"I was born in California. My parents were strict. I was bullied in school. The only person who would always stand up for me. Save me from bullies. Be gentle to me was my elder brother.
He taught me to not endure the disrespect and hits from the bullies rather fight them with all my strength. He taught me some fighting skills. Trained me to be better.
He was the closest one to me but he broke my heart.
He left me.
He died of leukemia and didn't even tell me before it was too late.
I was depressed for way too long. I lost my will to live.
But then I realised he wouldn't have wanted me to be this way. So I picked myself up.
I ended up being strong enough that no one bullied me. I started excelling in academics and extra curricular activities.
People started to look up to me. I became popular.
But mom dad were still rude to me. I felt lonely at home.
One day at night I was passing by mom dad's room towards the bathroom when I heard mom crying.
She was expressing her bereavement missing my brother.
Dad was trying to console her.
I felt sad too.
But then I heard them say,
"Why couldn't it be Aiden instead of our biological son. It would have hurt less."
I was left aghast at hearing this.
I realised I wasn't their biological son and they wished I was dead.
I didn't let them know that I had heard them.
I cried myself to sleep.
I was still obedient to them but I started doing odd jobs without them knowing and earning some money because they wouldn't give me.
After I collected money I secretly joined a training centre to learn better fighting skills.
I worked hard at school, at the jobs and training centre.
I would return late most of the times. They wouldn't give any shit about me.
They probably hoped I just wouldn't return someday.
This feeling made it hard for me to live there.
After learning the adequate knowledge I needed, I ran from home, leaving a note and all of my pocket money from the job in order to repay a little amount of what they did for me.
In the note I thanked them for bringing me up.
I wrote that I had known that I was adopted and how much I missed my brother.
I cleared the fact that this money was not stolen instead was my hard earned cash.
And I ran and ran without stopping.
I didn't know where I was going. What would I do? I just ran.
Then at some place I stopped and asked for jobs.
I worked 5 odd jobs a day. I lived in a vacant area near a parking with a tent I had set up.
After I earned some, I applied to be a soldier.
I passed and worked my a** off there to reach where I am today.
I am the youngest chief and have pretty good support. Some people recognise me but I try not to get any limelight at all as it is unsafe considering my profession. But I didn't give a shit until I met you.
I want to protect you no matter what. I don't want you to face any kind of danger that is why I didn't tell you anything before.
I'm sorry, the previous incident was all because of me.
I am so sorry you had to go through all that."
"It wasn't your fault, Aiden." I tried to stop him from blaming himself.
I had no idea he had such a rough past. I thought of just the opposite.
Everyday I spend with this guy I discover something new, something special about him which makes me respect him even more.
"Did you make any friends at your school whom you missed after you left?"
"Yes, there were two of them. They were very supportive. If I was punished in some class, they'd do something heinous to stand there beside me.
They'd join me in every mischief. They cried with me when my brother died.
They hated my parents more than I did.
Because of them I could stay there as long as I did.
I missed them alot when I ran away. I wrote them a letter before I left,telling them my extreme necessitation to leave this place asap and hoped we meet someday." he told me reminiscing the good old days.
"So did you meet them after that? Are they here somewhere?"
"No. I don't know where they are. Nothing but the old memories is what's left with me." he said.
"So how did you meet your friends here?" shifting his attention from them as I noticed he was getting upset.
"I don't have any friends here.
I don't like socialising much. I am always busy with my job taking care of any mishaps.
Plus I told you, I need to hide my identity as much as I can otherwise they'll target you to get to me which I can't let happen." he said.
Omg. Is he all alone here? But wait,
"So whose place did you stay when my mom came? You went at a friends place didn't you?"
"That was my other home. I'll take you there next time."
Okay this dude is rich! I swear it had 2 cars parked outside when I dropped him there.
So he individually owns 3 cars!?
And that house was so much more magnificent that it is.
Before I could ask him why did he hide it or why was he living here he interrupted me by saying
"Stella, I gotta tell you something important."