31. Hate

When Pearl said that the construction would take many days, August thought that it would take 1-2 days at most. But he was very wrong....

--- A week ! It's been a week and we've only completed 55 % ! We need to speed up !

--- We already know that ! We are working hard !

--- You need to be even stronger ! Otherwise, we won't have time to wake up the Cluster !

--- Peridot, calm down.

All this week, Peridot was very nervous. She wanted to finish the job quickly, but her orders only made everyone nervous and slowed down the work. Therefore, Augustus developed a tactic of how to calm the Peridot.

He would approach her, take her by the stomach, and hold her in his arms until she calmed down.

--- How can you calm down here if we don't meet the deadlines !

--- We still have a week. During this time, we must make it.

--- Must !? We're barely making it !

--- Good. A long sigh..

--- "sigh"

--- Slow exhalation..

--- " exhale "

--- You can't be nervous. Because of this, we are slowing down in our work.

--- I got it. You can let me go.

--- No. I want to support you again.

--- Then I'll be in charge from here. Okay ! We need tungsten ! I saw him here...

The work slowly continued under the command of Peridot. Augustus liked what they were doing now. Although the Earth could be destroyed at any moment, he liked the way they all spent time together. Even Peridot gradually gets used to the earth life.

--- August ?

First of all, it couldn't last that long.

" That voice...no. I hope I'm wrong. "

His head slowly turned in response to the call and he saw an eerily familiar figure.

--- August ! It's you !

It was Polly Evans.

" No, no, no, no, no, no ! Not her ! I almost forgot ! WHY? "

Meanwhile, Polly Evans was rapidly approaching August. She was already at his side when Garnet blocked her path.

--- What are you doing? Let me through !

--- Who are you and what are you doing here ?

--- Let me through now !

--- August, do you know her ?

--- Know ? I'm his mother !

--- WHAT ! [ all ]

It was unexpected. Augustus never mentioned his family. And if he was asked, he said that he had no family.

--- I think you made a mistake. Augustus has no family.

--- Then who am I ? A ghost ?

--- August ?

Augustus stood silent. There was only one emotion on his face. It was an emotion Gemstones had never seen before. HATE. Pure hatred was visible on his face. His hands were clenched into a fist, his teeth were clenched, and Peridot felt his grip tighten in his hands.

--- August ...

--- I don't have a mother.

--- But I'm here ! Right in front of you.

--- AND WHERE WERE YOU AT OTHER TIMES !

--- August ...

---I DON'T HAVE A MOTHER. Mothers do not beat their children, do not ignore them, give them food, do not leave scars, do not throw them out on the street ! Where have you been all this time ?! "Mom" ?

--- Wait. Let's talk...

--- We don't have anything to say !

Augustus turned and walked off into the woods. The Peridot in his hands would soon suffocate if he didn't let her go. But he doesn't seem to notice. Hatred filled his mind.

[ Gems ]

Everyone stood in shock. In all the time Augustus had been here, he had never raised his voice. Not once. All their attention was turned to the so-called "mother" of Augustus. She was still standing when a voice called out to her.

--- Are you really his mother ?

--- Yes. I think so.

--- August seems not to.

--- ...

--- That's all he said...It's true?

---.... yes. It's true.

Polly slowly sat down on the nearest tree stump and covered her face with her hands.

--- what was I even counting on ?

The gems slowly approached her. They sat down opposite her and waited. But Pearl seemed to break down.

--- What happened between you two ?

Polly slowly opened her face, and there were tears in her eyes. Before speaking, she quickly both wiped and started.

--- I was a terrible mother.

--- That's clear enough.

--- Amethyst !

--- No. She's right. Let me tell you everything.

....

--- Augustus was born by accident. I didn't want this baby. I also didn't know who the baby's father was. I didn't have any money. I had to find a job and take care of the two of us.

--- Nothing unusual yet

--- It was difficult. I had to work several jobs at once, I had loans, debts, I owed a lot of money and could not pay off. It all bothered me a lot, and I still had to take care of the baby. So I found solace in alcohol.

I'm addicted to alcohol. He was my only salvation, he took me away from the outside world and allowed me to forget myself. But because of the alcohol, all my fatigue, anger, and hatred came out. And I started....started..."whimper" beat August.

--- How old was he ?

--- A ?

--- How old was he?!

--- 7. He was seven.

Pearl and Amethyst were already holding back Garnet. She was ready to pounce on this woman.

--- I forgot myself. I forgot about everything, the alcohol captivated me. I realized too late that I had lost him forever. I lost my son. He hates me.

--- What happened to wake you up ?

--- He's gone.

--- ???

