Magic Shop

29 | People love making things complicated

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River always likes the simple and little things. In the very beginning he had always appreciate everything he had. Since River wasn’t born in a family full of love, affection and money, he had always struggled to live his life simple.

However, as he grow up, River realized that even the simple life he ever wanted wasn’t simple to accomplish. River begun looking at the different side of life and reality. He had begun looking and comparing himself to the people around him as he asked the question, “Why are we like this? Am I the only one miserable? Do I deserve this?”

The first simple question was left unanswered until another question was added and then another and then another and then another until those questions occupied his teen brain. Day after day, he believed that he might find answers to his question hoping the burned inside of him would lessen and gradually disappear.

But, it was not simple.

He was naïve. Like a frog inside of a well.

Questions remained unanswered and life started to get difficult. As responsibilities and burden seemed to bury him, his usual go with the flow or I want simple things in life or the little things seemed to gradually disappear until there were no traces of such in his soul.

He begun to walk a monotonous life filled with, I have to work for today so I can have my pay check and support my family.

I need to keep myself together because I am the eldest.

I can’t collapse. I can’t get sick. I don’t need rest.

I have to do more. I have to work faster if I want a free life later. I need to fight all of these things alone.

River was just a teenage. A person who needed to enjoy life. He wasn’t supposed to to have such thoughts in his head. Instead, in this phase he should be dreaming about what he wanted. He should not worry about money, or if he can afford his school. River should have thoughts like, I wanted this! I am happy! Can I really fall in love?

But now, the weight of the world had rob those things in him. He begun to forget his happiness and what he had wanted. It was like survival of the fittest for him.

And now, he was getting tired. He was broken and the glue he had always used seemed to not stick his parts anymore. His glass like self was getting pulverized everyday with cruel words and actions.

That’s why he was sick of it. He was sick of everything.

He was still thankful though that he had his friends. the only time he could breathe was when he was with them. The only time he could smile was when he was with them telling jokes and making silly faces.

River never looked up to his parents. He despised them. He blamed them for everything he was going through and every time he poured his hate, he would always had the thought, I wish I was never born. Or I wish I was born in  a different family.

But a child can’t choose his parents. And he’s stuck with toxic words and actions every time. And after being sick of everything for a long time, he finally had a chance to be free. Like the chains were gradually cracking making his skin breathe.

And now, he was going to do the final stage. He needed to caught everything his parents were doing to them in act and he doesn’t care if he will be the one who need to sacrifice. He was doing it for his future.

The future he and his siblings had always longed.

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River opened the door to their new apartment house. It was just few days since they moved in and everything was still new however, to River’s eyes it was different. River’s eyes twitch as he scoffed at the view of their new apartment.

Everything was a mess. Bottles of beers and gin were scattered all over the floor. There were even some glass shards that was not taken care of. Plates that should be on the kitchen was left on the living room’s table and floor. Some are even broken. The plastic of snacks and traces of cigarettes were also there.

River stayed outside the door for a while. He seemed like he was speechless as his brain tried to understand things that happened from what he was seeing. This was nothing new but he felt like today was something different.

Driven by his intuition, River did not hesitate to walked towards his siblings room. The light was switched off and nothing can be seen however, the moment he clicked the switch on, black and violet bruises were visible on his siblings bodies and faces. Their clothes were even ripped apart as if it was pulled by some force.

His body quivered as he felt an intense emotion rising over his body. River begun to heaved his breath every second as his heart beat started to beat faster than before. His rational reasoning felt like disappearing in his brain.  He felt like he was glued on the floor but he dragged his feet to where his siblings were sleeping.

With his finger tips shaking as he gently touched them. Even though his three siblings were sleeping, the sudden touch of River made them flinched as if it was an instinct. His brain seemed to stop working as he run towards the living room and grabbed the camera he had left there when he went to work.

He borrowed this camera to Sejin and he had set it up as he was planning on pissing his parents when he got home after his work but now, it seemed like it had accomplished its purpose but in a different manner.

There were few clicks and then, he found the video that was recorded this very evening. The moment the video played, River had already lost it.

“Hey! You useless worthless bastard! Bring me some beers and chips.” River’s father said. Reo who was the second eldest of the siblings was quivering as he took a step and said, “Pa, we don’t have any money to buy alcohol and some chips.” Despite of his little body shivering because of fear, the little brave boy stood up and told his father their situation.

Their father’s expression seemed to be livid as he was already intoxicated by the alcohol and drugs. Reika was also quivering but she was standing beside his big brother holding his hands.

