Hatred - 2Min/Minmin

1

Twelve-year-old Minho sat crying in one corner of the playground, plucking at the grass, watching the other kids play at the far end. It had been couple of months since he first started avoiding them. His friends often talked about his dad and mom separating and they would ask questions to which he had no answers.

'Do they fight?' 'Don't you stop them?' 'Will upu leave us?' 'Will you stay with your mom or your dad?' 'Is your mom marrying again?' 'Is your dad?'

Their curiosity was legitimate. No one knew such a case in their middle-class neighborhood. Divorces, even in dramas, were cause of much of distress. Families were meant to stay together till the end of time.

School was a nightmare. He would have stopped attending if it was not for his mom. She taught in the same school
Chemistry and maths for eighth and ninth standards so skipping school wasn't an option at all.

Things had hobe downhill so slowly that jr didn't notice in the beginning. It was like Tetris on slow rewind. He thought other kids were going through same crisis. For the past few months, there were rumours of his mother having a torrid, Mills-and-Boon-esque affair with the principal, who also owned the school and other three branches.

The seniors would often cook up stories about his mother and the principal locking themselves in his room for hours.

Minho would innocently ask, "Why would they lock themselves in? " The seniors would affect boisterous,evil laugh. He would ask again, "Tell me shy would they lock themselves in? Tell me?" He would try hitting them and they would push him away. Hr would then lock himself in a bathroom stall for three straight periods.

Today morning, between the third and the fourth periods, when he was hiding in the bathroom, he overhead two seniors talk outside.

"I can't believe Juho ma'am is banging that oldie. She's quite something right? Very perky breasts for thirty-five, " said a senior, probably in the ninth grade.

"Dude. We should totally check out the CCTV footage. Imagine her naked on top of that man! Did I tell you? That guy in the other class? Hyunjae? That bastard dropped a pencil and Juho ma'am picked it up. She totally bent over and showed everything. He tried clicking picture but it came out totally blurred."

"Should we repeat it in her class tomorrow?" They laughed. Minho heard the taps run. The boys left the washroom.

༺༒༻

Minho returned home in a sullen mood.
" Why are you not eating Min? " his mother asked, ladling another spoonful of rice, then cradling his face in her palms and kissing it. She was a great cook. Despite the toxic environment, Dad always ate quietly, concentrating on everything.

" I don't feel like eating "

" You didn't eat lunch too. Is there something wrong? Someone troubling you? Should I talk to your class teacher? " Mom asked, making little rice balls.

" I don't feel like eating, Mumma " snapped Minho, pushing her hand away.

" whats the problem Min? "

          " IT'S NOTHING! THERE'S NO PROBLEM, MOM. LEAVE ME ALONE! " His mother retreated in shock. Minho had never shouted at her. They were always on the same team. And then he spoke " don't pick up pencils from the ground tomorrow "

      "why? "

      " Because I am asking you not to Mom! "

      " but why? "

      " JUST LIKE THAT! "

      " What's the matter with you Minho? "

        " THE SCHOOL WANTS TO SEE YOU NAKED. THEY WANT YO SEE THE CCTV FOOTAGE OF YOU IN THE PRINCIPAL'S ROOM WITH THE PRINCIPAL "

               Minho pushed the plate away and ran to his room. His father looked up from his plate, his eyes burning embers. For the next three hours. He heard his Dad and Mom shout at each other next room, things breaking. He blamed himself for opening his mouth and cried into his pillow. Later that evening, he sneaked out of the house through the window.

                        ༺༒༻

             It had been three hours he had been missing from home and no one had come looking for him. The other kids had gone home. He wandered the streets alone hoping his parents, exhausted from all shouting would find him hone and come looking for him.
             He had wandered to the E block of their apartment complex. This part had the cramped flats-little stinking one-bedroom apartments with flaky wall paint and wet clothes hanging from the lobby, giggling and laughing A middle-aged couple, much like Mom and Dad, and two kids. The younger of the two seemed to be around his age and ge was staring at his sandals which flopped and made a clapping sound as he walked. His skin was pale but had a big green patch below his right eyes almost covering his all cheek but he was smiling.

               Minho felt envy rip him apart.