CRAVE

Stanford Sylus walked silently along the corridor towards his dressing room. The boy was sweaty since he had been playing basketball for a long time alone as usual. He was an introvert, or to put it another way, his icy nature intimidated all the classmates, thus isolating Sylus. Due to his quiet and mysterious attitude, he was dubbed Mr. Weirdo. As a result, it was impossible to befriend him; anyone who attempted to befriend him or casually greeted him received a cold shoulder from Sylus. “Look who’s here. The great introvert Stanford Sylus,” one of the boys from the gang teased.

“Oh boy! Why is he so sweaty? It feels like Mr. Weirdo was busy with some nasty shit,” the other one added with a smirk. Sylus ignored him and walked past him heading towards his locker.

“Not really, bro. This Stanford Sylus good-for-nothing chick is so annoying no girl can ever stand him.” The entire group of six boys chuckled. But Sylus was as calm as the river.

“Sh, be quiet. I guess Mr. Weirdo is offended,” the one with the green highlights spoke but he never replied to any of them.

Sylus never partake in bullying and never even retaliated to his own bullies. He was a quiet and matured guy. Even though many mocked him since he was an orphan, assuming him to be weak or powerless he never fought with anyone. But today, he was pissed off on another level. First of all he was kicked out of his math class since he dozed off while the professor was teaching, and when the professor asked him why, he had the audacity to tell the truth, saying his lecture was simply boring and he needed a nap to avoid the boredom. The lecturer was furious as the entire class mocked at him, so he disciplined the blunt guy by asking him to leave his class. Sylus was already angry because of the professor, and these guys were trying to get on his nerves. However, being the calm one, he tried to pass them until they kindled the fire in him by blocking his path. One of the guys with blonde hair grabbed his collar. “Who do you think you are, stupid loser?”

“Let me go. I don’t even know who the fuck you all are,” Sylus replied calmly while trying to break through.

The blonde dude tightened his grip on Sylus’s collar. “You dumbass, you must keep your gaze down when you talk to us. A loser like you isn’t allowed to show such a fucking attitude towards his seniors. Bow down.”

“I don’t care who you are and what you do. Just let me go. I ain’t interested in talking with you all anyways.” Sylus jerked his hand off his collar.

The guy with the green highlights punched Sylus on his nose, making him bleed. “I said keep your fucking attitude low when you talk with us, you good-for-nothing son of a bitch.” Sylus had enough of this nonsense and quickly seized the one who punched him and began cruelly beating him. Soon the lad began to bleed, and his eye had a black dark circle as Sylus punched him really hard before he fell on the floor. The others tried to strike him, but Sylus had had enough of it and ended up severely striking each of them while his knuckles were bleeding. Sylus was stretching his arms in contentment once all these dudes were laying on the floor in excruciating pain.

“I had already warned you not to bother me, but you chose to fight me,” he said while crouching down to grab his bully’s collar. “Now you really need a clean-up, man.” He chuckled while walking past them.

The injured guy with the green highlights stood up with wobbly legs, boiling in anger, and yelled, “You bastard! Do not think after beating me up you’ll ever survive in this place. I’ll make sure you’re kicked out from the university. Remember that.”

Sylus chuckled as he walked past the mess he created while humming a disturbing rhyme as he began to scrap their skin with a paper cutter, “Twinkle… Twinkle Little Scar... I’ll Cut Your Skin Into Half...”

The youngster was enraged, but Sylus merely went by him, humming his beloved yet frightening rhyme with a menacing smile on his magnificently beaten-up face. The other members of the group rushed towards the nurse’s room to comfort one another. Sylus was also heavily bleeding, but he felt no pain or regret. He went to his locker to change his clothes. When he was finished, he contacted his sole friend, Ian Hemsworth, a pale skinned intelligent, not so short, fellow who is a contemporary an ace of the university. Ian was his senior, and they met in a dancing session as high school kids. Sylus had a passion for dancing, and Ian was the best dancer at his institution. Sylus found it difficult to open up at first, but Ian, being the most compassionate person, somehow broke down the ice wall and entered Sylus’s messed-up existence. At the moment, once dressed he left the locker room. Sylus was on a call leaning on the wall. “Dude, I shall meet you tomorrow. Something came up. I’ll be leaving soon.”

On the other line, Ian was sulking. “But Sylus, you had promised me we’d go for the movie today. What’s more important than me, huh?”

Sylus was already frustrated; hence he sighed in despair. “Dude chill. We’ll go tomorrow. It’s not like the world is ending. I’ll come to pick you. I promise you that now stop acting like a bitch.”

Ian was still annoyed. “Sylus, you always cancel our plans just before the execution. Let it be now. I’ll go with you tomorrow. I have to complete my assignments also. Goodbye Bubs.”

