THEO'S POV:
Kayla sings drunkenly in the car.
"If I was you,
I'd wanna be me too…
I wanna be me too,
I wanna be…
me too."
She looks around, then notices me.
Kayla: You're here?
I thought you would leave me…
Theo: Why would I leave you?
You're my best friend.
Kayla: You know… seeing my demonic side makes everyone leave me.
Aren't you afraid?
Theo: I wasn't afraid back in second grade at the boarding school, when I saw you eating the school guard.
Kayla:Chuckles drunkenly
Yeah… you hid that dead body, and no one ever found him.
Why did you do that?
Theo: Because I didn't want you to get into trouble.
I'd rather take all the blame for everything you've done, or ever will do.
She stops laughing and glares at me.
Kayla: Why me?
I look away, staring out the car window.
Theo: I don't know either…
We arrive home. I hand the keys to the driver and help Kayla inside.
My stepmother, her adoptive mother, rushes over, takes Kayla to the living room, and orders the maids to bring lemonade and water.
My father, Yuichi Hayashi, comes downstairs, staring at both of us with a deep frown.
Father: Where were you the whole night?!
Is this the time to come home?!
What were you two doing, huh?!
You're teenagers, not street drunks!
If someone I know saw you at a local bar, what would they think of me?!
If you two have no shame, at least think of your father!
My stepmother interrupts.
Stepmother: Yuichi… calm down.
Relax. Thank God the kids are safe.
Father: Kids?!
They're not kids anymore!
They're young teenagers, they know what's right and wrong!
And you don't need to worry yourself sick over them!
These are just young bastards who think they can do whatever they want without telling us!
I try to speak, but he slaps me hard.
My stepmother closes her eyes for a moment, then focuses on splashing water on Kayla's face to sober her up.
Father: Don't you ever dare interrupt me!
I work day and night, earning money, making sure I never disappoint my father, and you bastards waste it on drugs and alcohol like water flowing through a river!
He storms upstairs and slams the door shut.
My stepmother takes Kayla upstairs.
I go to my room and stand in the restroom, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
Flashbacks of my traumatic childhood flood my mind.
Theo (memory): Mom! Dad! …No!
I can never forget that day.
I was playing with my toys in my room when I heard a gunshot.
I ran outside and saw my mother lying lifeless on the floor, blood flowing endlessly from her body.
A gun was in my father's hand.
He killed her, accusing her of cheating on him.
As the trauma pounds against my head like a hammer, I open my drawer, searching for my tablets.
When I find them, I take one.
My hands tremble, but I force myself to stay steady.
Then I lie down on my bed.