09
From the looks of it.
Xavier must have believed Sophia’s words.
Because he taught a lesson to several of the school’s tough girls, warning them not to make Sophia help them hide cigarettes.
She was pure, unlike those pieces of trash.
I suddenly remembered that in my first year at school, those tough girls, seeing that my family was rich, came to collect protection money
from me.
I asked Xavier for help. He was playing a game at the time and didn’t even take off his headphones. He just raised an eyebrow and asked, “What did you say?”
I got annoyed and pulled off his headphones. He misclicked and died in the game.
The screen went dark, and he threw the keyboard aside, saying, “Aria, are you looking for trouble?”
“Xavier, I’m being bullied.”
He saw my eyes red from crying and paused.
He picked up a cigarette from the table, took a deep drag, and asked, “Who did it?”
I told him the whole story, hoping that like when we were kids, he would stand up to protect me once again.
But he just leaned back with a sneer and started another game.
Putting on his headphones, he casually said, “I thought it was something big. Your family’s so rich anyway, just give them the money”
“Number three, don’t rush forward, come back.”
Then he played games all afternoon, really not caring about me at all.
Later, it was my dad who came to school to pick me up personally.
He was tall and imposing, scaring those tough girls. They never bothered me again.
But because of this, I was also mocked by classmates for being a tattletale and was ostracized,
Logically, I should have given up on Xavier then, but I didn’t. I always remembered how good he had been to me before.
When I was little, I had asthma, and no kids would play with me.
Their parents told them I was sickly, and if I had an attack, it would be trouble for them.
Only Xavier was willing to play with me.
If someone bullied me, he would bully them back for me.
When I had an attack, he never ran away. He would find medicine for me and carry me to the hospital.
The birthday wish he once made was: “I hope Arla will be here every midsummer.”
Ever since Xavier got sick, he changed.
He became irritable, paranoid An
MIL
1.58 PM ct c
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He became irritable, paranoid, sensitive, and suspicious.
That clear–eyed boy who once accompanied me was gradually killed by his violence.
I always told myself that Xavier was sick, that he would get better.
I wanted to accompany him through it, just like how he had accompanied me through my darkest times.
But now, I don’t think that way anymore.
I can’t go on.
Xavier.
The rest of the way, you’ll have to walk alone.
