The next morning, Ronnie woke up staring at the ceiling. For a few seconds, he didn't move.
Just another long day.
He exhaled slowly and sat up. "You can survive it, Ronnie. Come on… man up."
The words didn't sound convincing—but they were enough.
Routine was all he had.
He got ready quietly, pulling on his usual hoodie. Ever since joining this place, it had become a habit. Not for comfort, but for hiding. It helped him disappear. And right now, disappearing felt easier than being seen.
"Life really is unpredictable…" he muttered as he stepped out.
By the time he reached college, the whispers had already started. They always did. But now, they didn't hit the same. They had become background noise—distant, ignorable.
Ronnie walked straight to the art room—the only place that still felt like peace.
He reached his desk. The cloth he had placed over his painting yesterday was still there. Untouched. Or at least… it looked that way.
He set his things down and pulled the cloth away.
And froze.
The painting was destroyed.
Slashed open with something sharp. Ruined beyond repair.
And across it, written in harsh red strokes—
"VILLAIN."
For a second, Ronnie didn't react. Then his hands clenched tightly.
Something snapped.
He stood up.
"Who did this?"
His voice wasn't quiet. It wasn't hesitant. It was sharp. Cold.
The entire class fell silent.
"I asked—who did this?"
Still nothing.
"Are you all deaf?!"
A girl hesitantly raised her hand. Ronnie walked toward her quickly.
"Was it you?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
She flinched. "N-no! It wasn't me! It's the bullies!"
"Who?"
"Jacob and Sam! They're outside—they never come to class!"
Ronnie turned immediately and walked to the door.
Two boys stood there, relaxed, like nothing mattered.
"Are you Jacob and Sam?" Ronnie asked.
They smirked. "Do you think you have the right to say our names, monster?"
Ronnie's fists tightened. "One question. Did you ruin my painting?"
One of them stepped forward. "Yeah. So what are you go—"
He didn't finish.
Ronnie's punch landed straight across his face. Hard. He dropped instantly.
The second guy stepped forward. "Are you out of your mind?!"
Ronnie grabbed his collar. "No. You are."
His grip tightened. "I stayed silent when you insulted me… when you called my father a villain it took your blame your insults even tho i did nothing cause it my dad who you hate and as his son you assume me i would do same even without knowing me "
A pause.
"But my art?" His eyes darkened. "What did it do to you?"
Silence.
"You're going to redraw it."
"What? No—"
Ronnie raised his fist slightly. "…Say that again."
"…Fine."
They entered the class.
The professor arrived, took one look at the situation—and said nothing.
The first painting they made was rushed and careless.
"…Do it again," Ronnie said.
"You think this is a joke?!"
" cant you hear or should i say in way you would understand?"
"Do it again."
They tried again.
Still not enough.
"…Not right."
"I'm done!" one of them snapped.
"Quiet," Ronnie said flatly. "Others are working."
They went back again.
This time, they were quieter.
Frustration still showed—but so did effort.
Lines were slower. Movements more careful.
Still—
it wasn't enough.
Ronnie watched them for a moment.
Then stood up and walked toward them.
They stiffened immediately.
"…What?" Jacob muttered.
Ronnie stopped beside them and looked at their canvas.
"Is it hard?" he asked.
They exchanged a glance.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"Do you want help?"
Both of them blinked.
"…What?"
Ronnie sighed softly. "Just—close your eyes."
"Why?" Sam frowned.
"Just do it."
They hesitated.
Then slowly—
they did.
Ronnie's voice lowered slightly.
"Imagine a garden."
A pause.
"Not just any garden. One filled with roses."
"Feel the air."
"Calm. Still."
"Take a breath."
They did.
Unknowingly.
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One…"
"Open your eyes."
They did.
"…Now draw."
Ronnie stepped back.
And left them there.
This time—
something changed.
Their hands moved differently.
Slower.
Focused.
Not rushed.
Not careless.
Time passed.
An hour.
Then two.
When they finally returned, their expressions had changed.
No arrogance.
No mockery.
Just quiet anticipation.
Ronnie looked at their work.
And for the first time—
he smiled.
"It's not perfect," he said.
"But it's real."
They didn't speak.
But their grip on the canvas tightened.
Because now—
they understood.
Relief flashed across their faces.
They held onto the painting slightly when he reached for it.
Ronnie noticed.
"…Hard to let go of something you worked for, right?"
They nodded.
He handed it back. "You can keep it."
They froze. "Really?"
He nodded.
After class, they approached him again.
"Why didn't you complain?" Jacob asked.
Ronnie paused. "…I did punch you."
Then added, "How is it now?"
"…Still hurts."
Ronnie handed him medicine. "For that."
They stared at him.
"You still didn't answer," Sam said.
Ronnie exhaled. "If I complained, you'd get punished. Then you'd hate me more… and ruin more things."
They stayed silent.
"But if you understand effort," he continued, "you won't destroy it again."
"…Yeah," Jacob said quietly.
A pause.
"Can you teach us drawing?" Sam asked.
Ronnie blinked. "…I'm not that great."
"You're better than us."
After a moment, Ronnie nodded. "I'll help."
Sam grinned. "Then… can we be friends?"
Ronnie froze briefly.
"…Yeah."
"how about we go out party as we all became friends.."
"..umm next time i have work got to go , but next time for sure"
Ronnie stood by his father's grave.
"Sorry, Dad… I'm late."
He smiled faintly. "I made friends today."
As he cleaned, footsteps approached.
Jacob and Sam.
"you said you have work"
"yeah"
"We thought you were avoiding us," they said.
Ronnie shook his head. "No."
They started helping without asking.
"…This is my dad," Ronnie said quietly.
They looked confused.
"Just… look at the sky."
They did.
And slowly, they understood.
The next day felt different.
Not easier.
But lighter.
"GOOOOD MORNING, RONNIEEE~!"
Ronnie turned.
Sam waved wildly. Jacob walked beside him.
"We were waiting."
"my bad sorry"
"come on we friends " sam said
Ronnie smiled slightly. "…Good morning."
People stared.
But this time—
it didn't matter.
Before anything else—
"Well, well… the villain and his new bully friends."
Ronnie looked up.
William.
Smirking.
Before Ronnie could respond, Jacob stepped in front of him.
"Say that again."
Sam grinned. "Ohhh—jealous much of the 'hero', Jacob?"
"Oh wait is it because you can't even draw a proper circle like his marks?"
Silence.
Then—
Jacob burst out laughing.
"HAHA—damn, that was brutal."
A few students laughed.
William's smirk tightened slightly.
"…Interesting," he said quietly. "…Let's see how long this lasts."
He walked away.
Ronnie stood there.
Something inside him felt… different.
"You didn't have to do that," he said.
Jacob shrugged. "Yeah. We did."
Sam grinned. "That's what friends do."
Ronnie froze for a second.
It remind him of Raj…
He wondered where he was now.
Then he smiled.
A real one.
For the first time—
he wasn't alone.
Author's pov:
so what you think
william gonna let them silde without harm
or target them
but im super happy he got friends not just friends but real one
ahhh
i too miss raj he is such a colour bomb with emotion mode in subscription hehe
he cant stay without doing something dumb for every 2 mins
jacob seem funny and cool like a character you can rely on
and sam with his silly jokes
jacob jealous cause he cant draw circle like willam marks like bruhhh lol
damn this trio is gonna be chaotic
i suggest william to not do anything stupid
but would he listen
stay tuned for next part
keep smiling enjoy story
your lovely author signing off