Chapter 1: The Encounter

"Move aside!"

A sixteen-year-old student collided with a classmate who was facing away. The classmate, unaware of the impending impact, turned to see the bully grinning before he walked past.

"Hey, four-eyes!" Carlos shouted, prompting the boy to look over.

"Where's the assignment?" Carlos pressed. The boy opened his locker, retrieved three printed sheets, and handed them over.

Carlos took the papers. "You made sure this is good, right?" The boy nodded in confirmation.

"That's what I like to hear."

Carlos then strolled toward their classroom, feeling victorious.

This was Carlos's reputation at school. His imposing physique matched his behavior. When the teacher asked for assignments, he confidently submitted the papers, feeling secure.

After class, he exited the room and bumped into the same classmate from earlier.

"Hey! Watch where you’re standing!" Carlos barked.

The boy met his gaze again, and Carlos made a threatening gesture, signaling he was watching.

As Physical Education came to a close, they played soccer. Carlos was up to kick the ball, but the same classmate was guarding the goal. Fueled by arrogance, he kicked with all his strength, only to be thwarted. Cheers erupted from their peers, leaving Carlos humiliated. In a fit of rage, he rushed over and grabbed his classmate by the collar.

"Who do you think you are? You don't know me, do you?" Carlos hissed, trying to remain discreet as the teacher yelled from a distance.

The classmate struggled to free himself from Carlos's grip.

"What’s going on?" the teacher shouted, but the bell rang just in time for Carlos to let go.

On his way home, Carlos kicked a can down the road, which hit a homeless man sitting at the street corner. Unbothered, he kept walking. Behind him, a boy picked up the can and disposed of it properly, but Carlos was too consumed by his own anger to notice.

Entering his home, he found his father asleep on the couch, and chaos echoed through the house. The screams rang clear through the trees surrounding their home. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Carlos dashed outside.

The Next Day

At 9:00 AM, Carlos bumped into the same classmate again as he made his way to class.

"Get out of my path," he yelled, his friends strutting proudly behind him.

They approached the boy with glasses standing by the lockers.

"Hey, nerd," Carlos called out. "I need my Math assignment for this afternoon." One of his friends handed a notebook to the boy.

"Make sure it’s ready by noon," Carlos added before they moved on.

After class, Carlos kicked a plastic bottle down the street, sending it rolling toward the same homeless man. Ignoring it, he continued home.

Upon arriving, he again found his father asleep on the couch, and once more, screams echoed around the house. The trees provided a backdrop to the tumult, amplifying the noise. Moments later, the door swung open, and Carlos bolted away from home, his father chasing after him while his mother restrained her husband.

Carlos ran toward the city, not realizing he was nearing the edge of a bridge. The rain poured down, slickening the ground beneath him. He slipped and fell, but a hand reached out, grasping him firmly. Looking up, he saw it was his classmate from school.

"Hang on!" the boy urged, pulling Carlos up. Despite their size difference, Gilbert persisted, positioning himself for leverage to help Carlos regain his footing. Together, they succeeded. Carlos looked at Gilbert, realization dawning.

"I know you," Carlos acknowledged.

"We're classmates," Gilbert replied with a friendly smile. "I'm Gilbert."

Carlos stared at Gilbert, who extended a hand to help him stand. A smile broke on Carlos's face, a hint of gratitude shining through.

Author's Questions and Challenge:

What do you think Carlos will choose? Will he accept Gilbert's help, or will he act out again? We’d love to hear your thoughts and alternate endings!

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