Shame to Fame; The Rise of the Duderte Empire

1 - Blue!

"Oh look! It's Blue!" A voice boomed in the hallway. The voice belonged to Arthur's biggest and most persistent bully, Matthew. Or Matt, as his classmates and friends called him.

Immediately, the students that filled the hallway parted ways leaving a boy whose face was glued to his worn-out pair of Nike Air shoes in the middle of the crowd. The shoe was originally white but due to being overused, it was now brown and tattered barely covering the wearer's legs.

The leather bag that hung on his shoulder was held by the strap to the bag by a light thread that looked like it would fall apart anytime soon. The zipper of the bag was held together by wool that closed the teeth of the zip since the zipper had long worn out.

His clothes were in no better condition. They looked wrinkled and faded out. Even though the shirt was blue, the blue was faded out due to having been worn five days in a row, hence the nickname. The faded-out jean trousers covering the lower half of his body were worse than the shirt. They had torn at both knees showing off his pale skin.

'Was it time again?'

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Matthew yelled. With anger in his eyes, he walked over to the boy in the middle of the crowd who had not for once raised his head since he had been stopped in the middle of the hallway.

Matthew yanked the boy's bag by the strap and the weak thread gave up just like that sending his bag flying away. The eyes of the boy in the middle of the crowd followed the bag to the middle of a few girls who smirked and stepped on his bag like they hadn't seen it on the floor.

His eyes went up to his bully's face and immediately, he was faced with a slap.

"Are you glaring at me, Blue?" He asked pointing at him.

Arthur slowly shook his head holding his cheeks in his hand. His ocean eyes were glued to his battered shoes.

"Are you going home?" Matthew asked taking a step towards Arthur. However, before Arthur could nod or shake his head, Mathew let out a huff.

"Oh my God! When last did you have a shower?! You reek!" He yelled pinching his nose to block out the smell.

"Come over here, smell that," Matthew instructed one of his friends who also took a small step toward Arthur and then he yelled out loud,

"Oh! The smell! Did you shit yourself? Wow, you smell like shit!" He yelled shaking his head and waving the air in front of his nose.

"I knew it. Blue, when did you bathe last? It was last year, wasn't it?" Matthew asked leaning away from him.

Arthur's head calculated the last time he had a shower. Five days ago. The water to his house has been cut off since he didn't pay his water bill. And the light?

That was still working. However, he had a little time left. His electricity would be cut off due to not paying his electricity bill in was it a week or two days? He wasn't sure.

"Answer my question!" Matthew yelled throwing the boy a punch. That sent him flying away and instead of the onlookers grabbing his arm or anything to prevent him from falling, they parted ways making him hit his back against the iron lockers.

He groaned in pain and tried to sit up but it was impossible due to the pain that shot through his entire being. His soul definitely left his body for a brief second there. 

The splitting headache in his head increased and soon, it seemed like someone was drumming in his head. His hand shot up trying to block out the noise to perhaps help the condition of his head however, it was a futile attempt because soon enough, Matthew walked towards him.

"Is he blocking his ears right now?" He asked pointing at the weak helpless boy sitting by the locker.

"You bastard!" He yelled rushing towards him. Without giving the boy any time to think, he launched a kick to his stomach. 

"Ah!" Arthur yelled trying to hold on to his stomach. 

His body was in pain. Everywhere ached. His head was drumming, his stomach hurting, and his back in absolute pain. It was like everything was in slow motion. Empty bottles came flying from everywhere, used tissue papers, pens and pencils, empty packets of snacks, anything anyone could get their hands on. They threw it at Arthur and he made no move to protect himself.

He just wanted this world to end right here and right now. Enough was enough! When was he ever going to enjoy his school life?! When?! He was miserable. He just wanted to die right now. 

"Just go and die in a ditch or something!" A voice yelled and his eyes looked up to see a ginger-headed girl staring at him with pity.

The look in her eyes brought tears to his eyes and soon, tears started to roll down his cheeks. One after the other until he started sobbing.

