chapter-3
1322 Words
Ethen breathes deeply, covering his ears with his tiny body shaking feverishly. Yet he can still hear them, so loudly.
"Come out chunky chimmy, we were just having fun!"
He snaps his eyes closed, fighting hard to not let out a cry when he hears the footsteps growing closer. He knew he shouldn't have came to this stupid football game. The only reason he thought it was a good idea in the first place was because maybe he thought he would have fun. Perhaps it would be like in movies where he finds a friend and they can complain together how they don't enjoy sports and have a lasting friendship.
It only happens in movies. Not in Ethen's life.
He can't be that lucky.
He never is.
So he wasn't surprised when hands dragged him from his hiding spot behind the dumpsters and throw him to the ground. Almost instantly he feels the hits all over his body. Ethenn cries out in pain as he holds his head, taking in the hits since he can't fight for his life. Especially since there's more than one of them.
At that moment Ethen wishes they could do him the favor and kill him.
End his misery for once.
A hard strike on his stomach sends him wheeze and they finally stop, laughing down at his weak body.
Why did they stop? They should've kept going!
End his life for all he cares.
"Such a loser, always a lowlife b***h," Oscar spits down at him, walking away with the rest of his little crew, going back to watch the game.
Ethen lays there, montionless near the dumpster of the school, in complete pain. He stares ahead with empty eyes, the soothing wind brushing his fresh wounds, stinging him with pain. Why can't he feel anything? The sadness or anger never came. It all feels.... Empty.
"I'm never going to find a way out, am I?" He asks himself, his voice cracking. When will this all end? When for once in his life will people care about him and how he feels?
Care about him being alive.
But Ethen doesn't care at this point anymore, about himself or anyone. He's useless to the world, only pain and emptiness following his path.
There's no other source of happiness he has to look forward to.
On this road of life, his life, just follows pain and emptiness.
So Ethen slowly gets himself up, groaning slightly from the pain on his leg and limps away from the school. The night is beautiful, as always. Cars zoomed by in it's usual speed, ignoring Ethen's limp figure as he walks down the side walk, trying to hold himself together from collapsing. His mind is rushing with so many thoughts at once, along with the ache of his body the more he moved.
He's pretty sure they damaged some muscle on his leg.
The more Ethen walks, he spots a familiar bridge up ahead, his chest clenching with anxiety. He won't back out, this is it for him.
Entirely it.
There's no reason to live when there's a great majority of reasons to die.
So when Ethen makes it to the bridge, he pauses and looks over the railing. The river is calm and dark, the bridge isn't too high up from the water. Anyone that jumps over this could easily survive, but Ethen doesn't want to survive.
With shaking hands, he climbs over the railing, with teary eyes staring at the cars passing by.
This is it.
No more pain.
Ethen slowly turns, eyes locked with the water, letting his tears fall from his eyes as the moon shines down at him.
Time to see what's on the other side.
"THEY FREAKING LOST! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!" Jack shouts in frustration, stumbling slightly with every step he takes. Jungwoo snickers at his friend, "Not entirely surprised," He says causing the blonde to snap his glaring eyes to him as the group walk further away from stadium.
"I betted money for our team to win!" Jack exclaims with arms in the air. Duke sighs from beside him and wraps his arms around him, trying to calm down his frustrated bestfriend. The scene slightly tugged Jungwoo's chest slightly, feeling that familiar sensation of lonliness stretch his chest. But just as quickly as it came, he brushes it aside and forces a smile to his friends.
Eventually they all parted ways. They agreed on meeting at Jack's house later to hang out, possibly do some stupid s**t while they're at it. Jungwoo got in his car and drives away from the school, heading home to change out of these clothes. Most likely they'll end up in a party so he has to look his best, as always.
Now that he's in the safe haven of his car, he allows his thoughts to stir. The familiar feeling of emptiness fills him, hoping if they do go to a party it will go away after a while, just for a short while. Maybe hook up with someone along the way so he could feel loved.
Or feel like he means something to someone at least.
He runs a stressed hand over his hair and breathes heavily, crossing over the bridge but not really paying attention to it. In the midst of his frustration, he sees something on the rails in a distance. Jungwoo narrows his eyes to see a person to the other side of the railing.
Is he…
Jungwoo instantly stomps on the breaks to the side of the bridge and flings out the car, putting the emergancy lights on as he rushes over to the boy.
"Wait!" He calls out, making the other boy turn to face him with fear spreading his eyes.
Wait, he seems familiar.
Once Jungwoo got close enough, he does recognize the boy.
No…
"Ethen?" Jungwoo asks hesitantly, growing close enough to see the tiny boy was bruised up, his neat clothes all dirty and messy.
Did they seriously beat him up?
Why would someone do this to him?
He barely talks for him to cause anyone trouble for them to do this!
"Go away," Ethen mutters, moving his gaze back to the river below him.
That only shook Jungwoo's anxiety.
"Ethen, listen to me," Jungwoo says, hoping the tiny boy isn't thinking of doing what he's thinking he's doing, "Don't do this. Just please come over the rail, we can talk about this."
Ethen barks a laugh, a dry laugh. Jungwoo recognizes a laugh like that, a hopeless laugh. He purses his lips when Ethen turns his eyes back to face him, "Don't start acting like you care. You don't give a s**t! Nobody does! What's the point in being here if I'm just a useless existance anyways?" He snaps, his voice wavering slightly with emotion.
"Don't say that," Jungwoo says, closing in on Ethen without him noticing to pull him over the rail, "Everyone deserves to be here."
Ethen snorts and shakes his head, "Easy for you to say. Your life is perfect! You don't know what it's like to be me!" Ethen cries, his body by now shaking, "Going through struggles every day, at home and then at school. Be so lonely.... With no one to turn to," He whispers softly and aggressively wipes his tears, "Stupid cry baby! I don't want to cry anymore!"
His words made Jungwoo freeze in his spot, feeling a knot form his throat. Oh he understands him more than he thinks. The last phrase completely shatters Jungwoo to the core, going over how he was crying to himself earlier today, pleading to not cry anymore.
"I just want to die," Ethen whispers and turns his body around, facing Jungwoo with a weak smile, "And I will."
Jungwoo's eyes widen when Ethen lets go and leans backwards. His legs sprint forwards but his fingers only grazed Ethen's sweater as the boy falls.
- Writer
