Chapter 6 - Guilt

𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘯

As expected from my alcoholic uncle, he came home very late at night, about 4:00 am which was nearly morning. A strong smell of alcohol was coming from him and to be honest, I hated it to death. It was a hustle to stay with someone like him. I was underwhelmed with the truth that I couldn't change my reality.

I might sound like a child, but sometimes I wholeheartedly wished for a Doraemon to come in my life from the future and help me with all his gadgets. But it was something only possible in fiction. Realistically, I had to go through all of these problems on my own.

No one in the school knew about my family, not even my 'Best friends' with whom I decided to make fun of an innocent fairy-like girl. Well, all of them had the same knowledge about me.

(My name is Aron. I'm originally from Japan, but I'm also Polish from my mother's side. And that was it!)

~

I wasn't able to sleep last night for some reason, this happened for the first time. I groaned as I jumped out of the couch. My back was hurting as hell because of lying there for the whole night.

I didn't have dinner too and I was sure that nothing was left in the fridge except two eggs and maybe some molded bread.

I sighed as I walked towards the fridge, at least I could eat the egg. I never liked fried egg, boiled egg was much more delicious. A pinch of rock-salt makes it more mouth watering.

During eating my breakfast lazily, a concern hit my mind. I had been seeing Garry acting a little creepy these days. He was silent, didn't talk much to me and the boys. All these years of being friends with Garry, I noticed one hella evil thing about him. He always goes quite when he is upto something, bad and not acceptable. But this time I noticed an exception. There was anger in his eyes which made my suspicion on him even more stronger than before.

My phone vibrated just on the table just when I was about to go to the sink to clean the dishes. I grabbed my phone while making my way towards the sink. It was a text from Tom.

'Bro, something cool is gonna happen today. Prepare yourself.'

What the- what cool thing was going to happen huh? Definitely something stupid. But it was Tom who texted me, so I was sure he had something in his mind.

But what was it?

~

"Aron! come sit here!" I heard Jake's voice as I just stepped on the classroom.

Jake was one of my best bros. We had a lot in similar. He was the only one who knew a bit more about me.

Jake always supported me at all cost. But I was sure he would never support me if he ever comes to know that I bully someone in the school. He didn't ha e any idea that I was a jerk which I never wanted to be.

I sighed and took my seat near Jake. "Hey bro!" I spoke in the laziest voice. Jake's brows quickly knitted at my answer. I could see visible question marks on his eyes.

I tilted my head in confusion. But that same expression was plastered on the guy's face.

"Why do you look so tired? Did anything bad happen?" he asked.

"No," I smiled. "I couldn't sleep last night because....you know....my alcoholic uncle..."

Jake nodded and patted my back after he understood my answer. He gave me an assuring smile that everything will be fine one day just right before the teacher came and we all greeted her.

All my attention was on Yuqi throughout the whole lesson. The teacher's words barely came to my ear which was technically a bad thing.

She was always so calm and quiet. Even when me and the boys bullied her, she didn't utter a word. It was only some yes and no's.

When a person doesn't utter, then their expressions speak up. But sometimes their expressions aren't able to speak, then their eyes start speaking.

Yet when I looked at Yuqi's eyes, they were blank. It felt like they were fake. And I was sure she wore contact lenses. I wondered why, it was just....weird to me.

I wondered how she thought of me, obviously as a cruel jerk. And I deserved to be called with that name. Today I had to apologize to her. I could already assume that some friendships of mine will end soon, but it was for the good.

'For the good,' these three words reminded me of a memory with mom.

I was only five that time. Our family went bankrupt and living in that same house with my grandma's nonsense was a huge deal for us. One day, mom went outside the house and came pretty late at home which made me concerned. When she came back, I remember rushing towards her and hugging her.

"Where were you?" I cried out. Mom didn't reply, her breathing was heavy.

I pulled off and looked at her with tears falling from my eyes. This time she smiled and embraced me tightly.

"We are leaving this place my dear son," she told.

"Why?" I asked while pulling off from the hug.

Mom ruffled my hair and whispered with a smile, "For the good."

~

Today I didn't have any talk in the class with my so-called-friends. I wasn't in the mood. I didn't get my salary yet. But I still had some money left from the savings. So I decided to have a sandwich.

I was eating quietly while thinking about the event our school's art department will start.

O came back to reality when I felt someone sitting near me, it was Alex. He was another member of the 'Secret bullying group'.

"Bro you didn't seem to be attentive in the class today, huh," he stated. I couldn't help but slightly nod at his statement. He wasn't lying after all.

"You had your attention on someone else today, " he spoke and I could clearly predict what he meant. I could also see a smirk carving his mouth which was very annoying.

"It's not what you are thinking," I tried to correct his thoughts.

That annoying smirk still didn't leave his mouth but he looked somewhat disappointed as his brows creased. I could see thin curved lines on his forehead.

"What happened?" I raises an eyebrow just to see his smirk disappearing and a serious look forming on his face.

"Did Tom send you that same text?"

"Yes," I nodded.

"I have a bad feeling about it," he murmured and I immediately looked at him with curiosity filled in my eyes.

"Why?" I was serious.

"I think they'll do something bad to Yuqi. I don't know why.....I feel so guilty for being such a jerk. I think Yuqi is in danger."

I went quiet after hearing his words. His words made sense. What if they really were planning to attempt doing something really bad and stupid?

On the other hand I was happy that I wasn't the only one who felt guilty, Alex felt guilty too.

"Bro I think we have to make sure nothing happens to her," Alex spoke in a concerned voice. "If anything bad happens to her, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life," he added.

Well, he was right. I couldn't let anything bad happen to someone when I already regretted my past behaviour with her.