It was as always. I remember my childhood being so happy, but when I grew just a little, it all changed. Now I'm in the middle school, 16 years old. My name's Lucy. Here we go....

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

After summer break I wasn't happy... I knew that I had to endure that he'll again and again. And so there's no escape. No at all... sadly.

As I walked into the class, some girls were whispering. And then, no surprise, that Mindy came to me with her minions, "I see you're as beautiful as always, what a pity! You know, this year I'm planning to steal your 'beauty' away, ain't that fun?!". They all laugh uncontrollably. "And the thing is that we also plan way more..." with those words they all chuckled and walked away as the bell rang.

Teacher came in and with him came a new student. The teacher represented him, he was Reo. What a weird name! I swear. He was tall, perfectly looking in the school uniform, his eyes were bright and looked gentle. His hair was kinda messy, but it looked great on him! Hair was dark with some bleached areas, which gave it some live! Looked amazing... but I didn't care, to be honest. Mostly the ones that looked pretty, would be the biggest bullies and plus I had already lost faith in people. Really, I even feel sick of them at some point.

As they were done introducing, our eyes met for a second, but then I looked out the window, ignoring him for the rest of the lesson.

Classmates seem to like that Reo guy, he blended in easily and quickly! Not a surprise.

As I was walking out of class, one of the boys made me fall to the ground. He with his friends also giggled at it. I didn't look up at them. I just got up and ran away as fast as I could.

But, sadly, I ran into those girls again. Mindy was standing in the middle and looking down on me. I didn't like her a single bit...

She started grinning as she lifted her arm and slapped me to my face, making me fall... again.

"You look so pathetic! I wonder what does the new handsome guy thinks of you?! Haha!" She was laughing none stop... She continued as she saw Reo passing by with friends, "Hey, Reo! Come here, have fun with us!"

He was quite quiet and just stopped. While he was processing, his friend answered instead of him, "Mindy, we're showing him around, stop making mess for once! Don't disturb our peace!!!". And then they walked off.

"What a garbage! how dare he....", I ran. She noticed that but it was too late. She just cursed at me.

I was barely able to run as well as walk... My health was always just as poor as this. And I can do nothing about it. So I ran under the tree to sit. My gaze started to get blurry. It was because of lack of oxygen.

As I ran I was looking at the ground. That was calming me. And then the last thing that I saw was a pair of pretty shoes in front of me. I didn't realize earlier and due to that I bumped into that Reo. He caught me gently and for a moment embraced, but then let go of me. There were other guys, those friends of him around us. They seem to just ignore what happened and all of them walked away, leaving me right there. But I was near the tree and so it was easy for me to reach that place. I barely made it and on the last step I almost fell. But I had courage for such things, so I managed to get there. Then I saw and tried to get some air.

And just then, to my surprise, someone jumped off the tree that I was sitting under! Some Guy.

"Oops oops oops! It seems that I disturbed a lovely girl's rest!" He smiled gently. His smile was hypnotizing, but I turned away. They're all the same. "Oh, may I accompany you? It's just that that fall was way harder than I thought it'd be!"

I was confused; firstly I've never seen him before, and secondly he didn't seem to bully me, so I said, "Please, I don't mind...".

He laughed for a second.

I had enough. So I started getting up, but he embraced my hand and made me sit as I did before.

"My name's Renny. And I'm sorry, if I made you uncomfortable, really! I just thought that you're a little too cute", I blushed.

"I don't understand you. Why don't you make fun of me? Why are you... like this?" I said.

"Oh, well I heard some things that you have hard time communicating and that you're kinda sad and lonely girl with no friends and that you are the one that everyone bullies… You know I've heard enough of it! I want to change that."

"I don't understand..." I barely whispered.

"If you don't, then let me explain. If you don't mind, I want to become your friend. And I know that it'll be very hard, but I'll do my best, I promise." He was smiling not only with his lips and face but even with his eyes.

But I've had enough of today, "Don't promise if you can't do it. Those are such fake words, I swear!". I stormed off like that.

For the rest of the day I could successfully be ignored by everyone. They all seemed very into that new guy, Reo.

I walked back home and as always: it was empty. Not a single person, just no sings of life...

______________Next Morning____________

I woke up and made everything as usual. And then I walked out the house, locked it and walked to school as per usual. But, to my unfortune, as I walked out the patio, I saw my two new neighbours: that Reo and none other than Renny! Ahhh... Renny lived in my right and the Reo guy lived in my left. That's horrible! Absolutely!!!

And if I wanted to get to school, I'd need to go to left. Yeah... not good. But fortunately Reo guy didn't pay much attention and I could say that he didn't even notice me! But I couldn't say the same about Renny!

Renny started making his way to me as I was turning to left, "Hey! I've got something!". He reached me, "Firstly: good morning, sunshine!".

"What, what?!" I screamed at the half of street.

"Oh, so that's how I can make you react, good." I noticed that now and Reo guy noticed me.

And then he even stopped and turned to walk this way! Darn it!!!

