They Loved My Bully

My parents raised me with extreme tough love since I was a kid.

They always said that only in desperate situations can one learn to survive, and only through adversity can one make a comeback.

So, in the freezing winters, I scavenged for recyclable cans to pay my rent, getting severe frostbite on my hands.

In the summers, I walked miles to save a few dollars on bus fare, ending up with heatstroke. During school, I skipped meals to save money and ruined my stomach.

But later, I saw my parents celebrating the birthday of the poor kid who bullied me at school.

They held it at a five-star luxury hotel, gifting him a million-dollar luxury watch and a limited-edition supercar.

My mother had a look of proud adoration on her face as she spoiled him:

"Robert is the most brilliant boy in the world, unlike my own son, who is just fat and stupid."

"Robert, I wish you were my real son!"

And on that very same day, which was also my birthday, my parents arrived home late.

They brought me cold, ruined leftovers from the banquet and handed me a handwritten card as my birthday present.

Inside the magnificent five-star hotel.

Robert, the guy who had been bullying me at school, spitting on me, and dumping trash over my head, was now surrounded by a crowd like a prince.

He had a look of pure bliss on his face. "Thank you, Mom and Dad, for planning this amazing birthday party for me. Im so lucky to have you guys."

Beside him, a woman dressed in a gorgeous designer gown looked at him with adoring eyes. "Robert, having you in our lives is our real blessing."

"You have no idea how fat and stupid my own son is. His grades are always at the bottom of the class."

"I'm too embarrassed to even admit hes mine. Honestly, I wish you were my biological son."

Next to her, a dignified man in a custom three-piece suit patted Robert on the shoulder, his face full of pride.

"Robert is indeed the best! Hes smart, and he looks so handsome."

"Study hard, Robert. Once you graduate, Ill hand the management of my company over to you."

This wealthy, elite couple was none other than my biological parents.

But just this morning, my parents had looked sallow and tired, wearing worn-out clothes from Goodwill.

They had looked at me with helpless expressions, saying the family couldn't afford the $500 fee for my SAT prep class, telling me to figure it out myself.

Yet in the blink of an eye, they were gifting a million-dollar watch and a limited-edition sports car to the "underprivileged" student they sponsored.

Meanwhile, their own flesh and blood was nothing but an embarrassment in their eyes.

Staring at the Snapchat story on my phone screen, I felt a freezing chill run through my body. My chest tightened until it was hard to breathe.

Earlier, when Mr. Davis mentioned that Robert was being sponsored by some wealthy philanthropists, I had been so envious.

I thought about how struggling our family was.

If only I could get sponsored too, it would take the burden off my parents, and I would finally have a quiet place to study.

But I never imagined that the wealthy benefactors sponsoring my bully were my own biological parents...

Tears streamed down my face. I suddenly remembered that today was my birthday, too.

In the morning, my parents told me they had to work overtime tonight and would be home very late.

I never expected their "overtime" was celebrating Roberts birthday, while I, their real son, was completely forgotten.

I dragged my exhausted body to the sofa and waited. It wasn't until the clock ticked past 2:00 AM that my parents finally unlocked the front door.

Their glamorous party outfits were gone. They had changed back into their faded, tattered clothes, and their faces wore the familiar masks of exhaustion.

But the strong smell of expensive champagne on their breath was impossible to hide.

Seeing me sitting on the sofa, my mother immediately put on a guilt-ridden face.

"Ethan, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to miss your birthday."

"My boss kept me late for overtime. But look... I brought you something incredibly delicious!"

She spoke like she was presenting a treasure, pulling two plastic takeout boxes from her bag. Inside was a smashed slice of gourmet cake and some cold seafood.

I recognized them instantly. They were the leftovers from Robert's birthday banquet.

I suddenly remembered all those times Robert boasted on Snapchat about eating at high-end steakhouses, and how my parents would always happen to bring home "gourmet treats" for me later that night.

It turned out that the "luxury meals" I cherished were just the scraps left behind by my bully.

