Dark Grey

Chapter 3: Pesperate Shadows

As the restaurant's closing time approached, I was assigned to serve Jake and his group. My heart sank as I approached their table, dreading the inevitable torment. The laughter and loud conversation halted as I approached, replaced by a tense silence that was soon filled with cruel jabs.

"Well, well, if it isn't our favorite charity case," Jake sneered, barely hiding his smirk. tis new girlfriend who exuded an air of popular cruelty. looked me up and down with an exaggerated expression of disdain

"Ugh, look at you. Do you even know how to serve?" she mocked, her voice dripping with condescension. "I bet you don't get tips at all, do you? Must be tough being so poor."

The others joined in, their taunts growing more relentless, I tried to ignore them, focusing on taking their orders, but the humiliation was overwhelming. Their laughter and Jeering echoed in my ears as I scribbled down their requests

When they finally left, Jake threw a few crumpled bills onto the table, his face a mask of feigned sympathy.
"There, Jae. You look like you could use this more than we do, Maybe it'll help you get by,"
He said, his tone laced with mocking pity.

I pocketed the money, unable to meet his gaze. The act of charity felt more like a bitter reminder of his cruelty than any real help.

Returning home, I was greeted by the cacophony of my father's drunkenness. The door to the living room was slightly ajar, and I could see him sprawled on the sofa with a new Woman.
They were tangled together, making out passionately. I stood frozen, feeling the familiar sting of helplessness.

"Dad?" I whispered, hoping for some acknowledgement, but my voice was drowned out by their noises. As I stepped fully into the room, my father's eyes shot open, and a look of rage crossed his face.

"What are you doing here?" he roared his voice slurring with anger. "Can't you see I'm busy? Get out of my sight!"

I backed away quickly, retreating to my room and locking the door behind me. I could still hear the woman's moans, each sound a sharp reminder of my own isolation. The thin walls offered no solace, and I lay awake, tormented by the sounds that seeped through.

The disturbed sleep left me groggy and disoriented the next morning. I overslept, and by the time I arrived at school, the first bell had already rung I rushed through the hallways, only to find Jake and his friends waiting for me by my locker. Their faces lit up with malicious glee as they saw me approach.

"Look who decided to show up!" one of them Jeered, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the nearest bathroom. The group followed, their laughter echoing ominously.

Inside the cramped bathroom, the harassment escalated. They shoved me against the wall, their taunts becoming more vicious. Jake's voice cut through the din, sharp and taunting

"Thought you could just hide away, huh?" Jake's face was close to mine, his breath hot and heavy. "How's it feel to be a loser?"

The physical abuse was brutal and unrelenting. They slammed me against the cold tiles, their kicks and punches delivering a mix of pain and humiliation. My attempts to shield myself were futile, and the pain only served to amplify the crushing weight of their contempt

Jake and his friends eventually left, leaving me crumpled on the bathroom floor, barely able to move. The room spun around me as I tried to catch my breath, the sting of their words and actions carving deep into my already shattered spirit

The echoes of their laughter lingered in my ears as I limped out of-the bathroom, feeling utterly defeated.

After the brutal encounter in the bathroom, I did my best to avoid Jake and his friends throughout the day. I ducked into classrooms early and moved quickly between periods, hoping to evade any further confrontation. Each shadow in the hallway seemed to stretch and twist with potential threats, making every step a cautious one.

By the time school ended, I was relieved to make my way to the restaurant. The steady rhythm of work was a welcome distraction from the day's turmoil. The familiar routine helped to ground me, and I focused on each task with a forced calm.

Jimmy, a kind-hearted coworker, noticed my limp and the fresh bruise on my lip as I carried a tray of drinks to a table. He approached with a concerned frown. “Hey, Jae, are you alright? You look like you’ve been through something rough.”

I managed a shaky smile, trying to mask the pain. “I’m fine, Jimmy. Just had a rough day, you know?” I brushed off his concern with a casual shrug, but the pain in my lip and the stiffness in my limbs told a different story.

Jimmy looked unconvinced but didn’t press further. “Alright, if you say so. Just… don’t push yourself too hard.”

As he walked away, I took a deep breath and returned to my tasks. Despite the normalcy of the evening shift, the weight of my bruised spirit and the day's earlier events lingered heavily. The brief moment of concern from Jimmy was a small comfort in a day marked by relentless cruelty and pain.