Magic Shop

24 | HONESTY

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Honestly, if River would be honest, he already had thought of how he would kill his parents if he wanted to. He was not a saint to begin with and he was not also a human who thinks rationally. However, every time his mind open up those thoughts, he would try his best to control his urge. The reason was simple, he doesn’t want to go to jail and leave his siblings behind and he still had a little guilt lingering in his heart.

So, every time he comes home to a house full of mess and toxicity, River would find time to smoke and let everything he was carrying out for a moment. River was just only sixteen years old and he was just a high school student who was barely hanging because he has scholarship. He was supposed to enjoy his youth but he was already deprived of such normality and he hated it but he can’t do something about.

Everyday, River’s thoughts would be filled with words such as, where would I find the money to pay the rent this month or how will I solve my assignments when my schedule was already full.

Now, blowing off the smoke coming from the cigarette he was talking, River looked up at the sky. It was still dark and everything was peaceful except for his mind, heart, and his f*cking house. River was getting tired of everything. He was so tired he wanted to destroy everything. If only he could. 

He then shook his head and smiled bitterly. He wanted to read some detective classic novels available.

Honestly saying, River really looked up to every detective protagonist he had read from the books but every time he read such stories, he had never imagined himself to be the protagonist but if he would become a character he would be the murderer or he might be the mastermind of everything.

If he could just clean this country’s filth he would gladly become the villain. Yet he knew he doesn’t have such power. River blew the smoke out again as he smirked and throw the cigarette butt on the ground and stepping on it.

After a while, River sensed his phone vibrated. He opened it up and saw a text message coming from Sejin. Sejin texted that he already bought some ointments for scars and some medicines. A little while earlier, he had phoned his friend if he could asked some favor and buy some medicines and ointment for River knew there’s no drug store nearby. 

Sejin who was awake and was playing some games with Dawn did not hesitate to use his car and drove to the nearest drug store to buy what River need.

After checking Sejin’s text message, River also used this opportunity to checked the time and he had confirm that it was already four in the morning. Thankfully, they don’t have any classes today and tomorrow since it was holiday.

Few minutes passed and a black car stopped in front of River. The window was slowly rolled down and the figure of Dawn and Sejin appeared. They were both wearing pajamas. As soon as River saw this he held his urge to laugh at his friends who always got his back.

I’m still lucky having these idiots with me. River thought.

Sejin smiled while Dawn was eyeing River with curiosity. River heaved his breath. “Wanna go for a ride?” Sejin asked. River glanced at the time again. Since it was still four in the morning and there are no classes tomorrow he accepted Sejin’s offer and got in at the backseat of the car Sejin was driving.

Sejin starts the car with no particular destination in mind. Dawn who was curious grabbed the plastic bag where the medecine was and give it to River. Sejin saw that River was about to pay so he opened his mouth and said,

“There’s no need, it’s for Reika.” Sejin smiled through the rear view mirror and River just exhaled as if he had released tons of pressure he was carrying.

“Did you smoke?” Dawn asked. When River got inside the car, Dawn had smelled that his friend was covered with the smell of cigarette. He was surprised but at the same time, he was also thinking that this was one of the way River can released all the stress he was feeling. Dawn did not ask to reprimand his friend, he just wanted to know because he was just curious.

River did not hide anything and answered Dawn and Sejin with a nod. “You’re a bit rebellious.” Sejin joked as he stirred the car. All of the windows were opened so all the three of them was feeling the cold wind.

River laughed self -deprecating as if he was mocking himself. “If I was rebellious I already killed such useless human beings.” Dawn was rendered speechless from River’s chose of words but Sejin was acting as if this was normal.

Back before Dawn time traveled, he assumed that River was the role model son but now he knew that he was just holding himself back. He realized that they were also the same in some aspect. When Dawn was in the jail and the mental hospital, he had come up with 101 ways to kill his father but he decided not too since he still had a tiny little respect for such a scum bag.

“How was Reika’s wound?” Sejin asked once again. His eyes were focused on the road but his ears were waiting for River’s reply. Sejin was really worried about the little girl. When he received River’s text message he was panicking. If Dawn was not there to calm him down he would already hired some police to apprehend River’s parents and lock them in jail.

“She’s okay for now. I treated her wounds and I just need to apply the ointments and make her take the medicine and I know she will be fine. However, if something like this happened again, I am not sure if I can still think rationally and not kill them.” River’s voice was vicious. It was very different from the River he knew but Dawn accepted it. He knew he was just like this back in the future and he also knew he can’t blame River for thinking like this.

If only a child can chose his parents.  Dawn said in his mind thinking of ways to help his friend. At that moment he thought of something. He peeked at Sejin who was driving before opening his mouth.

“Hey, River” Dawn’s eyes met River’s gaze on the rear view mirror. He did not answer however his eyes were waiting for the continuation of what Dawn was going to say. Dawn heaved his breath and smile.

“Since your parents are like that why not sue them?” He said with conviction.

River scoffed. “I thought of that too but I don’t have any power to do something like that. They might twist my statement and words. I might endanger my siblings if I act harshly.” He had already thought of that solution many times but every time he think about it, he can’t help but think that it would just not go well into his favor.

Dawn nodded as he expected River’s answer and then he continued, “That’s why we need to act cautiously and use everything we had at our disposal. Example, let’s use Sejin’s influence in this matter.” Dawn looked at Sejin. “Are you okay with that?”

River and Sejin was dumbfounded of a few seconds before they finally understood what Dawn meant. He meant that they can use Sejin family’s power to sue River’s parents. Sejin had a lot of money in his disposal. He also had a powerful parents that can stir the strings behind the scenes. It was perfect suggestion for them.

As River realized this, he was overwhelmed with joy however, as he process the idea in his mind, his gaze met Sejin who was still driving.

“I think Sejin would not want that--”

“No, I think it’s a good  idea.” Sejin cut off River’s words. Sejin doesn’t really mind where his money was going or how he was going to use his power. If it was for his friends especially for that little girl, Reika, he would gladly exercise his power. “Our parents don’t actually care if we use money and our influence they just want to maintain the good reputation of our name.”

“So?” River’s hands were sweaty as he waited for Sejin’s answer.

“Since it come to this, let’s sue your parents for child abuse and locked them up. I think it would be a good change of environment for you and for your siblings.”

As Sejin mumbled the words, River felt like a big rock was removed on his back. He suddenly can breathe again and that he felt intoxicated. His lips curled up and his eyes were beaming with happiness. Dawn who saw the change of reaction on River’s face smirked.

If this is the source of River’s problem then I need to remove it. He said in his mind thinking of many different ways to frame River’s parents.

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