"There he is! Chase after him!" exclaimed one of the five youths who had found the hideout of the person they were seeking.

"Let's go! Let's catch and finish him off!" another one responded.

The group relentlessly pursued a man who appeared worn out, his clothes ragged, his face bruised from a previous punch.

The disheveled young man was none other than Ryan, fully named Ryan Aji Sena. Ryan was being chased by the group of youths for having committed an act so egregious that it would make anyone wince just hearing about it.

(Flash back on...)

Strolling home casually, Ryan headed for the residence he shared with his mother after a day at university. That day, as he had no money for the bus fare, he was compelled to walk home.

Earlier, during a campus break, he remained quiet in class while others went to the cafeteria for snacks, which he could only yearn for silently.

Ryan continued his trek at a leisurely pace, occasionally whistling cheerfully to alleviate his boredom. However, mid-journey, he was intercepted by a group of six youths in three luxurious cars.

Vroom... Vroom...

The sleek vehicles pulled over slowly approaching Ryan.

"Oi, poor thing, walking, are we? Usually, you take the bus! Where's your dilapidated bus now? Or are you broke and can't afford the fare?" shouted one of the youths named Brian, after rolling down his car window.

Brian, the son of a business tycoon with stakes in numerous companies and about thirty percent ownership of the university Ryan attended, was notorious for his opulence and haughty demeanor.

For some reason, Brian harbored a deep-seated hatred for Ryan, who, coming from a modest background, had managed to obtain a scholarship to attend such a prestigious institution—hence he became Brian's prime target for bullying and mockery.

Ryan was unaware of why he was constantly subjected to such treatment, yet he endured it all with patience, despite the bitterness.

Ignoring Brian's taunt, Ryan didn't even glance toward the source of the voice, acting as if it were a mere trifle.

Enraged by Ryan's indifference, Brian slammed his car to a stop, startling his followers or, more fittingly, his minions.

"Why have we stopped, boss?" inquired Leo, one of Brian's underlings.

"Leo, get the others to grab that damned Ryan! He dares to ignore me again! We need to teach him a lesson!" Brian ordered.

"Right away, boss!" Leo nodded before stepping out of the car.

Leo informed his fellow five about the command to seize Ryan for his insolence.

Upon hearing this, they all agreed and exited their respective vehicles.

"So, the little urchin dares to ignore boss Brian? Excellent! Very good! Let's catch him!"

"Let's go!"

The five set off running to catch Ryan, unaware of the danger looming because he was still walking, oblivious to his surroundings.

Thud! Thud!

Two strong grips seized Ryan's shoulders abruptly.

"Got you, pauper!" sneered Leo with a grin.

"Leo! What are you doing! Let me go!" Ryan half-shouted, struggling to break free.

"Quiet, wretch!" blurted another from the group as he punched Ryan in the stomach. This was Topan, the most impulsive and violent member of Brian's crew.

Thump!

"Ughhh..."

Ryan absorbed the impact of Topan's blow, struggling with the pain.

"Ha, serves you right! Good for nothing poor scum!" Topan laughed.

"Ughhh..." Ryan could only groan, winded and in pain.

"Hahaha..." the five youths laughed boisterously, delighting in Ryan's agony.

Meanwhile, from his car, Brian watched Ryan being subdued, then casually approached, hands in pockets, ready to witness the result.

On arrival, Brian laughed at the sight of Ryan wincing from his abdominal pain.

"Beat him up! Make him unrecognizable for me!" Brian commanded.

"Yes, boss!" they chorused, proceeding to batter Ryan mercilessly.

Minutes later, Ryan looked pitiable, his face bruised, head swollen, eyes bloodshot, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Forced to stand, flanked by Leo and Topan, Ryan watched as Brian nonchalantly approached with a switchblade drawn.

Catching sight of the knife, Ryan tensed, fearing for his life. How insane! His mind reeled.

Ryan inhaled deeply, formulating a plan. As Brian closed in to strike, Ryan suddenly...

