A young boy stood at his favorite spot near a stream. He wore a white school uniform with purple stripes on the shoulder. He sat cross-legged in front of the stream. It was still noon and the reflection of the sun above had cast a picture of the ripples of the water in the stream onto his ruddy face. He closed his eyes, sniffing the scenery of nature.
Marko normally did this to calm himself whenever he closed from school. It had almost become a ritual.
"I turn fifteen today", he whispered while his eyes were closed. Then his lips widened to a smile.
He felt satisfied with how far he had come.After some time had passed, Marko stood up, picked his school bag and began to walk home. It was three p.m. and Mako's shadow led him along the way.
Especially at this time of the day, many of the villagers of Norham had gone to their farms. The farms were located behind the stream. As Marko walked home, the path was quiet with the sounds of farm animals at a distance behind the stream. The path to Marko's home was quiet with the sound of farm animals at a distance behind the stream. The sound of the running stream was soothing, coupled with the rustling of leaves in the wind. He felt at peace and in sync with nature. Marko watched his shadow that had been cast ahead of him while he walked on the narrow path. He kicked a small stone along the dirt path, consumed by his own thoughts.
Suddenly, a voice he recognized so well broke through the silence. He paused in his steps.
"Well, hello dear friend, you seem to be enjoying the breeze," Jake said mockingly, stepping out from behind an acacia tree. There was meanness in his voice and his eyes exuded mischief.
"Not again", Marko thought, his heart was beating in his chest like drums. He saw John and Ryan behind Jake. They had intentionally blocked the narrow path completely, leaving no room for Marko to escape their grasp.
"Why are you stalking me, Jake?" Marko asked, trying to stay calm. But his hands curled as if trying to say, "The least opportunity and I will run", gave him away.
Jake laughed; he signaled his friends before moving closer. "Did you just call me a stalker? What do you have for me to stalk you?"
Marko remained quiet. He turned to look at John. "You seem to be enjoying the company of this mischief a lot." He was serious with his words.
John was surprised. "Marko you've got some nerves." As he said that his eyes met with Jake's.
Jake looked into the sky and rolling his eyes as if to mimic Marko, "In the company of this mischief blah blah blah!"
He stepped closer to Marko. Whispering into his ear, he said, "Do you know why I hate you so much? You are poor, but because you have high grades, you think you're better than us, huh."
Marko knew that wasn't true. "So, what do you suggest? Have bad grades as you do?" he asked, stepping aside, but John quickly moved to block him.
"Wait, I just said don't let it get into your head? There is nothing special about high grades." Jake said trying to diffuse the tension their conversation was building.
"You're a good dancer too."
Marko smirked, and stepped back to create a distance between him and Jake. He began to draw something in the sand. Jake and his friends became curious as to what he was trying to do. Their eyes moved in unison toward the ground. Right at the same time, Marko took to his heels. He had just distracted them so that he could escape from their grip.
"Not so fast boy", Jake had seen through Marko's plan. He tripped him. Marko fell and cried in pain.
"And where do you think you were going?" John gritted his teeth.
"Just let me go, why do you keep looking for trouble with me?" Marko said firmly, tension growing in his voice.
He could feel the adrenaline rushing and his breathing increased.Jake's smile faded, replaced by a hard look. He squatted on the ground over Marko who laid on the ground with his knee bruised.
"You're not going anywhere until we say so. You think you're better than us? Always acting like you're too good for everyone else."
"That's not true." Marko protested, but Jake cut him off.
"Shut up!" Jake snapped, grabbing Marko by the neck and pulling him close. He looked sternly into Marko's eyes, "Don't try to play us. It won't work on us."
Marko tried to pull away, but Jake was stronger. John and Ryan stepped in, closing off any escape.
"This is what happens to people who think they're too special," Ryan said as he punched Marko in the side. Marko gasped in pain.
"Just leave me alone!" Marko cried, his voice trembling. He felt horrified by what his own classmates were doing to him.
"You hear that, boys? He wants us to leave him alone," Jake mocked with sarcasm.
"What do you think? Should we let him go?"
"No way," John laughed.Marko tried to get up, but Jake kicked him back down.
"Stay down," Jake growled. "It's easier that way."
Marko's mouth began to bleed from Jake's kick. His sight became dim. He wanted to fight back, but the pain was too much. With a thud, Marko fell into the dust.
"Come on, Jake, we've gone too far," Ryan said nervously. "What if someone sees us?"
"No one comes this way," Jake said, although he was also nervous, he pretended to be bold and fearless.
After sometime passed he realized that Marko was mute and he just lay on the ground. He spat near Marko and signaled to the road. "Let's run from here before anyone comes along this path."
The three boys ran off, their hurried footsteps fading as they disappeared into the trees, leaving Marko alone in the dust, wounded and barely conscious.
For a while, the only sound was Marko's heavy breathing. Then, he heard faint steps coming along his way. The sound of the steps became louder and louder as it approached him. Marko could barely make out who exactly it was until a voice cut through the air.
"Marko?" It was Elara's voice. She approached Marko who laid helplessly on the ground with bruises and bleeding on his lips. Her eyes were seized with shock and her body shuddered at the sight.
"Marko, what happened? Who did this to you?"
Elara knelt before Marko; her eyes filled with tears.Marko always felt uneasy whenever Elara was around him. He just couldn't stand her because he finds her especially beautiful. Maybe his teenage hormones had gotten the mastery over him. Well, Marko is also human so that was to be expected. He tried to avoid contact for fear he will lose himself into the arms of this beautiful fairy. Marko tried to get up on his own, but the pain in his ribs wasn't kind to him. He felt it sharply and it overwhelmed him. Marko fell back down. Elara reached out to touch him; but knocking her hand away, Marko tried to look strong.
His voice was weak, "I'm fine… leave me alone.
"Fine? You don't look fine," Elara said, kneeling beside him. She reached out to help, but Marko pulled away, shaking his head.
"I don't need your help," Marko insisted, his voice trembling. Then he began to cough. He had choked on his saliva. His ribs area really hurt, and each cough pierced his side with sharp painful throbs.
"Why do you always push me away? Please, let me help you," Elara pleaded, her eyes full of concern.
"I said I'm fine!" Marko snapped. He was getting angry. He winced a little, and then said weakly,"I just want to go home."
There was a long pause. Elara brushed some hair out of her face and looked at him. She was torn between respecting his wishes and doing what she knew was humanly right. But she could see the stubborn look in his eyes, so she gave in.
"Alright," she said softly, stepping back. "But I'm walking with you, just to make sure you get home."
Elara said that fearing she would be pushed away once again.Marko didn't argue. He was too exhausted to do so. He got to his feet with much difficulty, swaying from left to right and holding his side. He couldn't stand straight. Elara stayed close, ready to catch him if he fell, but gave him space.Together, they walked down the quiet path. The only sounds were the rustling leaves and the distant bleating of goats as the village settled into the evening. Marko's steps were slow and painful, but he kept moving. Elara walked beside him quietly, her heart aching for him, but she knew better than to say anything. For now, all she could do was be there, walking with him to make sure he was alright.
As they were going, Elara paused. "Marko, I have been wanting to say this."