Pay me and I'll beat someone up for you.

Doesn't matter who it is.

A junior, a senior, even someone who's paid me before.

Most of the time they won't report me, but even if they do, I don't care...

I'll just rat out whoever paid me, they'll get punished too.

No one likes or trusts me, but no one wants to mess with me either, so they keep their distance.

I'll do anything for money.

Without money, I'd starve.

Khairul was eating a burger behind the stall, while Hazim turned off the lights. It looked like all the tables and chairs had been stored in the van.

"Here's your salary for this month." Hazim handed Khairul an envelope of money, which he took immediately.

"Thanks, boss." Khairul smiled as he pulled out the money from the envelope and counted it piece by piece.

"I have to head back to my hometown tomorrow. I'll be back on Monday. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone," Hazim warned as he walked towards his van.

"No promises," Khairul replied sarcastically, smiling as he put the envelope in his pocket.

"Please, Khai..." Hazim sighed as he got into his van, and moments later, he drove off.

The night sky was adorned with the moon and stars. Khairul mounted his motorcycle, taking a deep breath while closing his eyes.

"It's pretty cold tonight..."

He sped through the road, riding fast when he was alone. Several times, he weaved between the cars on the road.

Khairul stopped at a bridge, got off his motorcycle, and walked towards the railing of the bridge.

"Mom..."

Not a single day goes by without me thinking about that day. The day I was supposed to die. On this bridge...

I was thrown out of the front window of the car and ended up on the road, my head drenched in blood, my whole body in pain, with shards of the car's glass piercing my body.

As my blurry vision slowly cleared, the first thing I saw was Mother still in the car, her head bleeding, the front of the car crushed.

"Mo...m! Mom!"

With the last bit of strength I had, I could only scream.

I should have died too, but I didn't.

I lived.

The old man changed after Mother was gone, he was angry, angry at me. Angry that I was still alive.

"You should've died! Why are you alive... you're just a burden to me!"

At first, hearing those words hurt. It's not like I asked to survive that accident. But when nearly every day I was beaten, punched, whipped, kicked, and cursed... I became numb.

I knew I couldn't fight him. He was bigger and stronger than me.

I also realized that I'm just like the old man. When my hands hurt someone, there's a satisfaction I feel, the anger, the resentment... all of it released when my fists connect with someone else's face.

I'm just as terrible as he is, so what right do I have to judge him?

Nasuha and her father were having dinner together, but the atmosphere was gloomy. Nasuha didn't speak or even look at her father. Since the day her father slapped her, they hadn't exchanged a single word.

Nasuha finished her meal first and washed her plate. Her father walked over to the sink with his dirty plate.

"Just leave it, I'll wash it," Nasuha said.

"Ah, okay..." Her father placed the plate down, glancing at his daughter with a troubled expression before walking away.

It wasn't like Dad had never punished me before. I used to get pinched or hit with a cane when I was younger. That was normal, I think. I was probably a bit mischievous, always jumping around here and there.

But for some reason, I felt truly betrayed when he slapped me that day. I was scared too. I can't see him the same way anymore. My own father slapped me... he doesn't trust me at all...

I just need time...

"Do you want Dad to give you a ride?" her father asked as he came down the stairs while she was dressed in her school uniform.

"No need. I'll walk like usual. I'm leaving now." Nasuha rejected his offer, walking out without even looking at him.

"N-Nasuha," her father called, making her stop in her tracks.

"I'm just worried if it rains again like yesterday... You were late coming home again," her father said, looking sad.

"I've brought an umbrella. Don't worry," Nasuha replied and left the house. Her father stood frozen for a moment, clenching his fists.

It's been a week since I've been bullied or bothered by anyone, but I'm still cautious. They could start again at any time, especially now that Syauqi is back at school after disappearing for a week following Khairul's beating.

The cut on Nasuha's wrist was healing, and she kept it hidden under her sleeve. As she exited the bathroom, the morning school atmosphere was bustling, with students gathering in the assembly area.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Cases of bullying and fighting are increasing in this school. Teachers remind everyone not to be afraid to report it... We'll do our best to-."

