All The Arts That We're Not

Chapter 1

Arkin

The way Arkin's knees had been trembling as he tries to get on his feet's getting worse than it has been already. He couldn't hear anything but voices coming from everyone who had witnessed how he had been beaten down by Ricky. As he gasps for some air, he fought the urge of actually doing something he's had in mind right now but not until Ricky sent him one last kick, making him stumble down the floor, creating much louder noise from everyone around.

"C'mon, I'm getting bored of you now, Jennings." Ricky who had stepped him on the stomach, sniggered while looking down at him.

"Is that what all you've got?" Arkin then attempt once again which only makes Ricky gets pissed of him as much as he's been already.

"Talking back at me now, huh?" Ricky then grab him by his collar, pulling him close before throwing another punch on the face. "Next time, don't barge into something you can't keep up with. Or do better at least."

Few moments later, Arkin then give him one last look before leaving him with a smirk like nothing has happened. And that's when he had recoiled how he's got into this as he stares into the clear sky.

He takes his time to process what just happened. Everything went on real quick that he had hard time thinking how he'd end up after trying helping a guy from getting bullied by Ricky. It isn't something he isn't used to but everyday feels like it.

Ricky and his friends is everyone's typical bully who would start a fight and pick on everyone they'd like to start fight with. And although Arkin was fully aware by what Ricky could possibly do to him, he didn't repent that he did what he thinks is right.

The moment he finally gain enough strength is when he attempt to wipe off the blood from the corner of his lips, feeling everyone still staring his way while chatting amongst themselves.

The people around starts to get off of the scene like nothing has happened, as if they did not witnessed anything. By the time
Arkin attempt to look up, he caught sight of another group of boys walking past him, looking down at him like a what they call him looser. It feels different that his eyes sticked to that guy who remain looking at him with almost no expression on his face.

After the group had walked past him and the place is now clear again, he finally got to bring his thoughts back to reality.

He tried to stand on his feet, ignoring the pain in almost all parts of his body. And for a moment he felt so tired that he didn't think of going to his next class for today and decided to go home early as he would always do.

In the last four years of highschool, everyday felt just the same. It seemed like nothing new is going on with his life that he can quite predict what could happen to his day.

When he gets home, he started treating the cut on his lips and even tried to get some rest by spending the next hours laying on his bed. By the time his stomach grumble is when he thought of strolling down the kitchen and look something to eat when suddenly he saw his father who just arrived from work.

"Oh, I didn't know you're home already."

You don't know anything. He thought to himself.

"There's no other reason for me to stay there though." He said quietly and his father just chuckle as he grab himself a glass of water. "Aren't you gonna ask me how my day went?" Arkin asked bravely, making his father looked up, confused. Wondering what he meant by that.

"What do you mean?" He asked him, curiously. "Why? Is there anything special happened to you today? If it's about your exam, I don't need to ask you about it. I trust you and I know you won't fail me." What he heard from his father makes him repented asking him that question.