Character Relationship Map: Regret!

Characters

• David (played by Robin Boissevain) — protagonist

  David is a student who witnesses much of the bullying but initially cannot bring himself to intervene. He grows closer to Vera, notices Jochem is suffering, and later helps search for him. After Joche...

• Jochem (played by Stefan Collier) — protagonist

  Jochem is the student targeted by Justin, Sanne, and Remco because of his weight. Despite repeated humiliation, he shows compassion by caring for an injured dog and becomes close to Vera, who gently r...

• Vera (played by Dorus Witte) — supporting

  Vera volunteers at an animal shelter and becomes impressed by Jochem’s kindness when he brings in an injured dog. She talks with him more often but gently rejects his declaration of love because she c...

• Sanne (played by Charlotte Bakker) — supporting

  Sanne is one of the students who singles out and torments Jochem during school camp. She participates in mocking his weight, humiliating him during meals and sports, and continuing the harassment afte...

• Justin (played by Nils Verkooijen) — supporting

  Justin is a leading participant in the bullying of Jochem at school camp and afterward. He mocks Jochem’s weight, humiliates him during group activities, and continues despite clear requests to stop....

• Remco (played by Rick van Elk) — supporting

  Remco joins Justin and Sanne in targeting Jochem during school camp. He takes part in the mockery, humiliation, and continued harassment that Jochem openly asks them to stop. His conduct helps sustain...

• Jochem's Mother (played by Jessica Zeylmaker) — minor

  Jochem's Mother remembers arguing with Jochem on the morning he died. This memory becomes part of the painful aftermath of his drowning, placing her in a direct family relationship with Jochem and sho...

• David's Mother (played by Roos Ouwehand) — minor

  David's Mother is the adult to whom David confesses that he saw Jochem suffering and did nothing to help him. Her presence frames David’s painful admission after Jochem’s death and connects the afterm...

• Jochem's Father (played by Edo Brunner) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Jochem's Father → Jochem (father)
• Jochem's Mother → Jochem (mother)
• David's Mother → David (mother)
• Jochem → Vera (Romantic Unrequited Love) — Jochem develops romantic feelings for Vera, but the feelings are not reciprocated.

  After Jochem cares for an injured dog and meets Vera at the shelter, he tells her that he is in love with her; Vera gently rejects him because she has...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• David → Jochem (Narrative Silent Witness) — David's inaction makes him a witness whose guilt shapes the aftermath.

  David witnesses much of the bullying but does not know how to intervene, later confessing that he saw Jochem suffering and did nothing.

• David → Vera (Social Growing Closeness) — David and Vera become emotionally connected through their concern for Jochem.

  The plot states that David also grows closer to Vera, and later David and Vera search for Jochem together.

• Justin → Remco (Alliance Bullying Partner) — Their shared actions establish a functional alliance in the harassment.

  Justin and Remco are both identified as participating with Sanne in the repeated torment of Jochem.

• Sanne → Justin (Alliance Bullying Partner) — They cooperate in the bullying group against Jochem.

  The plot repeatedly presents Sanne and Justin together as part of the group that mocks and humiliates Jochem at camp.

• Remco → Jochem (Conflict Bullying Aggressor) — Remco reinforces the group harassment directed at Jochem.

  Remco joins Justin and Sanne in mocking Jochem, including during the camp activities and cycling trip.

• Justin → Jochem (Conflict Bullying Aggressor) — Justin is one of the central figures responsible for Jochem's persecution.

  Justin singles out Jochem at camp and repeatedly humiliates him despite Jochem clearly asking the tormentors to stop.

• Sanne → Jochem (Conflict Bullying Aggressor) — Sanne participates directly in the sustained bullying of Jochem.

  At school camp, Sanne mocks Jochem, humiliates him during meals and sports, and continues after he asks her to stop.

Story Analysis

A bullied student's disappearance forces witnesses, friends, family, and aggressors to confront the consequences of silence.

Plot Progression

1. Cruelty At Camp — Jochem is repeatedly targeted by Justin, Sanne, and Remco during school camp. David sees the abuse but cannot find the courage to intervene.
2. A Fragile Connection — Jochem's care for an injured dog leads him to Vera at the animal shelter. Their growing conversations offer hope, but his declaration of love is rejected.
3. Silence At School — David grows closer to Vera while Jochem becomes more isolated. Classroom humiliation and continued bullying overwhelm the hopeful message of the students' song.
4. The Vanishing Night — Jochem attends a party reluctantly and drinks heavily. David notices his distress but fails to help before Jochem disappears.
5. The Cost Of Silence — David and Vera search for Jochem, then learn that he has drowned. His diary and the students' later confrontation expose the depth of the tragedy and leave David consumed by regret.