In the dimly lit corridor on the first floor of a university in the bustling City C, a tense atmosphere hung in the air like a storm about to break. Two teenagers, their hair vividly dyed in an array of colors, had cornered a slight, introverted student, trapping him against the wall.

"Hey, boy, give me all your money!" The words echoed harshly, cutting through the stillness.

The thin student, his name Louis, lowered his head and whispered, "I don't have any money."

A tall boy, slapped Louis across the face. "Quit your nonsense and hand it over!"

The corner of Louis' mouth turned red from the impact, tears welling up. Just then, the fat boy interjected, "Don't mess up his face, he's the top student in my class!"

The tall boy glanced at Louis with disdain. "What's the point of being a good student?" He turned to his companion. "Go check his pockets. I don't believe he has nothing."

The plump boy moved closer, addressing Louis by his name. "Louis, move your hands." However, Louis had overheard the tall boy's demand and clutched his pocket protectively.

Louis clung to his pocket as if his life depended on it as if he hadn't heard a word. "Do you think I'm just blowing hot air?" The plump boy kicked him in the stomach, driving him against the wall. He pried Louis' hand away and found a crumpled dollar bill.

He handed the money over to the tall boy, spitting on the ground with a sneer. "Consider this a lesson." Then they both laughed and sauntered away, leaving Louis in anguish, his face marked with pain.

Louis, a student at City C's prestigious university, was diligent in his studies and consistently ranked first in his class. Yet, he was a target for bullies due to his introverted nature and slight build. The university's lax supervision allowed these unsavory characters to infiltrate its halls, preying on those they perceived as weak.

Standing alone in the corridor, Louis collected his schoolbag from the ground, his face a canvas of silent suffering. He eventually left the premises, his heart heavy with unanswerable questions. "Why?" he asked himself over and over. "Why do they single me out? Why not someone else?"

His inquiries remained unanswered, shrouded by the encroaching evening darkness. Louis returned home, wiping away his tears before entering. He didn't want his family to see the scars of his torment. Being weak didn't mean he lacked self-respect. In fact, his self-esteem might have been stronger than the others.

Upon entering his home, he found only his mom at home, a warm meal awaiting him on the table. "Come and eat before it gets cold," Mom urged.

As Louis sat down to eat, his mom said: “Your dad is working the night shift tonight." Louis proceeded to eat, concealing his inner turmoil behind a façade of normalcy.

Louis hailed from a modest household. His father toiled on the railway, often working nights, while his mother managed a small business. Despite not being affluent, the family never lacked for necessities.

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The following day dawned like any other. Louis adhered to his routine: reviewing the previous day's lessons, having a quick meal, and asking his mother for a dollar to bring to school. The university was just a couple of streets away. Seated at his desk in the classroom, he immersed himself in his studies.

As other students streamed in, the once-quiet classroom buzzed with life. Friends huddled together, discussing TV shows, and music, and swapping stickers. Amidst the bustling crowd, Louis' concentration wavered, and he put down his book. The fat boy who had accosted him the previous day entered the room, placing his bag on his seat. Spotting Louis in a daze, he approached with a mocking smile.

He patted Louis' head with a taunting tone. "Hey, did you bring money today?" Louis was startled, shaking his head. "I didn't bring any money."

The plump boy grinned. "No money? Well, let me check." He reached toward Louis' pocket.

Louis instinctively blocked his hand, his voice trembling. "Please don't. I need it for lunch." The fat boy's response was a resounding slap, leaving a painful mark on Louis' face. "Lying to me, huh?"

The classmates' attention now focused on Louis. He realized his self-esteem was being trampled, and it stung more than any physical blow. Nearby, Louis' desk mate, Rose, couldn't bear the scene any longer. A round-faced girl with a penchant for academics, she spoke up. "Jack, that's enough! You can't just hit someone."

Jack's finger pointed accusingly at Rose. "What's it to you?"

Undeterred, Rose raised her voice. "It's wrong to hit someone!"

Another classmate chimed in, trying to defuse the tension. "Come on, Jack, let's not escalate this. The teacher will be here soon."

"Rose, calm down." the concerned classmate said.

Rose turned away from Jack to Louis and encouraged him to stand up for himself. "Why are you so timid? The more you fear him, the worse it'll get!"

Grateful for Rose's support, Louis nodded. "Thank you."

Rose felt anger with his passive response, and she turned her back on him. The tumultuous day wore on, and after school, Louis hesitated to leave the classroom, dreading another confrontation with Jack. When only he and the duty student remained, Louis finally made his exit.

Approaching the darkened corridor on the first floor, his heart raced with apprehension. Louis cautiously proceeded, relieved at first by the absence of anyone. However, as he walked further, the door to a nearby classroom swung open, and a group of teenagers, including Jack, emerged.

Jack smirked, taunting Louis. "You kept us waiting, Louis!"

A shiver ran down Louis' spine as he stammered, "Jack, I'm sorry about this morning..."

"Never mind that. Just give me the money," Jack interrupted sharply.

"I already used my money for lunch," Louis replied with a quiver in his voice.

Jack chuckled sinisterly. "Alright then." He kicked Louis' thigh, and the others followed suit, their hostility suffocating. Jack intervened before the beating escalated too far. "Okay, that's enough. Don't mess up his face. It'll be hard to explain."

Pressing against the wall, Louis fought to suppress his tears, clutching his head. The physical pain seemed insignificant compared to the emotional anguish, the feeling of being helpless and defeated. As the tormentors departed, Louis' body slumped, and he crouched on the ground, releasing the pent-up tears that had been building within him.

Eventually, Louis regained his composure and stood up, straightening his disheveled clothes. He walked out of the university, the rain providing a semblance of solace. Raindrops masked his tears, allowing him to escape prying eyes. He desired an ordinary life, free from the torment he endured. Why was he singled out?

Drenched in the rain, Louis reached a resolution. If life punished the weak, he would forge his strength. No longer would he be subjected to bullying. The rain on this day marked the beginning of a transformation, a promise to himself: he would rise above the torment and stand tall.