STIGMA

In the gym of a university

Trevor Sanderson, in a blue basketball uniform, walked through the gates of the gym.

As soon as he entered the gym, he picked up the empty water bottles and soda cans left by the crowd that watched the last game.

"It would be great if the university held a basketball match every day.

I could easily make fifty bucks by gathering these bottles and cans.

If I make that much every day, I can buy Sylvia an iPhone for her birthday."

Trevor raised his head and looked at the cluttered gym with excitement.

While he was in the middle of collecting bottles and cans, a group of tall male students strode out of the locker room.

The one walking in the middle of the group had red hair named Bernard Collins and a cigarette in his mouth.

He picked up a sock and threw it at Trevor.

Before Trevor could dodge, the sock landed directly on his face, and a pungent sourness hit his nostrils.

"I asked everyone on the team to save their dirty clothes for an entire week so that you could earn more money. It smells great, doesn't it?"

Bernard waved his hand, and the others tossed their dirty laundry toward Trevor.

"It’s better for this kind of trash to get out of our school before it's too late!"

"This guy has disgraced the school!"

"I think he's not picking up trash, but he's deliberately spoiling our fun!"

"Wimp!"

"I..."

Trevor shook the dirty sock off his face and flushed.

He could not offend Bernard.

After all, he was but a mere college student from a poor family.

He could only work part-time on weekends and offer his errand and homework services to his schoolmates to make money.

It was the only way he could afford to go to college.

If Trevor had a choice, he would not do business with someone as obnoxious and self-important as Bernard.

But since he had to make money to put himself through college, all he could do was swallow his pride and keep his anger at bay.