2025-04-21 07:31:05A sudden rush of noise snapped Gerald out of his study bubble. It had started out as a buzz, but now it seemed like there might be a commotion. Gerald sighed, he really didn’t care for things like this, he was entirely devoted to his schoolwork. He had his eyes set on the Founder’s Scholarship Award for his next school year, and despite the fact that his grades were good, the scholarship was very competitive— he had to be exceptional.
He was already diving back into studying when someone breezed past him. He looked up and saw students in the library rushing out and rushing to the window to see what the commotion was about. This piqued his interest and suddenly he was among them, craning his head from the window to try and get a glimpse of what was happening on the lawn downstairs.
People were gathered around something, like spectators in a fight. The object of their attention wasn't visible from his vantage point but Gerald had a fair idea what it might be. He was mildly curious, but usually with commotions like this, it was either one of his schoolmates' rich and imprudent parents had gotten them an undeserved, overly expensive car, or a spoiled and lovesick guy was proposing to his equally spoiled influencer girlfriend.
From the cheers he was hearing, he figured it was a proposal. He decided to confirm. He squeezed himself out of the eager crowd by the window and quickly tapped a guy who was headed downstairs.
“Hey, bro, do you know what's going on down there?”
The guy stopped only for a second to glare at Gerald while wiping the spot that Gerald had touched on his arm.
Gerald’s jaw ticked and he turned to see who else he could ask; this was a common experience for him, he should have expected it.
“Hey, excuse me—” he tried again.
“Get the fuck out of my way, deadbeat!” The second guy raised his voice for everyone within five feet of them to hear.
Once they noticed who he was speaking to, they all snickered.
“This doesn't concern you at all, loser; go solve some math or whatever.” A girl muttered as she passed by him, hitting his shoulder and giving him a look of disdain.
Gerald clenched his jaw. Just one question. Would it kill them to answer just one question?
He returned to his desk, still hearing some of them snickering at him. A year ago he would have been angry; unfortunately, he'd now learned to deal with everyone's constant name-calling and dismissal. No one respected him or gave a shit what happened to him. To them, he was a pauper who was staining their precious school with his dirty presence.
He only had two friends: one who worked part-time at the coffee shop where he worked to pay off some of his fees — his current scholarship only covered fifty percent of what he needed— and the other had been his partner for a class project.
He decided what was going on outside wasn't worth disrespect and returned to his table, fully prepared to lock in.
Soon after, chants of “Say yes! Say yes!” filled the air— even those at the window joined in. Gerald shook his head; he'd been right. He wondered which of the popular boys it was, but it didn't concern him either way so he just continued going through his flashcards.
“Suzi! Suzi! Suzi!”
Gerald’s head snapped up at that. He was sure he’d misheard. But—
“Come on, Suzi!”
Someone said the name again.
Gerald dropped his flashcards immediately, his ears completely tuned to what was going on. Because the only Susan that was called Suzi in the entire school was his girlfriend, Susan Reay.
He and Susan had only been dating for a few months, and he was sure that he was in love with her. She’d never told him she loved him, but he knew that she at least cared about him, and he was sure it was only a matter of time before her feelings for him became as defined as his.
The cheering got louder, and he bolted to another window for a better view, scanning the crowd. From his view, he caught a glimpse of the girl being proposed to— red sundress with her hair pinned just the way Susan’s had been that morning. No… It couldn’t be.
He rushed out of the library. No. That couldn't be Suzi.
As he pushed through the crowd, people shoved him aside, annoyed at his presence. “Watch it, loser,” someone snapped. “Filth, you’re blocking my camera!”
But Gerald didn’t care. He needed to know; he needed to see for himself…
When he finally broke through to the front, the world stopped spinning, his vision blurred a little bit, and he froze.
There she was. Susan. His girlfriend. Blushing and smiling, hand extended proudly. A huge, glittering ring on her finger catching the sun’s rays and oppressing every other girl within a five-foot radius. It was the kind of ring that didn’t just say ‘You’re mine’—it screamed money!
Kneeling before Susan was Alex Lambert.
Gerald felt the blood drain from his face.