But Renny was not surprised, he was indeed happy to see that guy, "Reooo! Long time no see! Good morning, buddy! Why didn't you tell me that you lived this close to me?!" It seemed that he could start to cry now... what a drama queen!

"Yo yo, buddy, you know I was busy with some school work, I have to keep up." Reo said. I could see his heart being so open to Renny, he was different than with those other guys at school. It was a surprise. "Oh and I figured that we didn't meet due to the fact that were in different classes, unfortunately!" He seemed genuinely upset about it.

They hugged and shacked hands with each other.

Then it was horrible, I didn't even know what to do next! Absolutely! Now we were walking three, just like our houses: Reo on my left and then Renny on my right.

"Hey", I turned to Renny. "I better not interrupt you, so I think I should go now..."

"Nah, you're not interrupting, right, Reo?", he was smiling brightly.

Reo just laughed and smiled, "Of course not. I don't mind as you can see."

"See? You shouldn't feel that way, really!" Renny said.

I was just too annoyed, "Hey!" I turned to Renny, "What do you want?! I've had already enough of this!" He stopped and didn't stop smiling.

"Don't worry, I just really want to become your friend and don't you remember my promise yesterday?" Renny was smiling.

Then Reo interrupted, "You can just ignore him if you don't want to be his friend, he's always like this. I don't mind it, of course, but I hope that you could be thoughtful about him as well. Not only about yourself." that made my blood boil!

"You don't even know what I have to go through and you say that I'm not thoughtful?! Then ask who made me that way!" I was furious... and just like that I didn't even notice how a warm tear dropped down my cheek...

......................

...----------------...

Renny and Reo both were standing, probably thinking what to do next about it. But I was way too furious! He tells me that I should be thoughtful?! Is he dumb or what?! Before all the bullying and at the start I was actual human! It's those people who made me this way. Now I wouldn't react much or at all, because if I'd do, they'd even think that it's funnier... then they'd bully way more. Though at school I am the main bullying target. But I've changed only because of them, only for them. So that maybe they could leave me alone... but no! They just can't.

Then, while crying and sobbing, I stopped. So did they. Renny came comforting me. And he tried to calm me down. While Reo just stood there. This time I was way too tired to even run or do anything else.

"C'mon, everyone cries once in a while... But, you know, I've never seen someone look as...", Renny was telling me this in a very sweet voice and then made some pause right there, "...as pretty as you, while crying." He was smiling and I was just sobbing.

Then I felt warmness on top of my head. It was someone's hand. Someone was patting me. And then I lifted my head to see who it was. Reo. Wait... Reo?!

"I'm sorry.", he said while patting my head, "I owe you one... maybe even more. But, trust me, Renny is my very best friend and I only want the best for him... That's why it turned out this way." He wasn't looking at me, he was looking somewhere way further... Somewhere only he could've seen... I just don't know.

"And should I care?" I said while sobbing.

And then I felt his hand slip down on my shoulder and his gaze fixed up on me.

"Well I am sorry. And you'll see, so just watch!" He said it in more cheerful way. And had lots of confidence saying that! And then from my shoulder his hand slipped down my arm and then let go.

Renny wanted to make my mood better the whole way to the school. He tried to tell some fairy tales, comedies, jokes and more, but it was not what I was looking for at the moment... The reminded me how miserable my life is just a moment ago.

At the school gates I stopped, "We can go separately from now on. I... I'm not the right person to spend time at school with for sure..." There was sadness and pain in those words, which was clear enough.

"Lucy, the three of ours statuses are equal to us! Don't say so!!" Renny said almost crying...

Then I felt someone approach me, embrace my shoulders with strong arms and push me to walk forward, "What if I told you - I love you, Lucy?". I heard subtle Reo's voice whisper me...

Then I finally got to my senses, I then jumped forward and started walking myself, all blushing by the way... Aaaaa, I didn't expect that to happen! What's with him? I mean it's clear that he didn't mean those words, but I've heard them for the first time in the past about 10 years... That was a hard topping. And unexpected!

Then I didn't turn around the whole way to school. But then the bell rang and Renny said goodbye to Reo, then walked to his class. And as for Reo guy, he did chase after me and then started walking right next to me! I looked at him and saw him looking enywhere but at me.

Then we walked to class. Class boys didn't pay that much attention, but girls... they were on whole other stage!

"Tell me, Reo, do you... ehh... did you let her walk with you or something?" Mindy whispered while almost clinging onto him.

Then he suddenly filled the gap between us and stepped more to my side.

Just to stay as far from her as possible. Then turned to me and said,

"Don't you have anything to do before class starts?". Wait! The bell just rang and you're asking that?! Are you insane?!

"Just to go to my seat... and the bell already-"

"Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?! How dare you talk to him like that?! Oh I'm gonna teach you!" Mindy has gone clearly insane. But then Reo took my wrist and lead me to my seat. Then sat next to me!

"Hey... what do you think you're doing? Did you eat something wrong?! That's not like you at all." I almost spit those words out.

