After I left Shu's home I really did not go back. I headed to my home and as always it was empty too. My parents were never at home that much anyway, but ever since the incident, I feel like they abandoned me. When they didn't turn up on my release day from the detention center I knew things will never be the same. Detective Haas drove me home and since then I've been all alone. Some money was left on the table and a note saying they are going on some business trip and won't be back for a while.
Yeah right.
Liars.
I just lay down on the cold floor and looked up at the ceiling. My house was the polar opposite of Shu's place. It was clean, tidy, and empty, devoid of any sign of life.
Fuck. I never liked this place.
The next day I didn't go to school. I didn't even go to pick up my stuff. What's the use anyway.
All the talk I had with the detective was in vain. On the same day that I was told Shu needs me, I turned my back and left. But Shu wasn't right either. Calling me selfish? Who is the needy selfish brat here…
But that last moment, when I was on top of Shu, breathing heavily down onto his face, probably reeking of sweat, forcefully pinning him down. I knew why Shu said he doesn't like it. I knew why he wanted me to leave and never come back. I can't forgive myself for that.
So it was really better that we part ways. We were a disaster. A train wreck. Derailed and crashed against each other.
Once I stopped going to school, and once I left Shu's house, nothing was holding me back. I stopped the pointless studying. I gave up on any previous plans and effort to better myself.
And I started smoking again.
A little more than a month has passed and it was the middle of December. Christmas decorations were everywhere and all the shops were playing Christmas carols.
It was no different in the 24-hour convenience store I was working in. It was my second or third week at this job and I was already going mental listening to this sappy music all day every day.
I worked the night shift, from 22:00 to 06:00. Good thing was that there weren't many customers that I needed to interact with during this time. I just needed to make some money to sustain my minimalistic life.
I think it was on the night of either the 16th or 17th. There were no customers around and I was just idling behind the counter. I heard the automatic bell by the door ring as it opened. I saw someone in a wheelchair coming in. I thought maybe I should go over and help hold the door but someone else followed in and held the door open for the wheelchair guy, so I didn't think much of it. I went back to reading some news I had no interest in on my phone, that's all I did these days.
"Surprise, surprise ~"
I looked up and the wheelchair guy was in front of the counter with two bulky men standing on each side of him. Bodyguards?
The wheelchair guy was wearing a mask and a wooly hat, but when I looked at him he took them off.
"Remember me?"
His face was kinda deformed and he was missing a lot of teeth. I don't remember seeing anyone like this before.
"Sorry, sir. Have we met before?"
"I would like to have a pack of cigarettes"
"Which brand?"
"I don't mind. It's the thought that counts when it comes to gifting"
"Er… what do you-"
"Because you should give a tribute to your senior right?"
FUCK. It's too late.
One of the big guys jumped over the counter, grabbed my throat, and pushed me hard against the wall.
Shit. I can't get out of this.
This was not a beat-up.
While pinning me against the wall the guy flipped open a butterfly knife and stabbed me right in the liver. The best I could do was hold his wrist as hard as I can to stop him from moving the knife to slash me open.
The 'senior' was laughing like a madman in his wheelchair and asked the other guy on his side
"You getting this? You getting this right?"
The other guy was holding up his phone and looked like he was filming it, and the one that had his knife stuck in my belly was trying to move it horizontally. I was starting to feel like I'm gonna faint, from the pain, from bleeding, and from being suffocated in my throat.
"How do you feel now you dumb fuck? Let's see how your boyfriend like this video when we show him. And you know what we will do to him afterward right? Man's gotta finish something he started"
"FUCCCRRK YOU"
At that moment, the bell by the door rang indicating someone was coming in. They all turned their heads to look in that direction. Two men were entering the shop and they were….. wearing uniforms?
They were saying something to each other as they entered the shop, laughing, but then they saw us by the counter and quickly realized what was happening.
"SHIT!"
"Police!"
But it was too late. The guy that was standing by the wheelchair ran over and stabbed one of the officers in the throat and elbowed the other one to knock him down.
All hope is lost…
As I was fainting I heard three of them argue. Jacko, the senior was yelling to finish me off, while the other guys were shouting they should get the fuck out of there.