Seasons

Chapter 16

I slept all day, I didn’t get up to eat or do anything but use the bathroom. How can I eat knowing that I’ve been exposed on the internet? I reach for my phone and check my twitter, over five-thousand retweets, what is wrong with people. Where is the humor from this? Where is the humanity? There is no doubt in my mind Jinyoung has seen this now, I know at least one of the boys have. I check my phone and see it’s 4:57 am. My dad has already left for work again so I think I’m just going to go back to bed.

Ten hours later I finally roll out of bed. I feel gross and surprisingly I still feel tired. My hunger is making that impossible though. I limp into the kitchen and throw in a pizza and wait in the living room. While I’m waiting I check Twitter again, ten-thousand retweets, I can’t believe this is happening to me. There is no way I’ll be able to show my face in that school again, or anywhere in that matter.

What about Jinyoung? He definitely will want to have nothing to do with me after this, after everything that has happened in these last couple of days. My pizza dinged signaling that it was done cooking, I better eat something real quick, start cleaning, and take a shower before my dad gets home. It’s a mess in here, if I didn’t I would definitely get beat. Midway through my meal I was starting to get full, I think my stomach shrank a little bit while I was wallowing in self-pity, I’ll just leave it in the fridge for later.

My shower consisted of only ten minutes then I quickly combed my hair. My face looked a little better, you could tell it was healing. The dark purple brownish bruises have changed into a light greenish purple bruise. My eyes were still a little puffy but the bruising had receded enough that the pain is almost completely gone. My nose hurt a little when I blew it or sniffed wrong but the bruising was gone there too. My lip wasn’t swollen just a bit chapped and a couple small cuts, I’ll probably be able to return to school tomorrow, maybe. The only thing I would have to cover would be my arms, legs, and neck. There is a purple striped bruise around my neck made by Jennie's hands, I wouldn’t want to get my father called down if someone saw.

I got dressed and was ready to leave my room before I heard the front door slam causing me to jump. Oh no, what time is it? I scrambled for my phone, looking aimlessly until I found it. I checked the time, 3:12. He is off early, I wonder if he got fired. I peaked out of my room and seen an angry man stomping towards my direction. He probably got fired and is going to take it out on me. Please no, I’m finally recovering from the heavy beating I took less than a week ago.

My pleading was meaningless after the door was slammed open and a large man towered over me. “You little bitch! Why didn't you go to school yesterday and today?” I took a step back as he took one forward. He didn’t lose his job, the school must have called him, I am in for it. “Why? Because you didn’t want to go?” I quickly shook my head no. “Then what?”

I’m going to have to tell him. “I was recovering from being really sick.” I wanted to say I got in a fight but that would make things worse.

“Sick?” He scoffed. “You don’t get sick.”

Arguing with him was pointless, but I did anyway. “Honestly, I was having severe body aches and I felt awful-”

“You know who feels awful?” He shouted at me. “I feel awful for you because I have to deal with a lying bitch for a child! You’re worthless! Just like your mother.” He gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes into mine. “So tell me the truth. Now.” His hand raised up before smacking me across the face.

My eyes twitched, My hands balled up into fists as my jaw tightened. I controlled the pain, I pretended not to feel it, I stood my ground. I am the lion, you are the mouse. I am the lion, you are the mouse. “Fine!” I yelled up at him. “You want the truth? I’ll give it to you.” My face was growing red the angrier I got. I could feel my blood steaming by this point. “A couple days ago I was dragged away by four girls from school into an alley. Then they pinned me down and beat me until I went unconscious, which when I did they stripped me and took pictures of me before uploading it to the internet where over ten-thousand people shared my humiliating picture. I came home crying, bruised, and bloody that night and you were passed out on the couch drunk off your ass but I didn’t bother you. I could have gone to the hospital that night but I didn’t bother you so why don’t you do me a favor and don’t bother me while I try to heal after getting the living hell beat out of me.” I stood my ground but that is not what my father wanted to hear.

I was alarmed by the echo of an empty beer bottle making contact with the side of my face. “I don’t know who you’re talking to but it ain’t me. Not in my house! Not in the house that I pay for and get lied to by my so-called daughter! She isn’t even mine.”

My eyes widened before I looked to the floor. Does he honestly think I’m lying? What did he mean by not his daughter? Could I be living with someone better than him? I’m not even related to this-this- monster! My face twisted into one of disgust and confusion. God, forgive my cursing this once but I’m sorry. “Fuck you, dad.” I knew as soon as it left my mouth I was going to regret it. I was met with his fist barreling towards me. All I remember was falling to the floor and letting the darkness consume me.