Save Me

Chapter 2 - A Strange Joke

"You'll regret everything, my son" the lady said in a depressing tone of voice in Luke's dream

4:00 in the morning, Luke woke up full of tears in his eyes dripping down to his cheeks and chin. 

"Shit, why am I crying again. It's the second day I woke up crying."

Luke wiped his tears while thinking what the lady in his dream meant to say. Luke was very clueless about what that dream was.

Luke tried to sleep again and rolled multiple times on his bed but he can't fall asleep again. Luke tried to get up to wash his face but his stomach is aching so bad and his legs are weak that he couldn't stand on his own feet. Luke fell down when he tried to stand up and created a loud noise that woke Sheryn up. Sheryn immediately ran to his room to check what happened.

"Hey, what happened? Are you okay?" Sheryn asked while breathing heavily.

Luke smiled and said "Oh yeah, I'm fine. I just couldn't get back on my bed."

"What are you grinning at? I was worried so bad, I thought something bad happened to you."

"Hehe. Come on, just help me get back on my bed instead of scolding me."

Sheryn helped Luke to get back on the bed and asked what happened last night. Luke suddenly remembered Dylan's threat and tried to think for another reason.

"It was nothing. I just happened to step on something and I fell down and something hit my stomach."

Sheryn was suspicious with Luke's answer and felt something was off. "Hmmm, then what about the bruises on your arm?"

Luke flinched and answered "Oh, It's because of the wood. I tried to grab on it but it fell on my stomach instead. That's why I had these bruises on my arm."

Sheryn is still suspicious of his answers. "Hmmm, I'm surprised your upperclassmen didn't help you. Well, it already happened. I'm gonna go make some breakfast now." 

After a while, Luke was prepared and ready to leave for a class, but Luke was worried about what would happen if he saw Dylan at the school. After he calmed himself down, Luke immediately left.

Luke arrived and while he was walking at the corridor, he noticed that everyone was staring at him and talking. Luke kept walking until he heard someone say…

Student 1: "Is that a guy who cling onto one of the upperclassmen"

Student 2: "Jeez, he looks like a pervert"

Student 3: "Shhh, lower your voice, he'll hear you"

Luke was very shocked when he heard those false stories and ran quickly to the bathroom. It was quiet in the comfort room, Luke was washing his face when a few students suddenly came in.

Student 1: "Hey, are you the one who cling onto the upperclassmen?!"

Student 2: "Ugh, he looks disgusting. Come on bro, let's just come back here later"

The students glared at Luke and left. Luke was very ashamed with the story circulating around the whole campus. Luke was leaving the comfort room when he bumped into Dylan once again. Dylan stared down at Luke with a grin on his face.

"Meet me at the storage room after class" Dylan said.

Luke nodded and left. When he entered the class everyone kept staring at him and talking. Luke tried to ignore them and walked straight to his classroom. Luke sat down and while he was listening to the music, Erina suddenly poked Luke's shoulders and tried to have a conversation with him.

"Hey, are you okay? There's a gossip going around about you, don't worry I don't believe them.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I don't really care about those gossip."

"I'm relieved then. Oh! Professor Dan is here, I'm gonna go now, it was nice talking to you though." Erina said while smiling sincerely.

Hours have passed, the class ended and Luke headed straight to the storage room without thinking what would happen. While he was walking towards the storage room, he saw Dylan standing outside the room. Luke suddenly felt like he wanted to go back but Luke continuously walked towards Dylan. 

"You came! I'm glad you trusted me. I wanted to ask you something that's why I called you here."

Luke felt curious and asked "What is it?"

"Did you like the gossip going all around the whole campus?"

Luke flinched and he suddenly felt sad and angry. Luke was very shocked that his tears suddenly dropped without him noticing. Luke stared down and tried to cover his face.

"What is wrong with you?"

Dylan chuckled and said. "Pfft! Are you really crying? It was just a joke!."

Luke sobs and his tears are dripping continuously and says "Alright then, I'm leaving now."

"Alright! Get home safely." Dylan said with a joyful smile on his face.

Luke stopped crying and headed to the beer house nearby to calm himself down. After an hour, Luke suddenly drank too much and headed back home. When Luke arrived, Sheryn asked if Luke had dinner already, but Luke ignored Sheryn and headed straight to his room. Sheryn knocked on his door and asked…

"Hey, are you drunk."

"No, I'm just tired. I wanna get some sleep" Luke said.

"Alright then, get some rest. I'm gonna clean the sink first."

Sheryn left with a question on her mind. While Luke couldn't control his emotions and cried underneath the blanket as soon as Sheryn left.