Revenge of the Hideous Lady by Moonlight

"Ever since I transferred into that school, a few rebellious kids in my class started bullying me," Lukas Ronaldo said, describing what happened all those years ago. "They'd secretly add glue to my water and even relieved themselves into my lunchbox.

"They'd force me to smoke regularly, so I had to. Otherwise, their gang would beat me up.

"For the longest time, I couldn't understand why they hated me so much, but I finally understood after that incident.

"They hated me for being so goody-two-shoes. They found it annoying that I was much better academically, and I kept my nose clean.

"Somehow, they made me seem tainted by forcing me to smoke. They were probably just jealous, I guess," he finished softly.

Those were scars of his past that he could never erase.

Recalling back his story was like tearing his scabbed wound apart little by little.

The painful reminders of his past made breathing difficult for him.

Those days in school back then were his worst nightmare. He never wanted to bring that up again.

He thought he was indeed close to forgetting about it, too, if it wasn't for that picture resurfacing now.

school troubles to Xyla. He peered up at

think the seemingly jolly Lukas would have such a painful past. She never expected those

people

told her, even though she had never encountered something like

Frowning slightly, she began

into the

"Lukas, understand, and you.net

anything. I'll take

words made his heart feel

unshed tears in his eyes. "Okay.

said with a laugh. "It's weird. From now on, call me

Xyla," he obeyed softly. "Why do you trust me so much? Didn't you

asked,

know you and your

seem happy about smoking in the

sort of person.