"So, how have you been today?" asked Billy.

"I've been... pretty good... Why did you want to come here?"

"Because I wanted to spend some time with you?"

"You wanted to spend time with me?", now he wants me around too? Weird.

"Yeah. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. And that I've changed."

"But you already apologized."

"I know. But that doesn't mean you've forgiven me.

Yeah. And I haven't. Maybe I even never will. Even if we ever become friends.

He didn't say anything after that. Instead, he just stared deep into my eyes with those blue ones of his. I guess he was waiting for a reply.

"...No. No, I haven't."

"What can I do for you to forgive me?"

"I... don't know...", it's true. I have no idea what he can do to redeem himself. He's hurt me more than enough times. And worst of all, I had nothing to do with his motive. It was his own family. His own problems. Why did I have to suffer because of them?

"...I guess that makes sense. Well, just so that you know, I'm not the same Bully-Billy you knew from before. I realized that just because you have everything I didn't, doesn't mean you had to suffer. I took all my anger out on you, when you did nothing wrong. It should have been my mother and her boyfriend that should suffer, not someone as innocent as you. And..."

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He sniffled a bit. I could tell that he was holding back tears. He clearly regrets what he's done. And I applaud him for taking responsibility, but no matter how much he wants the past to be different, he can't change anything about it.

"And even if you do somehow forgive me...", he continued, "I have no idea if I'll ever be able to forgive myself."

"Why me though? Why not somebody else?"

"W-well... you are the most quiet around school, and no mother was as happy to see her child after school as yours was, so... I just... I couldn't stand to see you with~"

"And I hate how strong you are. I hate how popular you are. Everybody in school loves you. But you don't see me beating you up daily because of that, do you?"

"...No. But, that's... different..."

"Different how?! I get jealous too!", I could feel my face getting red. Was it because I was angry, or because I was just hurt? I know that I wasn't actually jealous of him. I just wanted to give him an example.

"Everyone can be popular at school! Sure thing, I have a lot of friends, but none of them are genuine. They are just around me because the girls love me, and well... no amount of girls or fake friends can replace the love a child needs from its mother..."

I could clearly see his eyes were watering. He was right though. I shouldn't have said that.

"I... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that..."