THE AWAKENING: BIO-GENETICS
Chapter 285: A Cruel World [1]

Chapter 285: A Cruel World [1]

"Sumi", he began placing his hands on her cheeks so that she would look at him and she did with trembling eyes. "That’s enough Sumi... I can feel it, how sad you’re, enough"

"Why" the tears fell. She couldn’t understand why, after what she just said to him and he...

"You may be a pain and dark sometimes but I know you’re not a bad person" his gaze level. "Although I do not know what happened for you to do such a thing... but", he shifted his gaze back to her. "I trust you"

She gasped as her eyes went wide, they shook vigorously, and then her gaze leveled in sadness.

Shino moved his hand so that he could hold hers, he held it tightly.

"You’re an idiot" she sobbed, wiping her tears away.

"I know," Shino said, walking ahead still holding her hand tightly, leading the way.

Sumi stared at Shino’s back. ’You were right mom...’ she thought. ’Even though the world is cruel, there’s someone who makes it less cruel’

_ _ _

Years Ago

"Shut up!"

A hand slammed on Sumi’s cheek, and the force caused her to fall to her ground.

"Stop it Kazuko, stop it!" Sumi’s mom pleaded with her husband, as he continued to slam his fist on her small figure.

"Shut up!" he snapped at her and she drew back in fear, unable to do anything.

"Am I not doing enough? Huh? What does she need more money for!"

’We were poor, my dad was a drunk who always came home depressed because he was unemployed and stole to keep the house, he hated it because I was born more money was needed so he took the anger out on me, over and over and over again...’

"You see her?" a school girl whispered.

"She’s always covered in bruises"

"Yeah, does she get in a fight or something?"

"Or is it from home?"

Sumi walked past them not sparing them a glance or attention but she heard them, she always heard them.

"Sumi... is there something we should know?" their homeroom teacher asked worriedly, she was always worried about the poor girl coming to school with bruises, she understood they were poor and all but she didn’t understand the rest.

"Is it at home? Tell me Sumi, I will call your mom and ask"

Her teeth clenched hard. "What difference does it make?" she said coldly, her lifeless dark pink eyes on her.

She was startled at her answer. "I feel that’s it, at my part-time job" she lied.

’Even if I told the truth and my mom was called, my dad will only deny it and take it all out at my mom at night, I rather receive the beating than let her feel more pain’

Her fist tightened on her lap.

"If I hear one word of anything from your mouth, I will beat your mom instead of you understanding!"

She could still remember her dad’s threat and she preferred to keep her mouth shut and take it all. ’Just a little more...’ she thought.

’In secret I worked part-time, to raise enough money for us to run away, my mom did too, it was a plan she sorted out one year ago. We couldn’t come clean with his abuse because of his threat and he was a gang member in our neighborhood which only made it much worse’

"Tell me Sumi, why don’t we have some fun huh? Your dad is the big boss around here, isn’t he? I hear what he does, spend some time with me at my apartment and I will protect you and your mom" one of the thugs in their neighborhood said to her.

’Over and over and over again’

"What do you say, Sumi-chan?" he said, smirking and rubbing her shoulders.

"Hey! Get away from her!" Sumi’s mom shouted, rushing to them.

’If it wasn’t for my mom I would walk the path of no return’

She yanked Sumi behind her, her dark pink eyes on the man who almost destroyed her child.

"Easy there Aiya, okay"

"I said go away!" she held up her broom and he had no choice but to pull back.

"Think about my offer," he chuckled before leaving.

Aiya faced her daughter squatting to her size and placing her hand on her shoulder. "Do not listen to any of them, you hear me?!" she yelled. "Just a little further than we-"

"I’m tired" Sumi began in a faint tone, her body trembling, and the hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Sumi?"

"I’m so tired mom... how long... how long before we leave, how long must we endure this. I work day and night, and the money is nowhere near enough" she cried and sobbed. "The offers are a tempting mom, they said they would protect us if I... if I"

"Don’t Sumi!" she yelled, she placed her hands on her cheeks so that she would look at her. She froze seeing her mom in tears.

"I know it’s hard and I’m so sorry for bringing you into a world like this, the world is cruel so cruel and it’s suffocating. But as long as there’s someone as long as you find someone the world can be less cruel, I have you Sumi and I want nothing more", she embraced her in a tight hug.

"As long as we have each other, as long as we support each other, we will be just fine"

Sumi broke into tears holding her mom tightly. ’Yes... just a little more and it will all be over...’

_ _ _

Black Storm Day

"Here’s your payment for this month," the shop owner said, giving her a ton of cash, a bright smile crossed her lips.

"I must hand it to you kid you really impress me with your diligent in work, I added a bonus for you"

"Thank you so much sir, thank you!"

"Just keep up the good work okay? And be a good kid"

"Mm,"

She placed the cash in her cross bag, before bowing in respect and rushing out. ’With this much cash... our money will be complete’ she was so happy, she wondered which city they would go to, she smiled giddily. She could already imagine the apartment they would rent and the good food they would finally be able to eat and the nice cloth they will have, it all played out in her head.

The lights turned red and she stopped, it seemed like there was a cue on the road, must be because of the amusement park getting open today. Her eyes spotted a clean SUV. She spotted a red-haired boy inside.