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The ring of Hu Tao’s phone reverberated throughout her room. It startled her; usually, no one outside of her immediate family would text or call her. Oh wow, a new friend? She silently hoped that someone had decided to reach out and befriend her. Her hopes were raised when a few more pings rang from her phone, each one adding to the pot of hopefulness she had in her heart. However, her expectations were dashed; a completely new reality faced her once she checked the notifications.
Go die; no one wants you around.
Are you pretending to be a girl because no one liked you as a boy?
People like you shouldn’t exist.
Your family should just kill you; you’re shameful to their name.
Her initial reaction was an extreme shock. Still as a sculpture, she held her phone in her hand, thoughts buzzing in her head. How did they find out? After a few seconds, her body vibrated and shook with fear; the messages clearly conveyed an intent by her schoolmates to inflict harm upon her. Hu Tao, normally carefree, even when most of her classmates paid no attention to her or bluntly wanted nothing to do with her, was now trembling from a few text messages.
Scenes began playing in her head. She envisioned the bullies physically and mentally tormenting her around every corner, throwing projectiles and landing blows on her. They would sever any ties she had initially held, and they would convince her parents to disown her. The visualizations of arms and legs flying toward her face was too clear to her, sending her into a frenzy of panic.
Her breath hitched; it felt as if a magical force had restrained her lungs and trachea, preventing the flow of oxygen to her body. She felt like she might be having tachycardia. Trying to gain control of her body, she blinked away the tears that were obscuring and blurring her vision. She slammed her phone on the table in her hysteria, burying herself in her bed, sobbing her worries of that night away. She dreamed of staying in the vibrant red covers that shielded her from the outside world, though she knew inside that she would have to rise with the light the following day and face the evils that lurked behind every pillar.
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The sound of the alarm rudely reminded her of reality. Her eyes drooped, possibly due to the grimness that awaited her. Please, someone, help me against the crowd of monsters. Maybe they’ll leave me alone if I give them a coupon? She held onto a small shred of hope as most people in desperation do. The world seemed gray for her as if her hopeful heart had been shattered into a million pieces. The color faded as she performed her morning routine; the monotone sound of her toothbrush on her teeth was eerie, and her breakfast, in contrast to its usual flavorfulness, tasted of asphalt and unpleasant bitterness. The green trees and plants that would normally light up the ride to school seemed lifeless and bleak as if they wept and mourned her condition. Their branches and leaves hung low as if they were being leeched out of. If only I could turn trees into clients, she thought. Sighing, she saw a single teardrop stain her blue bag, creating a small ugly spot darker than its surrounding in the center. Her mother turned around once they reached the school. “Tao, you don’t look too happy today; promise me you’ll have a good day at school, alright?”
Hu Tao flashed a fake smile at her mother. “Alright, I promise,” she said, exiting the car. She watched the figure of the car speed off into the distance. I’m sorry I won’t be able to keep my promise, mother.
The new sun and wilting trees were really bad omens for Hu Tao. Upon stepping into the school, it didn’t take even a minute before her tormentors began to inflict their special form of suffering upon her. “Well well, if it isn’t the tranny,” one girl said, menacingly approaching Hu Tao.
The girl’s features were sharp and distinctive; she was perhaps the most recognizable person in the school. Her deep hazel eyes stared into Hu Tao’s soul with murderous intent, though Hu Tao didn’t think that murder was off the table. She flipped her medium-length hair back in a flourish. Her legs were long, with clear and polished skin; many of the girls in the school envied her. Hu Tao played her last card. Reaching into her bag and taking a slip of paper out, she hesitantly flashed a fake smile at the girl. “Would you like a 50% discount at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?” Please go away, I beg you.