My throat tightened, and my eyes stung. I choked out, "No thanks, I'm not hungry."

My mother frowned in confusion. "Ethan, this is high-end food youve never even tasted before! Are you sure you dont want any?"

I couldn't blame her for being confused. In the past, if I saw food like this, my eyes would have lit up, and I would have eagerly shared it with them.

But now, I just shook my head.

My mothers face immediately fell into an expression of deep hurt.

"Ethan, are you still blaming us for missing your birthday?"

"We work ourselves to the bone every single day just to give you a better life!"

She sounded so earnest, but it only made me want to laugh.

To give me a better life?

They clearly already had a luxurious life, but it wasn't for me. It was for Robert.

While their biological son couldn't even afford a high school prep course.

Seeing me smile, my parents assumed I had listened to their lecture and accepted their apology. They both let out a sigh of relief.

Then, they mysteriously pulled a small gift box from their bag.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart. Youre another year older."

My mom opened the box. Inside was a long, handwritten card.

My dad cleared his throat and began to read aloud with dramatic emotion.

"To Ethan: Remember what we always teach you. A man must be self-reliant. Only in desperate situations can you learn to survive, and only through adversity can you make your comeback..."

Listening to his voice, and comparing it to how they treated Robert, I felt nothing but mockery.

As they read the card, the pain in my chest became unbearable, and tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

My parents took my tears as a sign of being deeply moved and wrapped me in a tight embrace.

That night, I cried for a very long time.

Eventually, in my hazy state of mind, I tried to convince myself. My parents might treat Robert better than me, and they might have denied me material comforts, but I was still their biological son.

They had to love me. Why else would they go through the trouble of hiding their wealth and putting on a show in front of me?

In my heart, I decided to give them three chances.

If they showed me even a sliver of genuine love, I would forgive their favoritism.

The next morning, I gathered my courage and spoke to them during breakfast.

"Mom, Dad, Mr. Davis said the SAT prep course starts next week. Everyone has to pay $500."

I had actually brought this up multiple times before. Because the fee was unpaid, Mr. Davis had been giving me the cold shoulder at school.

But every time, my parents brushed me off with excuses, telling me to find a way myself.

Sure enough, hearing this, my dad's face sank into the same helpless, miserable expression from a few days ago.

My mother sighed, looking incredibly troubled.

"Ethan, we just don't have that kind of money."

"Look at how bad the economy is right now. It's hard enough just putting food on the table. Where would we find spare cash for some prep course?"

"Exactly," my dad chimed in. "Ethan, youre practically an adult now. You need to understand how hard we have it. Youll have to figure out this money on your own."

In the past, whenever I asked for money, I would feel overwhelmed with guilt, believing I was placing an unbearable burden on our struggling family.

So, I would take on part-time washing jobs and collect cans to scrape together whatever I could.

But now, looking at their fake, pathetic faces, I felt a wave of pure disgust.

They didn't hesitate for a second to buy Robert a luxury watch and a supercar, but they wouldn't spare a single dime for my education.

I couldn't help but raise my voice.

"I'm a high school student! I don't even get an allowance! How am I supposed to 'figure it out'?"

They both froze, clearly shocked that their usually quiet, obedient son was suddenly snapping at them.

My dad was the first to recover.

"Ethan! How dare you speak to us like that? Is this how we raised you? Have you forgotten everything we taught you about self-reliance?"

No, I hadn't forgotten. They had been teaching me "self-reliance" since I could walk.

When I was barely two years old, my dad wanted to make sure I learned to walk properly, so he left me at the bottom of our apartment stairs and made me climb up to the tenth floor by myself.

I had cried and stumbled all the way up, my knees bleeding by the time I reached the door.

When I was in middle school, they told me I couldn't live and eat for free, forcing me to pay them $20 a week for "room and board."

To get that money, I scavenged for recyclable cans in freezing winters, getting severe frostbite on my hands that still scarred over every year.

