Watching the cars rush by from his back seat, Rogue's thoughts wandered from the bullying he endured at school to the life he so deeply yearned for. Deep within, Rogue didn't crave for wealth or the kind of fame that would finally grant him some peace. Instead, he longed to have a loving family and thrive with them. He dreamt of a loving wife who would cherish him every day and children whom he could embrace tightly. But more than anything, he wished for a job where his skills in computer science would be valued. However, the memories of school bullying and his stepfather's demeanor convinced him that such dreams were out of reach, that he was destined to end up alone, jobless, and friendless.
A sigh of despair escaped his lips. Jayden, hearing him, glanced briefly in the rearview mirror. "What's up? Something bothering you?"
"Just want to go home," Rogue murmured.
"Thinking about those idiots from school again, aren't you? Forget them. They're not worth it. You should focus on your future. Locking yourself up all day won't get you anywhere."
"Sure, whatever."
Jayden's brows furrowed at Rogue's words. "When I was your age, I was out with friends, spending most of my time with girls. You just glue yourself in front of the computer all day. If you keep this up, your future is doomed!"
"And what about you? All you do is mock and insult me. You act like you're my dad, but you're just the first guy my mom met after my real dad left when I was born. You're no better than I am!"
Jayden smirked, "Maybe so. Everyone's flawed in some way. No one's entirely pure. I'm no exception."
"Trying to sound wise now?"
The tension reached a peak, but Jayden's chuckle eased the atmosphere. "That was a good one! Far from it. If you knew my past, you'd see me as a monster."
"Why? What did you do?"
"You wouldn't want to know."
"Tell me!"
Jayden hesitated. The weight of his memories seemed to burden him. His gaze intensified as he stared at the stretch of road ahead, flanked by various foliage. His eyes flitted between uncertainty, hostility, and melancholy. His right hand gripped the gear stick, ready for any unexpected threat.
"Before I met your mom, I was a police sergeant."
"I thought you were always in detective work."
"I was, but after an incident, I was transferred... One day, a woman reported a break-in. We responded quickly but not quick enough to prevent a murder."
"The burglar killed her?"
"Worse. He took her child hostage."
Rogue's eyes widened in disbelief.
"We still had hope, though. My partner and I negotiated with him to release the child, but he wouldn't budge. As we spoke, backup was on the way. Out of impatience, the burglar aimed to shoot the child, but the mother intervened... And she didn't know I already had my sights on him."
"Don't tell me..."
"When she lunged at him, I fired. The bullet meant for the burglar hit her instead... The world slowed down around me. I saw myself being judged and imprisoned. What I hadn't noticed was the pool of blood the child was lying in. He'd been shot too."
"That's... horrible. What happened next?"
"The case concluded as manslaughter. I was dismissed from my post and transferred to detective work. That incident was over two decades ago, and not a day goes by when I don't think about it."
After a long drive home, Jayden parked his car near the garden where the manicured lawn added to the allure of the modern home. Once they both exited the car, Jayden opened the front door for Rogue, stepping inside before shutting the door behind him.
"We're home," Jayden announced.
The interior of the house was warm and welcoming. The walls were painted in soft shades of cream and beige, creating a calming atmosphere. Solid wood furniture lent each room a rustic yet elegant charm.
In the living room, a plush sofa beckoned relaxation, while a large bookshelf was filled with treasured books. The dining room featured a sturdy oak table, surrounded by matching chairs, providing an ideal setting for family meals.
Seated at the dining table, Rogue's mother turned to them as she flipped through her newspaper. A smile that reflected the deep love she felt for them graced her lips as she stood to greet Jayden and Rogue with a kiss. Yet, something was amiss; her son appeared distant. Although she was aware of the bullying he endured at school, she was unaware of the nature of his relationship with Jayden.
"Is everything okay, Rogue?" she inquired.
"Yes, Mom... I was just picked on at school again..."
"This has to stop! Why aren't your teachers doing anything?!"
"Well, it's just that the teachers aren't strict enough with them. They've punished them several times, but they just keep on..."
She shot an angry glance at her husband, wondering why he remained passive.
"And you?! You could at least stand up for your son!"
"He's not my son, Jeanne. Besides, think of it as a life lesson."
"Are you serious?! Do you see how you treat him?"
"I know exactly what I'm doing. A boy like him knows nothing about life! I'm trying to mold him into having a steel mentality so he doesn't make the same mistakes I did!"
Rogue, his gaze filled with melancholy, anticipated where this conversation was headed. In truth, he was all too familiar with it. How many times had he walked in on his parents arguing? Too many to count...
He draped his jacket over the coat rack and quietly ascended the staircase. Pushing open the door to his room, he was met with an ambiance both melancholic and soothing. The room was immersed in a gentle dimness, punctuated by sparse sunlight filtering through the slightly ajar shutters. The room's only furniture was a neatly made single bed, a wardrobe with haphazardly stacked clothes, and a desk holding a few notebooks and a desktop computer.
Rogue took a moment to admire his room, an escape from reality. From here, he could faintly hear the shrill voices of his parents locked in a bitter argument. But a sigh of relief escaped his lips when his gaze landed on his computer, his portal to forgetting the pain of his troubled family life.
"Thank goodness for you," he whispered.
He approached the computer, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He was about to merge two of his favorite activities: mathematics and coding. Rogue initiated a dubious software, a hacking program equipped with an array of commands.
His eyes, glued to the screen, mirrored his fervor for computers and mathematics. So engrossed was he that he lost track of time; the sunlight had faded, giving way to a serene night with larks heralding the onset of darkness.
He'd spent the evening trying to decipher the password of one of his bullies' social media accounts. He was on the verge of spreading false information about him, a move that could easily discredit the bully. But something held him back. His finger hovered hesitantly over the "Enter" key, perhaps fearing repercussions. His innate kindness prevented him from causing harm, even to the worst of bullies.
"Why... why can't I do it?" he whimpered, tears streaming down to meet the keyboard, each drop resonating loudly.
"He so deserves it, the jerk! I've never wronged anyone, but he... but he..."
Suddenly, Jayden entered the room, head bowed.
"Hey buddy, I wanted to talk about something important regarding mom..." His voice trailed off as he noticed the hacking software displayed on Rogue's screen. Panicking, Rogue hurriedly closed the windows.
"No, wait, it's not what you think!"
"You little twerp! You've been pulling one over on us! Your mother will hear about this!" Jayden slammed the door behind him, the sound echoing menacingly, leaving Rogue petrified.
Caught in a life-altering dilemma, Rogue felt trapped. He had to choose whether to wipe his computer clean, erasing all evidence, or face the truth and its potentially grave consequences.