Bullying

Cesar was on his way to school when his stomach started to make sounds, first, he ignored it and continued on his way to school but later on his stomach again started to make some sounds and this time it was much louder than the first one.

His stomach was growling because he was hungry even though he knew that a slice of bread would not fill his appetite for the sake of his sister's health, he had to smile and act like he wasn't hungry at all but this was something that he was supposed to do, he was older than Amelia by six years and as her elder brother, this was the least he could do.

Ella brought breakfast for Amelia in her room —— on the tray there were two bread toast and the omelette that she made for Cesar however, Cesar had never eaten the omelette because of Amelia.

Amelia took a bath and came to her room and saw her mother using a card box as a small table for her, on which she kept her breakfast.

" Oh you are done bathing come and eat," Ella smiled at her daughter.

Amelia silently nodded her head, picked a comb and started combing her hair. Ella felt something unusual change in her behaviour, she was so excited when she saw the omelette but after she came from bathing her mood changed but now she was gloomy and dull ——-there was no smile on her face.

Ella was serious about the sudden change in Amelia's behaviour, she looked at her daughter who was done combing her hair and sat down on her bed. Before pulling the cardboard box with breakfast on it but there was no excitement she normally picked up the fork and had a bite of omelette but she didn't say a word instead she remained quiet.

A bit worried, Ella couldn't help but ask, "Amelia what happened you are not happy seeing the omelette? you were so excited about the omelette when saw it in the kitchen, is the omelette not good, you don't like it?"

Amelia in a low voice responded, "No, it's good! I mean it's delicious."

Ella then asked, "Then why are you so sad if the omelette is delicious why aren't you expressing your happiness where is mommy's praise?"

"You made this omelette for brother, right?" Amelia said nothing instead she asked.

Ella was startled when she realised that Amelia somehow found out that she had made this omelette for Cesar.

She remained silent for a moment but Amelia asked her again, "Mum! I asked you something, did make this omelette for brother? answer me."

Ella asked back in a low voice, "How did you know about it?"

Amelia answered, "Before going to the bathroom I heard both of you."

Ella thought that Amelia was angry at her because she had made the omelette for Cesar and not for her. She tried to clarify everything, "Amelia doesn't be angry, I made this for Cesar because he didn't eat anything since yesterday, so I decided to make this omelette for him but before that, you came in and thought that I made this for you. I was about to tell you the truth but Cesar told me not to tell you and give this omelette to you because you were so happy and didn't want to dishearten you."

Amelia stayed silent before replying, "I am not angry at you Mum! and also not because you have made this omelette."

Ella was confused about with what Amelia and asked, "If you are not angry with me then why you are so upset?"

Amelia explained her reason for being upset."I am angry upon myself."

Ella was perplexed and asked, "Why? and for what?"

Amelia answered with tears shining in her eyes, "I am such a greedy-for-food person that my brother has to stay hungry so that I could eat. How can I be so shameless, I am stealing food from my brother's plate."

Amelia was blaming herself, because of her—— Cesar had to leave for school hungry and Ella felt that she was criticising herself too much so she tried to make her realise that was not responsible for it, "Amelia you are not responsible for it. You don't need to blame yourself for anything. Everything Cesar has done for you is only because he ——your brother cares a lot about you. He knows that more than the omelette it's important for you to stay happy and healthy and that's what he wants you to stay happy instead of being angry over yourself you should be happy that you have a caring brother by your side."

Amelia understood what her mother was saying to her.

" Come on now smile, or I will tell Cesar you cried," Ella asked her daughter to smile to uplift her mood at first Amelia didn't smile then Ella poked her gently Amelia grinned a little bit later Ella started tickling and Amelia started laughing hard, she tried to stop Ella but her mother didn't stop and continued to tickle.

Amelia after laughing so hard had her mood uplifted, she felt much better and Ella too felt happy seeing Amelia smiling and giggling.

Ella stopped tickling Amelia then said, "Ok Amelia now you eat your breakfast, I will have a bath then, cook lunch for you and Cesar and after that, I will go on my job."

Amelia nodded her head and continued eating her breakfast and Ella went to the bathroom for a bath.

Cesar reached school but he was feeling hungry and his stomach was still growling. Cesar tried to stop himself from feeling hungry as he repeatedly said to himself, "I am not hungry, I am not hungry. Yes, I am not hungry."

He entered the school, walked to his class and some of his classmates slapped the back of his head and ran away laughing at him.

His glasses fell to the ground he was irritated by those bullies in his class, and he picked up his glasses, realising that one side of his glasses was cracked.

Cesar didn't have a replacement for his glasses and could only wear the broken glasses and went ahead to his classroom. While making his way to his classroom everyone who was standing in the hallway started laughing at him, even one guy standing in the hallway mocked him, "Hey! you idiot! don't you have money to buy glasses, don't your parents buy you glasses, are you that poor huh?"

Everyone started to laugh over the comment that the guy made about Cesar, Cesar remained silent and walked his way to the classroom but inwardly he was extremely embarrassed and angry.

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