Teen Times:Doesn't it look a bit funny? I mean when you just see me there alone, with no one to protect me at all? I'm an easy pick, right? So it is very, very easy to point out how cool you are right now, compared to me. You're just the best out there, well at least you want me to think that anyway.

So it starts. Slowly. I know off by heart that I'm an ordinary loser of the worst kind. Funny, really funny. And I'm not trying to be sarcastic right now. It was funny at the beginning but the mood changed. This whole thing is just getting out of my reach. I can't get you back. How could I? There's no one to back me up. That's the reason you picked me, right? You coward! The worst part, I have to go home and pretend that I'm fine. You know how much pain it takes to force a smile? All those tears that need to be hidden before anyone will come into my room? Is that fair? Is it? Of course it's not. But you don't care, do you? You never felt pain, not really. And if you did, you felt angry and I was the perfect prospect for you to release all that anger.

Of course I know I'm a moron. You already said it. In fact you say it all the time. And who the hell cares what you think anyway? Just because you and your friends can pick on me doesn't mean I actually listen to what you say. If I would I wouldn't be right here right now. I'd be dead, you know. Because I wouldn't be able to take all that pain that comes from your words. And I hate it. I hate what you do to me.

So now, when I found the courage and friends I can stand up for myself. Can you hear that? Yes, I just told you to piss off! And why shouldn't you? I did what you always said, so go on and piss off finally. We all know what you're going to do, because you're angry now. You're going to hit me. Well guess what? I'll hit you back.

The next day dawns. Well I don't care. I wasn't strong enough. Who is? And of course I did tell. Do you think that I'm scared of you? If you beat me up once, I can take it the next time. But I want people to know what you are. All that dirt hiding under that cheap haircut, a style worn by half the town.

So it seems you're afraid now. Seems like now you have nothing to say. It's like all the jokes have gone. I know they're not really. You're just too scared. And so you should be. No one will mess around with me ever again. So let's just recap. Who's the loser in the end? The only possible answer is you. But I'm smart enough not to rub it in your face.

This experience taught me something. I hate you and I always will. Nothing will change that. But I know people like you are going to feature in my life over and over again. So I just need to deal with them. And this will just make me stronger in the end. Because they don't control my life. My life is controlled by me. I know that now. So, thank you.

•Mario Bilo (15), originally from Slovakia, is in third year at Pobalscoil Na Trionóide, Youghal, Co Cork

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