Chapter 5

Dan wakes up in a loud bang of the door. He gets up from the floor, his body aches and his eyes are puffy red.

He opened the door. "You need something-" A big man suddenly pushed him hard. He fell down and looked up. A group of men looked at him.

A big man with a tattoo grabbed his hair. "Yes, we need something and it's money. So where's your mother?" He spoke in a sharp tone as the grip tightened.

Dan's body trembled, he could feel the pain in his head as the man pulled his hair. "I don't have money to pay you and I don't know where my mother is." he said as his lips trembled.

The man clenched his jaw and threw him. He hit his back really hard at the wall, in an instant the man kicked him in his stomach and the others started kicking him as well. Dan can only accept the kick and pain as he bites his lip until it starts bleeding.

As the others kicked him, one man saw a white thing in Dan's pocket. He got it and it's an envelope. The man opened it and inside was money. He gave it to the big man with a tattoo. "Boss." The boss grabbed it and looked inside.

They stop kicking at Dan. He looked up and his eyes widened as he saw the envelope, he pushed himself up and grabbed the man's pants. "P-please that's my only money that is left to me." He begged.

The boss bent down and gripped his cheeks with one hand.

"Do you think I care? This is not even enough from the debt."His grip tightened.

"Pay the 10 million dollars." He spoke sharply.

Dan's eyes widened. " t-ten million dollars? W-why is it suddenly that much?"

The boss smirks. "Because I said so."

Dan froze, he can't just have that lot of money.

"If you don't pay, I'll do something that you'll never forget." He threatened, his eyes dark as he stared at Dan.

"If you lie to me again that you don't have money. You still get the punishment."

The boss let go of his cheeks and got up. They leave the house.

Dan is now full of dirt and bruises. He can't get up from the floor, his body throbbing, hot. He can taste his own blood on his lips. He pushed himself up with one hand but fell back again, his body trembling. "ARGHH!" his painful scream echoes through the house. He's breathing heavily. He wanted to cry but nothing was coming out. He can no longer cry. His tears are gone after crying for 2 whole days.

He punched his fist at the floor, he punched again and again and again until his knuckles bleed. What should I do?... How can I get that much money?... Where's mom?... Why is this happening to me?... He continued punching. He didn't care if his knuckles were bleeding.

_________________

Dan entered the classroom and sat down. He put his head down.

Warren entered the room and saw Dan head down on the table. He walked towards his seat and sat down. He scanned every part of Dan's body. Warren saw a couple of bruises at Dan's arm and blood dripping from his knuckles covered with bandages. He chuckled as he stared at Dan.

Dan turned and looked beside him. "What are you laughing at?" He asked dead.

Warren saw Dan's lower lip has wounds and it's still bleeding.

"Hey, stop staring like that, creep." Dan spoke as he looked at Warren darkly.

Warren covered his mouth and laughed. Dan got more irritated.

Mr. Parker entered the class and walked towards his table. "All right, we're starting a quiz so no one will take out their textbooks."

20 minutes later…

"Time's up! Pass it up front."

Students passed it to the front and Mr. Parker started checking the papers.

"Ok! First Warren Anders up on, Second Dan Smith…"

"Wow the boring guy got second." One student whispered.

"Warren is much more amazing. He got everything right, even though we just studied it yesterday."

"Yeah, I know right. He's smart and handsome." she giggled .

"Oy! Stop gossiping. You guys didn't even make an effort to get a high mark." Mr. Parker spoke.

Dan clenched through his pen. This annoying man got first…

Warren saw Dan's reaction. He smirked. Is he angry that he didn't get everything right… How cute…

The students are laughing. Warren got snapped from his thoughts and looked away from Dan.

"Your zero Steve." The boy student chuckled.

"Bro, all he can do is be a clown." One student boy smacked Steve's back. "Hey! You didn't even get everything right." Steve spoke.

Mr. Parker clapped his hands.

"Stop now, students and let's start to study."

The class ended the bell ring for lunch break. The students started packing and leaving the classroom. Dan got up from chair and walked. Warren grabbed Dan's wrist.

Dan's eyes widened, shocked by a sudden grab. He looked at Warren."Wanna eat together?" Warren asked, still not letting go of Dan's wrist.

Dan smacked Warren's hand.

"I can eat alone." He spoke coldly.

"Hey, don't be like that. I just wanted to be your friend." Warren spoke softly as he followed Dan.

Dan stopped and turned, looked up at Warren looking at him darkly. "Stop with this bullshit and leave me alone just like what I said yesterday. Leave. Me. Alone." He then walked away.

Warren watched as Dan walked away from him. He sighs, running his hand through his hair. "He's stubborn…"

Dan walks at the hallway, his stomach rumbling. He put his hand through his pocket and took out his hand. He didn't have money. Those men took my only money…

As he walked. He can feel a lot of eyes looking at him like he's some kind of criminal. He ignored it and continued walking.

He looked at his arms and his fist, he then realized, why the students looked at him like that because of this. He stared at it blankly.

Someone then grabbed his shoulder and he flinched. "I got you a sandwich." He recognised that voice it's Warren. He then looked from his back and saw Warren holding a sandwich.

"Come on, take it." Warren spoke softly and handed it to Dan. He stared at Warren for a second and got the sandwich from Warren's hand.