"Better off dead, you scum-…"

Bang!

"Aaaaakkkhhh.."

Ryan delivered a fierce kick directly to Brian’s groin, causing an earth-shattering scream as Brian tumbled and writhed in pain. Ryan could only wonder about the fate of Brian's groin after such a devastating blow.

The underlings, seeing their boss in agony, scrambled to his side, including Leo and Topan, releasing Ryan in the process. Seeing his chance, Ryan limped away seeking refuge.

Brian, still rolling in pain, fell silent and motionless, knocked unconscious, as blood seeped through his trousers.

"Oh no, did his eggs crack?" Topan winced in empathy.

"Idiot! We need to get the boss in the car first! He's just fainted! Then we'll track down that vermin and kill him!" Leo exclaimed, fury rising.

"Right!" the youths agreed.

They then hoisted Brian into the car and set off in pursuit of Ryan.

(Flash back off...)

Ryan, realizing his hiding spot had been discovered by Leo and his four friends, sprinted away at top speed.

Despite the pain coursing through his body from the beating inflicted by those youths, Ryan could only grit his teeth and continue pumping his legs rapidly to escape.

He ran down the deserted corridors of that place. Meanwhile, the five youths relentlessly closed the distance on Ryan.

"Damn it!" Ryan cursed inwardly as he saw the corridor ended in a dead end, blocked by a five-meter-high chain-link fence.

"No! I must survive!" Ryan resolved, then attempted to scale the fence.

On the other side, Leo, Topan, and their two friends saw Ryan trying to climb the mesh barrier and quickened their pace.

"Come on, faster! He's climbing the fence!" Topan urged his companions.

"Ryan, you bastard! I won't let you get away for hurting the boss!" Leo growled angrily.

Ryan kept attempting to climb the chain-link fence. He struggled because the mesh swayed unsteadily, like a dangdut artist on stage. Furthermore, his stamina was already severely depleted from the earlier beating, making the climb even more difficult.

"Aaakhh.."

Ryan steeled himself, shouting loudly. His feet slipped several times, threatening to fall, but he climbed again and again.

Ryan had just reached the top when Leo and his gang arrived at the fence. They shook it, hoping to make Ryan fall back towards them.

"Oi.. Damn you! Get down, you vermin! I'll kill you!" shouted Leo as he continued to shake the mesh.

Ryan clung tightly to the topmost wire of the fence. He was seriously concerned that his weakening grip might slip and cause him to fall from the height.

Five meters is not a trivial height for an ordinary person to jest or jump from. A fall would surely result in a shattered body or broken bones. Worse, if Ryan fell towards his enemies, his fate would be sealed.

"Oh no! What now?" he pondered frantically, ignoring the shouting of Leo and the others below.

He hesitated, considering whether jumping might be just as deadly as getting caught by them. On the other hand, if he descended slowly on the opposite side from them, it was certain he would be injured since Topan seemed to be wielding a knife previously held by Brian.

Topan could easily stab him if Ryan climbed down because the fence was merely a mesh with gaping holes.

Meanwhile, Leo, Topan, and the two others grew more furious as they shook the mesh fence when they saw Ryan freezing on top like a gecko.

"That damn poor bastard! Leo and you two, stop! I'm climbing too!" Topan exclaimed angrily.

"Fine! Kill him if you can!" Leo shouted, then stood back to allow Topan to attempt the climb.

Ryan's expression darkened as Topan began his ascent with the knife. He kicked at the swaying fence vigorously. However, it didn't seem to be effective. Topan climbed little by little.

"Ugh! This little pest clings like a gecko!" Ryan randomly thought, unconcerned with the strange analogy between a pest and a gecko.

Ryan wracked his brain for a plan. He searched for a way to prevent Topan from reaching his position on top. Suddenly, Ryan's previously grim and serious face smirked with cunning.

"Why am I such an idiot? I'm above! He has to be careful and balance himself to reach me! Hehehe.. Don't blame me if I become a bit more cruel!" Ryan thought with a sly grin.

