Kai's POV
I sat in his bedroom, my mind filled with excitement and anticipation as he scrolled through the photos from the festival. The images of the horror house and the rides brought a smile to his face as he remembered the fun they had together.
I decided to send a message to Charms, Chika and Leo.
Kai: "Hey guys, just thinking about earlier today. That horror house was wild but hilarious! Can't wait for the next adventure with you all. Have a great night!"
As soon as Kai sent the message, he placed his phone on the dresser and let out a sigh of contentment.
Kai flinched as the sound of his parents' arguing echoed through the house. He knew the familiar routine all too well.
"Not again," he muttered under his breath, feeling a mix of sadness and frustration.
He quickly grabbed his earphones and connected them to his phone, hoping to drown out the noise with music. Kai knew that it was a temporary solution, but it was better than listening to his parents' constant bickering.
He lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling as he waited for the noise to subside, feeling a sense of isolation and loneliness creeping into his heart.
Kai's Flashback
As the years went by, I found solace in my guitar, using it as a way to express my emotions and escape the reality of my family life. I spent hours practicing chords and writing my own songs, pouring his heart and soul into every note.
Music became my outlet, a way to cope with the chaos that often existed within my home. It gave me a sense of purpose and comfort, a allowing me to find a small sanctuary in the midst of the turbulence surrounding him.
As the years went by, I found myself becoming quite skilled on the guitar. The countless hours of practice had paid off, and suddenly bands started taking notice.
In just one night, I was approached by several different bands, all of them asking me to join as a guitarist.
I remembered the excitement that had coursed through me in that moment, the validation of my musical abilities finally being recognized.
As soon as I approached my mother and told her about the opportunities, her response was harsh and swift.
"No," she said firmly. Her face contorted with anger and disappointment. "You are not going to join any band. Your studies come first."
I froze, feeling a mix of shock and anger. My excitement had quickly turned to despair at her refusal.
"But-," I began, trying to explain the opportunity I had been given, but her slap cut me off, silencing me instantly.
"why I'm I raising a child such as useless"
I stood there, tears welling up in my eyes as my mother's words cut through the air. The pain in her voice was palpable, each word like a dagger to my heart.
Hearing my own mother call me useless felt like a crushing weight on my shoulders, a validation of all the negative thoughts that I had harbored within me. It was a painful realization that the person who should have been my biggest supporter was instead tearing me down
In that moment, all my dreams and hopes seemed to shatter, leaving me in a state of despair and confusion. I couldn't understand why she couldn't recognize my passion and talent, why she seemed so determined to bury my dreams beneath the weight of expectations I felt lost, with no one to turn to for support or understanding.
I walked through the school halls, my mind preoccupied with the words my mom had said.
"Useless," it echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of my shortcomings.
As I reached my locker, I leaned against it, feeling the weight of her words bearing down on me. I tried to push the thoughts away, but they persisted, gnawing at my self-confidence and leaving me feeling hollow inside
Suddenly a girl ask me if I was idiot "Excuse me? Did you just call me idiot?" I'm kinda annoyed and confused I'm about to say something Suddenly came to mind "Useless" I think I'm idiot so I say ""Okay, okay, fine, I'll play your game. Yes, I am an idiot," I said, rolling his eyes.
"Ahhh ok... What an idiot" She said and walk away
What is her problem
I stared at her, dumbfounded. How did this interaction go from her asking if I was an idiot to me agreeing that I was?
I sighed, feeling even more annoyed. "What is her problem?" I muttered under my breath, my self-confidence taking another hit.
The sound of the bell ringing snapped me out of my thoughts. School was about to begin.
As I started to make my way to class, I couldn't shake the lingering feeling of inadequacy that had settled over me. Despite my talent as a guitarist, it seemed that I couldn't escape the label of "useless" that my mother had bestowed upon me.
.
.
.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of school, my friend approached me with an invitation.
"Hey, dude," he said with a grin. "You want to hang out after school? We can grab some food and just chill out."
I hesitated, my mind still swirling with thoughts of my mother's words.
Despite the inner turmoil, I forced a smile and agreed. Maybe spending time with my friend would help distract me from the negative thoughts for a while.
"Sure thing, let's do it," I said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
As we headed towards the school gate, I noticed a girl running past us. She was running like Naruto, with her arms extended behind her.
"Hey, do you know that person running like an idiot?" I asked my friend, unable to hide my amusement.
My friend glanced at the girl and laughed. "Yeah, I know her. She's Chika's best friend."
"Yeah, that's right. Her name is Charmel. She's a bit different from the other students, but Chika seems to really enjoy her company," my friend explained.
I nodded, storing the name "Charmel" away in my memory. It seemed that this girl was becoming more interesting by the second.
As we continued to hang out, my friend and I talked about various topics, our conversation filled with laughter and jokes. The negative thoughts about my mother's words slowly faded away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and lightheartedness.
As the sun began to set, we reluctantly bid each other farewell. I walked home, feeling slightly better than before. Spending time with my friend had lifted my spirits and provided a brief respite from the weight of my mom's words.
As I opened the door to my house, I was met with the sight of my father standing there, his expression stern. Immediately, my heart sank, anticipating another argument or lecture.
"You're late. Where have you been?" he barked.
"I-I was just hanging out with a friend," I replied, my voice wavering slightly.
"Hanging out when you should be studying? Don't you have responsibilities?" my father retorted, his tone laced with disappointment. "You need to focus on your studies and not waste time doing useless things."
I felt the weight of his words heavy on my chest, the familiar feeling of inadequacy creeping back in.
"I know, but-" I tried to explain, but my father cut me off.
"No buts," he snapped. "You need to stop being so irresponsible and start taking your future seriously. You're not a child anymore, Kai."
I swallowed back the lump in my throat, feeling a mix of frustration and defiance.
"I am trying my best," I protested, my voice tinged with frustration.
.
.
.
It's just another day at school and i'm leaning against the wall again thinking and I saw Charmel walking by, she bit distracted and I approached her and ask if she was ok.
"Do you think I look okay huh?" Her expression is like she wants to kill someone.
I'm trying to calm her down and again she called me idiot. Suddenly Chika appeared ask what going on.
Charmel start crying and hug Chika "Chika what should I do? All my hobbies taken by my mother after she left from another country for work"
I stood there, stunned by the sudden turn of events. Charmel was upset because her "hobbies" were taken by her mom? What even was a hubby?
"Hobbies?" I asked, genuinely perplexed.
And I witnessed their dramatic scene I can't hold my laugh.
I think we're the same. From that day on, I couldn't resist the temptation to tease charmel every chance I got. I found a twisted delight in pushing her buttons and seeing her response.