Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Once I woke up, the sky had already darkened, and it seemed as though it was just me and Hyeong Joon who were sat in the bus. The continuous shades of yellow had casted upon us two from the streetlights outside, yet it remained so dimly lit like a fire that hadn’t been put out in so long.

“Yungsoo,” he whispered. “Your station’s next.” As I got back up, I let out a tired groan as I picked my bag back up. I tossed the bag onto my shoulder and stood up, walking over to the front of the bus. Hyeong Joon followed along as well, it’s just that he was right behind me. His stop was the one right after mine, which meant I would be leaving first.

The bus came into an abrupt halt, making me trip forward. I look back at Hyeong Joon, who was still stood right behind me. “I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked. Again, he gave me that sweet smile that I just couldn’t get enough of, and nodded just ever so slightly.

“Yeah,” he said happily. “See you!” I then clutch my bag’s strap tightly and step off the bus with a 8 inch drop to the ground. From the bus stop, I waved Hyeong Joon goodbye, and he waved back. My heart was racing at that point. He was just…so adorable that I couldn’t handle it.

As I watched the bus slowly drift off into the darkness upon me, I clutched the part of my shirt that was over my chest. It’s felt as though my heart would burst out of my ribs any second now. My hand then drops and I smile timidly to myself as I think of what’d just happened. I think this year’s gonna be much better than the last…I thought.

But I know that there’ll be a lot of sadder times as well. For instance…my father. By the time I get home, I know I’ll be scolded for coming late. Yet I purposely wanted to come late just so I didn’t have to see him so soon. I honestly hate it when I have to go back home. Most of the time, my dad would be slumped in front of the TV, drinking more than 5 bottles of soju at a time. Sometimes, it would even exceed that point. He would be so drunk to the point where he seems as though he’s unconscious.

As I came closer to my apartment, each step I took was filled with regret and dread. I really don’t want to go home. I hated it there…I hate it so much, in fact.

.... . ....

I strode inside and switched on the light, just to see my father stood right next to the kitchen island, supporting himself up with his arms. He looked drunk, and it had gotten much too obvious that he was. He was always drunk when he came home. I stopped right in my tracks when I saw him. I really didn’t want to deal with an argument right now.

“Yungsoo,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, “why are you late?” My body froze, and I couldn’t move. I hoped to my life that he wouldn’t notice me, and that he would just let me go to my room in peace. But obviously not. He just can’t let me go without an explanation.

Hesitantly, I turned to face him, my eyes filled with dread. “Umm…I had to tour a new student around after school…” I said quietly.

“Who was he?” father asked.

“His name is Hyeong Joon,” I told him, “he’s new at my school.”

“Are you two friends?”

“Yeah…” He straightened himself back up and looked me straight in the eyes with a stern and angered look.

“Just how many times do I have to tell you,” he shouted, “you should be home by 6. That’s your limit! I don’t give a fūck about your friends, and you should know that. And yet, you have the audacity to come back at 7, which is an hour after your curfew!” He then smashes a bottle of soju onto the wooden floor, making a scatter of unpleasantly warm soju and glass shards on the ground.

I step back slightly out of shock, and my eyes immediately draw their way to father’s, who was now glaring at me with great wrath present in the way his eyes glistened. Fear and regret had completely taken over me, and it felt as though I couldn’t move. My breaths were shuddery and deep as my gaze switched from the scatter on the ground to my father’s glare.

I didn’t know what to do at that point. I just wanted to run into my room and not come out until tomorrow. I don’t want to deal with father’s complaints about me. I always have to go through this shit everyday, and I just couldn’t handle it anymore.

I clutched the strap of my bag tightly and rushed into my room. “Hey!” father shouted from behind. I stopped abruptly and glared at him from over my shoulder.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked. Slowly, I turn around with an agitated smirk that played on my lips. Silently, I scoff as I glared straight into his wrath filled eyes.

“Why do you expect me to clean up the mess you made?” I scoffed. “What am I, your servant?” Again, I turn around and went into my room, slamming the door behind me. Immediately, I dropped my bag onto the ground next to my bed and grabbed the key to my door. I knew that at some point, my father would give an attempt to come into my room, so I had to lock it as soon as I could.

I locked the door and threw the key under my bed, which was where I would always hide it. In fact, I actually stole this key from father long ago. He just never seemed to notice; he doesn’t notice a single thing that I do, not at all. As though it were on command, I push myself against the door and slide down to the ground. My breaths were heavy full of relief. I never want to go back out there…not yet, at least.

.... . ....

Sunlight was beaming through my curtains and spread throughout my entire room. As I got up, I groaned drowsily as I stretch my back. *God*, I thought, *what the hell just happened yesterday*? Slowly, I got out of bed, trying my best not to wake father up.

Cautiously, I snuck into the bathroom and took a quick shower, the heat of the water against my body feeling so satisfying after a horrible night. I got into my uniform right after, trying to go as quick as I could.

Immediately, I slipped my bag onto my shoulder and headed for the front door, not even having a second thought for breakfast. I slowly stepped out into the living room, which lay empty since last night.

The glass shards that were once a whole bottle of soju were still scattered on the ground, along with the unsatisfying sticky-ness of what was once soju. Though I tried my best to avoid the mess, it seemed to have also scattered all the way to the front door. As I struggle to put my shoes on, I manage to trip forward and slash my hand with the glass shards on the floor.

Ripples of blood were dripping from my hand all the way to my arm and stained the white bit of my uniform. *ShĪt*, I thought as I watched my blood drop onto the wooden floor. It would definitely stain it, and I knew it would. But at that point, I didn’t care. The floor had already been blotched with stains of what was once blood; my blood, and some of my father’s.

Instead of cleaning the blood up, however, I pushed myself forward and immediately headed out the front door before I heard my father wake up. Luckily, I had already left by the time he came out to the living room. But for now, I’ll just spend my time carelessly at school, not even giving a fūck about home.

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