He positioned his bent legs at different angles and tightened his grip with his hands, effectively widening the distance between him and the approaching Topan.

Topan became enraged, seeing Ryan smirk as he neared and hastened his movements to reach the top.

"I will kill you!" Topan shouted.

"Ehehe... Come here if you think you're a storm!" Ryan taunted.

"You'll pay for this!" Topan snarled.

Topan climbed closer until barely a meter separated him from Ryan. Then, suddenly, Ryan's previously bent and interlocked legs lashed out at Topan's face with unanticipated speed and force.

Whack!

"Ugh!"

Taken aback, Topan reflexively grabbed at his broken, bleeding nose and lost his grip on the mesh. He fell, landing on Leo and the other two below.

Thud!

"Aaakkhh.."

Topan, Leo, and the others screamed in pain. Topan cried out from his broken and bleeding nose. Leo and the others yelled in agony from being crushed under Topan's weight. The remaining person quickly tried to soothe the four of them.

Seeing their distress, Ryan didn't waste another moment. He descended from the fence in a panic and, without thinking, jumped from a height of three meters.

Thud!

"Ouch! Damn it, that's still too high!" he complained, landing awkwardly, spraining his ankle, and experiencing intense pain.

Ryan fought through the pain, now safely away. He managed a smile upon seeing Leo, Topan, and the other two writhing.

After a while, the four youths calmed down, glaring at Ryan hatefully. Topan especially, with his broken nose still oozing blood.

"Hehehe... How's the taste of my sole, smelly storm? Enjoyable, wasn't it?" Ryan boasted brazenly.

"The nerve of you, Ryan! I swear I'll get back at you for this!" Topan roared, still cradling his throbbing nose.

"Hehehe... That's a lesson for you all! Next time, I'll be even tougher on you guys!" Ryan laughed mockingly.

"How dare you!" Leo fumed.

"Oh yes! How's your boss doing? Have his eggs cracked? If so, tell him to fry them up! Hahaha!" Ryan taunted with a roaring laugh.

"You!" all the young men growled, involuntarily covering their crotches, feeling a twinge at the thought of Brian laid out in his car.

"Hahaha... Well, if there's nothing more, I'll head off!" Ryan said, still chuckling, then got up to leave the boss's minions behind.

"You!" they were at a loss for words as Ryan turned away from them.

In response to their shouts, Ryan simply raised his hand, flipping his middle finger, which intensified their anger, powerless to do anything in retaliation.

Ryan trudged wearily out of the narrow alleyways in search of the main road. He felt lost, unfamiliar with his surroundings, his sole strategy for orientation being to reach the larger streets.

He persisted, his feet moving almost automatically. Occasionally veering right and at times veering left, Ryan also looked for someone—anyone—to ask for directions, only to face the stark reality once more. Not a soul was in sight. The alleys echoed with emptiness, his the only presence there.

"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath, fingers running through his hair in frustration.

As the day approached evening, Ryan finally stumbled upon the main road after about half an hour of aimless wandering, allowing him to sigh in relief.

"Finally..." he thought to himself.

With the path now clear in his mind, he walked with a relaxed pace, unpressed by time or obligation.

Ryan occasionally paused to sit on benches designed for those awaiting buses or taxis, taking moments of rest. Refreshed, he would continue on his way home.

Fifteen minutes later, passing a rather upscale boutique, Ryan's gaze caught sight of a familiar figure, causing his heart a slight tremor.

Indeed, it was Novie! Full name Novie Sanjaya Ningrum—walking arm in arm with a man Ryan also recognized, a fellow university student named Dimas Kurniawan.

Novie, once Ryan's girlfriend, had turned away from him six months prior after learning of his impoverished background. She chose Dimas instead—who, despite being a bit dorky, was her new partner. Ryan's existence seemed tragic, marred by poverty and continual bitter experiences.

Ryan continued to watch the pair from a distance in silence. Though it pained him to accept the reality, he was aware, and even slightly grateful, that Novie was materialistic and not good for him.

