"Ugh, again with school. Why do I keep going to school? I would just get bullied like always," an obese guy with dark circles underneath his eyes groaned.
A cold wind blew, carrying along the distinct smell of earth with it. The morning was cold, colder than usual, which made Jasper shiver.
He pulled his worn-down hood closer to himself, trying to shield himself from the cold.
His backpack dangled loosely on his shoulders, one strap torn and held together by a rusty safety pin. Every step towards the school gate felt like he was charging head first into a battleground.
Students shot past him, laughing, chatting, and pushing each other playfully, living in a world where he had never been a part of. No one talked to him or asked him how he was doing; they only stared at him with a judging, disgusted look.
They stared at him as if he was trash, as if he was worth less than nothing in their eyes.
Just as he got to the front of the gate, he stopped and looked up at the gate. Above it, a word was hung. It read "AVADON HIVE." Reading that word made a shiver run down his spine. After all, this was a place that was hell-bent on ruining his life.
"Hey, fatso, move out of the way," a girl said as she shoved him out of the way, almost causing him to fall.
"Freak," she hissed.
Jasper silently adjusted his backpack and lowered his head, his hood casting a shadow over his tired eyes. Ignoring them was much easier.
This was a normal experience for him. He had gotten used to the stares, the insults, and everything else. It no longer hurt him… or that was what he was trying so hard to believe.
It hurt. It hurt so bad that he was always hated upon for no reason.
Taking a deep breath, Jasper stilled his will and stepped through the school gate. The courtyard was already packed with students going about their duties.
He pulled his hood closer to himself, hoping to stay invisible and unnoticed. He hoped and prayed in his heart not to be noticed, but the universe decided to fuck him over as always.
"Hey, make way for the hippo! Make way! You don't wanna get run over, do you?" someone said.
"Yo, Jasper the hippo, move faster, or is that the fastest you could go?"
"Isn't that Jasper? The fat weirdo?" another laughed, nudging his friend.
"Who else could it be? Is there any other hippo in Avadon Hive?" the person responded with a smile.
Jasper's stomach twisted and turned. He quickened his pace, hoping to escape the whispers and laughter that followed him like a shadow. This was his life. This was what he frequently went through each day: senseless bullying, day in and day out.
'It can't get any worse than this.'
Just as this thought flashed through his mind, he suddenly had an ominous feeling that something bad was about to happen to him. He looked around, past the laughing faces, past the taunts and insults, but the feeling wasn't coming from them.
His eyebrows furrowed and his back was drenched with cold sweat. His body began shaking,not from the cold, but from something else, something sinister.
'I…I have to get out of here fast. My body only reacts like this when…when that devil is around.' Increasing his pace, he urgently tried to get as far away from there as possible.
'Come on, faster you useless legs. More fast!' His screams thundered in his mind.
"Hey pig, where are you going? Don't tell me you don't want to say hi to big brother Ace?"
Hearing that voice, Jasper immediately froze up like a deer caught in headlights. His heartbeat increased and his hands were drenched with sweat.
'No! No! No! How…how the hell did he find me? This can't happen. Why did I have to open my big mouth and ask that godforsaken question?! I'm doomed…' his internal monologue was all jumbled up.
"Turn around now, and come greet big brother Ace."
An evil smile was plastered on Ace's lips as he said that.
Jasper slowly turned around with great difficulty, his smile a bit forced, and he looked as if he was having constipation.
"H…hey Ace. H…how are you?" he struggled to speak.
Ace slowly approached Jasper, each step echoing louder than the last, as if his mere presence demanded attention and respect, with no room left to banter. The chatter around them began to fade as students noticed who was involved.
Ace's hands were in his pockets as he walked towards the frozen Jasper. Behind him, a group of goons trailed like shadows.
Reaching Jasper, Ace placed his arm over Jasper's shoulder, his grip way too friendly for the sinister look on his face.
"You look nervous and afraid, pig. Why are you shaking? Don't tell big brother Ace that you aren't happy to see him."
Jasper looked at those smiling faces and shivered. To be honest, Ace was handsome, beautiful, some might say. His jaw was sharp, as if it could slice through steel. His posture was relaxed yet dangerous, like a hungry predator pretending to be harmless. His skin was smooth, almost as if he'd been carved from fine jade. His sky-blue eyes were mesmerizing, at least to others,but to Jasper, they looked like the gateway to hell.
His jet-black hair was messy, and somehow it made him look even more handsome. He had long eyelashes that put some girls to shame.
Ace was everything a woman ever wanted and more. He was a stark contrast to Jasper. If Jasper was being honest, Ace's beauty was almost unfair. Why would a douchebag like Ace be this handsome while he looked like… this?
Ace leaned closer, his breath brushing against Jasper's ear as he whispered, "So, pig… you didn't answer my question. Are you happy to see me?"
Jasper's throat tightened. He forced out a shaky smile. "Y…yes. I'm happy to see you."
Ace raised an eyebrow. "I can't hear you. Speak louder." This wasn't a question,it was an order.
"Ye…yes. I…I miss y…you," Jasper repeated, trying not to tremble.
Ace's lips curved upward into a grin. "Good. I like obedient pigs."