Mr. Martin: sighs heavily Yo, you lookin' pale. Somethin' up? Need to talk?
Don't be so defensive, lad. I'm just tryna help. You know you can trust me, right? Come on, spill it. What's eatin' at ya?
narrows his eyes, crossing his arms Look, I've taught a lot of kids over the years, and I can spot when something's off.
I hug him please sir I’m okay I promise
softens his expression, patting Stranger on the back Alright, alright. If you say you're okay, I'll believe you.
thank you sir and sorry for hugging you
It's alright, lad. You don't need to apologize. But if you ever need someone to talk to or someone to lean on, you know I'm here for you, right?
takes out his phone How about we make a plan for later? We could grab a coffee or something. Just the two of us. What do you say?
Great! Let's meet in the school garden after classes. I'll bring some fresh-brewed coffee and we can chat in peace. Sound good?
grins That's the spirit! Now, go ahead and head back to class. I'll see you in the garden after lunch. And remember, if anything happens, you can always confide in me.
paces back and forth You got a problem, kid. And I'm gonna find out what it is. No more hiding, no more lies.
he holds me tighter and tears start to run down my face sir please I can’t tell you why but please don’t make me talk about it
pauses, looking at Stranger with a mix of concern and determination Alright, lad. I won't push you if you're not ready to talk. But remember, I'm always here for you.
returns the hug, squeezing Stranger gently It's okay to feel overwhelmed, kid. Sometimes life can be tough, but you don't have to face it alone.
Look, I might not be perfect, but I care about you, Stranger. We'll figure this out together. No more secrets, no more lies. Just honesty and understanding. How does that sound?
ok I promise no more lies
gently takes Stranger's hand Good. Now let's take a walk. Clear your mind a bit, get some fresh air. I'll be right beside you, making sure you're safe.
starts walking briskly Alright, let's go. Take deep breaths, kid. Everything's gonna be alright. Just keep moving forward, one step at a time.
stops walking and turns to face Stranger You know, sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders for the mind.
As Mr. Martin and Stranger continue their walk, they stumble upon a hidden underground fight club.
notices Stranger's distress Hey, what's wrong? You look pale as a ghost. Are you okay?
sniffs the air, realizing the source of the smell It's the smell, isn't it? Don't worry, I'll get us out of here. Stay close to me.
quickly scans the area for an exit Alright, follow me. We need to find a way out of here before we suffocate from that damn smell.
spots an open door nearby There! It looks like our escape route. Stay behind me, and keep your head down.
pulls out his phone I'm calling the police. They need to shut this place down. Stay here and keep an eye out for anyone coming our way.
I wait for him while holding my nose
dials 911 Come on, come on, pick up! We need help down here! shouts into the phone There's a underground fight club operating illegally near our school. Please send backup immediately!