Nasuha stopped listening to Mr. Syahir's speech when she realized the hypocrisy behind it. She looked at him with a disgusted expression.

"Tch, liar."

"That kid should be expelled," Syauqi said, surrounded by his male friends and Hanna. They were chatting energetically. Nasuha sat at her desk, flipping through the pages of her textbook out of boredom.

Syauqi shot her a glance from afar. Hanna noticed him looking at Nasuha and lightly tapped her boyfriend's shoulder.

"Syauqi, who are you looking at?" Hanna asked. Syauqi smirked and then turned to Hanna.

"I heard you guys have a surprise for her," Syauqi said, still smiling.

"Of course... It's only complete with you there," Hanna replied with a grin. Syauqi glanced back at Nasuha, his sinister smile still on his face.

"Do you think you got away? We're going to let you think you're safe, Nasuha... and then destroy you. Acting like you can challenge me after everything that happened?"

"Urgh..." Khairul's eyes slowly opened as he woke from his sleep. His bed was a mess, and his room was in complete disarray. He got up, his hair unkempt and wild.

"1 o'clock already? Seriously? I slept like a log." He grabbed the shirt draped over a chair in his room and quickly put it on.

When he left his room, the house was dark, illuminated only by the sunlight peeking through the windows. Khairul walked into the living room, where there was no one in sight—just cigarette butts left carelessly on the table.

Suddenly, his stomach growled.

"I'm starving..." he muttered to himself.

Khairul stepped out of his house, motorcycle keys in hand. He sped through the residential streets and onto the main road. In his rush, he didn't notice the sky growing darker with gray clouds looming overhead.

The school bell rang.

Nasuha glanced out of the classroom window, noticing the sky growing dim. A few students were already leaving the class with their bags, following their friends.

"It really is the rainy season... Good thing I brought my umbrella this time." Nasuha smiled as she took the umbrella out of her bag.

Suddenly, the classroom door slammed shut. Nasuha quickly turned toward the door. One of Hanna's friends was standing there, blocking the way. At the back door, one of Syauqi's friends stood guard, preventing any escape.

The situation immediately became tense as Nasuha realized she was alone, surrounded by Syauqi and Hanna's group of friends.

"Miss me, Nasuha?!" Syauqi kicked her from behind, sending her crashing onto several chairs.

Nasuha froze in pain, turning to look at Syauqi with a frightened expression.

"No one's going to save you now... Don't worry, even if a teacher is nearby, it won't be hard to shut you up." Syauqi smirked. Nasuha slowly stood up, wincing from the pain.

"What more do you want? I thought your little charade was over," Nasuha sighed.

"You always have something smart to say, don't you? I hate girls with a sharp tongue like yours," Syauqi sneered as he approached her.

"But you're dating Hanna? Wow." Nasuha retorted again, only to be slapped hard across the face by Hanna. A few of Hanna's female friends started to gather around, forming a circle around Nasuha.

"I could always pay someone to beat you up." Syauqi taunted as Hanna's friends began to kick and hit Nasuha, some stomping on her, others swinging a broomstick at her.

"Egh! S-Stop!" Nasuha screamed, and they paused for a moment. She was gasping for air, exhausted from trying to defend herself and withstand the pain.

"The difference between you and me... is that I'm not afraid to use my own hands." As Nasuha lifted her face, she was met with a punch squarely to her right eye from Syauqi.

I was careless...

I was stupid...

How could I forget how cruel they all are?

They stopped bullying me for just one week...

The pain and suffering I feel now are worse than ever before.

The rain poured down heavily.

Nasuha stood in front of her scattered belongings, soaked by the rain in the assembly area. Her right eye was bruised, and her lips were bleeding.

Khairul, on the other hand, was taking shelter at a food stall, watching the rain pour down as he let out a long sigh.

"I should've brought my raincoat. It's the rainy season now," he muttered to himself.

Only when I manage to win just once...

Am I brought down like this.

Khairul.

I don't want to blame you, but it's better if you just leave me. Just let whatever happens to me happen.

