Shirley

As the last class of the day approached, a few tough-looking guys appeared at the classroom door, glancing around inside. In an instant, the classroom fell silent, as if it were a graveyard. Everyone kept their heads down and barely dared to breathe.

Eliot, one of them, called out Bill's name. I trembled at the sound of it, watching Bill rush over, nodding and bowing. I had a very bad feeling about this.

I didn't know what they talked about, but the gaze of the guys at the door landed on me. Eliot gestured to me, his eyes full of malicious intent.

Trembling, I stood up and walked out amid the strange looks of my classmates. I clenched the two hundred dollars tightly in my pocket, feeling extremely scared.

"Hey, big brother, what can I do for you?" I asked cautiously.

"You're Jim, the new transfer student, right? You're pretty impressive, causing trouble in broad daylight. Do you want to die?" Eliot's hand was on my head, ruffling my hair. Another guy in sportswear grabbed my collar.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional. Can I apologize by compensating? I'm really sorry..." I shakily took out the two hundred dollars, but Eliot snatched the money away.

"Not bad. After school, go to the alley by the school gate and explain yourself. If you dare to run, I'll keep an eye on you every day!"

Eliot took the money and left, leaving me feeling somewhat relieved. As my uncle often said, money can buy one's way out of trouble. At least now I had a chance to explain myself.

After school, before I could even step out of the classroom, Bill and Adrian came over. They said they would accompany me and check things out, assuring me that since we were classmates, they'd plead on my behalf if needed.

In reality, I knew they wouldn't help me. They just didn't want me to run away. With one on each side, I was trapped. Even if I wanted to escape, I couldn't. Finally, I called my uncle, but his phone was switched off.

We arrived at a small alley outside the school. The three girls from earlier in the day were there, smoking cigarettes. However, there were also seven or eight guys leaning against the wall, also smoking. Among them, two had dyed hair and didn't look like students. Fortunately, Eliot, who took the money, was also there.

"Shirley, Jim from our class is here because of you," Adrian stepped forward and politely greeted the short-haired girl. She immediately glared at me. Beside her, a blond guy named Gary dropped his cigarette and walked towards me. The others closed in as well.

At that moment, I was extremely nervous. I looked towards Eliot for help, hoping he'd come over and say something on my behalf. However, he didn't even spare me a glance, standing there as if nothing was happening.

"Shirley, is this the guy?" Gary grabbed my collar, his eyes full of malicious intent. Shirley nodded angrily, and her gaze towards me was as if she wanted to eat me alive.

"Kid, take off your glasses." Gary ordered, and I panicked. I quickly explained to her, "I'm sorry, Shirley, I really didn't mean to. Can I apologize? I swear it wasn't intentional..."

A group of people surrounded me, and it turned into a violent beating. I covered my head and couldn't see anything clearly. Someone grabbed my hair and slapped me hard, while another kept kicking me and cursing non-stop. I was in pain all over, with an indescribable sense of injustice, and tears almost welled up in my eyes.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment. I thought of my parents, the childhood friends I used to play with, and the words my uncle once told me – that a man should be courageous and adventurous, traversing through challenges like wind through sand and oceans.

I didn't know how long the beating lasted. I lay on the ground, holding onto my head tightly. I had eaten dirt, and my mouth tasted grimy. Despite the pain, I clenched my teeth and endured, hoping that this nightmare would end soon.

"Shirley, that's enough. If we don't leave for the internet cafe soon, there won't be any computers left. I'm still waiting to play games," a girl in overalls spoke up, .

I had seen the girl in overalls during the day. She was one of the three girls, tall with long hair and single-eyelids that shone mysteriously. Though I knew she intervened not to help me, I still felt grateful.

"Hmph, if it wasn't for Monica waiting to play games today, I would've beaten you to a pulp, you bastard!" Shirley pointed at me and cursed, then kicked me a couple more times in frustration. I sat on the ground, overwhelmed with a sense of grievance, biting my lips to hold back the tears.

"Alright, alright, stop beating him. Let's go," another girl in a red skirt said with a hint of compassion in her eyes.

I knew I must have looked pitiful, like a helpless worm, but I remembered my uncle's words – that a man only sheds tears for the woman he loves, and under no circumstances should tears be shed otherwise.

"Gary, thanks for coming in person today, that...," Shirley suddenly changed her tone when addressing Gary, twirling her fingers nervously and playing with her clothes, undergoing a complete 180-degree transformation.

Gary shook his head, licked his lips with a smile and said, "No problem. You guys go play. I've saved seats for you. I'll take you guys for some gaming tonight."

"That's great! We can play games to our heart's content tonight!" Shirley said hesitantly, but the girl in the red skirt beside her clearly frowned.

"Thanks, but Sonia and I already made plans with friends to go to another internet cafe. Let's play together next time. We're leaving," Monica said calmly, turned around and left with Shirley and Sonia.

Gary's eyes were fixated on their buttocks and long legs. He rubbed his hands together in the air, his face filled with a lecherous smile, and his drool almost started to dribble.

"Gary, tonight, trick Shirley into going to the internet cafe for have sex. This girl is so beautiful, and that little bum of hers is quite something!" Eliot nodded and grinned, handing a cigarette to Gary.