Under the Same Umbrella ☔ : A Tale of Love

Chapter 36 : From Fragile to Fearless

Few months passed, and they continued dating happily, cherishing each moment together.

One afternoon, Noeul sat at his desk, diligently working through his tasks.

During his lunch break, Noeul decided to grab a coffee at a nearby café.

Eul: "Peat, want to grab a coffee break?"

Peat: "Sounds good! Could you do me a favor and order for both of us? I'll join you in fifteen minutes. Just need to finish up this task."

Eul: "Of course, no problem. I'll go ahead and order. I'll be waiting for you. Hurry up!"

Peat: "Thanks, Eul. I'll be there as soon as I can."

Eul nods understandingly, heading towards the counter to place their coffee order while Peat focuses on wrapping up his task.

Little did he know, fate had something unexpected in store for him.

As he stood in line, waiting to place his order, he heard familiar voices behind him. His heart skipped a beat as he turned around to see Pim, Ploy, and their friends approaching.

The memories flooded back, but this time, Eul took a deep breath, As he saw them, a mix of anger and apprehension churned within him, but he refused to let them see his vulnerability.

As Eul turned to head to the counter, Ploy couldn't resist taunting. "Still running errands for others, huh, Eul? Some things never change."

Ignoring the jibe, Eul marched to the counter, his mind racing with a mix of frustration and determination.

He knew he had to stand up for himself, to show Pim and his friends that he was no longer the weak, scared boy they used to bully.

Pim sneered, "Well, well, if it isn't little Noeul. Still hiding behind your books, I see."

Noeul felt a twinge of fear, but he refused to let it show.

With a steely gaze, he replied, "I'm not hiding from anything anymore, Pim. I'm here, just like you."

Ploy chimed in, "Oh, look at him trying to be brave. You're still the same weakling we used to push around."

Noeul took a deep breath, summoning all the courage within him. "Maybe I was weak back then, but I've grown since. I've learned that true strength comes from within, not from picking on others."

Pim scoffed, "Yeah, whatever. You're still just a nobody."

"No," Noeul said firmly, "I'm not a nobody. I may not have had everything handed to me on a silver platter like you, but I've worked hard for everything I have. And I'm proud of that."

His words struck a chord with Pim, Ploy, and their friends. For the first time, they seemed to see Noeul in a different light.

Eul continued "You all used to tease me for being an orphan, right? But despite having nobody with me, I achieved what I wanted. I worked part-time jobs, studied, took care of myself, and landed a job where I'm performing well. unlike you, who rely on your parents for everything.. So, I'm strong enough to take care of myself. You used to call me jinxed person, but I bring happiness to those around me. They all love me so much. We're not burdens on each other. We're a family that's always there for each other in good and bad times. And my sister taught me that. I have a very understanding boyfriend, he loves me so much. So, stop bullying others in the name of bad luck or being poor or an orphan. If you persist in such behavior, consequences will eventually catch up with you."

Pim and Ploy exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the weight of Noeul's words.

Noeul concluded, "So, instead of wasting your time belittling others, why not try living a good life? It's never too late to change."