Life is tough. Make it your own or it will enslave you instead.

To be honest, I never expected much in my life. All I wanted is to live peacefully until the time comes for me to go. But I guess, even that was too much to be asked.

[beep-beep…beep-beep…]

"Stop it, you stupid clock! Lemme sleeeee…"

I couldn't finish as I fell asleep again.

"…And now, Sir Akaru will deliver a short motivation speech on how he became this successful at such a young age. Sir Akaru, will you share the secrets of your remarkable journey with us?"

"Yes, of course. So, first of all—"

"But, before that you need to go to work."

"What? Mom?! Why are you here?"

"I'm here because you are getting late for your office"

"Office?"

"Yes, O-f-f-i-c-e," she said with a humble smile on her face.

Realization dawned upon me like a slap in the face. I had forgotten—I had a job to attend to, responsibilities to fulfill. I snapped awake as my dream shattered into fragments.

It's 08:30 already?

With a sigh, I dragged myself out of bed, reluctantly preparing for another day of monotony and routine.

"Ruu, you awake?"

"Yes, mom"

"Hurry up and get fresh. Your breakfast is ready."

"Yeah, coming"

I'm Ruu Akaru, just an ordinary guy. I'm 23. Recently, I landed a job at a gaming company. Yet, my days seem to pass by in an uneventful blur. But it's just perfect for me. A peaceful life is just what I want alongside my mom.

As I stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom, my mind drifted back to the conversation with my mom. She always had this knack for reminding me of my responsibilities, even when I'd rather stay lost in the comfort of my dreams.

With a splash of cold water on my face, I tried to shake off the grogginess of sleep. The mirror reflected back a tired version of myself, the dark circles under my eyes serving as a constant reminder of my perpetual exhaustion.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was all there was to life. Was I destined to spend my days toiling away in an office, trapped in a never-ending cycle of mundanity? But then again, maybe there was beauty in simplicity. Maybe there was something to be said for finding contentment in the ordinary, for cherishing the small moments of joy that punctuated the monotony of daily life.

I entered the dining room and sat at the kitchen table.

Looking at my mom I said, "How is your health? You seem to be weaker than yesterday. Are you pushing yourself too hard?"

"Oh, come on, you worry too much just like your dad. Haha…"

"No, I'm just worried about you, you know."

As I took a spoonful of cereal, my mom dropped the bombshell.

"Anyway, stupid talks aside, I have arranged your marriage next week," she said casually.

"Hmm… 'hat?!"

The news hit me like a ton of bricks. Cereal sprayed from my mouth as I choked on the words.

"Wait! What did you just say?!" I sputtered, trying to process what she had just said.

She then burst into laughter.

"Hahaha… Just look at your face! It was just a joke. Haha…"

"Phew. Stop making that kind of jokes. You just scared the hell out of me."

"Hahahahaha…"

All she did was laughing for about a couple of minutes.

"But, Ruu, seriously though, Shouldn't you get married?"

"Nope. The only woman I need in my life is you alone," I replied firmly.

"Really? I wonder about that," she said with a deep sigh.

Women all do is to seduce males. Just like how my father was.

"By the way, mom, would you like to go to the theater tomorrow to watch the new One Piece movie?"

"Really? A new One Piece movie? I can't wait to see it!"

"It's been decided then. And I'm going to work now."

"Okay. Take care."

Little did I know, tomorrow would never come.

*In the afternoon*

As I turned the handle, the door swung open effortlessly.

Doesn't it remain locked usually? Well, whatever…

"I'm home."

[No response]

Guess she went outside, huh? Even without locking the door? Just how careless can she be?

But then I heard some weird noise from mom's room.

What's is sound? It's coming from mom's room, right?

I felt the atmosphere intensifying and couldn't shake off the chilly feeling with each step I took towards Mom's room. Reaching her room, what I saw turned my world upside-down.

"Ahhh… ahhh… yes, this is the pleasure! Ahhhh… ahh… Don't stop! Keep going, you, swine!"

I froze in horror, unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before me. My mind refused to accept what my eyes were witnessing. There, in the dimly lit room, my mother lay helpless, pinned down by a man whose face was contorted with a sickening pleasure.

Every fiber of my being screamed for action. Anger surged through me like a tidal wave, drowning out all rational thought. Without hesitation, I charged forward, my fists clenched in fury, ready to unleash my wrath upon the vile creature violating my mother.

I punched with all of my might, grabbing the man by the collar and pulling him away from her.

"Get off her, you bastard!" I roared, my voice trembling with rage.

Before he could react, I wrestled him to the ground and unleashed a barrage of punches upon his face. Each hit produced a sickening sound, splattering blood onto my hands. Despite it, my anger remained unyielding, refusing to diminish even slightly.

"Take this, take this and take this… you bastard, take this!"

Seeing my mom trembling with fear only fueled my fury.

With a demonic smile, I fixed my gaze on the man. I rose to my feet, consumed by an uncontrollable temper.

"So, you violated my mom with that thing, huh?"

"You, vulture! TAKE THIS!"

"AAAAAHHHHH!" he screamed in agony as I delivered a crushing blow with my foot.

"HAHAHA! Yeah, that's it! That's it!! That's it!!!..."

I smashed him harder as his screams intensified. My mind clouded with rage, I couldn't think straight anymore. Before I knew it, his screams ceased, replaced by a haunting silence. He was already dead.

"Whew…You are dead already, bastard…"

I sank to the floor as fatigue rushed over me. I turned to look for my mom but she wasn't there anymore.

Where did she go?

The atmosphere grew unnervingly silent. A chill slithered down my spine, sending shivers through my veins. I rose to my feet, scanning the room in search of my mother.

"Mom?... mom?"

[No response]

Upon entering the dining room, I was rendered speechless and overwhelmed with helplessness by what I saw. My mother hung lifeless before me, a scene that robbed me of all coherent thought. I collapsed to the ground in overwhelming despair, my mind going blank, devoid of all rational thought.

The neighbors rushed into my house amidst the commotion. All I recall afterward is being taken to the police station and questioned.

After the chaos of that awful day settled, I discovered the shocking truth – the man who harmed my mother worked for the mayor. The weight of this revelation hit me hard, realizing my innocence meant nothing against the mayor's power. The authorities quickly devised a plan to protect themselves.

They forged a suicide note, blaming me for my mother's death. Fake DNA tests were used to strengthen their case. In a cruel twist, I was accused of violating a woman and murdering a man.

*In the court*

"…And that concludes, Mr. Ruu Akaru guilty of violating a woman and killing an innocent man. Therefore, the court hereby announces him guilty of these heinous acts and sentences him to death."

Despite my protests, I was swiftly convicted and sentenced to death. The unfairness of it all was overwhelming as I faced the consequences of a rigged system.

*The day of execution*

As the time approached, a heavy sense of dread settled over the prison. The air felt heavy, filled with an ominous energy that made my skin crawl. I was led through the dimly lit corridors, each step echoing with the weight of impending doom.

Outside, the sky was cast in a somber hue, as if mourning the injustice about to unfold. A small crowd had gathered beyond the prison walls.

Within the confines of the execution chamber, I stood alone, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat of despair. The hooded figures of the executioners loomed before me, their faces hidden in shadow.

As the final moments ticked away, I closed my eyes and whispered a silent prayer for redemption, for justice denied but not forgotten.

I wish I could destroy this rotten humanity. Only if I had the power…

As the lever was pulled and darkness closed in, I closed my eyes, embracing the peace that comes with acceptance. And…

I found myself in immense darkness.

"Where…am I?"