Warren smiled. "Can I get a thank you from you?" He bragged.

"Thanks." Dan muttered, he took off the wrapper and ate the sandwich. Dan only cares now is eating the sandwich.

Warren watched as Dan took a bite. He noticed how small Dan's mouth is.

Dan finished the sandwich but he was still hungry.

"Wanna get some more?" Warren asked.

Dan looked at him. Is he really nice?... After what i said to him earlier…Why is he doing this?... Does he really want to be my friend?...

" Dan..."

Dan snapped from his thoughts.

"Want to get some more?" Warren asked again.

"Ok."Dan answered.

Warren smiled widely and grabbed Dan's wrist and dragged him to the cafeteria.

They arrived at the cafeteria. A lot of students crowded at the snack bar. Warren let go of Dan's wrist. "Wait here for a while." Warren then walked towards the snack bar, crowded by students.

Dan watches him. What does he mean for a while? There's a lot of students. There's no way he'll get- Dan is shocked to see Warren get at the snack bar. How did he do that?

Warren gave Dan 3 sandwiches, chips, chocolate, water and milk.

Dan stared at Warren like he's saying for real?...

Warren chuckled and pat Dan's hair. "Let's find a seat."

Warren found an empty table and walked towards it. Dan followed him.

They sat down across from each other. Dan places the food at the table. He unwrapped the sandwich and started munching.

Warren observed Dan, he couldn't help but keep staring at Dan's arms and fist. He then speaks.

"What happened to you?"

Dan looked at Warren. "Huh?"

Warren pointed at Dan's arm and knuckles.

Dan stayed silent for a second then said. "It's none of your business."

"Come on, I wanted to know." He teased me.

"It's private and I don't like telling it to you." Dan spoke flatly and looked away, continuing eating.

Warren stared at Dan, he crossed his arms. He is cold again. He tapped his finger on his arm. He then leaned towards the table.

Dan noticed that Warren was not eating. "Why are you not eating?" He asked, still not looking at Warren.

Warren noticed the change of subject, he smiled. "I'm not hungry. Don't mind me."

"I'll pay you this when I get the money." Dan spoke as he finished the sandwich and opened the milk, taking a sip.

"You don't have to pay for it. It's free." Warren spoke softly.

Dan is shocked. He didn't experience this before, he always pays for what someone gives to him. "R-really?" He asked.

Warren nodded. "Yes."

Dan looked at Warren and smiled. "Thanks." he then looked away and continued drinking the milk.

Warren stared at Dan's face. He covered his mouth and smiled widely. What a bright smile… I don't know if he can smile that warmly just because it's free… I wanted to see it again…

The bell rings signaling the end of the lunch break. Dan grabbed the food and got up.

Warren gets up as well. "You didn't eat the others." He spoke as he followed Dan.

"I purposely do it." Dan continued walking towards the classroom.

They arrived at the room. Dan walked towards his chair, put the food in his bag and sat down. Warren sat down as his chair. Warren moved his table close to Dan.

"What are you doing?" Dan asked.

"I wanted to be close to you." Warren replied.

"Stop it, you're giving me goosebumps." Dan moved his table away.

The teacher gets in and starts the class.

Warren keeps watching Dan when the teacher is not looking. He noticed how he writes perfectly, how focused Dan listens to the teacher and writes everything. He then looked at the front , leaned at his chair and crossed his arms, tapping his finger at his arm.

After the final bell rings. The students packed their things as well as Dan.

Dan left the school and straight to the store.

Dan entered the store and Mr. Brice saw Dan's appearance. "Kid, what happened to you?" Mr. Brice asked.

Dan didn't answer, just looked away.

Mr. Brice sighed, walked away.

A few minutes later he came back and handed Dan a cream and a bandage. "The cream is for your lip and the bandage is for your fist."

Dan took the cream and the bandage.

"Thanks, sir." He spoke in a low voice.

He started to apply the cream on his lip and wrapped his knuckles with a bandage.

Mr. Brice watched him intently. He spoke again.

"Are you sure you can still work?"

Dan finished wrapping his knuckles. He looked up at him.

"I can still work." He replied firmly.

Mr. Brice looked at him, not convinced.

"Are you sure?" He asked again.

Dan nodded his head.

"Yes, I can still do it." He replied firmly again.

Mr. Brice still looked doubtful. He sighed.

"Alright, I'll let you work. But if I see that you are not fully capable, I'll make you go home."

Mr. Brice handed him the apron.

"I'll be at my house. It's just beside the store. Go to my house when you need something." Mr. Brice patted his shoulder and left the store.

Dan wears the apron and ties the string.

He then looked around the store. It was quiet, the store was empty. No one was there.

He took a deep breath and started restocking the shelves.

After a long time of work. He stopped to take a break.

He sat on the chair and leaned on the counter, sighing.

His body was tired and his bruises were aching but he didn't care, he had to keep working.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to relax but his mind was still running.

His thoughts were full of worries and doubts.

The store bell suddenly rings, signaling the arrival of a customer.

Dan was startled, he opened his eyes and looked at the customer who just came in.

. . .

He got home and opened the door, his body still aching after working two jobs and his bruises.

He clicked the light. The house is still dirty and there's dried blood on the floor where he punched so many times. I'm pathetic… my mom will be angry if she saw this… He sighs. "I shouldn't live like this…"