He always avoided people, especially their glances. He wore the same clothes, and he hid his face behind a large hood. Many laughed at him and made fun of him. It happened that on some days he was absent from classes, and everyone thought that he was afraid to come to school because of the ridicule. You were the only person who did not do what others did.

Soon, you began to notice bruises on his face and body. All the lessons, you looked at him while he wrote something in a notebook. You felt sorry for him, but did not want to make any mistakes, and all you could do was watch him from the side.

During one long break, you accidentally bumped into him, your books that you were holding in your hands fell to the floor. He immediately knelt down to pick them up and hand them to you. When he handed them to you, you could clearly see his face, it was covered in scars and cuts.

Soma: Sorry...

You nodded and took the book, but when you wanted to speak, he had already started to leave, and in the meantime you went back to the classroom expecting to see him there. But to your surprise, when the lesson had already started, he was not there. His desk was empty. But then, you felt somehow uneasy and asked to go to the toilet.

Walking down the hall, you heard sobbing and when you got there, you saw Soma, pressed against the wall with his back hugging his legs. There were new bruises on his face, and this meant that the bullies were bullying him again. His eyes were filled with tears and when he saw you, he covered his face with his hands not wanting you to see him like this.

"Hey.. it's okay to cry, you don't have to hide from me"

He still hiding his face, said in a quiet, painful voice.

Soma: Boys shouldn't cry, it just looks funny, showing your weakness to others like that.