BETWEEN LOVE AND LIES || JAESAHI

CHAPTER XVIII

"What happened to us, Art?"

Arthur stared at the distance. The question alone brings a lot of painful memories to him, a horrible memories and flashbacks that he badly wants to forget forever, some are already buried at the back of his mind, while most are still hunting him in his dreams. Arthur couldn't answer Kevin's question, because he is not yet ready to share his past - not ever. Arthur let out a tired sigh, and looks at Kevin dodging the question.

"What happened to your family?"

Kevin didn't look back, eyes still staring at the ceiling,

"I should ask you the same question."

Arthur didn't answer. He just continue to stare at the boy in front of him, he already missed the last bus tonight, looks like he's going to walk home. People would really thought that Kevin has a normal life and is really a happy person, but it's only Arthur who can see past Kevin's facade that the boy is suffering so much inside, he can always see it in his eyes. Arthur looks down, he realized that no one can save them from their misery except their own selves.

"Mom and Dad both have an affair."

Arthur immediately looked up, eyes staring widely at Kevin. He didn't expect that Kevin would open up, but Arthur most definitely didn't expect that kind of revelation. To Kevin, he doesn't care anymore, Arthur already knew about his therapy session, he already suspected the absence of his parents in the house, and Kevin was so tired of trying to hide his family issues to everyone already.

"At first I thought it was just dad, but one day I saw mom kissing a man inside her car, and it was not my dad."

Kevin stopped speaking, he couldn't bear to remember that day again and Arthur looks away from him, unable to process Kevin's words and unable to see Kevin's obvious vulnerability, it obviously hurts him too.

"They were fighting everyday. There were no days that I would get home to find broken glasses and vases scattered around the house, they even took it into physical fights and Kate suffered the most of it since she was home schooled that time and I am at school always." Kevin suddenly chuckled, voice strained.

"One day, I went home to find Philip holding bandages with Kate crying on the bar stool. She has some cuts on the forehead and knee. Philip told me that time that my mom was so drunk that she got annoyed of Kate she threw her wine glass at her. But it hit the wall instead and the glass shattered, pieces got stricken on Kate's forehead. Kate was so scared that she ended up kneeling on the floor full of broken glasses that some pierced into her knee."

Kevin didn't hold his tears this time. He let his tears silently fell down beside his face, eyes still fixated on the ceiling. The memory of Kate's sobs and those nights were Kevin would wake up of Kate's screams and cries because of nightmares and traumas she got through their parents hurts him so much. Kevin will never forget his parents for hurting Kate and him.

"It's my fault. I didn't protect her enough, I am not there when she needed me. I should be the one having that kind of trauma and not her. She is too young to deserve any of those, God she don't even deserve to experience any of those pain." For the first time in a while, Kevin let out a sob, he couldn't take the pain anymore. He felt horrible, he felt that Kate wouldn't experience that trauma if he was there that time. While he was out there, enjoying his youth, his six years old sister was inside suffering and hurting, both physically and emotionally. Kevin will never forgive his parents, but he will also never forgive himself for not protecting Kate enough. Arthur's heart went out for Kevin and he immediately stood up and came closer to him, he put his hands on Kevin's knees.