Edser OS and Short Stories

Play Me (AU) Chapter 5

Mardin, 12 years ago...

Eda looked around the small park behind the school and walked over to a redheaded boy from her class, who was sitting on the tree trunk with his head in his hands. He took off his big glasses and rubbed his eye with a sleeve of his hoodie, which was at least one size too small for him, but his clothes, even if dated and worn out, were always clean and diligently ironed. 

 Eda sat next to him and put her hand on his back, stroking him softly. "Serkan, you are better than them. You know that."

"I know that, but no one will ever learn." He said grimly, not taking his hands from his face, instead he covered his mouth with his palm as he used to do since he started to wear braces. "Everybody thinks I'm retarded. Maybe I am as I can't speak." 

"You're not." Eda protested. "You are the best in class. I know you were prepared. We studied together. You were better prepared than me."

"And do you think I don't know that?!" Serkan shouted, jumping to his feet and starting to pace back and forth. "I know all the answers and I can't speak! I freeze, my throat clenches, and I can't find the words! If I even manage to say anything, I stutter, or it doesn't make any sense! And when I'm called out to go in front of the class, my voice cracks and my hands shake against my will! I want to speak because I'm prepared, but my body betrays me! I hate myself for this."

Eda stayed silent, observing with worry how Serkan put his hands on his head, digging his fingers into his hair while helpless tears ran down his cheeks.

"I don't know what happened to me." He looked at her with tormented eyes. "Since I turned twelve, I can't do anything. Everything makes me nervous, any interaction. I can't even make a call without wanting to throw up, and before any public speech, I'm sick for weeks! It isn't going away, and it's been years."

Eda jumped off the trunk and approached Serkan. She embraced his waist and hugged him tightly. Serkan didn't push her away, just stood there with his head hanging sadly down.

"Maybe you should get help?" She proposed softly.

"So everybody would think I'm not only stupid but also mental?" He asked in a bitter voice, pulling away from her.

"Serkan..."

"No."

* * *

It was Friday afternoon, and Eda, as usual, went out to meet with her best friend. She was a little early when she reached Serkan's house, so she let herself into the garden through a small gate at the back of the property and sat on a porch next to the kitchen backdoor to wait for him.

Eda heard raised voices coming from the open window. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Serkan in the kitchen with his parents. His father was shouting at him.

"You failed again?! What are you, stupid?!" The man was turning red from anger.

"I've got maximum points on the written test. I'm not stupid..." Serkan started to speak, but a sharp slap in his face silenced him.

"Are you sassing me?" His father towered over him, holding him by the collar of his shirt. "Why can't you use your smart mouth in school and answer a fucking question when you are asked?! You are a shame to our family! You are my biggest regret. I should've left you to die!"