How it When to This?

Trauma

Chapter 8

Keizer's laughter echoed through Rhone's headphones.

"Good job, kid."

"Good f*****g job!"

"HAHAHAHA!"

"Don't think too much about it."

"You've earned my trust now."

"That's even better."

"Want something more thrilling?"

"Meet my friend."

"I've got a few more jobs for you, kid."

"...Chat back."

---

Rhone just stared at the screen.

Lost in thought.

Keizer: Rhone?

"You still watching the webcam?"

"Stop it, bro."

"That s**t ain't healthy."

"C'mon, kid."

Keizer kept talking, trying to fill Rhone's head with excuses so he'd stop questioning everything.

Finally...

Rhone: You lied.

"This isn't Dave."

"I know what Dave looks like."

"...Am I right, Keizer?"

"Why'd you do me like this?"

There was a long pause.

Then...

Keizer replied.

Calm.

Almost amused.

Keizer: Aw...

"Wow, kid."

"You're sharp."

"Haha..."

Rhone: Why?

"I don't understand."

"Why did you drag me into this?"

"Why?"

"If that wasn't Dave..."

"Who were those people that died?"

"Did Dave really want to kill me?"

"Answer me, Keizer!"

Keizer replied almost instantly.

Keizer: You're one of us now, Rhone.

Rhone: What the f**k do you mean?

Keizer: I like you, kid.

"No homo."

"But as a trustworthy brother."

"You can't always play it safe while hiding behind my name."

"So I figured..."

"If you killed someone..."

"Our brotherhood would become even stronger."

A smile emoji appeared.

Keizer: Stop pussying out.

"You killed three guys."

Another smile emoji.

Keizer: Sorry I lied about Dave.

"I honestly didn't expect you'd believe that story so easily."

"You're too naive, kid."

"Change that."

...

Rhone couldn't type a single word.

Then another message appeared.

Keizer: Better grow some balls of steel.

"I already told our enemies..."

"That you're the one who killed their little friends."

😊

Rhone: No...

"I didn't kill anyone."

Keizer: You think the guy pointing a gun at your head is gonna believe that?

"Here."

"I'm sending you three VPNs."

---

Rhone slowly put his phone down.

His room was completely dark.

The lights were off.

He just sat there...

Staring at the wall.

"...How did I..."

"No..."

"I didn't kill anyone..."

"No..."

"...How did it go to this?"

"s**t!"

"f**k!!"

---

Grandma's POV

"Hmm..."

"What's that?"

"What happened to this kid?"

"His uncle has been saying a lot of strange things about him lately..."

She heard quiet mumbling coming from Rhone's room.

"Rhone?"

"Who are you talking to in there?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm coming in, alright?"

She slowly opened the door.

"Mami..."

"What's the matter, Rhone?"

"Why are you crying?"

She immediately hugged him.

Rhone buried his face against her shoulder.

"N-Nothing, Mami..."

"I..."

"I ki—"

"What is it?"

"You can tell me."

Rhone hesitated.

"...I just feel lonely, Mami."

"Aww..."

"I see."

"Yeah..."

"I heard on the news that's pretty common these days because of quarantine."

"You've also been isolating yourself too much lately."

"And you're barely eating."

"You might end up with an ulcer if you keep this up, you know?"

Rhone nodded while crying.

"Yes, Mami..."

"My lower right stomach has been hurting too..."

"Aww..."

"Okay."

"Let's go to a private hospital next week."

"We'll have you checked."

"Okay, Mami."

She stayed beside him, comforting him until he finally calmed down.

---

Over the next week...

Rhone's mental state continued getting worse.

He started passing out without warning.

Several times.

---

Monday.

They finally went to the hospital.

"Hello, Rhone," the doctor smiled.

"Tell me what's been bothering you."

Riza answered first.

"His lower right stomach hurts, Doc."

"He's been complaining about it for days."

"And he's been passing out a lot."

"Alright."

"Rhone, lie down for me."

The doctor gently examined his stomach.

"Tell me if this hurts."

He pressed different areas.

"No, Doc."

"What about here?"

"...Still no."

"I don't feel anything."

"Alright."

"Sit up."

"Let me check your breathing."

The doctor placed his stethoscope against Rhone's back.

"Take a deep breath."

"In..."

"Out..."

"Again."

After finishing the examination, the doctor sat back down.

"As far as I can tell..."

"There's nothing physically wrong with Rhone."

"But based on everything you've told me..."

"I think he may be experiencing depression."

He looked at Rhone.

"And remember..."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"You're not crazy."

"Depression has become much more common during quarantine."

"This isn't my final evaluation."

"So I'd like to refer you to a psychiatrist friend of mine."

He wrote down an address.

"I'm sorry."

"Mental health isn't my specialty."

Riza hesitated.

"May I ask..."

"What do you think caused it?"

The doctor sighed.

"It could be isolation."

"Family problems."

"Bullying."

"Or something else entirely."

"That's something you'll have to honestly discuss with the psychiatrist."

"I understand."

"Thank you, Doctor."

"We'll take him."

---

On the way home...

Riza looked at her son.

"Tell me honestly..."

"Do you have any problems?"

"What's wrong, darling?"

Rhone forced a small smile.

"Nothing, Mama."

"I'm sorry."

"I think I just isolated myself too much."

"Aww..."

"Don't worry."

"We'll go to the psychiatrist."

"We'll figure it out together."

"Thank you, Ma."

---

The next day...

Rhone and his mother visited the psychiatrist.

After several sessions...

He was diagnosed with something.

The psychiatrist said it was because of childhood trauma.

...

But why did he lie?

We'll never know.

---

Later that night...

Rhone finally messaged Keizer.

Rhone: I'll be back tomorrow.

Sorry for disappearing.

I went to the hospital.

My ulcer f****d me up, and I've been passing out a lot these past few days.

Keizer: LOL.

I thought you pussied out.

Good to know you're coming back.

Your two bitches, Aly and Bea, were worried about you.

Rhone: Who the f**k is Aly?

Keizer: James leaked your picture.

Rhone: f**k!!

End.