--- August is gone. He escaped. He packed his things, took food, water, some clothes, and his money, and left. He left nothing behind. Not a note, not a letter, not a single word. When I woke up the next day, I thought he'd gone to school as usual. But in the evening, I got a call from his homeroom teacher and asked why I wasn't at his graduation.

He graduated from high school. In his certificate, all the grades were excellent. Any college could accept it. And then I knew he was gone. I started looking for him all over the city. I called the police, put up ads, wrote to the newspaper. But I couldn't find him. Only then did I realize that I had missed my son's life.

His childhood, his junior school, his successes, his losses, his joys and sorrows. His graduation, I missed it all. Then I knew I had to drop the bottle. I went to rehab. I began to undergo treatment and coded myself. Then I packed up and went to look for him.

--- You're a terrible person.

--- I know. I just want to talk to him. I want to start all over again.

--- Again ?! Never ! [ Amethyst ]

--- Amethyst ?

--- I won't let you get within 1 meter of him !

--- Amethyst !

--- What ?! You didn't see what you saw !

--- So what ?

--- The scars ! Augustus ' entire body is covered with them. But the most noticeable one is the burn scar. An iron was cauterized to his back ! Iron !

--- I know I'm a terrible person ! I know ! But I want a second chance ! Please !

--- It's not up to us to decide. August will decide everything.

[ August ]

Meanwhile, Augustus, along with the panting Peridot, went deep into the forest. They came to a clearing where August began to walk in a circle.

--- How did she end up here?! What is she even doing here !? Why is she always following me?!

He walks up and down the clearing with a Peridot in his hands. She almost gasped when she found the strength to signal that he was still there. August noticed this and quickly let her go. Thank God.

--- Sorry ! I forgot you were here.

--- Haa..ha..ha .. let me catch my breath.

Peridot lay down for a while and finally regained her breath. She sat up and looked at Augustus.

--- So, what was that just now ?

--- It's called HATE !

He turned abruptly and struck the nearest tree. The tree was uprooted and flew another 5 meters, demolishing its other brethren in its path.

--- What happened ?

--- What happened ? What happened !? I thought I got away with it ! Escaped ! I forgot about my past and here it is ! Bang ! Suddenly decided to drop in for a visit.

--- A,wait. Is that woman your "mother" ?

--- No.

--- But you came out of she, didn't you ?

--- Oh my God! Peridot ! How can you say that ?

--- What's the big deal ? I'm just stating a fact.

--- Good. I was born of she, but I don't recognize she.

--- And why ?

--- Simple ! I wanted to !

--- Lies ! You said yourself that everything comes from somewhere.

--- So I lied !

--- Are you lying about lying ?

--- Aaaaaah ! How difficult it is with you.

He stopped in place and sat down in place, he put his head in his hands and just didn't move.

Peridot went to him, sat down next to him, and took him in her arms.

--- What are you..

--- Stephen said that if someone is sad, then you need to hug them and taught me how to do it.

--- Hmm. I think you're pretty good at it.

--- So you're gonna tell me why ?

--- Phew. She caused me physical and mental harm. Every day, every month, every year. Until the moment I ran away from home.

--- Farther

--- I thought I'd gone far, that without looking back, the past would disappear. But I was wrong. You can't forget the past, you can't run away, it will always catch up with you. And it pisses me off.

Then they just sat and hugged each other, periodically Peridot stroked August's hair. After sitting a little longer, Augustus got up.

--- I decided

--- Hm ?

--- I'll tell her to her face. I will completely release all my anger, hatred, resentment. sadness on her. And then I'll just leave.

--- Then let's go back ?

--- Yes. Let's go back

[ The barn ]

Augustus and Peridot walked slowly out of the forest. To August's surprise, Polly was gone. Only the gems remained. When he was about to say something, they all jumped on him and held him in their tight embrace. Peridot was panting again. Poor thing.

--- Guys..

--- Don't say anything. We all know. You're safe now. You have us. Just stand there and enjoy our embrace.

--- Guys you clamped the Peridot.

--- Ah !

Ah !They bounced off abruptly and she was free. She almost died today. Twice.

--- I hope...that...I'll live to see the drilling.

---....Hahahahaahah [ all ]

Everyone laughed and nova hugged. This time, Peridot could breathe. Hooray.

--- You've been through a lot of pain, August. If you want to talk about it, we're always here.

--- I know. Thanks. But it's not time yet.

--- We understand.

--- That's it ! It's time to continue working !

--- Whatever you say.

And they continued to work.

Remember this. You can always turn away from the past, forget about it, ignore it. But the past will never turn away, will not forget and will always be with you. Until you die.