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The hallway was almost crowded when Livenia stood in front of George, her shoulders tense and her lips trembling from suppressed anger.
She lifted her chin slightly and said in a steady voice:
"Yes… are you blind or what?"
George did not reply, only offering a sarcastic smile before letting out a short laugh.
Suddenly.
Without any warning...
He raised his hand high and slapped her hard across the cheek,
a slap that echoed through the school.
It made her tremble and step back until she fell to the ground.
She placed her hand on her swollen cheek,
then clenched back her tears with burning determination.
George turned to leave, muttering mockingly:
"Foolish girl… like her dumb friend."
But something inside Livenia ignited. She didn't want to be that weak girl who gets slapped and stays silent.
She remembered her reflection from yesterday, remembered her fear,
and hated that feeling.
She would not run this time.
She jumped to her feet, and instinctively grabbed his wrist from behind and bent down to bite him hard.
Her teeth sank into his flesh, drawing blood.
George screamed and tried to pull away before striking her on the head, making her stagger backward,
her long hair flying through the air.
He screamed in madness:
"Damn you, you bitch! Are you a dog or what?! Wait… you'll see what I'll do!"
He turned to walk away, but a shoe struck the back of his head.
Everyone froze in shock.
He turned angrily, only to receive the other shoe directly on his face, leaving a large red mark.
Livenia stood, her chest rising and falling, her features hardened with deadly anger.
She said in a voice trembling from audacity:
"You're just a lunatic… an idiot… a coward… arrogant… and stupid."
George let out a long, terrifying laugh,
the laugh everyone knew…
the laugh that had caused injuries to three students before.
Whispers spread among the students:
"He's angry… it's over for her."
"This is a walking death."
George bent down and picked up her shoe, opened the window, and threw it outside, saying in a low, terrifying voice:
"Your name… Livenia, right? I'll remember it."
Then he left.
Livenia's breath caught, and her legs trembled.
She said bitterly, biting her lip:
"Who do you think you are… you fool."
But she didn't know… she had gotten herself into a problem with no way out.
She went out searching for her shoe,
walking among the grass and dry branches,
until she found it lying beside the fence.
She picked it up and wiped it with a trembling hand.
After that, she went to the school clinic.
She sat on the white bed, the cold seeping into her bones.
The nurse put a bandage on her severely swollen cheek,
and another on her forehead, which had a small split.
She returned to class late, pain gnawing at her head.
The door opened.
The teacher looked at her sharply:
"Livenia… again? You're half an hour late. Where have you been?"
She said in a calm, tired voice:
"I was at the clinic, sir."
A short, mocking laugh escaped him:
"And do you think I'll believe you? You've lied a thousand times. You always do this to us on purpose."
She lifted her eyes toward him, as if unable to say more:
"It's the truth, sir."
He sighed and said coldly, commanding:
"Step forward… for punishment."
She walked forward with heavy steps.
He grabbed the cane and struck her hand hard.
"This is your punishment for lying and being late. Sit down now."
She returned to her desk, all the students' eyes fixed on her.
Mikel whispered mockingly, resting his chin on his hand:
"Weren't you satisfied with falling yesterday? Now too… you really are stupid."
She smiled a broken smile and said:
"Yes… you're right. I'm stupid."
But Mikel,
who knew her expressions better than anyone else, noticed something else…
It wasn't a smile of stupidity.
It was the smile of someone silently breaking down.
He whispered quietly:
"Livenia… are you okay?"
She replied quickly:
"I'm fine."
But her eyes betrayed everything.
As for Rocky, he was watching her from afar, his eyes narrowed, worry evident.
When the bell rang,
She grabbed her bag and ran out of the classroom without a word.
Rocky followed her with quick steps, watching as she headed toward the gate.
Before she could pass through, the guard caught her:
"Where are you going, girl? Go back to your class immediately!"
She screamed:
"Leave me! I want to go home!"
But the guard didn't let her go.
She stepped back as if returning, then slipped toward the back wall.
She placed her hand on the old stones and began to climb.
Suddenly, Rocky appeared behind her.
He said in a low voice:
"Are you trying to escape?"
She screamed in fright:
"Rocky! You scared me!"
He approached her, worry clear in his tone:
"Sorry… are you really okay?"
She said with an embarrassed smile:
"Yes… I'm just…"
He raised his hand and gently touched her cheek.
She felt a sting of pain mixed with warmth.
He said with genuine concern:
"How did this happen?"
She smiled, trying to joke:
"Oh, I… bumped into the wall. Now help me escape."
He smiled too and said:
"On one condition."
She frowned:
"What is it? Money?"
He laughed and shook his head:
"No… I just want you to take care of your body. That's all."
She smiled shyly:
"Okay…"
He intertwined his hands so she could place her foot on them,
and lifted her high until she reached the top of the wall.
She said from above:
"Thank you, Rocky!"
Then she jumped to the other side and ran away.
He said in a low voice, watching where she had disappeared:
"Ah… I forgot to ask her why she ran."
Livenia returned home, her spirit shattered.
As soon as her mother saw her, she said angrily:
"Did you run away again, you fool?!"
But when she looked at her face, her tone changed:
"Your face… who did this to you?"
Livenia said in a quiet voice:
"I bumped into the door."
But her eyes told a different story.
Her mother took a step forward and said firmly:
"You got into a fight with someone, didn't you?"
Livenia shook her head quickly:
"No, Mom."
Her mother said sharply, pain in her voice:
"I know you. Did you hit someone? How many times have I told you to stay calm?!"
Livenia didn't reply, only looked at her briefly, then went up to her room and closed the door.
Her mother called from outside the room:
"Livenia! I'm still talking!"
But the girl threw down her bag, lay on the bed, and let tears stream down her cheek.
"Damn… I feel sorry for myself."
Sleep overtook her, and she took a short nap.
When she woke up, she wiped her tears and looked at her phone clock:
Five in the evening.
She sighed as she changed her clothes, then noticed the album.
She pulled it out hesitantly.
She opened it…
And froze.
She remembered Fred's words:
"Changing the pictures of the future… reflects on your present, either for better… or for worse."
And now in her hands, it seemed that the future… had already begun to change.
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