Chapter 10: Kaito Zum

Kaito's Point of View

I was walking down the corridor to meet my friends, Savier and Shina near the library. I thought Chieko will tutor me today but it seems because she is no where to be found.

There, at the distance, I saw my friends with Chieko. What are they doing to her? I quickly walked to them to know what is happening.

As I approached them, I noticed how their noise began to fade away. I also noticed Chieko's face and her shirt is wet. Are they abusing her?

"What are you guys doing?"

I asked them, particularly Shina. I looked at Chieko who seems to be worried. Then I remembered Chieko's friend or admirer. I think his name was Ryogi since I heard Chieko and her friend Ami talking about it earlier ago. I'm not going to defend this lady since I'm not her admirer.

"Ah! I accidentally poured water on her face. I didn't mean to do that"

Shina said. I love how Shina managed to lie even if it is very obvious that she is doing this on purpose. But then again, I just lost interest to hearing from Chieko's side.

"Suit yourselves"

I carelessly threw words as I slowly walked away with my hands inside my pockets. I don't want to waste my time on people who has no interest at me. I walked down the corridor putting no emotions on my face. While taking the stairs to the first floor of the building, a guy who has the same height as me suddenly walked through me and asked.

"Hello, uhh, I was just asking if you know Chieko? Chieko Yun? And if so, do you know where she is?"

The guy spoke with a husky voice. Why does this guy care about Chieko? Is this guy supposed to be Ryogi, the one Chieko likes?

"I saw Chieko hanging out with some students upstairs near the library"

I answered his question and off he went to the second floor quickly. Is he going to walk Chieko home, huh? I couldn't care less and just focused on my way to our house, a terrible house with horrible parents.

I, Kaito Zum, is experiencing abuse made by my parents. My mom has no job but to do household chores while my dad is a farmer as well as a market seller. My dad doesn't always earn that much and so, he gives his anger to me by beating me. They never motivated me nor inspired me to do well in life, specifically in school that's why I have never participate in classes. Because of these, I'm forced to stay late in school for tutoring.

I sat down a bench at a park just right beside our school to rest and ponder for a while before going home. I just feel bad about Chieko, and I think I should apologize on what happened a while ago and also to how I treated her few days ago.

While I was looking at the students walking home, I also saw Chieko. I wanted to go to her to apologize on how I am an idiot for treating her bad on the past few days, but it was too late. I saw that Ryogi walking with her and them feeling happy and all just makes it worse.

I continued sitting down at this lonely bench watching all the delightful faces I am seeing with my eyes, when all of a sudden, a voice shouted at me.

"Kaito!"

I turned to look around just to see Shina smiling at me.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were going home"

She said as she sat at the other end of the bench. Here she goes again acting friendly when in reality, I just feel uncomfortable every time I am with her.

"I was supposed to but I suddenly felt tired so I sat here to rest for a bit"

I answered.

"That is a great choice. You should be taking care of yourself properly"

She responded. I suddenly felt awkward from her. I think I'm going to bail here since I need to go home.

"I'm going home now"

I said and stood up from the bench. Shina also stood up quietly as both of us were in silence for a few seconds.

"Kaito, I like you"

I got shocked once she said that. It is no wonder why I feel uncomfortable with her. She's secretly admiring me.

"Sorry, Shina, I don't feel the same way"

I only laughed as I responded to her confession.

"What? I'm sure you are admiring someone. What does that person has that I don't have?"

She patted my shoulders with a forced smile written on her face.

"Shina, I'm not interested with someone, and if I there's a person I'm interested to, it's definitely not you"

I replied seriously and started walking away from this awkward atmosphere. Shina still followed me, throwing words at me.

"Kaito, why are you not interested at me? I'll try to be an ideal woman for you!"

"I don't want you to change yourself for me just to like you back. We may have the same path but I'm sure we're in a different destiny at the end, so what's the use?"

I answered her back which left her in silence as I continued walking away from her not having to feel guilty about what I just did to her. I'm not supposed to feel guilty because I'm just trying to be honest. I'm very sorry, Shina but it's true that I'm interested in one person and that person may not be by my side now, but I'll promise myself that she will be that angel that guides me.

As soon as Shina was no where to be seen, I finally had peace walking myself home from watching the blue sky and the grasses. I'm hoping that there won't be an angry parent waiting for me there.

-•-

As soon as I arrived at our house, I encountered my dad reading a newspaper while drinking a cup of coffee. I can see how bothered he is, probably from the newspaper he is reading.

"Hey, Kaito, be careful when you're not home. Apparently, there are bad citizens who are wanting the attention of our government by killing innocent people. So you should be more cautious, huh?"

My dad warned me. That is the first time I have ever heard about this news. I still thank my dad for informing me about this important note.

"I got it, dad. Thank you for sharing this"

I thanked him without emotions on my face and I then went inside the house to greet my mom.

"Mom!"

I shouted inside the house only to find out that mom is no where to be seen. I shouted three times calling her out but no one seems to listen. Then, dad came along inside at behind my back.

"Kaito, your mom is dead. She was killed by an unknown identity"

Dad responded, as his tears are falling down on his cheeks. What did I just heard? Mom just passed away and what's worse is that she was killed?

"Where is she?"

I asked dad while I also started weeping from sadness and shock at the same time.

"She's in the nearest hospital. The physicians weren't able to save her life on time"

Dad answered with a shaky voice. I stared at him for a few seconds thinking and wondering how am I that bad to deserve to experience these events. Both of us went to the hospital feeling tired and exhausted just to see my mom one last time.

At one of the rooms, there she was lying on a bed, unconscious, cold, dead. Seeing your mother everyday was the most precious things that have happened in my life, but seeing your mother not moving was the one of the hardest things you will ever accept. Dread filled over my body that if I ever discovered who took my mother's life, I would kill him.

I spent the very first night without my mother in our house.