The Blood Of Forgotten

A soft smile slowly formed on Andy’s lips. Who wouldn’t feel excited today when it was his birthday? Especially when he had finally turned fifteen. His emerald-green eyes widened as the morning sunlight slipped through the small window of his room, the golden rays gently announcing the start of a new day. Stretching lazily, he got out of bed and followed his usual morning routine before stopping in front of the mirror. “Happy birthday, An,” he whispered to himself with a quiet grin, genuinely happy that he had made it to another year. A loud knock suddenly interrupted the peaceful moment. “Hey, bastard! If you still don’t come out of your room, I’m telling Mom to throw you out of the house!” Andy quickly brushed his shiny reddish hair before grabbing his old glasses and stepping outside his room. Waiting for him there was his cousin, Anita, looking as irritated as ever. “So you’re rebelling now?” she mocked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Hurry up and make breakfast.” Anita was only two months older than him, but despite being cousins, they had never been close. Without arguing back, Andy quietly walked toward the kitchen while Anita followed behind him. “Oh, and my boyfriend and his parents are coming over for dinner later,” she added casually. “Mom said you’re not allowed to leave your room while they’re here.” Andy stopped walking. “Why?” he asked, confused. “They said I could do whatever I wanted on my birthday.” Anita stared at him blankly before shrugging. “Sure, you can do whatever you want,” she replied coldly. “Just don’t expect to come back here afterward.” She walked past him and sat comfortably on one of the stools while Andy silently started preparing breakfast. He couldn’t fight back. No matter how badly they treated him, they were still the only family he had left. He owed his life to his aunt—the older sister of his mother—because she had given him food, clothes, and a roof over his head. Ever since Andy could remember, he had never met his real parents. He didn’t even know if they were still alive. Every time he tried asking his aunt about them, she would either lash out in anger or completely ignore his questions. They rarely allowed him outside the house, yet Andy still forced himself to stay grateful. “What’s going on here? Are you two fighting again?” As if summoned by the tension, his aunt finally appeared wearing a robe with a knitted blue cardigan draped over her shoulders. “Nothing, Mother,” Anita answered sweetly. “I was just reminding Andy about later, but he keeps insisting on going out because it’s his birthday.” Andy quietly placed the bowls and plates properly on the dining table. His uncle hated disorder, so everything had to be perfect. His aunt suddenly laughed. “Oh? What a pity,” she said mockingly before glancing at him. “He can go out…” For a brief second, hope lit up inside Andy’s chest. “But he should pack his things first because I’m kicking him out.” Anita nearly burst out laughing at her mother’s cruel words. Andy stayed silent as he placed the soup in the center of the table. “Good morning,” his uncle greeted as he entered the kitchen. Andy watched the older man kiss both his wife and daughter on the cheek before taking his seat. “You two seem happy this morning. Did something happen?” Mrs. Kwon immediately stopped laughing. “Nothing,” she replied smoothly. “Andy was just making jokes.” “Oh? That’s good to hear.” The old man calmly sipped the coffee Andy had prepared earlier. Andy was about to sit beside his cousin when his uncle suddenly cleared his throat loudly. “Have you forgotten the rules, young man?” he asked sternly. Without saying a word, Andy quietly stood back up and left the kitchen. He made his way to the living room, waiting silently for them to finish eating. He was already used to this treatment. How could he possibly forget? Sitting on the couch, he adjusted his old round glasses. He couldn’t even afford a new pair. His red hair had also become brighter as he grew older. His aunt once tried cutting it, hoping the color would change, but it never did. “Hey, nerd!” Anita yelled from the kitchen. “Get Father’s newspaper and bring in the mail too!” Andy sighed softly before heading toward the front door. The newspaper delivery boy usually left everything near the doormat, so he could easily grab them once he opened the door. Sometimes, he even caught the newspaper midair before it hit the ground. But as he bent down to collect the mail, something familiar immediately caught his attention. A box. The same mysterious box that arrived every single year on his birthday. Slowly, he picked it up, his eyes fixed on the neatly engraved name written across the wrapper. Andy never knew who sent it or what was inside because his aunt would always snatch it away and lock it inside the storage room before he could even touch it. But this time… He wanted answers. “What’s taking you so long?” Andy froze and quickly hid the box behind his back. Anita narrowed her eyes suspiciously after noticing how tense he suddenly became. “N-Nothing,” he stammered nervously. “The newspaper fell farther from the door, so I had to reach for it.” “Hurry up. Father needs his newspaper,” she said before walking away. Andy watched her disappear down the hallway before finally releasing the breath he had been holding. Without wasting another second, he rushed toward his room and hid the box as quickly as possible before handing the newspaper to his uncle. Little did he know… Opening that box would uncover the very secret his family had desperately tried to bury for years.