Broken Boy

Three

- J O S H U A -

I received more punches and kicks after that morning.

It became his daily routine, for me to become his human punching bag. But I let him. Because I know that I deserve this.

I deserve more than punches and kicks on my body.

I deserve more than the slits on my forearm.

I deserve more.

On the bright side, I managed to hide every bruise and wound I have, to mom. Although my first black eye wasn't able to stay hidden since it was big and very visible. But I managed to reason with her.

As I walk home, I was pulled to an alley where familiar faces greeted me with a push to the dirty, cemented floor.

Five of my schoolmates, or specifically, Mark's teammates, started to use me as their punching bag. I groan in pain when one of his friends landed a large blow to my stomach and kicked my leg.

"Serves you right." Mark said as I saw him lean against the wall opposite us, watching his athlete friends beat the living hell out of me.

I don't fight back nor cower in fear since I deserve this, and that hiding from them would do nothing. It was an unfair fight; five versus one.

With their physique over mine, it was already over.

I'm pretty fit myself but compared to these football players, I don't think I can survive a fight with them.

"P-please. S-stop. I t-think that's q-quite enough for the d-day." I managed to cough out the words, louder than I even expected.

Their hits faltered and I saw the guys parted their ways for Mark to walk to me.

"Listen very well, dipshit. You don't have a say to this, I do. I'm the motherfucking boss, you hear me?" He spat.

"Y-yes sir." I said.

He walked back to his spot and the guys started to circle around me again. But before they can land their kick on me, they were stopped by a girl's voice.

"What the f**k is happening here?" A strong voice of a girl said.

"None of your business, b***h. Get lost." Mark said.

I coughed and spat blood on the floor and that alone gave them the accidental 'go' sign to a***e me again.

Surprising all of us, a punch was heard around the alley and all of the boys simultaneously stopped kicking me.

"What the f**k?" Mark exclaimed.

"You little s**t. Why don't you pick somebody your own size huh?"

"Continue what you're doing! I'll handle this nobody!" As their leader's wish, they continued.

Like robots.

Just when I started to give in to the darkness, all of them halted and ran away. I coughed some blood again and lied down on the cold alley floor, too weak to stand up.

"Hey, hey. Dude, you gotta stay awake man." A soft voice was heard and I didn't listen.

I fell into darkness.

- x -

I woke to the sound of beeping.

Like a heart rate.

Wait.

I slowly opened my eyes to see a blinding light and the smell of sanitizers.

The hospital.

Why am I here? Who brought me here?

As if my questions were heard, a girl with beautiful brown hair that's purple halfway down, approached me and handed me a glass of water.

"Drink this and I'll explain." I followed her command and eyed her warily as I drink the water.

I put the glass on the table beside me and that's when she started explaining, as promised.

"You passed out, I called some of my friends nearby to help you get to this private hospital one of my parents' friends own, they aided you. I know better than to call your parents so I resorted to calling a friend to be your fake dad. You were out for four hours, I think." She pressed a button near my bed and I coughed slightly before replying.

"Thank you, but I don't know how to repay you."

After I said those words, a doctor no older than 30 came in with a clip board to start checking my vitals. He told me that I'll be discharged after half an hour, mainly to give them time to think if I can survive with one cracked rib.

The doctor left, leaving me with this mysterious girl with green eyes whose name I don't know.

"You never told me your name." I stated.

She looked at me, surprised for reasons I do not know of. "You don't know me? As in I'm-a-random-stranger you don't know me?" She asked, baffled.

"No offense, but am I supposed to know you?" She composed herself, quickly forgetting her outburst.

"Casey West."

"Thank you, Casey. For bringing me here." Even though it brings back bad memories.

For the first time since I woke up after the fight, I look down to see I'm wearing a hospital gown. My sweater and jeans no where in sight. s**t. My phone and my bag. Mom would be so worried right now.

Holy s**t.

My mom!

"C-Casey, have you seen my phone?" She walked to the couch near the bed and took out my phone which is inside my bag.

She gave me my phone, I let out a relieved sigh as I felt my phone in my hands. I open it quickly to see more than 10 missed calls and texts coming from my mother.

Mumbling a curse word, I clicked her contact to call her. Before I could even hear the first ring, she answered the call with her worried voice.

"Joshua Leslie Michaels! Oh my God! I'm so worried about you! Where are you? It's late, I called the school and said you weren't there!" Not the first time to hear my full name from her, but I still wince every time she does so.

"Hey mom. I'm fine don't worry. I'm just..." I trail off, thinking quick for a reason, then I see Casey. "I'm just in a classmate's house working on a quick presentation for next week. I'm sorry I forgot to text you. I'm sorry I made you worry again." I look down to fiddle with the ring on my finger.

She sighs on the other line. "As long as you're safe, remember that. Just text me when you're about to go home, so I can reheat the leftover Chinese food."

"Okay, mom. Bye, I love you. See you later."

"I love you too. Be safe." She ended the call and I sighed.

My hands started to shake as tears cloud my vision. I shake my head to prevent them from falling and breathe properly.

"Where are my clothes? I have to go home."

- x -

I was dropped off at my house by Casey with her friend, Mike, who helped me act as if he's my father fetching me.

I gathered my things, said a quick farewell to them, before getting out of the car. I ran inside the house, wincing slightly because of my injured leg. I went inside the house quickly and was attacked by a hug from my mom.

I dropped everything and hugged her back. I hid my wince when she hugged me tighter, causing her to squeeze my bruises and my cracked rib.

She started to pepper me some kisses all over my face as if I'm still a five year old kid. I chuckle at her but then I stopped as I saw the tears on her face.

I made her cry.

My hands shook at I wiped the tears away from her eyes but to no good, they started to fall down endlessly.

"Mama, please don't cry. It hurts to see you cry. It hurts more knowing I made you cry. Mama please, I'm here now."

I kissed her forehead and miraculously, her tears stopped and she sighed in relief, knowing her baby is in her arms, safe and sound.

"What happened to you?" f**k.

"It was just from gym class, mom. Nothing bad." I reassured her.

She hugged me again and I breathe in her scent that I come to know as my home.

Mama, I'm here now.