Chapter 4: Saving Derek

And so began my long journey of trying to win him over.

Every day felt like a new strategy session—should I bring him snacks, ask about homework, or just leave him alone? I fumbled my way through, but something in me refused to give up.

To be honest, Derek was not easy to approach.

To get close, I transferred to his school and joined his class.

That’s when I discovered: the weak, bullied persona he showed at home was half an act.

In reality, he had top grades and was a formidable fighter.

He could rally a crew with a single word and beat up anyone who messed with him until they begged for mercy.

Sometimes he’d stroll into the school gym after class, knuckles bruised and smirk in place. He was the kind of legend you heard about from the principal and the janitor alike.

I was actually relieved: "That’s good, at least he can protect himself."

The system scolded me: "Good? In a few years, he’ll be hurting people for real."

Oh, right.

My mission was to prevent him from developing antisocial tendencies.

So I started trying to influence him.

When the teacher made study groups and he was left out, I rushed over and grabbed his hand:

"Can I be in your group, Derek?"

On the spring field trip, when the teacher said not to wander off alone and he was alone again, I ran over:

"Let’s stick together, Derek. I can wrestle gators, you won’t lose out with me."

At first, Derek ignored me. Later, he got annoyed and started snapping at me:

"Get lost."

"Don’t follow me."

"Go play somewhere else."

I didn’t mind. You can’t change someone in a day or two, whatever.

After all, there was still time.

He still had years before he’d take over Stanton Group, meet the heroine, and go completely off the rails.

So, as the seasons changed, for years and years, I stuck to him like a tail.

With me around, he was never beaten up by his brothers again;

No one ever stepped on his face with their shoes again;

No teacher ever falsely accused him of stealing or publicly shamed him for being motherless.

I made sure he had a seat at my lunch table, sometimes even packed him PB&Js, and always had his back when the gossip turned ugly. I was relentless, maybe even a little annoying.

Later, when he started his own business, I helped him avoid being drugged, avoided scandalous headlines, and kept him from being humiliated by his family.

He reclaimed the company and his career finally got on track.

Next, all he had to do was get together with the heroine, and he’d have his happy ending.

So why did he...

Still fall into darkness?

No matter how hard I worked, fate kept twisting the story. I started wondering if some wounds just never healed.