There were countless other instances. Before, I truly believed they did it to build my character. Now, it just felt like a sick joke.

Robert didn't have to lift a finger, yet he received all their love and a lavish lifestyle.

No matter how hard I tried, I could never be good enough for them.

Thinking of this, tears of sheer frustration welled up in my eyes. Why? I was their real child!

Seeing my expression, my mother quickly changed her tone. "Ethan, we can give you the money. But you have to sign a promissory note."

A promissory note. An I.O.U.

That was indeed something my parents would do. Since I wasn't Robert, I didn't deserve their unconditional support.

But in the end, I agreed.

I wanted to do well in the final stretch before the exams. I wanted to do it for my own future, and maybe, just maybe, to make them look at me with respect.

After bringing the money to school, I was cornered again in the alley behind the school by Robert and his gang.

They shoved me around, pulled my hair, and spat on me.

They grabbed my newly paid prep books and ripped them to shreds, scattering the pages in the dirt.

Then, the sky opened up, and a heavy downpour began. Only then did they decide to leave me alone.

"Hey, fat boy, I'll let you off easy today. See you tomorrow," Robert sneered.

On his wrist was the million-dollar watch my parents bought him, and he wore designer sneakers worth thousands.

He gave my head a cruel kick, then turned and walked away with a smug laugh.

This time, I didn't try to hide my bruises or clean myself up before going home to keep my parents from worrying.

Instead, shivering in the cold rain, I curled up against the brick wall and called them, sobbing.

"Mom, Dad... I got jumped at school. They beat me up really badly, and it hurts."

"It's pouring rain, and I'm freezing and soaked. Can you please come pick me up?"

"I'm in the alley behind the school gates."

My mothers voice over the line sounded deeply annoyed. "Ethan, what kind of joke is this? Why would anyone just jump you for no reason?"

"Did you provoke someone?"

My dad's voice echoed in the background. "Exactly. Why would they target you and not anyone else?"

"How did we raise you? Don't go looking for trouble. Do you think our family can afford to pay for any trouble you cause?"

Listening to their barrage of accusations, my heart froze over completely.

But I still tried to explain. "I didn't provoke anyone. It was Robe"

My dad cut me off before I could finish the name.

"Enough. We are very busy right now. Deal with it yourself."

"We can't get involved in school drama. You're a big boy now, Ethan. I'm sure you can handle it."

With that, he hung up.

I was left alone in the alley, waiting. Eventually, I dragged myself and my ruined backpack out into the street.

Just then, a sleek luxury SUV drove past. Through the rain-streaked window, I saw my parents sitting inside with Robert.

They were laughing, looking incredibly happy and warma picture of family bliss I had never been allowed to share.

By the time I stumbled back to our cramped apartment, it was late, and my parents weren't home yet.

Every bone in my body ached, and my head felt like it was on fire. I collapsed onto the living room sofa and fell into a feverish sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, my vision was blurry, and my parents were standing over me, looking frantic.

"Ethan! Oh my god, you have a terrible fever! Are you okay? Do you want some water?"

My dad looked guilt-ridden. "It's our fault, Ethan. We were so caught up in work that we couldn't get to you in time, and you had to walk home in the rain. Don't worry, I'm taking you to the ER right now."

He bent down to help me up when his phone suddenly rang.

My dad glanced at the screen, immediately covered the microphone with his hand, and stepped aside, whispering, "Robert, what's wrong?"

A moment later, his voice spiked with panic. "What? The power went out at the villa? And you tripped and hurt your leg?"

Realizing he had yelled, he quickly looked back at me. Seeing me flushed with fever and barely conscious, he let out a subtle sigh of relief.

Then, he spoke into the phone, "Robert, don't worry, buddy. Were on our way right now."

After hanging up, he and my mom whispered frantically for a few seconds. Then, he came over and shook my shoulder.

"Ethan, listen to me. Mom and Dad suddenly have an emergency at work. There's fever medicine in the cabinet. Take some and get some sleep."

