The Sinner

Crime

She regrets it. She does.

After Sky walked out on her, Ple was overwhelmed with hurt and anger that she acted impulsively...and posted the photo anonymously on the school bulletin.

She shouldn't have. She regrets it- ish. But even after she takes the photo down shortly, it's been seen, screenshot and passed around.

It's too late.

~~~

Still oblivious to what's about to go down, Rain and Phayu stop by somewhere before heading to school the next day. 

After revealing his secret with regard to depression and self harm, Rain decided to come clean—entirely. So he invited Phayu to visit his place for the first time. As they're making their way inside, the latter can't help but feel somewhat nervous.

At first glance, it looks like a normal house albeit small. It's clean and sunlight streams freely into the place with the curtains drawn. But for some reason, it doesn't feel very homey.

There's nothing that feels as though it's there just because, nothing that's as bubbly and quirky as Rain. Instead of colorful pictures frames, only an old family portrait is hung on the wall. Even the furniture seem outdated even though they've been well maintained.

Only pill bottles take up the kitchen drawers instead of pantry staples and on the couch is a middle-aged woman who shoots up upon seeing Rain and Phayu in the living room. Certainly, she isn't Rain's mother as Phayu knows they're estranged.

"Oh, thank god you're back." She groans. "I'm honestly not paid enough to put up with that man. I hope you don't call me again next time."

Rain just flashes her a pursed smile and lightly bows his head as she storms out.

"Who was that?" Phayu inquires to which Rain tells him as he's picking up the junk food wrappers littering the coffee table, "My aunt, she lives a few blocks from here. I call her to watch my dad from time to time."

Phayu's brows knit together in deep thought then he muses, "You pay your aunt to watch your dad?"

Rain chuckles. "Funny, right? And to think my dad sent her and all his younger siblings to school and went on and on about how they'd take care of him later on. Joke's on him."

"Rain, if you don't mind, why does your father require caring for?" Phayu asks, trying to make things make sense. "Is he sick?"

Rain still doesn't look at him. On the surface, he just seems to be busy tidying up the place. But in reality, it's hard for him to say all these things while looking at Phayu; he's embarrassed and getting emotional as they speak, so he hides his face.

"T'was a few years ago..." Rain starts. "I came out to my dad. No, actually, my aunt's son outed me so I just admitted it. Not like it was ever a secret which was probably why my dad was always pretty harsh on me.

"But, yeah, it was the first time he heard me say it and it made him angrier that others knew."

Phayu steadies himself despite his hands already clenched into fists and he grits through his teeth, "Did he...hurt you?"

Rain shrugs; he has a habit of making light of things that are actually quite dark if only to hold himself together. "A few of the things he threw around hit me. But he couldn't have done more damage to me than himself. He drove himself into a frenzy that he ended up suffering a stroke that left him paralyzed."

Rain pauses as he's bent over, picking up this and that. His hands are now trembling. "Honestly...I had half a mind not to call an ambulance."

Phayu's eyes flick over to him and the thought of Phayu looking at him differently brings tears to Rain's eyes. Teardrops fall on the low table and Rain balls his hands, feeling resentment towards himself.