Novie, catching a glimpse of Ryan, her ex, adopted a sudden display of affection, wrapping her arms around Dimas unexpectedly.

"Eh? What's up?" Dimas inquired, startled by her abrupt behavior.

"Sweetie... thank you for all the shopping today! All these EXPENSIVE clothes! You really are the best, babe!" Novie exclaimed louder than necessary, emphasizing "expensive" with the purpose of making sure Ryan overheard them while proudly flaunting her newly-bought treasures from Dimas.

Oblivious to Ryan's presence, Dimas innocently responded to his girlfriend's dramatic outburst, particularly fond of the soft pressure on his arm. His heart raced with naivety and joy.

"Don't worry! For my girl, I'd give anything!" declared Dimas with an easy smile.

"Oh, my love, you are incomparable! XOXO, darling!" Novie cooed, hugging Dimas's arm tighter.

Dimas was overjoyed by the affection, charmed by the unique and endearing term "babe" Novie used just for him, his heart blooming like a flower—at least to Novie. To Ryan, perhaps more akin to a carrion flower.

Sickened by Novie's display, Ryan steeled himself and approached the blissful couple.

"Hey, Ryan! How's it going, bud? What happened to your face?" the naive Dimas questioned.

"Um, not too great, man! You can see for yourself! Oh, and just so you know, don't get too excited about being called 'babe'! It has two meanings: 'darling' or 'demon'!" Ryan replied casually, patting Dimas on the shoulder before walking away.

Novie's cheeks flared with anger, while Dimas, the clueless and dorky guy, gave Novie a piercing look.

"Sweetheart! Which extension of 'babe' are you calling me? Darling or demon?" Dimas inquired with a serious look.

Novie internally screamed at her boyfriend's naivety.

"Of course, it's 'darling', my love! Why on earth would I call you a demon? That's impossible, babe!" Novie asserted, forcing her smile.

Deep down, Novie harbored resentment towards Ryan for the embarrassment and vowed to never forget this day, plotting her retribution against the impoverished Ryan in the future. Indeed, a woman's grudge is not easily forgotten nor forgiven.

.

.

Ryan arrived home right as the sun fully set.

"Mom! I'm back!" he announced, entering through the unlocked door.

"You're home, son! Cough! Cough!" a raspy voice came in reply, coughing from within a room.

Emerging from the bedroom, the woman he respected more than anything in this world was his mother.

Her name was Lastri Darmawanti. She had been battling a fever and throat infection for several days, consistently wracked by coughing.

Having already purchased medicine from his Sunday earnings at a motorcycle repair shop, Ryan was dismayed her condition hadn't improved. Despite his efforts, her illness lingered.

Greeting her son with a smile, joy momentarily left her face as she noticed the bruises and injuries.

"Son! What happened to your face?" she inquired worriedly, quickly inspecting Ryan's wounds.

"Ow! Mom... It's nothing, really. I just slipped and fell in a hurry to get home because it was getting late! And my foot got a bit sprained too! But it's better now!" Ryan lied.

Ryan felt compelled to reassure her, unaware that a mother's intuition always knows her child's lies better than anyone. Hence, regardless of his deception, Lastri was not fooled.

She shook her head at his antics.

"By the way, mom, have the meds I got you helped at all? Are you feeling any better?" Ryan asked.

"Not yet, son! Cough! This cough is persistent! Cough! But don't worry... I'll be fine sooner or later!" Lastri replied softly.

"Okay, mom! But tomorrow, I get paid from the shop. I'll buy you some better-quality medicine!" Ryan promised with a smile.

Touched by her son's concern, Lastri nodded in gratitude, silently thanking God for the blessing that was Ryan.

"Okay, dear! Now go take a shower and change your clothes," she said.

"Sure, mom!" Ryan replied.

Entering his room, Ryan placed his bag down and prepared to clean up. But deep inside, he vowed to himself—if fate granted him strength or power, he'd ensure his mother's happiness until his dying day.