4 9 Story

I was your typical class rep. I made sure to be nice to everyone and ensure things went smoothly.

I've held this position for the majority of my high school education. I believe that by doing a lot of clubs throughout my childhood, the teachers wanted me to be a positive influence on others now.

My only goal is to help others.

I want to make sure that everyone is doing the best they can and not holding themselves back. When I was younger, I met someone who helped me realize my true potential. I would never be where I am today without them.

In my junior year, I received significant praise from others for my ability to increase the performance of those around me. Our class was the best academically, but also physically. When it was time for the sports festival, I went to extra lengths to ensure we were in the best possible position for success.

I worked together with everyone in the class to make sure that we could play to each other's strengths and dominate each event. I thought that I was perfect. Everything was going right and I was helping everyone achieve this feeling.

In reality, I was the biggest failure.

Shortly after the sports festival, I noticed one of my classmates began not coming to school. At first, I assumed they were sick, but as the days began to add up, I got more and more worried. I happen to know where this student lived, as I had met up at their house for a project previously.

After school I made my way down there, unsure of what was going to happen.

I thought about turning back numerous times. I thought that maybe he was suffering from a severe illness. But I knew that as class rep my responsibility was to make sure everyone was ok. When I knocked on the door, I was greeted by their mother.

She invited me in and I spoke with her briefly before she called out to my classmate. When they came down the stairs, I noticed a bunch of bruises all over their body.

At first, I was worried about the issue being caused inside the home, but my classmate ended up explaining everything to me. They told me that they had been getting bullied after school for a while now, and would often get dragged along to do things late at night where no one would see them. I felt horrible, I pride myself on being nice and being there for my classmates, and yet I never noticed this going on.

They explained that they were never really physical beforehand, mainly just used fear tactics and forced him to pay them. It wasn't until this encounter that they got physical to the point of it showing all over his body. I asked him if he could tell me who it was, and he listed 3 names that I recognized from another class.

He told me that the beating took place the day after the sports festival and that he was scared that he would get beat up again if he came back to school. I informed him that I would take care of it, and that if he had any issues at all, to contact me.

I made conversation with him for a little longer to get off the topic before heading out.

Why would they suddenly get physical with him?

The next day, he returned to school. Everyone was asking him where he'd been, but he just said he had the flu.

I tried to keep my eye on him throughout the day, and never saw signs of the bullies. It wasn't until the end of the day that I made contact with them.

I informed them that I know what they are up to, and that I will make sure that the appropriate people are notified if they continue their actions. They laughed before giving me a half-assed answer and walking away. I thought that would be the end of it.

Two weeks passed by and there was no sign of anything continuing with that classmate. things finally seemed to be getting back to how they were. A few of my friends and I had plans to go to a basketball game right after school and I was eager to get out.

Once the bell rang we quickly packed up and made our way out of the classroom. I feel a hand touch my shoulder and I turn around to see the classmate that was having issues before.

He asks me if I'm able to help him with something after school. My other friends are telling me to hurry up, and my mind is torn. I know that I should hear him out due to the past two weeks but for some reason, at this moment my selfishness took over and I asked him if it could wait until tomorrow and that I have to leave.

I didn't think about it much after that due to my excitement for the game, but that would be a life-altering decision.

That classmate didn't show up to school the next day. I immediately got suspicious but kept trying to convince myself it was something else.

Something didn't sit right with me, so I sprinted over to his house right after school. When I arrived, there were a lot of cars outside. As I got closer, I saw two women come out, one seemed to be consoling the other.

I recognized one to be the mother, and when she saw me she invited me in. I asked her what happened, and she informed me that my classmate was found with cuts on his wrists whenever she tried to wake him up for school.

She tried talking to me after that, but my mind was in a panic.

There's no way that this happened as a result of yesterday, there has to be more to this, right?

She thanked me for being his friend and I quietly left his house.

I began crying as soon as I was out of sight. I couldn't believe what I had caused. I told him that I would help him with anything and I turn him down the only time he asked for help.

I'm a bad person.

I can't be forgiven.