Aaron The Phoenix

"Well, well, look who is here, Aaron the goof. Still counting how many girls ignored you today?" A girl said with a mocking voice. But it was not just any girl. It was Samantha, the one Aaron had a crush on. Actually, Aaron had just stumbled and fell hard to the ground, landing in a clumsy heap. The books he carried under his armpits scattered everywhere, and his glasses slid off his face, skidding across the floor. Loud and mocking laughter broke out from students around him, tearing away his fragile focus. But the worst was Samantha's words. They stung Aaron like thorns. With his vision blurred without his glasses, he bit his lip, trying to hold back the tears threatening to well up in his eyes. Just then, he saw his glasses lying a little farther away. He rushed to grab them and felt better once they were back on, his vision clear again. A harsh, threatening voice came from ahead, and Aaron knew it at once. He lifted his head and saw what he feared. It was Tyson, the leader of the university bullies. M Tyson stood tall, imposing and arrogant, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Oops, look who stumbled on his own feet. Maybe your books are distracting you too much to walk properly," he sneered with a cruel laugh. Anger mixed with fear surged through Aaron. It was clear Tyson had deliberately tripped him with his foot, but Aaron forced himself not to meet Tyson's eyes, knowing any defiance would only make things worse. He felt the heat of embarrassment rise to his cheeks as he gathered his books, but his heart sank when he saw the ring, a precious heirloom from his mother, rolling near Tyson's foot. He knew Tyson wouldn't miss noticing his most prized possession and would likely confiscate it. Without thinking, Aaron lunged for the ring. "No!" he murmured, grabbing it just before Tyson could see.m Seeing Aaron at his feet, Tyson's eyes darkened with anger. "What are you doing, goofball? You want people to think I deliberately made you stumble?" he yelled, sounding very angry. Aaron straightened up, holding the ring tightly in his trembling hand. "I didn't mean to... I just..." “You think you can accuse me in front of everyone?” Tyson cut him off in a threatening voice. In an instant, he kicked Aaron in the side, making him groan in pain. The other students watched, some amused, some not caring, but no one stepped in. Tyson grabbed Aaron by the collar and shook him hard. “Apologize!” he shouted. “I… I didn’t do it… I’m sorry,” Aaron stammered, his voice weak as Tyson’s strength choked him. Then, Tyson punched him in the stomach with a clenched fist, knocking Aaron back several steps. Aaron gritted his teeth and held in his cry. Through the pain, all he cared about was keeping hold of the ring, refusing to let it fall. Seemingly satisfied, Tyson let go. Aaron swallowed his pain and humiliation, forcing it down as he scrambled to gather his scattered things, his hands shaking. He held the ring to his sore chest, turned quickly, and ran off while the hallway still echoed with cruel laughter. As he walked with heavy steps, his mind tormented by the humiliating incident, Aaron gripped his mother's ring in his hand, looking at it with a mixture of sorrow and contained anger. She gave it to him as a lucky charm before being taken away by a cancer. He arrived at a secluded corner of the campus and stopped near a trash bin, briefly considering the idea of discarding the ring. "Is it really worth it?" he wondered aloud, his fingers caressing the smooth contours of the The object whose he now questioned the value. He closed his eyes and prepared to throw it away when he realized he couldn't simply abandon this relic of his mother. It was all he had left of her, a tangible link to his past that he refused to let go of despite the cruelty he had just endured to protect it. Suddenly, girls' voices echoed behind him. Aaron tensed, recognizing the mocking tone even before hearing their words. "Hey, look! It's Aaron, the elephant head!" one of them giggled, followed by stifled laughter. Although accustomed to mockery, the remark still hurt him. He lowered his head with shame and embarrassment. Then without a word, he turned and quickly walked away, ignoring the persistent taunts that pursued him. Back at his apartment, Aaron locked himself in his room. He set his mother’s ring on the desk, his eyes filling with unshed tears. Lost in his thoughts, a notification on his phone snapped him out. A video of him was circulating on social media, filmed when he was gathering his scattered belongings in the university hallway, under the mocking sneers of the other students, except someone had edited the video to add elephant ears to him, taking care to cut out from the video the parts where Tyson mistreated him. "The ears suit him well. Looks like he was born with them. 😂😂🤣🤣" "Only idiots get filmed like this, believe me, this guy is a loser," he could read on comments with mocking stickers. Aaron's heart squeezed painfully. Not only had he been humiliated, but now his suffering was on display for everyone to see. Tears silently streamed down his cheeks as he felt trapped in his life. The temptation to give up the examination that would take place the next day grew within him, the desire to retreat into the shadows and hide forever. But as if coming from nowhere, a sudden light of determination showed in his tearful eyes. No, rather die than continue to live like this. He had to face his fears, face Tyson once and for all, and stop the bullying. Standing in his room, Aaron had a sudden thought. He would not let Tyson or anyone else control his life. He would not let anyone ruin his future. He decided to go to the university the next day and take his exam as planned from the start. ··•·•·•·· Aaron took a deep breath and adjusted his glasses on his eyes, tuning everything out and completely focusing on the exam papers in front of him. Putting pen to paper, he began working through the exam, his concentration unwavering. As the questions unfolded, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had thoroughly prepared for this moment, and the material was familiar. It was then that a paper ball came flying and struck the back of his neck, disrupting his concentration. He turned to look and his eyes fell upon Tyson, seated at the back of the room and glaring at him intently. "I'm waiting for the answers," Aaron could read on Tyson's lips, the latter displaying an expression that was visibly self-assured and bearing a dark and haughty gaze. Aaron glanced toward the proctor, but the man had his back turned as he strolled down an aisle on the far side of the room. A cold sweat ran down Aaron's back as memories of the torment Tyson and his g**g had put him through since his first days at the university came rushing in. The surge of determination he’d felt the night before had completely vanished. His trembling hand instinctively slipped into the pocket of his jeans, retrieving the small, familiar ring that had never left him. His thoughts turned to his mother and how much she had cherished the simple piece of jewelry. He held the ring tightly in his hand, letting the memory of her love and support give him comfort. When he slid it onto his finger, he felt a new strength inside. "Mom, i promise. Whereever you are, I'll Make you proud." Then he tilted his head back slightly without turning around. "No Tyson. I'm not helping you cheat, not this time." Aaron muttered, narrowing his eyes and picking up his pen to focus again on the test. But he had barely started writing again when another ball of paper landed on his back, and another one on his head. "Send me back the balls of paper with the answers, moron." Tyson hissed at Aaron but the latter stood his ground, determined not to give in. Time ticked by, and Aaron methodically completed each section, double-checking his work and resolutely ignoring the bully. But in the meantime, Tyson had continuously glanced over at Aaron, muttering menaces under his breath and making disruptive gestures. The proctor finally noticed the commotion and made his way over to Tyson's seat. "I have been watching you for a while and It's clear you are not focused on the exam." He said once before Tyson. "I have to confiscate your examination paper and report this incident to the disciplinary board." The proctor added sternly. Tyson's face contorted with anger, "Do you have the slightest idea who you are talking to? My father won't be pleased to learn that you are threatening me during the exam." unfazed by the threat, the proctor didn't budge and simply reached out to retrieve Tyson paper. Tyson’s eyes went wide with panic and he jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over with a loud crash. He stood tall, his big frame making him look even more intimidating. His voice was low and angry when he talked. "You can’t do this to me! My dad will make sure you regret it."