I always get beaten by everyone. No wait! There was someone who always helped me, saved me. I'm standing here proudly, strongly. I think only because of him. He made me grow stronger, he taught me how to fight for ownself.
HE'S MY GUARDIAN ANGEL!!
At first, Let me introduce myself. I'm just an ordinary guy… or at least that's what I used to believe.
My name is Bryce.
"Bryce Dalton."
So, the story of mine starts from the day when I first met him, 'Rylan'.
There was a guy who always bullied me, Steve, like I was a toy to him. As other days, I was being bullied by those shitheads just because I bought coffee flavoured milkshake instead of strawberry.
I was being bullied and beaten, but then he came, 'Rylan came'. He was actually newly transferred to our school because he cracked someone's head open in a fight at his old school. Still he was cool in my perspective.
Rylan entered the washroom, umm.. yeah, the bullies where bullying me in the washroom, so, he entered the washroom and said "you d*ckheads, bullying him again?!"
Then in a blink he grabbed the bully by the neck and slammed him hard against the wall. Moving swiftly. He came up from behind the other bully and trapped him in a rear choke, silencing the boy who had been bullying me moments earlier.
Unfortunately, just as Rylan had the bully restrained, a teacher walked in and saw him holding the boy in a chokehold. From that angle it looked bad — really bad.
"Rylan! What do you think you're doing?" the teacher shouted.
Even though it wasn't his fault, the blame fell on him instantly.
He released the boy at once and tried to explain " sir, I was protecting him. They were bullying him" he said. Gesturing towards me. And it was the truth.
But the teacher didn't seem interested in hearing it.
"Teachers are here to handle bullying matters", the teacher replied sharply."You don't have to take matters into your own hands".
I stood there, frustrated and helpless, it always seemed to happen this way. In most schools, no one listens to the victim while the bullying is happening. But the moment you fight back, suddenly you're the one at fault.
It's almost like a habit with teachers.
They never see what happens before. Only what happens at the end.
The teacher grabbed Rylan by the arm and started dragging him towards the principal's office.
But Rylan… he didn't resist. He didn't panic.
He just turned his head slightly and winked at me.
I froze.
How could he be so calm? He could get suspended… and yet, he looked completely unbothered.
Moments later, he disappeared down the corridor.
Meanwhile, I stayed behind, brushing the dust off my clothes.
I had been forced to my knees earlier, and even now, my hands were trembling. I couldn't tell if it was anger… or embarrassment.
After a while, I made my way back towards my classroom.
That's when I saw him again.
Rylan.
He was walking down the corridor like nothing had happened. Calm. Too calm.
I hurried towards him.
"What happened when they called your parents?" I asked.
He stayed silent for a few seconds, then shrugged. "Nothing much."
I frowned. "What do you mean, nothing?"
"They called my father," he said. "But you know him… he's way too chill."
Then he explained.
His father had first apologised politely to the teacher, then asked him to pass the phone to Rylan.
"When he got on the line," Rylan said, "he asked me one question — 'Do you think what you did was right?'"
"And what did you say?" I asked.
Rylan looked straight at me.
"I said, 'Yes.'"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"He asked me 'how', so I explained everything. Then he just said, 'Okay, son. You did a good thing. Always choose the right path. I'm proud of you.'"
For the first time that day, something warm filled my chest.
Not all heroes wear capes.
Some just pick up the phone… and trust their sons.
Then Rylan suddenly asked,
"Wanna be my friend?"
I don't know why… but I answered immediately.
"No. Thanks."
Even now, I regret that moment.
Rylan blinked. "Why?"
"I don't need a friend," I said quietly. "I'm fine alone."
The truth? I was just scared. I had always been an introvert… and letting someone in felt harder than getting hurt.
Rylan looked at me for a moment, then spoke firmly.
"You know what? You'll need me someday. Just like I need you. I don't know why everyone's scared of me… you were the first person who talked to me nicely in this school. You're a good guy."
He stepped back slightly.
"Fine. It's your choice, buddy. If your answer becomes 'yes' one day… let me know."
And with that, he walked away.
The moment he left… They came back.
Steve's friends.
Rocky. Jason. Nylon.
They smiled like nothing had happened.
We were still in the corridor, teachers nearby, so they casually put their arms around my shoulders and led me away — like we were friends.
But we weren't.
They took me into an empty classroom… then pushed me into a corner.
And it started again.
Even after what Rylan had done… they felt no shame.
They hit me, mocked me, called me Rylan's "pet."
"Tell him," one of them sneered, "and it'll be worse next time."
I said nothing.
What could I say?
When they were done, I walked back to my class slowly.
My head was down. My eyes burned.
I sat in my seat… and broke down.
I cried silently, trying not to make a sound.
After some time, someone called my name.
I looked up.
"Rylan is calling you in the washroom," the boy said.
I was still shaking. Angry. Broken.
"Go away…" I tried to say.
But the words came out as nothing but broken sounds. I had cried so much… I couldn't even speak properly.
Eventually, I stood up.
I needed to wash my face anyway.
So I walked to the washroom.
And when I stepped inside…
What I saw…
was TERRIFYING.