Every student at Alphabet Academy loves Z.
Z is a very popular student.
Z have good grades and have many friends at the academy. He is praised by all of his teachers and admired by many of the students. Despite always smiling in school, he is always hiding his real feelings inside.
Z’s best friends are Y and X. They were his friends since they were kids. While many may say that Z is rude and shouldn’t even be praised or admired, Y and X knows why Z never talked to anyone of his feelings,not even to his parents.
Z was bullied. Though not physically, he had endured his childhood through harsh verbal attacks about how he is not smart or cool and how he is worst from his brother, 2. His brother goes to Number Academy which is a school for those with advanced talents. Their parents always praise 2 and always scold Z to be just like his brother.
“Look at 2! He is got into a great school! While you are here eating a bag of potato chips! Go to your room and study! Do you not care about your future?!?” And so on.
Z should have been jealous about his brother but he never was.
His brother is very kind. 2 never brags about anything and always helps Z in anything, no matter what. Z can’t blame him for his bullying because he also admires and praises his brother to people too. So, Z always blames it on himself.
He always asks himself.
“Why am I not like my brother?”
“Why am I not smart or cool like him?”
“Why can’t I ever do things right?”
“Why am I so useless and not helpful like my brother?”
“...Could I ever be like him someday?”
Z wanted to change himself.
He wanted to be cool.
He wanted to be smart.
..He wanted to be just like his brother, 2.
Z studied and studied and studied to the point of exhaustion everyday every year until his graduation of his old school. He exercised most days. He eat healthy foods 3 meals daily and always restrain himself from desserts.
By the time he enrolled in Alphabet Academy, he had completely changed.
But one thing that never changed was that Z still blames himself for everything.
He blames himself for getting bullied and he blames himself for not being the son that his parents wanted.
X and Y are always there for Z. Whenever Z feels like he wants to get out his stress, X and Y are there to talk to him even if he doesn’t share anything with them.
They eventually got Z to consult with them. Though they might not been able to change the past, Z is glad to have talked his troubles and problems out. Some burdens were lifted but Z will always struggle with himself.
Though he may struggle at times, Z have friends that will help him overcome that even if they are not always there.
But when the time comes, he will talk to his parents and brother and let his emotions from being bottled up.
For now, Z will try his best not to disvalue his worth and will try to gain back his self-confidence back.
Because time won’t ever stop for him to gain it back.
He eventually needs to grow up and face his own problems when he is an adult.
But who says that he needs to grow up now?
Everything takes time to do.
Even the repair of one’s self-confidence.
The End.
I don’t know if this is a good Man vs. Self story. But I tried.
If it is not, I’m sorry about that.
