When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 124: Timmy Pascual

Chapter 124: Timmy Pascual

Timmy carefully packed his belongings, double-checking his list to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything for his long-awaited beach vacation. He zipped his duffel bag, a small smile forming on his face as he imagined the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Before leaving, he noticed a framed photo sitting on his desk. It was from his college graduation. In the picture, Samuel stood tall, dressed in a crisp cap and gown, his expression serious as always, while Timmy stood next to him, beaming so widely his face almost hurt. Timmy picked up the photo, his fingers brushing over the glass, and a flood of memories came rushing back.

Those days felt so far away, yet the pain of them never fully left. Timmy closed his eyes, remembering the past he couldn’t forget, even if he tried.

Timmy Pascual had grown up in an orphanage, a place that was more of a temporary home than a family. He had no memory of his parents, only vague stories from the caretakers who told him he had been abandoned as a baby. But he was smart, and that was his saving grace.

Scholarships paved the way for his education, and through his hard work, he secured a future he believed would be bright. His teenage years were filled with rigorous studying, pushing himself to earn every opportunity he could.

When he got accepted into the country’s most prestigious university, he was thrilled. It was a school known for its wealthy students, those who came from families with influence and power. Yet, he had managed to secure a full scholarship, covering tuition, books, and even living expenses. It felt like a dream. But that dream soon turned into a nightmare.

Timmy’s excitement was crushed within weeks of starting classes. His idealized view of the university shattered when he witnessed firsthand the cruelty of the elite. They weren’t like him. They didn’t have to worry about money or their next meal, and they made sure he knew it.

For two grueling years, he was relentlessly bullied. His wealthy classmates looked down on him, mocking him for his background, for coming from nothing. They called him names and made jokes about his lack of family. He was nothing more than a charity case in their eyes, someone who should know his place.

Those who held power at the university turned a blind eye. Connections mattered more than fairness, and the rich always got away with their cruelty. The bullying wasn’t just verbal. Timmy remembered being cornered in empty hallways, the punches and kicks leaving bruises that he had to hide. He tried to keep his head down, focusing on his studies. But by his third year, he had almost reached his breaking point.

He thought about giving up. He almost packed his things and left, but then he met Samuel Lucas.

Samuel was an enigma to Timmy. He was a yearmate, a rich heir who was everything Timmy wasn’t: confident, powerful, and admired by everyone.

The students loved Samuel, partly because of his looks and partly because his family had donated millions to the school.

Timmy often saw Samuel with his group of friends, the same group that bullied students like him. Samuel didn’t need to lift a finger to hurt people. His friends did it for him, and Timmy had even been a target of their taunts in the past.

But in their third year, Samuel changed. He stopped hanging out with those friends, spending more time alone. Timmy noticed, though he tried not to. It wasn’t like he and Samuel had any reason to cross paths, other than the whispers about Samuel’s sudden isolation. But Timmy had other things to worry about. The bullying had become worse, more violent. His classmates didn’t just insult him anymore; they beat him.

One day, they went too far.

Timmy was walking home from a late study session when he was ambushed behind one of the campus buildings. The punches came hard and fast. He tasted blood, his vision blurring as he hit the ground. His ribs ached from the kicks, and he felt every ounce of hope drain away. He lay there, bruised and broken, wishing it would end. He wanted someone to care, anyone. But no one ever did.

Until someone did.

He felt strong arms lift him off the ground. He barely registered the person carrying him, too weak to open his eyes or speak. The pain pulled him under, and he passed out, the world fading into darkness.

When he woke, he was lying in a soft bed. Bandages covered his cuts, and the dull ache in his body told him someone had treated his wounds. He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, his mind struggling to piece together what had happened.

"You’re awake," a voice said.

Timmy turned his head slowly. Samuel Lucas stood at the edge of the room, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

Timmy’s throat was dry. "Where... where am I?" he croaked.

"In one of my rooms on campus," Samuel replied. He stepped closer, but there was a careful distance between them. "You looked pretty bad when I found you."

Timmy’s eyes widened. "You... found me?"

Samuel nodded, his jaw tight. "Yeah. You were bleeding and barely conscious. I couldn’t just leave you there."

Timmy swallowed, the weight of those words sinking in. "Why?"

Samuel looked away, the question hanging heavy in the air. "I don’t know," he admitted.

Timmy stared at him, confusion clouding his mind. This was Samuel, the same Samuel who had watched as his friends made other’s life hell. Yet now he was here, looking almost... regretful. The silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken things.

Samuel pulled a key from his pocket, weighing it in his hand for a moment before handing it to Timmy. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes carried a seriousness that wasn’t there moments before. Timmy took the key hesitantly, glancing up at Samuel as if waiting for an explanation.