Chained Heart (EXO Xiumin)

Chain 2

Yeri's POV

My mother could not be bothered by something as trivial as a child growing in her crazy world, so I became a thief.

In the early hours of the day, before either of my parents had left their inebriation, I escaped and took a dollar or two from my father and mother's portfolio bags, every time they had one.

That's how I financed a 'new' wardrobe, three shirts, two pairs of pants, a bra, three pairs of underwear and a battered pair of slippers from the local thrift store. It cost twelve stolen US dollars and a lot of guilt.

Although the clothes fit me better than any other option I had, people kept marking me.

While in elementary school I was able to go unnoticed and left alone, in high school they saw me become a target.

It was Jessica the one who officially started it, set what my life had become, at least in regard to school. For some reason, she had begun to dislike me by the end of the previous year, when she began to say derogatory things about me to my classmates, even though there was not enough time for gossip to develop in more than just a few darts aimed idly by her followers.

She had also flourished during the summer, and when school started she walked like a confident blond beauty that grabbed the boy's attention, even the eighth graders and several freshman from high school.

With this new confidence came a streak of cruelty and a perfect target to hone her skills... Me.

That first day I went wearing my second-class clothes and looked for the small group of friends I had in elementary school, including Jessica. As I approached, she turned around from the circle they had made, talking.

"What are you doing here? You don't belong to us" she sneered at me.

I looked at the others, waiting for... What? For them to defend me? Instead, they started laughing at my expense and I turned around, humiliated.

Apparently, she had heard her parents talking about my family so when the year started she began spreading rumors of my alcoholic father and my drug-addicted mother.

I couldn't even defend myself because no one more than myself knew how true those rumors were.

Of course, she didn't know the whole story, and there was no way I was going to inform her about it and give her more ammunition. Not that she needed them since my clothes gave them by themselves.

With her crushing me, any hint of self-esteem I could've pretended to have left and I didn't fight to get it back when she insulted me, or hit my books out of my arms, or tripped me when either of us was carrying a tray of food in the cafeteria.

It was amazing how fast other students noticed her games and joined in.

Those who were not integrated soon avoided me like an outcast, to not reach any of the bullets that were directed to me.

Every day since then has been a survival game, like today, as I hurry out of the way.

I have learned to avoid areas where she or any of her friends might be, which is difficult because almost everyone is friends with her, or at least pretend to be.

I had hoped that high school could change the way things were for me before coming here. I mean, they are older and more mature, right?

While teasing, shoving and insults here not as intense as my experience before, it is still there, on every corner, it seems.

My blond hair had grown a lot over the years. I am grateful for that because it makes a nice veil to hide.

Unfortunately, it also provides an easy prey for those who want to pull it. I guess I can always expect this year to be different.