"Clearly that's not like me. I know. " He said calmly. "But I cherish friendship, that should be clear enough by now I guess".

"So you think of me as friend? Or do you perhaps do this for Renny?" I said in curious tone.

He sighted, "Do you really need to know that?" He looked a bit dissatisfied and disappointed. "Don't you remember what I've whispered to you at the gates?" He smiled.

My cheeks got a bit redder than they usually were, "Is that some hint on your games or what? I'm not going to fool around..." then I whispered to myself "...specially with you...".

"You can accept it however you want to, not my choice this time." He smirked. That Reo guy was SO annoying!

And also he was sitting next to me now, and I could have felt all the girls being madly angry! I'm doomed...

...----------------...

The lesson started. Math. But I was with my head in the clouds this time.

I hadn't said a single word about my appearance. So that's how I look: long, dark hair; a round face; big eyes... nothing special, right? Except for the 'scar' on my face. This scar was not quite a scar. Actually that was make up, just that it looked like a real scar, I was advanced at doing make up. I started doing it at 5th grade. And the reason is so stupid, I know. It was because while growing up I had so mane pretty features and I looked so cute and pretty. Everyone would tell me that all the time. And then when I was in about 4th grade, girl classmates to get more and more jealous. They started doing anything that would come to their mind to try to ruin my looks. Just like cutting my hair, painting my face 'accidentally' and so many more of such things! They'd get worse and worse.

So one day I've made up my mind. I faked an accident and after that was injured. Those girls classmates saw it all, I made that happen as well. I had everything planned well. Then after that I'd do some scary make up as if it was scar on my face. Of course at home I wouldn't wear such make up or being with parents or sometimes in public as well. That's how everyone who I wanted to and even more of people were fooled by me. Such little girl in 5th grade... Now I'd only try to ignore rain or water dropping on my face.

...----------------...

After lesson, I walked to the other classroom, but guess what. The Reo guy followed me. That continued for the rest of the school day. But once he walked me out of school, he walked the other way. Didn't even say a single thing!

Then I walked to the city, because I wanted to go for some shopping. I had some money saved up specially for this. My clothes were actually quite old and all the same... I needed something new, or maybe more wanted to have some more. I've seen so many amazing new styles!

Then I went to a sport clothes shop. And there I found some pretty fit. I decided to buy it. But as I was walking to the cashier, someone grabbed my wrist angrily, then pulled me to the change room and with knife cut my hand. I wanted to scream, but the person, who was behind me now, put their hand on my mouth with some napkin, which smelled weird. Then they, or more specifically she whispered, "I told you that I'll punish you for what you did today, right?". Hell no, that was none other than Mindy!!!

I blacked out.

...************...

...After 2 hours...

...************...

Then I finally opened my eyes. I thought that I slept for about 10 minutes, but then I checked the clock and realized that I was asleep and unconscious for even 2 hours! Is that possible?!

Then I quickly grabbed that fit, which I wanted to buy, and bought it.

Then I walked out of the shop and decided to go straight back home.

I went the way, which was not that crowded and had even a park path! Which I was walking through peacefully. There were no people. Now I was thinking that Mindy was actually really unstable with herself and had some problem, which she should take care of. What she did was unreasonable and unthinkable!

"Oh wait, oh my, and I just now realized that I didn't even take care of the wound yet... what a pity. Up until now I didn't realize that my clothes were all bloody. Now I at least figured out why people looked at me with that strange look..." it was boring, so I started talking to myself.

Then I couldn't hold back anymore. My hands were shivering because of the realization which I just had gotten into me now...

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

...Marks System...

...----------------...

Our world has its unique system. It helps to save lives or take them away easier. Mark would be like a tattoo. Every single person since their life begins - since birth - has mark. It would be on different places on each individuals' bodies... which actually makes it hard to find it quick if needed. But mostly those marks would be on arms, legs, neck and sometimes somewhere on the belly or back. If anywhere else than that, then it is quite rare! So those marks shows if you're dying. Like if you're really sick - the mark of yours would start to fade away little by little, as much as much that illness progresses (depending on illness progressing speed). And if someone hurts you badly, and you start to lose a lot of blood - mark will fade away way faster.

And that really helps if you get ill badly. Then the mark would start to fade away, and you'll see that and will understand that something is wrong, and that you can change that since it's not too late yet.

So if you'd think about it, only dead ones do not have that mark anymore. And every single person alive must have it. That's how it'd work.

My mark is near my shoulder, above my heart. So kinda on my chest, in the corner of it.

And for some reason so many of girls would hide away their mark with make up, though some boys too. Or they just wouldn't show it much. Actually boys are more likely to show their marks than girls.

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

Then... then it started to rain. Little by little. Raining. It's raining, Lucy. Hang on. And I was lucky enough, because there was nobody around.

Nobody is a dangerous word. Really... Because sometimes you don't even see how someone would be watching you, or maybe you are just not able to see if they're watching, because you aren't available to do so since maybe there is someone other than human.

......................