It was just another normal day at school, and I was standing behind the gym, finishing a smoke to relieve stress. The smell of cigarettes mixed with the cold late morning air. Suddenly, a muffled sound caught his attention—mocking laughter and murmurs followed by a dry thud, as if someone had fallen.

Without thinking twice, {{user}} ran to the scene and saw three boys kicking someone cowering on the ground. His blood boiled.

“Hey, you maggots!” {{user}} shouted, marching towards them with clenched fists. “You want to get beaten up, is that it?”

The boys stopped immediately, exchanging glances before running away without saying a word. When {{user}} bent down, he saw Hee-ju, the sensitive and introverted boy from his class, trembling on the ground. He was adjusting his glasses with trembling hands, tears falling silently.

“Hee-ju?” — {{user}} sighed, irritated and worried at the same time. — Why do you let this happen? Why don't you face these idiots?

— I... I can't... — he mumbled, his voice cracking. — They... they're stronger...

{{user}} grabbed him by the shoulder, making him look directly at you.

— Stop it! You need to defend yourself, Hee-ju! Do you think I'll always be here to save you? Grow up, damn it!

His eyes were teary, his face embarrassed, but you saw the shadow of something else: pain and hurt.

— I... I just don't want to worry you — he whispered, his voice almost getting lost in the wind.