Devin held the box in his hands and walked toward his bicycle.
He still had to keep working hard today because he needed money to cover his living expenses.
He had lost count of how many part-time jobs this was already.
He had to accept it, though, since he had no parents and no one to take care of him.
Devin sighed, then pedaled toward the delivery point.
He had gone only halfway when a group of people suddenly appeared ahead.
Not again, Devin thought. He frowned and wanted to turn his bike the other way, but the group quickly blocked him, and a mocking voice followed: "Oh, why are you running away? We're classmates, aren't we? Or are you ashamed of the job you're doing?"
Devin frowned. He recognized the voice because it was so familiar—and hateful.
It was Steve. He and his gang constantly ridiculed him. Devin was too tired to argue with them anymore.
Seeing him silent, Steve sneered, "What's the matter? You can't argue back because I'm right, huh? I think you should just drop out. With that pitiful wage, how do you expect to survive? If you want, I can have you watch my bike. I'll pay you more, I've got plenty of money anyway, ha ha ha…"
Steve laughed loudly. His friends laughed and joined in.
"Yeah, yeah, you can keep our shoes too."
"You should quit school and become a security guard instead. Seeing someone as poor as you all the time makes us sick…"
They said a lot, but Devin didn't respond, which angered Steve even more.
He scowled and then kicked Devin's bicycle hard. "Deaf or what?! Let's see how long you can stand it!"
Devin snapped and pushed Steve. Steve wasn't braced and fell to the ground in an ugly heap.
His friends found it funny but didn't dare laugh out loud. Furious, Steve got up and punched Devin in the stomach.
Devin clutched his stomach and stumbled backward. He raised his fist to fight back, but Steve wasn't afraid.
He looked up and sneered, "Hit me, and tomorrow you'll be called to the principal's office and expelled. I'll also make sure you can't get any job to live on!"
Devin frowned, his eyes bloodshot, yet he couldn't take action.
Steve was right—Steve had the power to take everything from him, leaving him a miserable wanderer.
Devin lowered his gaze and let go of Steve.
Steve sneered and then signaled his gang to beat Devin mercilessly.
They didn't hit his face, only his body.
Devin groaned in pain but could do nothing, forced to endure their blows.
After a while, Steve signaled them to stop.
He walked over, grabbed Devin by the chin, forced him to look up, and said, "A worm will always be a worm. You'd better pack up and go where you belong. You're only good enough to lick my shoes!"
With that, he left. His gang knocked Devin's bicycle to the ground one last time before laughing and leaving with Steve.
Devin struggled to stand, staring at his battered old bicycle on the ground.
His hands clenched into fists, his face flushed with anger.
But there was nothing he could do. This had happened many times before, and he could only helplessly watch them mock him.
They were right—he had nothing. Steve's mother served on the school council, and his father was a wealthy individual.
He couldn't complain or take any action against Steve.
Sometimes he just wanted to throw the bike away, beat Steve's gang senseless, and give up on everything.
After standing there for a while, still powerless, Devin picked up the bike, adjusted himself slightly, and continued with his deliveries.
The customers didn't look kindly on him either.
They checked the goods, paid him, and slammed the door in his face.
It was rude behavior, but Devin was used to it. They all looked down on him.
Steve hated him, and those who wanted to curry favor with Steve also despised him.
Devin didn't know when this life would ever come to an end.
Holding the money he had just received, Devin silently counted what he had earned.
He felt he could give his innocent, beautiful girlfriend an expensive surprise gift, which would surely make her happy.
He always felt sorry for her because he didn't have much money.
Yet she had always stayed by his side, which made him very happy.
He began thinking about their future life together.
He was determined that when he became rich, he would give Judy everything she wanted.
In the afternoon, the sunset bathed the school campus in golden light.
Devin's work for the day was almost finished; this was the last delivery he had to make.
The item was a suggestive toy. Devin wondered silently who would even use such things in a dormitory—it was so lewd, he thought.
He pedaled to the delivery location and, upon arriving, knocked on the door and waited.
After a long while with no response, he knocked on the door a few more times.
Finally, someone opened the door—but it was someone Devin knew, someone who always made him feel disgusted: none other than Steve.
Seeing Devin at the door, Steve immediately sneered, "Well, look who we have here."
Devin ignored him and handed over the package, saying, "Sign for the delivery and pay me."
Steve scoffed, "I'm not signing. I'll make sure you can't deliver this, and let's see if your boss fires you, ha ha ha."
Devin frowned, about to say something, when suddenly someone appeared from behind Steve.
It was a girl in seductive pajamas.
Devin didn't pay much attention at first, but when the girl suddenly looked up, his eyes widened—because it was his girlfriend, Judy!