The other girl scowled, saying, “I don’t need a piece of shit’s money.” Raising her fist, the other pummeled Hu Tao’s face; attempts at blocking or dodging were futile. When the first hit made an impact, Hu Tao cried out in pain. “I understand why you don’t want to be a boy; even girls can beat you up,” the other girl taunted. Continuing her barrage, the other girl carefully assaulted every part of Hu Tao’s body. Every time the other made contact with her, spikes of pain would resonate throughout her body, making her shriek in pain. Sometimes, she would dare to gaze among the bystanders, desperately trying to ask one of them for aid, but each time the other girl would silence her attempt with a good hit to the eye and jaw; eventually, she ceased trying to get outside help, deeming the pain from her face area too great to bear.
The other girl delivered a ruthless kick to Hu Tao’s stomach, causing her to gasp and fall to the ground in pain, both of her hands clasping her stomach. “Haha! Luckily, there wasn’t a baby there; oh wait a minute, you aren’t a real girl.” The other girl cackled at Hu Tao’s agony. How much must I suffer for you to be happy? “Well, consider this a kind gesture, vermin whose name I won’t dare speak; I’ll help you become a real girl and kick your balls off.” Hu Tao felt a heavy foot restrict her neck, causing her to gag. Then, the onslaught on her groin area began; the other girl mercilessly sent a flurry of consecutive kicks to it while Hu Tao was still gasping for air. She closed her eyes, hoping for something to end the streak of pain that defined her life at that moment. Only when her deliverance came did she dare open her eyes.
She saw a girl with pink standing opposite the one who was physically abusing her only a few moments previous. Somehow, she had managed to capture and divert the other girl’s attention, meaning that Hu Tao was temporarily relieved of pain. “Zhang Jiangyun! Stop your illegal assault at once!” The pink-haired girl’s voice boomed through the hallway, casting a spell on everyone; it was as if this was the center of the world.
“Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it, Yanfei?” Jiangyun was annoyed; her facial expression indicated that she wanted to deal with the nuisance of Yanfei before returning to beating Hu Tao up.
“Need I remind you that sections three, seven, and twelve of the school rulebook clearly outlaw this type of behavior? Additionally, the seventeenth section of the regional law regarding physical attack and the fourteenth section of the national law may also subject you legal damages. Jiangyun, I don’t think to remind you that you’re old enough to have this stain on your permanent record? Please step away from her?” Yanfei kept her cool demeanor. That girl’s kinda hot, Hu Tao thought. I need to make sure to thank her later.
“‘Her?’ Yanfei, are you really respecting a tranny?” Jiangyun let out a loud cackle as if she was watching her mortal enemy getting burnt at stake.
Putting her head in her hands, Yanfei sighed, exasperated at Jiangyun’s behavior. “Well, if the first method of the law book fails, there’s always the second.” When Jiangyun raised her eyebrow, confused, Yanfei provided her explanation by walking toward her and slamming a thick book on her head many times, causing her to double down in pain. Does that girl not have permanent brain damage? Jesus, Yanfei’s so savage; that’s so hot.
Yanfei walked up to Hu Tao, extending her arm. “Hey there, are you alright? Well, by the looks of it, you aren’t. I’ll bring you to the clinic.”
Hu Tao hesitantly stood up, the purple spots, testaments of her bruises acquired earlier that day, lining her skin on all parts of her body. She limped and stumbled, struggling to make her way around. “Thank you … Yanfei. Would you like a 50% coupon for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s services?”
Yanfei stifled a laugh. “Hu Tao, you’re so hilarious; I don’t understand how anyone could harbor negative feelings against you. Yes, I’ll take your coupon, but you’re also going to have to treat me to some mapo tofu at Wanmin Restraunt.”
Genuinely smiling, Hu Tao gave her a reply. “I’d be happy for us to go to Wanmin restaurant together.”
Leaning into Hu Tao’s ear, Yanfei whispered, “Tao, make sure to dress nice for our date, okay?”
Hu Tao’s face turned redder than Yanfei’s hair and hotter than a computer with 98 Chrome tabs open as Yanfei ran away, dropping her phone number into Hu Tao’s palm.
Well, mother? I guess I kept my promise to have a good day.