Kikomori, 15 years old, stood in front of the imposing gate of his new high school, his heart beating with apprehension. The past haunted him like an inescapable shadow, each memory making it heavier, it had become so heavy that every step towards the gate of his establishment sounded like a knife to the legs. At age six, he had witnessed a tragedy that had shattered his life forever. His mother, a sweet and full of life woman, had always been his refuge. With her sparkling eyes and comforting smile, she was his universe, he was ready to do anything for this person whom he idolizes like a goddess who guides these days . But that fateful day, when she had interposed between him and his father. His father used to beat him after he drank, but this time it marked the end of his innocence. His father, driven by a blind rage, had struck the fatal blow. Daniel had lost not only a loving mother, but also the person who made his life a happy one. His world collapsed, his universe had witnessed a black hole that sucked up all life.
At that time, Kikomori's father had left his mother rotting in the apartment. He didn't even bother to move her. Because after he killed her, he went to the fridge. He opened and took out a bottle of Soju. He passed again before the corpse of his wife and saw Kikomori hold back her tears. He crouched and looked at him and opened his mouth to whisper words.
"Listen to me, Kikomori, if you make a sound, I'll beat you until you become like Mom," he said, pointing at Kikomori mother holding the soju bottle in her hand.
"And also, if you tell anyone about this, I'll make you regret it... I'll BURN YOUR MOTHER'S BODY!!!" Kikomori's father, Hector, says this with a snarky laugh that cuts his face from right to left.
A few days passed and the body of Kikomori's mother reached the ground. Also, without his mother to protect him and teach him the basic values for integrating into society , Kikomori was getting more and more beaten and the bruises and injuries began to be noticed. His mistress noticed all the bruises on Kikomori's body and went to ask him if everything was okay. Of course, Kikomori was afraid to answer because he could see his mother's body burn, so he refused to answer.
"Kikomori, if you're not feeling well, I'm here to help... You don't have to be afraid of me, I'm just a teacher."
Kikomori looked at her and her eyes filled with tears.
"You know what, you're gonna stay with me at the end of class, we're gonna play a game."
Daniel, who was ready to burst into tears, turned into a happy child. The tears disappeared and a smile came to take its place. That's right, mistress, what will the game be?"
"Hmmmm, we'll see about that at the end of class."
At the end of class, the teacher asked Kikomori to stay in class and she came back with the games. Daniel waited for him, but the teacher went to see the secretary to call Kikomori's parents.
After 30 minutes, Hector arrived, he was well dressed in a suit, hair back.
"Kikomori, is he all right? Is he hurt? I want to see him, please."
The teacher, troubled, watched Hector, Kikomori's father, who stood there with a cold assurance. The man, dressed in a flawless suit, looked respectable, almost flawless. No one could have imagined that he would be able to hurt a child, let alone his own wife. Kikomori, can you tell me what's going on?"She asked in a soft voice. Kikomori looked down, her thoughts clashing. Whenever he thought of answering, terror suffocated him. His father's words resounded in his mind like a funeral song: "I will burn your mother's body." The memory of his mother lying there, cold and still, paralyzed him.
Hector approached, a forced smile on his face. "Everything is fine, isn't it, my boy? You know I would never hurt my son." But his cold and threatening look said otherwise. Daniel felt a huge weight was piling up on his chest. He merely nodded, but felt the bile turn in his belly.
The mistress, frustrated by Kikomori's silence, got herself up. "I think it would be better if we talked about this in a more private place. Kikomori, why don't you go to the principal's office?" Hector raised an eyebrow and his expression grew more rigid. Why should we do that? I'm his father, I know what's best for him."
"Maybe, but I'm responsible for her well-being at school. If you do not give him the freedom to speak, I fear he will not feel safe here," replied the mistress, her voice becoming firmer.
Hector stared at her, and for a moment the silence was deafening. Kikomori could feel the tension between them, like a thread ready to break. Finally, Hector sighed as if he had made a decision. "All right. But Kikomori, don't forget, your mother is waiting for us at home... You know her, she might burn for dinner."
Kikomori raised his head and said to the teacher, "That's right, why are you doing all this?" He ran to his father to hold on to him and he said, "Let's go home."
Hector looked at the teacher and said, "My son has always had a great imagination. I don't know what he told you, but it must have been bullshit." ." Please, Dad, come on, we're going home."
Hector took Kikomori by the shoulder and started to lead him out, a smile. Kikomori tried to stay calm, but inside he was growing scared. Every step they took toward the exit brought him closer to what he feared most: returning home.
"You know, Kikomori," began Hector, his voice full of false sweetness, "sometimes adults have to make difficult decisions. You don't have to worry. Everything will be fine, I promise."
Kikomori nodded, though he did not share the same feeling. He remembered every time his father promised that everything would be fine, just before things went bad. Hector opened the door and asked Kikomori to come up. The ride was silent, nobody spoke, Hector's face represented the emotion of excitement.
When we arrived in front of the apartment building, Hector took Kikomori by the hand. Disgust was drawn on his face and they took the elevator to the 3rd floor.
Reaching their apartment, Hector opened the door with a brutal force. The sound of the beating resounded in the corridor, and Kikomori felt his heart clench.
The apartment was dark, with dim light only showing disturbing shadows in the corners. A foul smell has finally taken precedence over the sweet smell of his mother's little dishes, probably the corpse that is starting to decompose.
"Come in," said Hector, his voice raising slightly. Kikomori hesitated for a moment, then crossed the threshold. He knew he had no choice.
Once inside, Hector closed the door with a loud clap. Kikomori turned to him and his father gave him a piercing look. Sit down," he said, pointing to a chair with his finger. "We must have a conversation, be putrid." After the discussion with the mistress of Kikomori something changed with Hector he no longer qualifies his son to be human for him it is simply a deformed thing and without values.
Kikomori sat down, paralyzed by fear. Hector approached, his face glowing with a disturbing glow. You know, people don't understand what it's like to be a father," he began, the tone getting darker. They think they know better than me, but nobody really knows what's going on in our family if I can still call it that...