Alex Lambert was practically the richest guy on campus. And with the perfect playboy look— Tall. Golden-haired. Casually dressed in designer outfits worth more than Gerald’s entire life savings. He wasn’t just rich. He was campus royalty.
Gerald’s knees buckled slightly. He swallowed and did his best to maintain composure.
This had to be a mistake. A cruel prank.
He lunged forward and grabbed Susan’s hand. “Su… Wh– what is this?” he asked gently, voice shaking. “Is this some kind of surprise? A prank? Talk to me…”
Susan’s smile vanished. She turned to see who had dared to interrupt her moment. The minute her eyes landed on Gerald, they filled with irritation.
“How dare you touch me!” She snapped, jerking her hand away.
The crowd burst into laughter, reminding Gerald the exact situation he was in— a lot of students were watching the whole exchange. But Gerald couldn't even feel shame right now, he just wanted to understand what was going on.
“Su, is this because of the money you asked for this morning? I can find a way, I—I'll get it.”
That morning she'd asked for fifteen thousand dollars to buy a bag she really liked. He'd shut it down, explaining he only had a tenth of that as his entire life savings. She'd stormed off angry. This had to be some sort of revenge prank…
Alex rose to his feet. “Back off, street rat. She’s mine. Whatever delusions you had, keep it away from us.”
Gerald was stunned. “Yours? What are you saying? She’s my girlfriend!”
More laughter.
It was absurd indeed— the campus pauper claiming the campus queen was his. Yeah that was obviously a joke.
Susan scoffed. “Me? Your girlfriend?” she repeated mockingly. “You’re delusional. I don't even know you. You run errands for people and that’s it.”
The words cut deeper than any blade.
“Susan! How can you—we’ve been dating for months,” Gerald protested, his voice cracking involuntarily.
She rolled her eyes. Gerald could barely stand. The betrayal was more than emotional— it was public, it was devastating. He couldn't believe it. He was the reason Susan had the kind of grades that she had. He'd helped her with assignments, projects, he'd gotten into trouble for her!
He felt cold and hot all over. Was he dreaming?
It made sense now… all the secretiveness, refusing to be seen in public with him... He’d thought it was privacy. Protection. But now… now he realized the truth: she was ashamed of him. She'd been using him.
Alex stepped forward, towering over him. “Here, let me show you what a real man looks like,” he said with a smug grin.
Then, in one cruel move, he grabbed Susan by the waist, slapped her backside, then squeezed for all to see, and pulled her into a deep, lustful kiss.
The crowd erupted in whistles and cheers.
Gerald snapped.
He lunged at Alex, fists flying. But before he could land a proper hit, he was yanked backward.
Alex smirked. “Three grand for anyone who can keep him down.”
The students tightened their grip. Gerald trashed, struggling against them, but it was futile, he was outnumbered.
The beating began.
Punches to the stomach. Kicks to his ribs. Gerald tried to yell for help but choked on his own blood. He scanned the sea of faces above him, eyes pleading for help— for mercy. He found Susan’s face.
She was smiling, laughing, her eyes twinkling, enjoying the show.
The final blow came not from Alex’s fist, but from the realization in Gerald’s heart: she hadn't just never loved him. She hadn't even cared about him, he'd just been a tool.
Alex beat him up until he was satisfied. Then he pulled Susan away, and they drove off.
They left him there— bloody, wounded, humiliated.
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Gerald was left there lying in the grass. The crowd dispersed, people crossed over him, no one offered a hand. The laughter echoed in his ears like his own personal humiliation playlist.It wasn’t just the betrayal or the beating—it was the shame, the mockery, the way Susan had looked him in the eye and denied knowing him like he was some worthless stray.His friends—Terry and Juliet— soon came, harried and frantic. They pushed through the crowd, panicked and breathless, only to find their friend on the ground, bloodied and silent.“Gerald! Oh my God! Gerald, can you hear me?” Juliet cried out as she cradled his head.Gerald couldn't respond. His head was spinning, his vision blurry, his hearing distorted.Terry didn't waste time, he flagged down a cab and together, he and Juliet got him to the hospital. His wounds were cleaned and stitched, but still Gerald said nothing. He lay there staring blankly at the ceiling, his mind spiraling into a thousand places at once— but always returni