Hate

I woke up the next day, a bit sad, I remembered that Lucia had left yesterday, and I would never see her again. I felt miserable about what had happened.

I had to get up again and get ready to continue with my activities in this academy. After the suspension was over. However, as I was walking out of there, Scott showed up, he was quite upset.

He came over to where I was and complained to me about what happened.

"I warned you, and look how it turned out. Now everyone hates you for what happened."

"I'm sorry, but Lucia wanted to leave, the general wanted to expel me, but she chose to leave."

"You're a liar, she wouldn't leave. Avoid talking to me from now on"

He was quite affected by what happened, I preferred not to answer so as not to argue with him, however, he referred to me again.

"You're an asshole! You're going to live through hell from now on and you're like you didn't do anything!"

"You can ask the general what Lucia said about what happened. She just used me to satisfy her desires"

"Fuck you! Asshole!"

Listening to him, I understood that he liked Lucia and he held in the rage he produced knowing what was going on between her and me, but he blamed what happened only on me.

After walking away from the bodega, I hurried towards the toilets, trying to avoid the accusing stares that were on me. Every step I took was filled with hostility and rejection from my peers at the academy. The rumour about what had happened with Lucia had spread quickly, and now everyone seemed to be against me.

As I walked through the corridors, I heard whispers and murmurs behind me. It was clear that everyone was aware of the details of the situation, or at least their distorted version of it. I could feel their gazes on my back, as if they were waiting for the right moment to unleash their anger.

As I entered the bathroom, I stood in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection. My face reflected the sadness and emotional baggage that was building up. I felt guilty about what had happened with Lucia, even though I knew deep down inside that not everything that happened was for her own good.

I remembered Scott's words and his unbridled anger. I realised that he was also a victim of the situation I also created, and that I knew what could happen. Scott could not accept that she had chosen to leave and blamed me for her departure.

As I pondered, I heard footsteps approaching the bathroom. A shiver ran down my spine, anticipating the possible confrontation ahead. I didn't know how I would handle the hostility of my peers, but I was determined to remain calm and not get carried away by the violence.

Jhon appeared and looked quite annoyed.

"It's unbelievable that she would have noticed you, you're disgusting and if I hated you before for standing out, I hate you even more now. It's not even necessary to do anything to you, any cadet will do it. I just hope they break a few bones.

From his attitude now and at the station I came to a conclusion, he was the one who accused us with the lieutenant, just like Lucia had certain privileges to be in other places.

"So you ratted us out?"

"Yes, but I didn't think she was stupid enough to get herself expelled and testify like that."

Now, I understood her annoying attitude, but I preferred to get out of the bathroom and get the two weeks suspension out of here. I went to get the card the woman at the station had given me. It was my only contact with anyone outside, I couldn't contact my father's friends and my aunt and uncle were nowhere near here, and I never had good communication with them.

These were desperate measures, but I felt I was in danger. John's attitude showed that there was a lot of hatred in that place and that he could do something to me.

I went to my room and looked for the card I had been given at the station. On it was the phone number of the woman who had helped me and who seemed willing to support me in this difficult situation. She was my only hope of finding some form of protection or shelter.

I dialled the number with trembling hands and waited anxiously for someone to answer on the other end of the line. After a few rings, I finally heard the woman's voice.

"Hello, who is this?" she asked.

"Hello, it's me, that young man you gave the card to at the station," I replied with a tone of urgency in my voice. "I need your help. I'm in a complicated situation and I feel I'm in danger."

"I had a problem at the academy and was suspended for two weeks. Most of the cadets hate me and I feel they might do something to me."

"I understand," the woman said with empathy in her voice. "Don't worry, I'll do my best to help you. Maybe tomorrow I'll get there."

As I waited for the woman to arrive, I felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. On the one hand, I knew I had made the right decision in seeking outside help, as my situation at the academy seemed untenable. On the other hand, I did not know what the future held and how I was going to solve all these problems.

I felt some embarrassment with that woman, I even regretted calling her. I tried to call her back, but one of the lieutenants stopped me.

"What are you doing, cadet?"

"Just calling a family member."

"What for?"

"I'll be gone for two weeks, while the suspension passes."

"He plans to run away after what he did, don't be an imbecile. The general didn't expel him just to make him pay for what he did with some public reprimand. I doubt they'll let him go."

The lieutenant's words echoed in my mind, increasing my concern. It seemed that my situation was not going to be as straightforward as I had hoped. I felt a sense of helplessness as I realised that I was trapped in this academy, surrounded by people who hated me and with no one to turn to.

I decided to obey the lieutenant and hung up the phone without calling the woman at the station again. For the moment, I had no choice but to face the consequences of my actions and try to survive in this hostile environment, but just walking down the corridors my colleagues avoided me and glared at me. 

I tried to remain calm and not let myself be carried away by the frustration and anger that constantly arose. It was difficult, but I remembered Lucia's words, who always urged me to be strong and to face adversity. I clung to those memories so that I wouldn't lose hope.

However, my fears were realised when I tried to go to the bodega. Someone put something on my head and I couldn't see anything, I just got hit and kicked all over my body several times until Scott arrived a few minutes later. I could only hear his voice asking everyone to stop.

"Stop!"

When I took the black bag off my head, I saw that there were more than ten cadets. My whole body ached.

"Let's go to the infirmary, it's best if you leave at times when there's no one around. I warned you! I shouldn't help you, but it would be worse."

"I know, but I didn't think it would all happen so fast."

"You'd better get up. No one else will come to help you, I don't think the lieutenants will show you any mercy."

I struggled to my feet, feeling the sharp pain run through every part of my body. My vision was blurred, but I managed to make out Scott's face, who was looking at me with a mixture of concern and disgust.

"I can't believe this happened to you," Scott said in a strained tone of voice. "I warned you, but you don't seem to listen. Now look at you, you're a wreck.

I felt a lump in my throat as I tried to hold back the tears. I knew Scott was right, that I had underestimated the hatred I had generated in my classmates and the gravity of the situation at the academy. Now, the consequences were obvious and painful.

Scott helped me to my feet, and together we made our way to the infirmary. Every step I took was a torment, but I tried my best to keep my composure and not let the pain overwhelm me. I knew that showing weakness would only fuel the contempt of my companions.

Arriving at the infirmary, I was attended to by a nurse. They examined me thoroughly. With a strange apparatus.

"You have a fractured rib, and parts of your hands and feet, you won't be able to exercise for over a month".

As I lay on the stretcher, I reviewed the events that had brought me to this point. I remembered my father's wish that prompted me to join the academy, the meeting with Lucia, the death of my relatives and what triggered this situation.

At that moment, I understood that my life had taken a drastic turn. I was no longer the enthusiastic and confident young man who had come to the academy. With a purpose that started to become unclear and hurt my heart.

Scott came over to me and sat down next to the gurney. His expression reflected a mixture of anger and genuine concern.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you," Scott said sincerely. "I can't deny that I felt jealousy and anger, but this has gone too far. If I didn't get there you would have been beaten to death."

I nodded my head, unable to utter a word. Emotions welled up in my chest, making communication difficult. I appreciated Scott's honesty, but I also knew that he had played a part in creating this atmosphere of hatred and violence.

"We should do something about it," Scott continued. "The best thing is for you to go away for some time or leave the academy. I'm going to talk to the lieutenants and see what happens."