38. Luis' POV

“Me sitting in the car with a teacher and him getting hugged by one makes me a seducer? In that case, you all can be accused of seducing your own family members!”

“But he isn't your family,” Mrs. Eleanor asked, her tone a bit more aggressive. “Just go to your seat and stop trying to defend what isn't,” she chewed on her words like a jealous housewife.

“WHAT IF I say he is?” I shot back.

“We all have emotional imbalances to deal with, and people who are there for you at your lowest are who you call family. Yet, I got bullied by the whole school for seeking comfort.” When no one talked, I continued.

Their snickering had reduced, and the shock of me fighting for myself sent them into more silence.

“You all claim to be fighting for the teacher. But you are all fighting for your own selfish needs. If you find him handsome, then talk to him. What use is hiding your feelings and taking it out on an innocent student? If you want to be a coward, be it. DO YOU really have to hurt others in the process?”

“Go sit!” Mrs. Eleanor’s tone was firm because of the jab I had taken at her.

I made sure to look into her eyes as I said everything.

“This is called school bullying. A lot of you, young and old, regardless of gender and social standing, don’t seem to realize that your actions have taken a mental toll on your victims.

Is it until I become another suicide case that you would stop? Or will you blindly justify your acts? What if it was your family or lover getting falsely accused?”

“You don’t have to be so intense, we were just joking,” the class captain said, and others nodded in agreement.

“Joking?” I scoffed and pointed at my desk.

“You were joking when you made those edits and cursed me all over the internet? Joking is someone breaking my chair and vandalizing school property? Or were you all just joking when you put a dead rat inside my locker?”

“Tell me?” I was so angry that I slapped hard on the table with my palm. The person behind it jumped.

“Don’t say things like that and go about bullying people just to satisfy your ego. Or you,” I pointed at the Sickle Cell student in our class.

“If everyone called you pale every day, pointing out your sickness and making ‘jokes’ about it, would it have been tagged as just joking?” I asked, and she burst out crying.

Her seatmate comforted her.

I knew that I was taking a jab at the others, but they didn't seem to realize that they were hurting others until it happened to them.

“Or if Mrs. Eleanor here was mocked and had rats on her desk after her divorce, with people telling her to die, would it have been tagged as just ‘joking’?”

Mrs. Eleanor gasped and staggered backward behind me, but I didn't give her any face.

“Even if there is someone instigating it, take your stand and don't follow behind like headless chickens or blind people.” I looked around, making eye contact with almost the whole class and realizing that my stage fright was nothing but a fear I made up.

My gaze locked with Garber, and this time, he had a small smile at the corner of his lips.

Just like when I had stood up to Clarissa for the first time. The look on his face was a proud one. Like when a mother watches her child walk for the first time.

It made me feel proud. And also realize how much better I felt after confronting them all.

A couple of people were recording, so I knew for sure that this would go viral.

“We all have our own personal struggles, and the least you can do is be kind. Wicked words have the same effect as stabbing someone with a knife. It kills. Slowly, but surely,” I said and remembered my sister.

If only she could stand up for herself like this.

If only she had talked earlier.

“Be kind with your words, or you'll have your victim’s blood on your hands. And trust me when I say this—they will turn back to haunt you until you lose your mind.”

“Go to your seat now,” Mrs. Eleanor seemed to have regained her composure as she walked up to me and said.

That’s when I noticed the crowd that had gathered in the corridor.

“For the sake of your mental health, be kind to others!” I said and turned around.

I couldn't bring myself to sit for any class for another hour or two. So I turned my back to the sound of the class giving me an applause.

I didn't ask for that.

Even the people in the corridor were cheering.

All I hoped for was that they would be kind to others and not just take my words as empty words but actually act on them.

Because who knows who the victim might be tomorrow?

As I walked away from the classroom, I felt like I could fly.

Even sitting for a class would have me grounded, so I made my way to the arts room, then to the rooftop.

It was the perfect place to be.

No limitations of the four walls, and I finally thought of the expression for the boy in my painting.

It would be one that expresses freedom.

*I feel so proud of my baby, Luis!*

**"The least you can do is be kind!"**