DINNER WITH THE DEVIL

PIUS POV

I was being chased by some bullies. At the mere sight of my face, one could tell that I was already tired. Blood oozed from my nose and mouth. I ran as fast as I could, but my vision was getting blurry.

"Get back here Pius, you son of a bitch!" I heard clearly as I was being called. I kept running, knowing that my life depended on it. I ran till I got to the end of the rooftop. That was when it dawned on me that there was nowhere else to run to. I felt my heart racing hard against my chest. My body oozed out bereaved sweats.

"You fool!" Arnold Jnr thundered as he came closer. He held my shirt uptight till I had no more air to breathe. He forcefully let go, and I slumped on the floor. He and his gang resumed beating me up. I already had enough of all their insults and with every strength in me, I pushed them aside and staggered up, "Leave me alone you fools! I have had enough. The only reason why you think you guys are important is because of your parents wealth. Remove the wealth, you guys are nothing, just a bunch of morons who bully people because they know that they are worthless, and bringing others down is the only way you can feel good about your miserable selves", I shouted at the top of my voice while panting.

At last, I could really tell them what I have bottled up for so long. I pushed Arnold Jnr backwards as he came closer to throw a punch at me. He was surprised that I could do such a thing. Arnold Jnr came closer to throw another punch, but like before I dodged it. He tried once more, and I returned the favor by gracing his smooth rich face with a heavy punch that sent him off balance while landing him on the floor. His friends rushed to help him stand up. He bled from the side of his mouth, you can't imagine how happy I was with myself for standing up to the Almighty Arnold Jnr.

"Wow! He has gotten so brave fellas, he fought back!" Arnold Jnr told his friends mockingly as they all laughed. Between their laughter and mocks, I could clearly sense anger, I would really be punished for trying to stand up for myself. Arnold Jnr and his friends came closer, and simultaneously threw punches at any part of my body they could find. I tried to stand up for myself in defense. But they were more powerful. They threw punches at me, which made me cough out more blood, but they didn't seem to care as they continued.

"Look at me freak...! Look at me! You should be very happy that a dignified entity like me touched a filthy, poor, disgusting and poverty-stricken body such as yours. I only threw a punch at you, and you had the guts to throw the same at me in retaliation? How dare you? Who left some crumbs of audacity on his plate for you to feed on?" Arnold Jnr shouted at me. Those insults hit me badly. I cried bitterly and wept for the day I was born into poverty.

As the eldest of three children born into poverty, I managed to get a scholarship to this prestigious university, hoping to fulfill my dreams, but the torture and bullying I got was unbearable.

Arnold Jnr came closer to me and whispered into my ears. "That will be all for today, I believe you've learned your lesson? However, this is not the end. Come back tomorrow for more episodes of your punishment for trying to stand up to me." He turned around and wanted to leave with his gang, but a shout brought them back when I stood on my feet and walked to the edge of the rooftop, determined to jump down.

"Man, don't tell me that dude is going to try and jump off this building?" Lucas, one of Arnold Jnr's friends asked hysterically. They all froze as they saw me standing at the edge of the rooftop staggering.

The students who were downstairs took out their phones and began to make videos of what was happening. While others stood and watched in disbelief. Some were urging me not to take drastic decisions, but all I wanted to do was just to end it all.

"Hey everyone! It's me, Pius. I just got a scholarship to study here, you know, after many years of being out of school. I know I'm a bit too old to be a fresher at this university, but it wasn't my fault, I swear. I came from a very poor family, and having the privilege of being a student here was a dream come true. Do you know what? I don't think it was a dream come true. I think it was the worst decision I made. Turns out some folks think that I'm not qualified to be here, and they are making my life a living hell, and today I want to end it all. Mom and dad, I'm sorry that it'll have to end this way, Jonathan, please take care of our parents and our little sister. I want the world to know that I tried."

"Pius! Please don't jump, it doesn't have to come to this, trust me!" a boy shouted from the crowd that was watching me.

At this moment, my mind was already made up. I turned back and looked at my oppressors. Arnold Jnr's friends all looked afraid, but Arnold Jnr, he just stood there emotionless, staring at me.

"You are a demon and there is no repentance nor forgiveness for the likes of you" I said while pointing to Arnold Jnr as I jumped down.

There were screams when I finally reached the ground. "It's all over now." I said to myself. In the last few seconds of my life, I had a slight smile on my face. But I still saw the face of my enemy. He looked down from the rooftop, watching my body laying lifeless on the ground. His friends dragged him out when they saw people videoing and taking pictures of them.