Tiger walked in the rain, heading home. Beside an alley, an old man sat with a broken umbrella and tattered clothes. "Young man, please could you give me some money?" the old man asked, stretching out his hand.
Tiger's eyes reflected pain and suffering as he replied, "You're quite lucky today, old man." He took out most of his money, leaving only $10 in his wallet. "This should help you somehow."
Just then, a feminine voice carried through the wind. "Have you really lost your senses because of your argument?" Tiger turned to see the mysterious band girl, Ruby, standing under a canopy. "Helping him won't solve anything. Are you trying to stand upright on those shaky feet of yours?" she asked, her gaze piercing.
Tiger's eyes locked onto hers. "Do you have a problem with me?"
Ruby's response was laced with venom. "You're pitiful. A stray dog looks better than you." Tiger's face drew close to hers, his hand beside her head. "You should stop talking."
Ruby's fearless gaze met his. "What would you do if I don't?" Tiger backed off without a word, but not before saying, "I'll say this again, Student Council President Ruby: mind the way you speak to some guys."
As Tiger left, Ruby's composure faltered. "How did he...?" she whispered, shaken. She composed herself, pulled out her umbrella, and headed to the hospital.
At the hospital, Ruby visited her mother, who lay in a state of memory loss. Ruby's voice was barely audible as she whispered, "Hey, Mum... I've made a new friend today. Her name is Rose." Tears rolled down her face as she recalled the traumatic event that put her mother in this state.
Ruby's thoughts flashed back to the violence, and she fell to the ground, grabbing her head. "There could have been other ways... Why didn't you just find a job?" After wiping away tears, Ruby regained composure. "Don't worry, Mum. Your daughter is strong. I'll make sure you never suffer on my behalf again." She held her mother's hand tightly before leaving a letter on her desk and departing.