Under the heavy rain, Nasuha walked on, wearing only her left shoe after her right one was thrown onto the school roof. Her blue skirt was cut and torn. Her expression was blank.

Due to the heavy rain, Nasuha was not easily visible from a distance. She passed by the eatery where Khairul was sitting. Some customers noticed what they were seeing—a shadow of a girl in a school uniform walking in the middle of the road, drenched in rain.

Khairul was also watching the shadow of the girl. Unable to recognize who he was looking at, Khairul asked himself.

"Who's the crazy one walking in a storm like this?" he wondered aloud. Then he noticed that the girl had long black hair. The long hair was almost similar to...

"Because of you, I no longer feel like killing anyone, hahaha."

"Nasuha?" Khairul stood up, still uncertain. He remembered that Nasuha walked home, but it didn't make sense that she would walk in such heavy rain after seeking shelter with him a few days ago.

He recalled the moment Nasuha left Hazim's burger stall, illuminated by the orange sunlight, her hair flying in the breeze.

"Ah... damn it. How would I know if that's her, right?!" Khairul monologued to himself, then hurried to his motorcycle. While he was deep in thought, Nasuha had already disappeared from view.

However, Khairul continued to ride his motorcycle, braving the stormy rain.

How long have I been walking? I think I stepped on something sharp; the sole of my foot feels sore...

Where am I? I can't see anything in this storm...

No one will see me... No one... knows me.

Nasuha's hand brushed against a type of fence, and when she looked ahead, she saw a road rising in front of her. She was on a bridge.

Nasuha continued her steps, blood flowing from her left foot, pierced by a nail, but she could no longer feel it. The pain in her heart hurt more than anything, leaving Nasuha unable to feel anything anymore.

The drain below the bridge flowed rapidly. Nasuha just stared at it, gripping the bridge railing and grinding her teeth.

I can't take it anymore... I want to disappear...

I want to leave this place!

From that damn school!

From those stupid teachers!

From those devil bullies!

From that foolish father!

No one cares. No one believes me!

Every day is just pain! I haven't done anything wrong!

I might as well die... I can't take it anymore!

Nasuha climbed the railing of the bridge when the bright light of a motorcycle became visible. Khairul revved his motorcycle as soon as he saw someone climbing the bridge railing.

"Oi! What are you doing! Oi! Stop!" Khairul shouted, but his voice was barely audible over the heavy rain. He tried to accelerate again, but the tires slipped, causing him to skid and fall off his motorcycle.

Khairul lay on the road, while Nasuha stood on the bridge railing, moving her arms to the sides. Khairul lifted his head, a deep gash on his forehead bleeding profusely.

Finally, Khairul was close enough to see that the girl he had been chasing was indeed Nasuha. With the last bit of strength he had, he jumped and pulled Nasuha down from the railing.

"Nasuha!"

Nasuha fell onto Khairul's body.

"Let me go!" Nasuha screamed, quickly standing up again, but Khairul held onto her hand and pulled her down to sit in front of him.

"Ahhhhh!" Nasuha tried to fight back, but Khairul struggled to control her. Nasuha's hand brushed against the cut on Khairul's forehead.

"N-Nasuha! It's me! I'm Khairul! Khai!" Khairul finally managed to grab both of Nasuha's hands and bring her down. They looked at each other.

"Khai-rul..." Nasuha's expression softened, and Khairul smiled bitterly.

"It hurts, you know? Ouch...ouch..." Khairul sighed, releasing Nasuha's left hand and lightly touching his own wound.

"What? How come?" Nasuha asked, confused.

"I noticed... there was a crazy girl walking alone in this storm. I thought about going crazy too and following her. Turns out it was you... Nasuha." Khairul said, as Nasuha's tears were hidden by the rain.

Khairul noticed the bruises around Nasuha's eyes, her split lip, and her dirty left foot, along with her torn blue skirt.

"That piece of shit... did he bother you again?" Khairul asked. Nasuha simply nodded. Khairul's eyes sharpened.

"Tell me everything."