WHY AM I CRYING ?

"Yeah, I hate that guy too! Luckily, he's not in our class, just the one right next to ours." (The girl frowned, annoyed.)

I was startled, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted off my chest when I realized they were talking about someone else with the same name as me. So, Mai didn't hate me, she didn't see me as a nuisance. A wave of relief washed over me, quickly replaced by an indescribable joy. Hehe, that means I still have a chance! If the right moment comes, I will definitely confess to Mai.

But… who is the guy stalking Mai? I held my breath, continuing to listen to the conversation. They talked for a while, and I finally found out it was a guy from class 10A2—the one right next to my class, 10A1. Everyone hated him, both boys and girls, because he wasn't just mean but also had a habit of following girls around, especially Mai. He once secretly followed her for an entire stretch of road. His appearance, according to their description, wasn't pleasant at all—acne-covered skin, thick glasses, and an overall unkempt look.

I clenched my fists. A guy like that dared to stalk Mai? I made a mental note to keep an eye on him. If he continued, I wouldn't hesitate to teach him a lesson.

My legs had gone numb from crouching for so long. I let myself sink down against the tree trunk, closing my eyes to rest for a bit. Mai and her friend had already left. I planned to sit there a little longer before heading back, but then I spotted a familiar figure—Sister Mị. She was picking flowers to sell. Today, she looked so beautiful, her presence gentle yet full of life. She must be around 17 or 18 years old. It had been a long time since I last saw her. But the sun was already setting, so I didn't linger and quickly left.

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. My mind kept circling back to that other Giang. Tomorrow, I had to see him for myself!

The Next Morning

The school bullies still shot me cold looks, but it seemed like none of them had the energy for another fight. I let out a breath of relief—at least today would be somewhat peaceful.

Classes went by, and finally, recess arrived. Excitedly, I walked up to Mai's desk and invited her to the canteen:

"Mai, wanna go to the canteen with me?"

Mai turned to look at me, smiling lightly, but it seemed a bit forced. She shook her head, politely declining:

"I already have plans with a friend. Sorry, Giang. Maybe next time!"

"Come on, Mai!" (A group of girls called out to her.)

Mai smiled at me once more before quickly leaving. The boys nearby saw the scene and snickered mockingly. I swallowed my emotions, pushed aside my disappointment, waved at Mai as if nothing had happened, and quietly walked away alone.

I wandered around the school, trying to shake off my gloomy mood. As I walked aimlessly, I suddenly heard laughter and mocking voices from a corner of the schoolyard. A crowd had gathered, whispering excitedly. Curious, I pushed my way in to see what was happening.

Right in front of me stood a chubby boy with acne-covered skin and thick glasses—matching the description from last night. So this was the guy who had been following Mai! But wait… he was being beaten up?

I tapped a guy next to me on the shoulder and asked in a low voice:

"What's going on?"

"Oh, that guy has been creeping on the girls in class 10A2. The last straw was when he started following the class beauty. So now he's getting what he deserves!"

"His name is Giang?" (I frowned.)

"Yeah, that's him! A total pervert!"

I looked up. A tall, muscular guy with dyed brown hair was gripping Giang by the hair and punching him repeatedly. Each hit landed with a sickening thud. Giang was curled up on the ground, arms covering his head in a desperate attempt to protect himself—but it was useless. The crowd clapped and cheered, treating it like some kind of brutal wrestling match.

Tung! Tung! Tung!

The school bell signaled the end of recess. The crowd dispersed, and I returned to class, but the image of chubby Giang haunted me for the rest of the lessons.

Finally, the school day ended. I purposely stayed behind, walking slower than everyone else. I wanted to find him. I needed to see what he looked like after that savage beating.

After wandering around for a while, I finally spotted him.

He was sitting alone on a bench behind the school, head bowed low. His face was swollen, his left eye bruised, one side of his glasses shattered, and his clothes were torn. He looked so pitiful that I hesitated for a moment.

I stepped closer.

And suddenly… he burst into tears.