My Innocent Roommate

They'll Regret That, Too.

I have always wondered throughout the years: What's the whole point of bullying?
Does it make you feel better?
Does it make you feel popular?
Does it make you feel powerful?

Take it from me, you'll never feel any of these things if the only thing you know is making other people suffer...
Doesn't anyone consider other people's feelings nowadays?
Probably not.
Of course not.
It has always been like that for many, many years...and I had to learn it the hard way.
I've been bullied myself, but I never knew how badly Juno had been bullied back then...and especially to this day.
It was Wednesday afternoon and I just got home from the grocery store, excited to finally get to relax on the couch and binge watch korean dramas the rest of the day~
As I put the food away, I heard our front door open, then close, then the sound of shoes squeaking across the floor straight to the kitchen.
It must be Juno, well, of course it was Juno because he also had the key to our apartment.
I softly smile as I put the last mango in the fridge.

"Ah, welcome back Juno~ How was school-"

My sentence was cut short as I get a good look at Juno, who's face and hair was covered in bits of mud, along with his uniform and tennis shoes.
He shyly smiles.

"Umm hey Mackenzie...school was...good."

"Juno, what the heck?! Why are you so dirty?!"

And why didn't he take off his shoes before coming in...
I just mopped the floor today too.
I grab a wet rag and approached him, but the boy backs away from me, holding his hands up defensively as he shivers.

"H-Hey hey it's okay, it's just mud...no big deal."

"Oh it is a big deal, Juno and you should already know that I do a thing called what I WANT! Now let me get a good look at you..."

I demanded as Juno nervously nods his head and takes a seat, staring up at me with eyes that were filled with...sadness?
It looked like he had been crying too...what is this? What did I just discover here?
Just as I started wiping the mud off his face, I noticed something purple on his cheek.
Was that...a bruise?
My brown eyes widened at the horrifying sight, as I continued cleaning him up, finding more and more bruises on his arms and legs.

"Juno...is this what I think this is...?"

"Mackenzie..."

"Are you perhaps being bullied at school...?"

Juno stays silent and instead, stares down at his muddy feet.
I gripped his chin, lifting his head up just so I could see his face.

"Are you being bullied, Juno?!"

"...Yes..."

"Why...why didn't you tell me before? How long has this been happening?"

I questioned him as I folded my arms, waiting for his answer. Juno rubs the back of his neck, flinching in pain.

"For about...a few months now..."

I unfold my arms, staring at Juno with disbelief as I sigh and hand him the wet rag, going to the cabinets and taking out my medical kit.
I come back and kneel before him, placing a few bandages on his wounds.