For others, they were just useless drug
addicts, but to him, they were his beloved parents. Although they were wrong to
get involved in such an immoral activity like drug addiction, they were never irresponsible
towards him. They made sure he got shelter, food and education despite having
to work hard to make ends meet while doing their expensive useless activity.
Hans
was fifteen, a Form Three student in an ordinary daily school situated near his
house. The people around knew about his parents being drug addicts and they
treated him like he was rubbish. His classmates ignored him; even the teachers
were prejudiced towards him. No matter how well he did in school, all they saw
was the fact that him being the son of some useless drug addicts.
It
was an ordinary day like any other day and Hans sat quietly at his desk. The
day had been particularly good for him as no one mocked him or bullied him and
he was happy that they ignored him completely. It was better being treated like
a shadow than being the subject of humiliation by the people around him.
However,
the day didn’t go as well as he had hoped it would be. Suddenly, a prefect, his
senior by two years, a Form Five student came to him and grabbed him by the
collar and forcefully motioned him to follow him. He went without putting a
fight as he was curious to what else did he do now.
Whenever
something bad happened; someone’s money was stolen, someone’s new bag was
missing, or even someone’s shoes were gone; he was the first suspect to be
interrogated by the disciplined teacher like a criminal. They’d take him to the
counsellor’s room and asked him questions and won’t even believe even if he
answered them truthfully. Everything was getting tiring and Hans didn’t know
for how much longer he could swallow the oppression.
‘Why
don’t they trust me? No matter what I said, they just pretended to be deaf.
What? Am I so wrong to have drug addicts as parents?’
Hans
was frustrated and angry at people around him. They were judging him so easily
without even listening to his explanation. No matter what he said, they just
won’t listen.
‘You’re
home! Do you want to eat? I cooked your favourite dishes today.’
Hans
went to his mother and hugged her, burying his sullen face into her chest. She
returned the hug and caressed the boy’s back affectionately as if knowing that
the boy was troubled over something.
‘What’s
wrong, sweetheart? Did something happen at school?’
Hans
didn’t answer. He kept quiet and just listened to his mother’s heartbeats. He
loved that sound, the sound of her heart beating that made him felt safe
because he was at home.
‘Nothing,
mom. It’s just that I’m tired. I’ve eaten already. I want to go and sleep.’
Nicole
kissed his cheek and cupped his face and stared into his eyes. She knew he was
troubled, but she didn’t want to force him to tell her about it. If he wanted
to tell her, he’ll open up sooner or later.
‘Okay.
Rest well, honey.’
Hans
was lying on his bed, eyes scanning the white ceiling and walls like they were
the most interesting things on earth. He felt weaker as time passed. He could
see blood dripping from his wrist and stained the floor. As his eyes turned to
darkness, he could see his mom running to him, screaming and wailing wildly to
urge him to stay, but he had decided to leave.
