need help

5

Kim sat on his bed, the journal resting open in his lap. The pages, filled with Macau’s neat handwriting, held a weight that pressed heavily on his chest. He had stumbled upon it while searching for his brother, and now he was desperate to understand the pain Macau had been harboring.

As he read, the words bled together into a disturbing narrative. Macau wrote about the isolation he felt, the bullying at school, and how the laughter of his peers turned to mocking sneers when Chey joined them. His heart sank deeper with each entry, especially as he reached the parts detailing the self-harm that had become Macau’s escape.

*I can’t take it anymore. It hurts too much to breathe. I just want the pain to stop.*

The last entry made Kim’s blood run cold: *Maybe it’s better if I’m not here at all.*

With trembling hands, he closed the journal, dread creeping over him like a shroud. He had to find Macau; he needed to save his brother before it was too late.

Kim bolted from his room, racing down the hallway. He burst through the front door, heart pounding as he scanned the area for any sign of Macau. He approached his car, thinking that maybe his brother sought solace in the familiar space, but as he got closer, a loud crash shattered the night’s stillness.

A heavy object fell from the roof of the mansion, landing squarely on the hood of his car with a sickening thud. Blood splattered across the windshield, and Kim’s stomach dropped as he rushed forward, horrified to see Macau sprawled on top of the vehicle, his body twisted unnaturally.

“Macau!” he gasped, fear tightening his throat. Kim quickly moved to lift his brother off the car, cradling him in his arms as he gently laid him on the ground. “Wake up! Please, wake up!”

But Macau lay limp, his eyes closed, blood pooling beneath him. Kim shook him gently, panic rising within him as he desperately searched for any sign of life.

Just then, Kinn, Porsche, Vegas, Pete, Chey, Arm, Pol, and Big Ken rushed out of the house, drawn by the noise. Their expressions twisted from confusion to horror as they took in the scene before them.

“What happened?” Kinn yelled, rushing forward, his eyes wide with fear. He knelt beside Kim, his voice steady despite the panic that gripped the air. “Is he okay?”

“Get him off the car!” Porsche shouted, urgency lacing his words. They quickly moved Macau to the ground, trying to keep him still, fearful of aggravating his injuries.

“Call an ambulance!” Kinn commanded, his voice filled with authority. The urgency in his tone resonated through the group, pushing them into action.

As the sirens wailed in the distance, Kim knelt beside Macau, desperate for any sign of life. “Come on, Macau,” he whispered, his heart aching. “Please don’t leave me.”

At the hospital, they gathered in the waiting room, the tension thick in the air. After what felt like an eternity, a doctor finally emerged, her expression grave.

“Macau is in critical condition,” she began, drawing in a deep breath. “He has a skull fracture, three broken ribs, and significant blood loss. We’re doing everything we can, but he’s currently in a coma.”

“Coma?” Kim echoed, feeling his heart shatter. “What happened to him?”

The doctor hesitated before continuing. “We found signs of severe stress and trauma, including self-harm injuries. There’s evidence that he’s been bullied.”

“Bullied?” Kinn's voice was filled with disbelief. “By who?”

The doctor looked them over, her gaze steady but compassionate. “It’s crucial we investigate this further. He’s been through a lot, and we need to know what he’s been facing.”

Once the doctor left, the group stood in stunned silence. Kim felt as though the ground had been pulled out from beneath him. “It’s my fault,” he said suddenly, tears filling his eyes. “I didn’t see it. I didn’t know he was hurting so badly.”

“What do you mean?” Porsche asked, concern lacing his voice.

Kim wiped his tears with the back of his hand, his voice breaking as he spoke. “He’s been dealing with so much. His father…” Kim hesitated, the memory making his heart ache. “His father… he sexually assaulted him. It’s why Macau has always struggled. He’s been self-harming to cope, and the bullying from the seniors—it just got too much.”

Kinn's expression shifted from shock to rage. “Who are those bastards? I’ll make them pay!”

Vegas and Pete exchanged uneasy glances, stepping back as the weight of Kim’s words sank in. They had always respected Macau, but they hadn’t seen the signs of his suffering.

“I didn’t know,” Pete said softly, shaking his head. “I wish we could have helped.”

“We need to figure out who was involved,” Kinn declared, determination etched on his face. “Arm, find out who those seniors are.”

Arm nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll look into it. But we should also talk to Chey. He’s been hanging out with them.”

The group turned to Chey, who was standing back, a mixture of confusion and guilt in his eyes. “I didn’t know…” he stammered, but his voice lacked conviction. “I was just trying to fit in.”

“Fit in?” Kim snapped, his anger bubbling over. “You let this happen to Macau!”

Chey flinched at the accusation, but he didn’t deny it. “I didn’t want to be the target too! I didn’t think it would go this far!”

As the group shouted at Chey, the realization of their negligence settled heavily in the air. Macau had been crying for help, and they had ignored him. The burden of guilt was palpable, weighing down on them all as they confronted the consequences of their inaction.