River’s father scoffed. “F*ucking useless children. Ungrateful bastards!” He shouted loud enough as he grabbed his belt and s*****d his children without any hesitation. The father had target the same spot over and over again enough for it to bleed and turn black and purple.

Reika and Reitan was not spared. Their muffled cries echoed as they begun to say sorry and please spare them. River who was watching the whole thing was shaking. He had already clenched the camera so hard its still a mystery it’s not broken.

I should just kill him! Kill him! Kill him! He’s useless and disgusting anyway. He never done anything right. He ‘s the one who is ungrateful. I spared him many times already.

These thoughts were inside River’s brain as he headed towards the kitchen and grabbed the kitchen knife. With his shaking hands he eyed the silver blade imagining the sight of it if it was drench with blood.

Like a lunatic, River smiled as he begun to feel the ecstasy as he imagined himself killing his own father. He even imagined of stabbing him in the stomach first, then the the arms, then he would slowly chop of his fingers as the disgusting person shout for help.

“Hehe!” River was already losing it. With his heavy footsteps, River step by step headed to his parents room. He stared at the door for a while. He was smiling as if he was starting to celebrate. River then slowly twisted the door knob, opening the door. The sound of the door opening echoed as the sinister full moon was shining above the dark skies.

River looked down at his parents who were sleeping.

I’ll kill you all and bury or burn your bodies so it will never be found. You deserve to rot in hell anyways.

In a split of a second, River raised the kitchen knife and with force, River had stabbed his father.

“AHHHHHHHH!” Loud cries were heard jolting both of his mother and father awake.

“Tsk! Missed.” River said because the knife landed on his father’s hand and not in his body. His father and mother looked at River as if they had seen a monster.

With his bleeding hands, River’s father who was still intoxicated with alcohol was quivering in fear as he was defenseless against his eldest son.

“W-W-What are you doing, River?” His mother asked him. River glanced at her. The face of his mother reflected on his eyes as he smiled.

“Mother, why did you gave birth to us if you’re going to put us in such hell as this?” River asked but his mother did not understand anything as she was overtaken by fear. His fingertips were quivering as her eyes reflected the kitchen knife with blood on it.

His mother’s lips were shaking, “Son, we’re sorry, please a chance. Give us a chance we’ll talk this out. We will change.”

“ha!” River mocked his mother. “I both gave you several chances you both just throw those away. I am already at my last straw. I am going to kill both you and bury six feet under. Hehe”

Slowly, River turned to his father who was also quivering. He was pressing his stabbed wound on his hand. “R-River? S-Son? Let’s talk about this.” He stuttered. But River scoffed at him.

“Talked?” He begun to laugh. “Let’s talk alright, so, how does it feel like to be useless and defenseless? Hmm? Father?” River said as he slowly walked towards his father. His father then tried his best to put a distance between them but since he was in bed, it was fruitless.

“Everyday you good for nothing bastard abused my siblings as if they’re your toys. Is it fun hmmm?” River sinister voice was heard. This time, his eyes were shedding tears as he pointed the knife in his father’s direction.

His heart felt like it was being shred into pieces but he held his ground. “I wanted to kill you for a long long time but you useless piece of garbage!”

“AHHHH!” River was about to stab his father again when someone from behind had grabbed his hand.

A moment of silence as River turned slowly. He blinked as if he begun to understood the situation they was in. The figure smiled warmly at him as if he was comforting him. River’s lips begun to quiver as he throw the knife away. It was like a bucket of ice was thrown all over him dragging him to his senses.

River glanced at his parents and then at Dawn.

The knife made a noise when it was thrown. Slowly, Dawn patted River’s head. “It’s okay.” Dawn mumbled several times hoping River would calm down. At the same time, Sejin walked inside and his eyes surveyed the place.

Deep inside, he heaved his breath inwardly thanking the heavens they made it on time. Without any hesitations, Sejin grabbed the kitchen knife with clothe as he slowly smiled at River’s parents who were still petrified by the sudden change of events.

Sejin had hesitated long ago about River’s plan but when he saw the video camera that was on the sofa earlier, he swore in his heart these two disgusting pig will rot in jail.

Sejin met their eyes as he slowly said, “Everything River did is an act of self defense and nothing with help the two of you if this case were taken on the court. I will make sure you two won’t bail out of jail.”

There was heaviness on his voice as he spoke. At the same time sirens were heard and the police got it.

Sejin gave the camera and video and used his authority to dismissed the case as self defense and River was just protecting his siblings.

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