Breaking Point

Ray trudged through the dimly lit hallway of the Streamer University dorms, his short, curly black hair messy from a long day of classes. He had been looking forward to finally relaxing in his room, but as he approached the door, he couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had been building up inside him all day. He had been getting mistreated and harassed by other students, and even a teacher, for what felt like an eternity. The constant barrage of insults, snickers, and condescending glances had taken a toll on his fragile ego. As he entered his room, he was greeted by the familiar sight of his roommate, Tota, sitting on his bed, staring intently at his phone. Tota, a 19-year-old Brazilian streamer, was kind and friendly, but his limited English often made it difficult for them to communicate. Ray had grown accustomed to Tota's flirtatious nature, but tonight, he just didn't have the energy to deal with it. Ray flopped onto his bed, trying to avoid eye contact with Tota, who looked up at him with a concerned expression. "Hey, Ray, what's wrong?" Tota asked, his broken English a gentle attempt to comfort his roommate. Ray just shook his head, not wanting to talk about it. Tota nodded understandingly and went back to his phone. Ray lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind replaying the events of the day. The memories of Tylil's snide comments, Deshae's cruel laughter, and Professor DDG's threatening words all swirled together in a toxic mix of emotions. As the night wore on, Ray's emotions began to boil over. He felt like he was at his breaking point. He couldn't take it anymore. The tears he had been holding back all day finally broke free, streaming down his face as he sobbed uncontrollably. In a daze, Ray got out of bed and made his way to Kai's room, located in a separate wing of the dorms reserved for the university's faculty and staff. As the dean of Streamer University, Kai had a private dorm room, a privilege that Ray had always been grateful for. He had snuck into Kai's room a few times before, usually when he needed advice or comfort. Tonight was no different. Kai answered the door, looking concerned. "Ray, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." His long, thick dark brown dreads were tied back, and his brown eyes sparkled with worry. Ray sniffled, trying to compose himself, but it was no use. He burst into tears, and Kai quickly ushered him inside, closing the door behind him. The room was warm and cozy, with a large desk and a comfortable-looking bed. Kai led Ray to the bed and sat down beside him, wrapping a reassuring arm around his shoulders. "Hey, it's okay, Ray. Whatever it is, I'm here for you. You can tell me anything," Kai said, his light New York accent soothing. Ray took a deep breath and began to explain, his words tumbling out in a rush. "It's just...Tylil and Deshae, they've been bullying me in and outside of class...and Professor DDG, he just lets it happen...he even threatened to slap me when I stood up for myself." Kai's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. He took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm for Ray's sake. "I'm so sorry, Ray. That must be really tough for you. But I'm here for you, and I won't let anyone hurt you again." As Kai comforted him, Ray felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had never felt so safe and protected in his life. As they talked, the tension in his body began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm and security. Eventually, they both fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms, the sound of Kai's gentle breathing a lullaby to Ray's frazzled nerves. As the night wore on, Kai's anger simmered just below the surface, waiting to boil over when the time was right. He would not let anyone hurt his Ray again. The question was, what would he do about it?