Mugiwara High (One Piece WA 2017)

7.Mad'ouk

AN~ I said Luffy was next, but I'm a lier. I said u would have to wait, but I'm a lier. Ok don't believe a word I say.
~~~

Mad'ouk~ (adj.) experienced or toughened by life.

Zoro pov

"Did you have fun at Sanji's house?" My dad called from then round kitchen table as he put down his book. He only read historical fiction, which was lamer than reading in general.

"I guess." I shrugged as I hug up my keys and jogged up the stairs, but I stopped halfway to snop like I always did.

I could here my dad sigh as he picked up where he left off, "I don't know what gotten into him lately. Zoro seems to be getting worse and worse."

"I told you we should have just kept homeschooling him." My father grumbled from the stove, obviously cooking a dinner I would not be apart of.

"No, he needed to start socializing with kids other than Luffy and Nami. Plus, Perona is doing perfect in school."

"They aren't the same age." My father continued to grumble. He's right. I started going to public schooling in 8th grade while my little sister went in 6th. She had a fresh start in a brand new school.

In 8th grade bonds are already formed, and social statuses given. "I guess your right, but he seemed to get more and more distant as the year goes on." Don't get me wrong, I love my parents but, "maybe the kids tease him at school."

"No he would have defeatly told us, at least you."

"I guess your right but~"

"But nothing. There isn't anything to tease him about anyway. So what he has green hair?" My father stated matter-of-factly as he tried to dodge the elephant in the room but failed miserably.

"Dracule, you know what I'm talking about." Dad harshly whispered as if he knew my presence was near by. My sister was probably watching TV in the master bedroom since they liked talking while dinner was being prepared.

"The world is different from when we were his age. You of all people should know that; you teach history."

"I guess you right." Dad sighed as 'Dr. Mihawk' leaned in and gave him a kiss. Gross. I wasn't watching, but I knew because that's what they always did. Kiss and act like nothing was wrong.

It wasn't there fault since I never talked about it.

But that's because they never bothered asking...

"You shouldn't be snooping like that, Zoro." Perona sighed shaking her head disappointingly from the top of the steps.

"And you shouldn't be wearing make up at 13, but that's none of my buiness." I pushed past her as I trudged to my room.

"Fourteen, dumb moss boy!"

"Cotton-candy head." I replied smarty as I shut my door to block out her high pitched voice. Perona wasn't my real sister while Shanks and Mihawk weren't my real parents. However, the difference is, Perona has been with my since the beginning.

    We were adopted at the age of 10 and 8, but we had been together since I was 5.  If I was transported to a new orphanage, she came with and vise versa.

    I love them like all like a real family, but it's hard to show it when everyone makes you feel like it's fake. I never saw the problem with having two dads. I never had a mom, so I didn't think it was important.

    But, in 8th grade, all the other kids seemed to have a mom, except me. And, unlike at the foster house, the kids began to teasing me about something I could change.

   I can change who my adoptive parents are, but not my hair color.

    So I began lying. I told everyone my mom was just dead, that's why they never met her, and sometimes my uncle picked me up from school instead of my father.

    Everyone believed me.

    Father and dad still don't know that I've lied out their relationship for the past three years at school. That's the reason I never wanted them to met me on the field after a football game. That's the reason I forged their signatures on parent-teacher conference forms.

     That's the reason I lock myself in my room as soon as I get home.

     Because I'm ashamed.

     Ashamed of feeling ashamed about having two fathers that couldn't love me more.

    Ashamed that I want to have that same type of love when I grow up.

    Ashamed that I let the idea of being bullied bully me into this forever lie.

    But this was a new school, with new people. I had a real fresh start, and in that moment I made my decision. I marched down the front steps to be enveloped by the delicious scent of father's special lasagna.

     "Is there any room left at the table?" I asked sheepishly as I noticed they had all just started eating.

      "Of course Zoro." Father smiled widely, but to most it looked like a condescending smirk, but I knew better than that. He was my father after all.

      "It's your favorite Zoro!" Perona smiled from her designated seat.

       "I know it's my favorite, that's why I came down stairs."

       "Aw, I thought it was because you loved us."

       "Tch, no way." I laughed as I toke my seat across from my sister.

        You know, eating with your family may seem bothersome, but when you had to survive without one for years. It's truly a gift. "Thanks dads!"

       My life was a lot different before they take us in, but the orphanage crafted me into the person I am today. I'm toughened by life, and that isn't always a good thing.

      Yet, As I sat at the table with my family, watching their smiling faces, I realized fundamental truths at the exact same time.

      Number one, I'm a fighter not a lover. I have and will always fight, nothing can change that. Number two, no matter what people say, your past does define you because it will always be a part you, and what makes you up makes you you. However, it does not hinder you if you don't let it.

       Number three, my family loves me, and I love them. No one should have ever made me feel like I should be shamed just because the pieces of it puzzle are different.

       So yeah, I've got to dad's and a sister who isn't quite my sister, but, you know what, family is what your make of it.

I'm going to make the most of mine.

~~~~
AN~ should I start ending chapters on nice little life lessons?