little Jevan stood frozen for a moment, then dashed after Marco, who had already run far ahead. He almost stumbled over a stone lying on the ground but quickly regained his balance and kept running after Marco.
In the end, Marco stopped in front of an old wooden house. Young Jevan approached him, reached out, and placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him.
"We have to go back."
Marco shoved his hand away violently.
"Leave me alone."
"Look, we need to return. Don't mind what those idiots said."
Marco turned toward him, his eyes red and brimming with tears, his cheeks wet, and his lower lip trembling.
"Stay away from me. I'm cursed… I bring suffering to everyone around me."
"Cursed?"
Marco lowered his head, clenching his fists.
"Didn't you see? Since you started hanging around me, trouble has been coming at you from every direction. I bring bad luck to you."
