Perverted

Perverted is a very interesting word, isn't it? The sound, the applications, the examples, the situations where this simple little word can be used—quite fascinating.

In an intimate situation between a couple or… couples, it's a compliment that can generate excitement, intensifying intimate moments.

In casual conversations, it becomes a funny way to refer to something a friend said, thus turning into a joke.

In a courtroom setting, it can become a regretful reminder for someone who tried to take advantage of an unsuspecting woman to capture something indecent.

And well, there's also the public situation.

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Have you ever witnessed what happens when the word "pervert" is used in a public situation? No? Well… It seems that you and our hero, James Thompson, are about to discover what this word can mean when uttered in public, in the City of Horizons.

"PERVERTED," one of the ladies inside the public bus, fearing a potential sexual assault, stared at James with a mix of embarrassment and alarm. His gaze resembled that of a drug addict in withdrawal rather than someone reaffirming their own convictions.

Before James could fully comprehend what was happening…

PAH – A loud, sharp slap echoed within the bus, and a searing pain shot through the back of James' neck. The force of the slap left him stunned.

"Are you crazy, you perverted weirdo? Do you have the audacity to harass this poor girl right here, in front of all of us?" A tall, muscular passenger shouted at James, making the incident as public as possible.

The woman who had shouted those words shed a few tears, and combined with the passenger's outcry, it was enough to set off a chorus of angry voices among the bus passengers. The driver halted the bus, opened the rear door, and the passengers collectively ejected James from the vehicle.

James lay there, battered and sore, his left knee—already prone to joint issues—swelling from the impact. "But what did I do?" James wondered.

As he lay on the pavement, some passersby observed the scene with disgust. "Another perverted attacking innocent girls on public transport," spat a disgruntled person, emphasizing their disdain by spitting in James' direction.

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And there he was, James Thompson, doing his best to get back on his feet with his tired body and knee problems. Haha.

"James, James. Things would be easier if you just gave up on this idea and let Larry suffer whatever fate has in store for him. It's that simple."

"NO!" - James said.

'Nicely done James, they already threw you off the bus for your 'perverted attack,' and now you're going to shout in the middle of the street? Haha.'

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The people around were shocked; it seemed that besides being a pervert, this guy was also crazy! Better stay away from this weirdo.

James watched as people distanced themselves from him, their fear palpable. He placed both hands on his head and questioned his own sanity. "What's happening? What are these thoughts? I can't give up on Larry!"

After waiting quite a while for the next bus and ensuring he wasn't standing near any other woman or looking in anyone's direction, James followed his usual route back to his residential building.

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'Here we go again, right James? 16 floors – 32 flights of stairs. What a pathetic life,' James thought.

"It's exhaustion, it must be. I haven't been sleeping properly these days, had to do extra work, and I can't even remember the last time I ate," James muttered to himself.

'Of course, of course. Use whatever excuse seems best to you, but we know the truth, don't we, James?'

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James ignored the intrusive thoughts; he just wanted to rest, to sleep.

After climbing almost crawling up 32 flights of stairs, James paused in front of his apartment door for a few seconds. "How long have I lived in this place? 9? 10? 11 years… I can't even remember properly."

"12 years, 8 months, and 16 days," a voice seeped through the crack in the door from the neighbor's apartment across from James.

Quickly, James opened his apartment door, rushed inside, and locked it behind him, fear gripping him.

Facing James lived old Tomaz, a deranged, reclusive elderly man who had a peculiar hobby: monitoring how much time his neighbors spent in their surrounding apartments.

Of course, that and other strange rumors circulated among the floors due to the old man's eerie habits… Some even claimed he used to be a contract killer.