Chapter 2

 

 

Fighting the temptation to use my earphones is not new to me while tutoring. The stress of making sure he gets the topic is a challenge. Theo’s parents did not hire me. I have been doing this for the rest of my 12th grade because of one incident. I called him a douchebag in the cafeteria last month when he cut the old earphones that I bought using the pennies that I collected. At that time, I wanted to earn money to satisfy my needs because my aunt stopped giving me allowances.

Theo grabbed me by the arm and he brought me to the old bathroom. He made a deal and confessed that he did it because he wanted me to be his tutor due to my academic ranking here in Crestview. I asked him why he had to cut my earphones and his reply made me laugh. He said that it was the only way to get the attention of a psycho. To ruin things? He was wrong, if you ruin a property of a psycho, they would let your taste your own medicine.

I did not accept the deal immediately and it took me 4 hours to think about it. Considering my situation at that time, I accepted it even though the money is not enough for us for the whole week.

Spending with him every day from 6 pm to 8 pm. I know he is more than what he really is and I know he is hiding something. He always listens when I discuss and he sometimes stares at his closet as if a monster would come out and would attack us. The persona that he created in Crestview is in contrast with his persona in their house. He is very quiet and sometimes he stares at the walls blankly. The Theo that I met is far from what I am seeing right now. Taciturn.

"Theo do you want something to eat? There are still left-over desserts in the fridge," I asked and said. He just nodded. I closed the book and put it on the bookshelves. The closet was open a bit. I looked at him and saw him quivering in fear. I wondered who and what was inside the closet.

I sat beside him and squeezed his hands. I could feel the tension. I could feel his pain in them. He started to say my name with a cracked voice and looked at me. His eyes were like an ocean under an ocean.

"Reign."

He took a deep breath. "I am gay." I was shocked, and at the same time happy for him. I squeezed his hands firmly and looked at him with a smile and with teary eyes.

"I am happy for you Theo. I knew that you are different in some ways that you can turn monochrome into something colorful. I mean, you always make me happy and you always comfort me when I feel distracted. Remember when you told me you suck at painting?"

"Yeah," he tried to smile.

"You don't suck at painting. You have this ability to paint someone's life with the goodness that you have within, and what you did right now is a pure masterpiece. Whoever you are, you are still the Theo that I knew, and they will never change you even though all girls would say that you are a douchebag." I know I got him with that, but the tension was still there, the fear that people wouldn't accept him. He spent his life memorizing the script and acting. He spent his life filling the void. He had been manipulated and I felt sorry for him. That is why I spent my life daydreaming, creating a plot that doesn't exist in reality.

"What about your parents?"

"They wouldn't react the same way that you did. My dad is a military veteran and my mom is very religious. I still don't know the right time to tell them that I am not the Theo that they want me to be," he said.

"I am still here okay. I will be your tutor and friend." I let him lay his head on my shoulder. He was taking glimpses at the closet. The wind blew and the closet was then opened indicating that he already came out of the place where he had been trapped for a long time.

o o o

It was around 10:00 p.m. when I got home. The smell of the house was still the same-the smell of lard and rotten body. I always clean but the smell never faded away. Maybe the smell of the house is what their attitudes smell like. Rotten.

Kevin, the 9-year old son of Aunt Maria was still awake, playing his Lego house. The money that was used to buy the toy was supposed to be our budget in the week.

Instead of hugging, he threw the boiled tomato on me. My uniform was already covered with red stains, it was a slaughterhouse. It is like I was involved in a murder scene where I killed someone. Yeah, I am the killer because if that happens, the blame is all in me. I don't know why they think that I am a psycho. If I am one, I would have killed all the people in this hell house. I don't understand why they are giving the image that they are supposed to be their own. It is like you are giving the food that you already chewed to someone and forcing that person to ingest it.

"Reign Reign Go away! Come again another day!" Kevin shouted. I ran through my room and I accidentally bumped into Rebecca who was rushing to go downstairs. She cursed at me and called me bitch. I stayed where I was and I saw a man waiting outside of the house. It was her boyfriend Rocky. She gave 100 pesos to Kevin for him to zip his mouth and not to tell her mom that their princess Rebecca has gone out with a gnome. I don't know what is wrong with this family.

I continued walking towards my room and I heard someone within. I slowly opened the door and I saw Virnah stealing my money that I saved for our camping trip.

"Virnah please!" I begged.

"There is a rule in this house, that whatever I touch is already mine especially your money," she said, showing me all the money that she stole.

"Please!" I begged one last time, but she refused. I balled my fist and ran towards her. I pushed her and she landed on my drawer.

"Bitch!" she shouted. I didn't care if everyone in the house would hear us. I was outrageous and I couldn't control the anger spiraling in me. I grabbed her by the collar of her shirt.

"Give me the money back or else, you would regret everything. Everything that you have done!" She was trying to fight, but I was stronger. I would show them the psychopath that they are referring to.

Virnah started calling aunt Maria, but I was still under the influence of my anger. The door suddenly shut open and I felt a strong force on my shoulder. Aunt Maria grabbed my shoulder and pushed me back and I landed on the wall. I could hear beeping sounds and my visions were blurry. Blood also started to stream from my nose.

"Are you out of your mind!?" aunt Maria shouted. She came towards me and slapped me. I could feel the world swirling around. The force made the blood from my nose stream so hard.

"Thieves! Liars! Demons!" I managed to say one by one even though I was so weak already. I stood up. "Get whatever you want now, and this is the last time you will ever see my face. You won't see me ever again. I am not a slave. I am done feeding demons." I ran out of the house and aunt Maria tried to chase me. The rain started pouring and I was soaking wet. I didn't know where to go so I spent my night sleeping in an old gazebo in an abandoned children's park.

“Reign, Reign go away! They will know your worth someday!” I muttered and everything went blank.