VIEWPOINT MAGAZINE Volume 5.1 October 2016 | Page 7

“Johnny
Smith:
Belonging”

Short Story
“Worthy of
Worth?”

by
Josiah Watanabe

A New Friend
by
Sarah Lee

-Pg. 17

-Pg. 16

By Amanda Angeles

T

homas Albicatum was the new student with
ivory white hair and pearlescent eyes, giving him an
ethereal glow. But he was the boy taunted for what
society regarded as total imperfection: his beauty.
Every moment he passes by the hallways
disdainful whispers would reach his ears. Each
school hour, they would beat him up. “Hey new
kid,” they would hiss, “Where’s your wand, fairy
boy?” Every day, Thomas woke to the instilled fear
in his heart, awaiting the dagger-like stares he’d
receive. “Am I abnormal?” he’d often wonder, his
head throbbing at the thought of the tantalizing
looks and words people threw at him.
One day, Oliver Rosewood, a popular boy
earning the entitlement of “Golden Boy” because
of his straight A’s and sweet, “gold” personality,
and not to mention his chestnut colored hair,
bumped into Thomas. The two collided into each
other, knocking Oliver’s glasses off his nose and
Thomas roughly to the ground.
“Would you mind watching where you’re going?”
Oliver cursed out loud, his irritated tone infuriating
Thomas.
Thomas croaked out, “Maybe I would if I wasn’t
standing in this same spot for the last 5 minutes!”
His unwavering glare was directed at the brunette
fumbling for his glasses. It took a moment for him
to realize that Oliver needed help, because he was
groping the tile floor desperately while the object
was clearly a foot away. “Here.” Thomas nudged
the glasses towards him, and right after he fixed it
onto his nose, Thomas walked away.
But before he could turn the corner, Oliver

stopped him. “Wait!” The brunette jogged towards
Thomas, an apologetic look on his face. Oliver
continued, “Sorry, I got a bad score on a
test, I took the anger out on you.”
Confusion bloomed onto Thomas face. “But,
aren’t you supposed to, er…” A knowing smile
graced Oliver’s lips, and he interrupted, “What, bully
you? Be cold and scary? No. I’m not like that.”
Thomas stood there uncomfortably,
taken
Volume 5.1 clearly
October
aback by Oliver’s words.
So the latter pulled Thomas into a bone-crushing
hug. Which was odd, yes, but Thomas felt something
he hadn’t felt in a long time: warmth. And he
realized that it was something that has kept him alive
all along.
“I knew someone like you.” Oliver explained
softly, “She was mocked because of her body. She
tried to hide her flaws. I wish she knew that being
imperfect was okay, but I only watched from the
sidelines as she got hurt, sometimes joined in the
bullying and never told them to stop. I was afraid to
stand against the crowd, afraid they’d bully me if I
did. But now she’s gone - she left a year ago. I never
forgave myself for not telling her she was. — is—
beautiful.” Oliver’s eyes were downcast, but it was
quickly washed away by the genuine smile on his
lips.
Oliver murmured, “Besides, I know the hug was
awkward, but you looked like you needed one
anyway.”
I did, Thomas thought, a grin painting
by his cheeks.
“I most definitely did.”

VIEWPOINT
“Italy:

Rising
From the
Rubble”
by
Gen Ha Park

-Pg. 10

“A

New Friend”

Amanda Angeles

-Pg. 6

Layout by Jae Min Lee

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