His eyes searched beneath everyone's feet until he found his eyes found his bag. He crawled over ignoring the pulling and tugging at his clothes. He pulled his bag and hugged it to his chest. He saw a small hole that he could crawl in and he would be out of this hell of a school. 

"Exactly! Crawl back to whatever hole you came from!"

"And don't come back!" Someone added and he bit his lips to stop the sobs. He continued crawling while his classmates watched and threw whatever was left in their hands. Water-filled balloons, flour, Egg, ketchup, mustard, whipped Cream, anything!

"Hey! Someone should get oil! All that we need is oil!"

"But what would that be? Blue pie?" Someone asked and the whole class erupted in laughter.

They were laughing at him. Mocking him. And he was helpless. Weak. He couldn't even say a word.

He dragged his body out of the school compound while crying like a baby. Alas, that was the least of what was to happen to him that day.

~~~

"Have you gotten the delivery address?" Mr Gill asked. He was Arthur's superior at work. He gave the poor man so much work yet he got the least pay.

He was told to deliver 20 boxes of Pizza to 14 different locations in 10 minutes. How was he to do that? That was left to his knowledge. However, if he didn't deliver all the Pizza in 10 minutes, he wouldn't be getting his pay for the day.

"I haven't been given, sir," Arthur replied respectfully. 

"Oh! You idiot! You were meant to take it on the counter! Do I need to teach you everything like a child?!" The man yelled pointing at him.

"No, sir. I'll go and get it now." Arthur replied bowing his head. He ran into the Pizza factory and looked around for the addresses of where he would deliver the Pizza. However, after searching for minutes, he walked back out to inform his boss that he couldn't find the addresses. Just then, Melissa, a Co-worker approached him and saw that he seemed to be looking for something.

"Looking for something?" She asked ticking her delivered address. Arthur looked up at her and then nodded meekly.

"The addresses of my delivery."

"How many is it today?" She asked dropping the pen.

"20 boxes. 14 addresses. 10 minutes. But, I'll be in deep trouble if I don't the addresses soon." He replied kneeling on the floor to check beneath the table.

"I saw Mr Gill take it earlier. He didn't tell you?" Melissa said making Arthur pause.

"Mr. Gill? Our Boss?" He asked and Melissa nodded.

"Ask him."

"He... Mr. Gill asked me to look for it."

"You've been tricked." She replied walking away from him. Arthur stood on his feet with a low sigh. Then, he released a low chuckle. Of course, he had been tricked.

"Go and deliver those Pizzas before I deliver you out of this company!" Mr. Gill yelled shoving a paper in his hand.

"Alright, Sir." He replied with a bow. If he confronted him about it, he would only risk Melissa's position as well as his.

He got on his motorbike and rode to each location as fast as he could. Fortunately, a man who had ordered 6 boxes of Pizza gave him a tip of 10 dollars for arriving earlier. He was super grateful and cycled over to the last location with a huge smile on his face.

At least, he could buy something for Linda now. Her birthday was that day. He saw a popsicle stand and bought three popsicles since it was Linda's favorite snack before cycling to his last location.

He took the last box and pressed the doorbell. His mind drifted to Linda. The only person who didn't think he was disgusting. His Girlfriend.

"Coming." The person yelled from behind the door. The house was very beautiful. His eyes roamed the well-trimmed garden and a smile lit up on his face. If only he could live in this kind of place someday. The door clicked open and then,

"Blue?" Someone called and he slowly turned his head in the direction of the voice. Standing there was Matthew with a smirk.

"Hey, Guys! Come and look! It's Blue!" He yelled into the room opening the door a little bit more.

"Blue?! Where?!"

"He's the delivery guy!"

Immediately, the crowd in his house rushed out to the door but that was the least of his problems. His eyes were fixated on a girl coming into the room with a tray of brownies. She was dressed in a bikini that covered little to nothing on her body.

Arthur's eyes dilated and slowly, tears welled up in his eyes. The girl was obviously feeling at home. Like it wasn't the first time she had been there.

"Linda?" He called in a whisper.