Chapter # 14

As I opened the door, I was drenched by a bucket of water placed atop it. The students had pulled a prank.

I shivered from the cold.

Case: "Oh my goodness, who put the bucket there?" She sounded concerned.

Girl 1: "Weren't you the one who did it?" She giggled.

Case: "Oh, right, I'm so forgetful," she said sarcastically and then turned to me. "I'm sorry, honey. I pity your state."

Laughter erupted among the students.

I poked my tongue inside my cheek and took a deep breath.

Ethan was seething with anger. He seemed ready to confront them when the teacher entered.

Teacher: "What's going on here?"

Ethan: "Sir, look at what they did to Katie!" he said, pointing at me.

Guy 1: "No, sir, he's lying. Why would we do that?"

Girl 1: "Yes sir, he's just blabberi-" Ethan shot a glare at her and she stopped right that second. Obviously scared of him.

Case: "Sir, we didn't do that, and even if we did, what's the big deal? It's just water," she said dismissively.

I rolled my eyes at her words.

Teacher: "Hmm, you may be right."

I knew the teacher was prioritizing his job over my situation, not wanting to upset a student whose father was the school principal.

Teacher: "Katie, please take your seat."

Ethan: "How can she sit like this? She's completely soaked with 'just water'!"

The teacher, taken aback by his tone, decided to reconsider.

Teacher: "You can go and change, Katie."

Ethan grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the classroom.

Me: "Wait, Ethan, I don't have spare clothes."

Ethan: "Borrow mine."

I borrowed his clothes and put them on. When I exited the changing room, I found Ethan leaning on the wall.

Ethan: "Are you okay?"

Me: "Yes," I replied with a smile.

Ethan: "How can you smile in such a situation?" He said furrowing his eyebrows.

Me: "A 'smile' is a curve that sets everything right, by Phyllis Diller."

Ethan looked taken aback.

Ethan: "You're one of a kind."

I beamed, and he returned the smile.

Me: "Let's go back."

We reentered the classroom, ready to return to our seats when Ethan suddenly stopped and interrupted the teacher.

Ethan: "I promise, this is the last time I'm telling you all not to mess with Katie, or else believe me I also don't know what I might do."

The teacher and students were left in shock.

Ethan walked up to Case and whispered, "Especially you...be careful."

She nodded, visibly nervous.

Then he made his way back to his seat.

Me: "What was that?"

Ethan: "A final warning."

Me: "But you shouldn't have interrupted the teacher."

Ethan: "Some people don't deserve to be called teachers."

Me: "You can't say that. Regardless of what happens, he is still our teacher, and we need to respect him."

Ethan: "I am sorry."

Me: "It's fine, but don't do it again."

He nodded, and we shifted our focus to the lesson.

{Back to the present}

Me: "I did approach the teachers and even the principal, but it was all in vain. You know how stubborn those privileged kids can be."

Ethan: "So, even if the teachers turned a blind eye, why didn't you take matters into your own hands? Why endure all of it?"

Me: "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I can't explain why I let it persist. It just felt like something I had to do."

He regarded me with a puzzled expression.

Me: "I mean, I had no friends. I couldn't confront them on my own."

Ethan: "How can you say that? You're well aware of your extraordinary abilities."

Me: "Yes, now I know, but back then, I was oblivious to my potential. I made a conscious decision not to create any trouble for my grandmother. If I fought back, there was a substantial risk of suspension or even expulsion from college."

A moment of silence followed.

Ethan: "Let me ask you this. If your grandmother were to somehow discover that you've been enduring so much simply because you didn't want to burden her, would she be content? No, she'd be wracked with guilt, realizing she indirectly caused her granddaughter immense pain. All her efforts to provide you with the best care would seem in vain."

I was left stunned. I had never viewed it from that perspective. The idea that my suffering might intensify her own pain had never crossed my mind.

Me: "You're absolutely right," I conceded, my head hanging low.

Ethan: "It's good that you've understood that. No matter how much you've tolerated, unless you take a stand and reveal your strength to them, the bullying won't cease. It doesn't matter whether you have friends or not; you're the only one who can stand up for yourself."