Victor felt a lump in his throat, a feeling of sorrow befell his expression. He spoke hoarsely, "I...I was humiliated, and... and then I got beaten up for trying."
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Victor's mother was one the most famous people on the land.
Caroline Hayes, as his mother prefers to be called, ranks amongst the top ten most powerful mages. Caroline adores her whole family, but she's rather indifferent when it comes to his son. Being one of the strongest people to live with, Caroline wouldn't dare announce his useless son to the world.
In the public eye, Caroline is a loving mother to her three daughters and her wonderful husband, James Hayes. They are a picture-perfect family. But under the light is a small, lonely, and neglected boy, whose only wish is to be loved.
"Who did this to you?"
"The 'blessed' hero and his gang," Victor said bitterly. The look on his mother's eyes, filled with distrust, he turned his eyes away.
"Nonsense!" Caroline snorted. "Victor, you shouldn't blame others just because of mere jealousy! How could he possibly have done that?"
"He's lying, mother." Three heads popped out of the door. They approached them with loud thudding steps. "I saw him. He was bullying Selena," Herra, the eldest sister, implied.
"Victor...? Selena didn't do anything, did she?! I can tell, don't you dare deny me!"
Victor went quiet.
Cassandra, the second daughter, mimics a sob, "Brother, why must you do that to poor Selena?"
Erica, the youngest, stomped furiously until she was face-to-face with Victor. "Brother... Oh, how had you turned out like this? Selena was our beloved friend! She talked to you when she realized you were always alone!"
"I-I..."
Victor was speechless. They would rather believe an outsider to the family rather than him. This was it, he truly believed. Each day under this roof feels even worse than before. Every day of living feels so empty.
At night, he jumped out of his bedroom window, landing on the dumpster. It smelled bad but that wouldn't matter in a few hours...
He jumped on his bike and started paddling his way, with no destination in mind. He simply let his mind flow, he was too angry, but it wouldn't matter in a few hours.
He clutched the bike handle, pondering how this was the first gift he had ever received.
He halted his bike on a nearby bridge, massaging his arms and legs while he was at it. He rested on the side of the bridge, gazing at the nice, serene water.
It had been the death of James Hayes, his father when he had received the bike. It had been sitting on the doorstep with a piece of paper with his name on it. His sisters were skeptical but he had kept it anyways. He doesn't blame his sisters, he wasn't that likable after all. He was the one who had caused his father's death.
He swung his feet back and forth, looking like a child sitting on a swing that's too for their size.
It's going to be okay.
Everything was going to be okay.
In a few hours or less, nothing will ever matter. In a few hours or less, he could be free.