Geno entered his school gate and greeted the guard who was not even surprised upon seeing him coming late. He took out the student logbook and gave the pen to Geno.
“Looks like your friend was getting trashed again,” the guard told him.
“He’s not fighting back?” Geno asked while signing his name on the paper.
“Do you think it’s better if he doesn’t?” the guard asked him.. “I already gave the boys a warning though, but I doubt those kids will stop just like that.”
“Ahh,” Geno nodded without answering his question. He returned the pen and when he was about to leave, he heard a cat’s purr. He turned around and saw a silver kitten crawling near the guard’s post.
“Oh, this Persian boy got lost again,” the guard said.
“So the crabby cat already gave birth?” Geno asked him as he knelt on the ground. He placed his index finger under the kitten’s chin and started to fiddle him. “You shouldn’t stray away from your mother.”
“Yes, it was yesterday. The time he was born,” the guard said. “Do you want to take him?”
Geno shook his head and stood up, “I even have no time to take care of myself.”
The guard chuckled and nodded, “Guess you’re right.”
When Geno left, the guard stared at his back with eyes filled with sadness as he whispered, “Is it not the time to gather the scattered stones?”
* * *
“I told you not to show your face again,” Jude said as he slapped Andrew’s face in front of four other students along the grade 10th corridor. “Do you really enjoy getting slapped huh?”
Andrew just stood there with no complaints, his eyes turned down to the floor. He had already received a couple of punches and kicks from the other boys before and a few slaps wouldn’t mind him.
“Hey noob! What is this? You’re not even fighting back, huh? Are you gay?” Jude shouted repeatedly hitting him in the head.
“It’s Geno,” one of the boys whispered to Jude.
Everyone turned around and saw Geno walking along the hallway. Jude stopped hitting Andrew and smiled. “You came.”
Geno stopped walking and asked, “What’s going on?”
Jude came near him and whispered, “Oh yes. Don’t worry, Silvertoes is not yet in.”
“Right. I should have slept more,” he said disappointed.
“By the way man, we’ll be having a house party tonight. I told--”
“Not interested man,” he cut him off and started moving away from them.
“I knew it,” Jude followed him. “That’s why we are doing it in your house.”
Geno stopped right in front of Andrew. He looked at him and sneered, “No way man. My place’s a mess.”
Jude placed his arms around him and continued, “I know. That’s why I told Lilah to clean up, ok? Just chill. It’ll be fun.”
“That bitch, did she say yes?” Geno asked.
Jude smiled and patted him at the back. Geno shook his head and removed Jude’s hands from his shoulder. “I’ll think about it,” he said with a big sigh and walked away.
“C’mon man,” Jude called at him. When he was already far away from them, he turned back to Andrew and gave him a final blow in the stomach.
“Serves you right,” the boys said as they watch him fall on his knees. They laughed together and left him in the hallway.
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