𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲 ━ SKZ Male Member

♣ . . . the past

The Rattanakosin siblings had been stuck to one another since day one, physically and emotionally seeking out the only people they felt they could trust, and in doing so caused quite the bond. No one ever got too close to the four for multiple reasons, one being because of their fierce protective streak for each other, another was because they simply didn't like people - or, at least, it seemed that way.

Their lives hadn't been one of security and everyone in their small town knew it. They heard the yelling, harsh words slicing through the otherwise silent and quaint streets, the objects thrown about the small home, glass shattering and wood breaking, and yet not one was brave enough to step in. It wasn't their problem, they didn't want to get in between a family matter but that meant more trauma for those involved.

Anurak, being the oldest of the four, took the responsibility of raising and fending for the younger ones. He worked two jobs and attended school, the teachers ignoring the number of days he missed because of the work he was able to do while away - it was more or less a silent deal and everyone abided by it without a single word of retaliation. Anything to make Anurak's life easier meant fewer cold stares and intimidating glares.

But, one day, none of the Rattanakosin siblings showed up. Most thought it wasn't all that odd and it wasn't until the week ended that they realised something might have been wrong.

The beat-up car outside their rundown home was gone. There were no usual fighting or rapidly moving silhouettes shown in the windows. There was no smoke billowing from the small room inside the shed.

It was then, that people began to notice the Rattanakosin siblings' father sitting on the porch every afternoon, staring down the street as if waiting for something.

They had finally run away.

It was in the early hours of the morning when Anurak grabbed each one of the children, wrapping the small sleepy body of his younger sister in his arms, and rushed out the door like the house was on fire.

The living room had been in a state of ruin, dishes lay scattered on the floor and shards were haphazardly strewn about just waiting for tiny feet to make a wrong step. That had been the case for Kwanchai the night before. After he had rushed in to help his older brother he realised what a mistake it was. Not only did he put himself in danger with their furious father, but he also sliced open the bottom of his foot.

Davika's screams had already been bouncing off the walls, her sobs agonisingly distraught as she hid underneath the dining table. Their father's yelling was loud and jarring; insults of all kinds left his mouth at a rapid slurring pace. But then it was Kwanchai who had begun to cry, he had fallen to the ground holding his foot that was losing a surprising amount of blood while his teary gaze watched as his oldest brother was almost hit with another plate that had been thrown his way.

Sumatra was standing off to the side, trying to find the right moment to sneak past their father so he could at least hide Davika and Kwanchai in one of their rooms, away from the awful sight. It was Anurak, with his silent command, who had kept him in place because he knew, if he moved the attention would only turn to him.

So, with determination and a half-put-together plan, Anurak left that night with only his siblings' well-being in mind.

"Where are we going?" Kwanchai had asked, dry tears still seen on his face. In the arms of Sumatra, he watched as Anurak grabbed bags, piling the straps onto his shoulders, before gently picking up their still-sleeping sister and rushing out of the room.

Anurak ushered them along, not allowing any of them to look back. He smiled reassuringly though he was sure it appeared more like a grimace. "Away from here."

No one questioned him again, not when they piled into the car, or when they saw eyes peering down at them from inside the house, and not when the drive lasted so much longer than any of them could imagine.

With the bit of money he had saved up, Anurak was able to get them a small apartment that held felons and once homeless people. It was a halfway house but it was enough.

Over time, he enrolled them in school and found a decent job that would help them get by. Sumatra could finally act like himself, Kwanchai didn't fear for his life, and Davika didn't have to endure the mentally stunting trauma. But Anurak still had to work and slave and push for a better life although he knew things had gotten so much better without their father breathing down their necks.

They would eventually be just fine.