The boy next door

Part 15

Strong Language warning (go the 7th paragraph starting after "Haneul's POV"  if you are uncomfortable with this)

Haneul's POV:

I tip toed down the stairs of my house. If I get caught, I am done for. Just a few more steps.

'Where are you going?' the step woman called. I turned around with the bag in my hand, 'To Hyerin. She is sick. I am going to visit her,' I nervously whispered. 'And what about the work I gave you?' she asked me again. 'Listen mom--.' 'I am not your mom. Never call me that. You are just some filthy little creature born from the womb of a slut,' she spoke again as I clenched my teeth.

'The woman-- your mother--.' I stopped her this time. 'She is not a slut. Never call her that. She is my mother for fuck's sake. My father left her for you seventeen years ago. Are you not happy with that? My mother even suicided. Dont you think your greed is getting the best of you?' I screamed on top of my lungs. Slap. A hard slap landed on my face. My cheeks were bright red at this point.

'Your mother deserved what she got. She deserved that,' that witch smirked. 'Stop. Stop. Stop, will you? I am tired of this,' I said and broke down. 'Do you think crying will cool me down? You are just a mistake which never should have happened. Get up,' she commanded as tears fell down from my cheeks. 'Get up,'she shouted and grabbed my hair. 'Ouch. Stop. It hurts,' I screamed but she did not budge. 'I will not have enough. I will kill you today,' she screamed as she let go of my hair. I fell to the ground and began whimpering. Even tears would not come out anymore.

'You were not supposed to even be born,' she said as she neared me. That's when I noticed her hand. She had a knife. 'Stop right there,' I screamed as she came closer. My head hit the wall as she approached me. That's it. That's my end.

'Mom. Stop. What the hell are you doing?' someone screamed as I opened my eyes to find Lee know. He took hold of that crazy woman and pushed her behind. 'Have you totally lost your mind? You were seriously going to kill her?' Lee know screamed. 'Go Haneul. Leave,' Lee know mouthed me as I nodded and got up.

I rushed outside of the house as tears started falling again. When will dad be home? I drove my car to Hyerin's place where I was supposed to carry her things. 'Oh you are Haneul right? Come in,' her brother said as he opened the door. 'Her room is on the second floor,' he said as I nodded and went upstairs.

I gathered her things which she might need and put in a luggage bag. As I about to leave, I saw myself in her mirror. I was a mess. Hyerin's brother must have probably noticed me. I went closer to her mirror and touched the red marks on my cheek and flinched. Sorry Hyerin but I have to use your makeup this once. I dont want to worry her even more.

I applied some foundation of her's on my cheek and left the room. 'I will be going to the hospital. I can give you a ride,' Hyerin's brother said as I nodded. Anything was fine right now.

Seeing Hyerin made me feel a bit calm. She was the first friend I ever made and she was really nice.

I hesitated to open my house door. God knows what she will do next. After a good few minutes, I opened the door. Only to find a very familiar face. Dad.

'Dad,' I said as I rushed to hug him. 'Oh my little girl. How have you been?' he asked as I cried tears of joy. I let go of him and glanced at the step witch who smiled lovingly at me. 'Good dad. I have been good,' I put on a poker face as dad ruffled my hair. 'I have brought some many gifts for you, it's in your room. Why dont you go open them?' he asked me. 'No dad. I'd rather stay here with you,' I said as I hugged him again.

'Darling, where are my sons?' dad asked. 'Oh they will be here any minute,' step lady said and smiled. Not a second later the door opened and revealed Lee know and Felix. 'Oh my sons. Come give me a hug,' dad opened his arms. Lee know glared at his mother once, signally her to not do anything stupid. Felix still had his emotionless face as he gave dad a quick hug. 'Felix, it's been years. Let go of that. You are safe now,' dad said and patted Felix's back. Felix rolled his eyes and walked away. Stupid brat.

Lee know gave dad a long hug as he smiled. 'Now I am with my family. Happy and content,'he smiled. Except those two words weren't in my dictionary. Happy and Content.

I walked back to my room after having a family dinner. To be true, there are way too many secrets and turns in my life which I don't think I will be able to go through alone. But I will try. I wont give up without a fight.

I entered my room and found huge presents wrapped in gift paper. Material wealth. It takes us nowhere. Dad really loves me and it's very thoughtful of him to buy me these but calling me when he is on a trip is better than getting these presents to make up for it.

I put the gifts aside and opened my last drawer. It had a picture of my mom. When she was in grade twelve. Whenever I felt off, I looked at this picture. Something about it makes me calm and at home. Something I wont be able to get here, at my so called home.

The next ten days are going to be peaceful. Dad is going to be here. In his presence, his current wife wont have the guts to touch me. Until dad leaves. All of us are going to pretend that we are a happy family. With no secrets. But the truth is, we all have our secrets. Some dark, some hurtful, some heartbreaking. Some which cant be told to anyone and everyone here would risk to take it to their grave.