Sylus was also flashing a bunny smile. “That’s more like my fairy. See you tomorrow. I’ll be there to pick you up by 5 o’clock, do not be late.”

“Alright. See you around then.” With that Ian kept the call.

“Hey dude, what’s up? Why are you blushing? Was that your boyfriend?” Ian froze for a while. He didn’t knew what to say, since the day Sylus saved him from school bullies he was sticking to Sylus like glue. No matter the situation Ian always favoured Sylus. They shared an apartment as well. Now that he thought about it they did everything a couple in love does. But there was no love, it was a mutual understanding and respect for each other. After all they were best of friends. Also, Sylus was five years younger to Ian. Sylus was more like a younger brother than a romantic partner for him. “Eww, that’s gross. I was speaking to Sylus..”

“Yeah right what can we even expect the only person who tolerates your tantrum is none other than Stanford Sylus.” “Seriously Ian leave the poor guy alone. Why are you always dragging him into shit that he doesn’t even like?”

Ian grabbed Stella by her collar, “Look miss know it all did my Bubs ever mentioned he was bored with me to you? If not then shut your mouth and mind your own business.” He left her collar, “And I’ll say this for your betterment it might seems like I am bothering Sylus but you will be shocked to notice how much he cares about me. So better stay away from the both of us. Am I clear?”

“Yes, yes Ian absolutely clear…” everyone said in unison.

Ian was hoping Sylus was safe. Sylus, this maniac is continuously getting into foolish fights, which makes Ian even more concerned. Nonetheless he is curious to contemplate how a kind soul like Sylus became so cold and brutal when furious. There’s something that made him this way, he can tell. Sometimes his eyes are filled with pain, a type of desire for something or someone and soon his eyes changes into something deadly, a predator’s gaze. Even though Ian knew Sylus for years he still was unable to read his mind. Nonetheless Ian plans to ask him about his past sometime in the future so that he may help him with his sorrows, and he hopes Sylus opens up to him regarding his bad temper. Even though Ian failed every time he tried to break through that shell and into his concealed existence Sylus kept his guard high and never revealed anything at all, he will not give up until Sylus tells him what’s wrong in his life.

“I am so annoyed that I want to rip his intestines out but I must conceal my identity. I am in a university surrounded by so many eyes. I can’t be so foolish to get carried away with such stupid school bully shit and lower my guard.” Sylus quickly grabbed his bag and exited the locker area, not even glancing back for any blood traces to remove the evidence. At this point, he was simply fatigued by his toxic surroundings.

As he walked into the hallway, he was getting strange looks since he looked like a true mess with all the cuts and scratches on his skin. His lower lip had a deep cut, and his knuckles were still bleeding, but the youngster didn’t care to treat it. With his hair in a tangle, he entered his classroom and sat on his regular last bench in the corner, avoiding any form of engagement. The lecturers never tried to bother him as he always returned their responses in a mean way. He dropped his keys on the desk and slept off during the literary lecture. After a half-hour slumber, the door opened, the Principal and his bullies entered, looking for him. The Dean of the university was standing near Sylus’s desk. “Wake up, Mr. Stanford. This is heights now. After giving you so many warnings, you still have the audacity to beat those innocent kids. You better have a valid answer for this young man,” he was agitated, and that was evident in his voice.

Sylus stood up rubbing his eyes. “Keep your damn voice low. I don’t give a single fuck about your lame warnings. And yeah, about being expelled from the college, you need not worry. I’m leaving anyway, just waiting for Miss Rosie’s signature on the termination letter.” The injured boy took his bag.

His bad-boy attitude triggered the Dean. “Change your behaviour, young man. Nothing good will ever come out of this. Such tragic behaviour leads towards disaster.”

Sylus was extremely calm. “As if I care.” He took his stuff and left the classroom.

The guy with the green highlights was disappointed. “Damn you, Sylus.”

The blonde one sighed. “We couldn’t even insult him.”

One of the other boys continued. “How can he be so nonchalant in such a serious situation, huh? He really confuses me sometimes.”

The other dude was curious. “Was he true about leaving this college?”

Another was in awe. “Wow, Stanford Sylus is so cool.”

The leader of the mean dudes spoke. “Shut the fuck up, you morons. It’s not over yet. I’ll make sure he bows down to me, and that shall happen soon as well.”

All the boys were confused. “And how will you do that, Samuel?”

The boy with green highlights smirked. “Did you all forget I’m Samuel Kim, son of the most powerful lawyer in town? I have my ways to tame this psychopath. Just wait and watch, Mr. Weirdo. I’ll make your pathetic life a living hell. You messed with the wrong dude this time. Remember that, Stanford Sylus. You’ll be knocked out soon.” The guy banged the door and left the classroom.