"If you don't feel better tomorrow, well take you to the clinic, okay?" my dad said, looking incredibly apologetic.

They thought I was too delirious with fever to hear them, but I had heard every single word.

My dad was worried about Robert. My mom was even more anxious. And so, I was left behind.

After all, to them, a simple fever wouldn't kill me.

Before they left, I mustered all my strength and grabbed my mother's sleeve, trying to hold onto her one last time.

But my mothers mind was already at Roberts villa. She hurriedly told me to rest, pulled her sleeve out of my grip, and ran out the door without looking back.

The last spark of hope in my chest died. I felt a cold, dead weight settle in my heart.

I didn't see them again until two days later.

They offered me a barrage of guilty apologies, but I only gave them flat, emotionless responses. The warmth and eagerness I used to have were completely gone.

In the weeks that followed, I threw myself into preparing for the SATs. I stopped asking where they were going, and I stopped seeking their affection.

My parents seemed deeply uncomfortable with my sudden distance. They assumed I was just throwing a tantrum over the fever incident, so they tried to buy my affection with cheap gifts and sweet words.

One month before the exams, I was studying in the classroom during free period when Robert and a group of guys suddenly kicked the door open.

One of his lackeys marched over and kicked my desk over, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"You dirty thief! How dare you steal Roberts watch? Do you have any idea that watch is worth a hundred grand?"

The entire classroom turned to look at me. I was stunned and immediately defended myself.

"I didn't steal anything! I've been in this classroom the entire day!"

Robert sneered. "Oh yeah? Let's search your bag and find out."

Before I could stop him, a tall guy grabbed my backpack, unzipped it, and dumped everything onto the floor.

To my horror, amid the scattered notebooks and prep sheets, a gleaming gold watch rolled out onto the linoleum floor.

I froze, my mind going completely blank.

How could Roberts watch be in my bag? I went out of my way to avoid him every single day!

And today, I had been studying at my desk the entire morning, except for a quick five-minute bathroom break...

Wait. The bathroom break...

I looked up at Robert. Sure enough, he was looking back at me with a victorious, mocking smirk.

The whispers in the classroom started instantly.

"Oh my god, is Ethan really that desperate? Stealing a watch at school?"

"I bet he's the one who stole my fifty bucks last month too!"

Listening to the accusations piling up on me, a wave of hot fury rushed to my head.

Robert had stolen my parents. He had stolen the life that should have been mine. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

Did he really have to destroy me completely to be satisfied?

Looking at his smug face, I lost control. I lunged forward and slammed my fist right into his jaw, screaming, "I didn't steal your damn watch! Why are you doing this to me? Why can't you just leave me alone?!"

Robert fell to the floor, but instead of getting angry, he laughed. He leaned close to my ear and whispered:

"Why? Because I can't stand the sight of you. Did you really think your parents loved you?"

"Did you actually believe that 'tough love' crap was to make you better?"

Before I knew about Robert's existence, I really had believed that.

But now...

"Let me tell you the truth. They treat you like garbage because you're fat, ugly, and dumb. Having a son like you is their biggest embarrassment."

"Want to see who they'll choose between you and me?"

Ten minutes later, both Robert and I were sitting in the principals office.

When the principal called my parents and told them I had stolen a watch and assaulted a student, they coldly told the school to "discipline me as they saw fit" and hung up.

But a minute later, when Roberts homeroom teacher called them, stating that Robert had been injured in an altercation, my parents' voices erupted with panic and fury. They said they would be there in five minutes.

Even though I knew they wouldn't side with me, a tiny, foolish part of my heart still hoped.

Maybe, just this once, they would believe me... but I was destined to be disappointed.

The moment my parents burst into the office and saw both of us, their faces paled. Without a single glance at me, they rushed straight to Robert's side.

After listening to the principal's explanation of the "theft," my parents turned to me, their faces cold as ice, and demanded I apologize to Robert.

I clenched my fists. "I didn't steal anything. I will not apologize."

But nobody believed me.