asked her if she still had her phone but she said that the bullies took it. So I gave her my phone and told her to call a police. She nodded. I stood up and slowly peeked at the window to see a light inside a classroom. There’s only one classroom left and the next is where we’re hiding. I slowly opened the door and was about to go out when Sheila asked was I doing. I told her to just focus on calling the police and telling them details about what was happening. She told me that the police are on their way which was a good time to do this. She looked worried. I just smiled at her, told her to go outside the school. I went outside. I am going to make them chase me while the police are on their way. I’m going to buy some time until the police arrives. This is my only chance.

I slowly snuck to them and saw them throwing the chairs everywhere inside the classroom. I saw a metal rod and grabbed it. I quickly stood up grabbed the door and closed it. I blocked the door with the metal rod but failed to do it and they managed to open the door. I threw the rod at them and ran through the hallway. They threw things at me until I got hitted in the right arm hard. I looked at what hit me and saw it was a bottle of soda, and the worst part is that it’s glass, a thick one. The pain in my arm felt like a huge cut or a broken bone. I ran and ran until I reached outside school the gates were closed so I climbed the gate fast. They got close and when I’m at the top they splashed something in me and it got into my eyes. It burned my eyes. I closed my eyes but my hand slipped and I fell. I moaned in pain as every part of my body hurted so much. They climbed over the gate and keep splashing me with it. I stood up but they pushed me. They laughed at me. I stood up and tried opening my eyes but it was so hard to open it fully.

And this is it. I heard a loud beep and when I looked, it was a car. It was running fast. My body froze. I closed my partially opened eyes and the car hitted me.

To be continued