Reflections [Complete]

Chapter 16

Kong's POV

I was an average boy. Nothing special. Very similar to the millions of kids around the world living nearly the same life as mine. A small, regular, loving family. We weren't rich, in fact some may even call us poor but it wasn't too bad. I always had a nice, warm house. Lots of food any time I was hungry. New clothes every birthday. Ice cream treats every time I did well in school. Just plain old average. But I was happy.

My father was a lowly clerk in some factory. My mother was a school teacher. They were always proud of me and how well I did in school, but lamented that I would never be able to attend college. Not only could we not afford it, I needed to help with the bills as soon as I was old enough. But I didn't care. None of my friends were ever going to end up in college. Most didn't have the ambition and rest were exactly in my boat. Grow up and get a job. It might sound harsh, but it really wasn't. That was reality for most of us and we were more than content with our share in the world.

Obviously that doesn't mean I didn't also go through my rebellious years. I had more than my share of getting drunk, doing wild crazy things with my friends, loud, ridiculous fights with my parents. All of that. Again, as average as one would imagine.

I was fast approaching the final year of high school where me and my friends were still very much interested in squeezing out every last ounce of immaturity and fun that we still could before the real world came crashing down on us. My father on the other hand had gone into full blown panic mode about my job hunting. He obviously wanted me to do better than his low paying job. I hadn't really given my future as much thought though. I was more than happy to live my life one day at a time, kicking most of the problem down the road to be dealt later. Unbeknownst to me my life was about to change forever.

It was only a few months until the end of high school. My father had found me random job in his factory for when I graduated which was uninteresting enough that I had yet to even learn what is it I was supposed to do. In the meantime my school had arranged for some math context sponsored by one of those large multi-national companies and I had excitement bubbling in me from the first instant I heard about it. The prize was over a 1000$ and it was common knowledge that I was pretty unbeatable when it came to academics. Now all that remained was for me to figure out how I wanted to spend all that cash.

My fate had more than just money planned for me that day. Cause that is when I met him.

He was part of the company sponsoring the event. He was also well dressed, and impressive. Arrived in a large fancy car, with an immaculate suit. Spoke eloquently. Smartly. And I was immediately captivated.

I had never had a role model to look up to. Nobody I wanted to emulate. Yeah, I had a hardworking, loving father. But nothing in his life was envious. No body covets being a struggling clerk. This was the first time I saw up close what power and success could mean.

I was shy and tentative when I shook his hand. I blushed with pride when he congratulated me. My hand shivered slightly when he handed me the prize, and I felt a random spark of ambition ignite in me when he stared at me with his piercing gaze.

That was also the first time I had been embarrassed about my humble background. Ashamed to respond when he asked my future plans. Strangely excited when he handed me his personal card.

Too many things happened from that moment onward. That day has had so many lasting effects on my life and I doubt they will ever truly leave me.

I never got to spend the money from the competition. I returned home that night to the news that my mother had kidney cancer. With my mother home sick and my father focused permanently to her well being, I couldn't be the carefree kid I once was. So I did the responsible thing I thought was expected of me. I gave him a call and begged for a job. Which he gladly offered. Why wouldn't he. I was smart and talented. Young and naive. Poor and desperate. An ideal target.

I was also thoroughly indebted to him. Instead of doing manual labor in some factory, I was now working in a fancy office. It may have been just an entry level, errand boy / general assistant to anybody who needs me type of position but I still felt important. I was fresh out of high school, a kid really, I was making more money than both my parents combined had ever made, and the big shot of the company knew my name.

He knew more than my name. He knew where I lived. Where I hung out with my friends. The condition of my mom's health. Our financial situation.

And I didn't think anything of it. To me he was just an awe inspiring, successful man who cared about his employees. Someone I wanted to become one day. It never struck me odd the amount of attention he gave me. Only me. The number of times he would offer to give me a ride home. The number of times he would leave a coffee on my desk cause I looked tired.

It wasn't until several months had passed since I had joined the company when I finally started realizing how uncomfortable I was with his ever looming presence. But I didn't how to let him know I didn't want to have go out of the office for lunch or dinner with him. I didn't know if it was ok for me to tell him I didn't like him brushing my hair with his fingers, and I didn't know how much trouble would I be in if I shoved his hand away when it roamed over my knew or slid up my thigh.

He was not only my boss, the man responsible for my pay check, the man essentially keeping my mom alive, he was also the man I looked up to. My idol. But that dream was slowly morphing into a nightmare. I hated going to work every day. Dreaded the evenings he would make me stay back late at the abandoned office with nobody else but him. Yet I kept convincing myself that it was all in my head. I was getting paranoid about things that were impossible. He was a rich, successful man. There was no way he was actually behaving the way I was making it up in my head. That didn't stop me from thinking about it. All his various actions. His many uninvited touches. I wanted it to stop.

But I didn't know it is was in my head or reality. And I didn't know who to ask. I couldn't talk to my parents about it. They had most of their time and energy devoted to my mom's cancer, and any discussion about my job only revolved about how happy they were I was earning so much. I couldn't talk to my friends, they were all involved in their own trials and tribulations. Always commenting on how I had my life sorted while they still needed to struggle.

But somehow my life didn't feel sorted. Nor was I excited about the money anymore. I felt uncomfortable. I felt anxious. I felt fearful. I didn't want to look over my shoulder to see him approach my table anymore. I just wanted it to stop.

One such evening while I was wrapping up things on my desk I got a jump scare when I felt a palm suddenly brush across the side of my face. I immediately pulled back and turned to find him bent low over me, his face entirely too close to mine.

"What are you upto?"

"I was ..uh...just packing up."

"Not so soon Kong. I need you here tonight."

"Why?"

"You need to enter all the data from those folders into the computer."

"Tonight?"

"Yeah."

"Can't I do it tomorrow?"

"No. I need them by tonight. Don't worry I will pay you double for over time. It's better for you this way right? I heard your mom's new treatment is more expensive."

"Y..yeah"

"That's a good boy. I just put on a fresh pot. Go grab a cup for yourself. "

Over the years I have run through that exact conversation many, many times. There are so many things I wish I would have done differently. Just said a no and walk away. Called any one of my friends or a my father to let them know where I was. Or simply not have had that coffee. I can wish till end of eternity, but that night will continue haunting me forever.