The War Between Worlds
Daeil
The next day, I didn’t see Daeil at school. I was relieved, because he was a little strange. I also still didn’t want him to befriend me. The fact was, he made me nervous, being nice to me and standing up to others for me. I didn’t want to get the kid hurt, and that is exactly what would happen. He would get beat up for hanging out with me. It was for his own good to stay away…as I said before. However, I couldn’t help wondering what kind of person he was, standing up to guys three times his size. That took balls.
I went through school that day wondering…and watching my own back, wishing I had the power of invisibility. The only powers I have are some strange visions that give me headaches...and fire. Fire is banned for use on school grounds, because it is one of the “dangerous’ powers. As far as anyone knows, I am powerless. Sounds about right.
When I got home, I made my way over to the stable to take care of my horse, Rusty. He understands me, and he thinks my fire is cool. He also doesn’t care that I am not supposed to use it.
I saddled up Rusty and took him out for a run in one of the pastures. The air felt good against my face, and it was easy to forget all the problems in my life. Until tomorrow.
The next morning, I spotted Daeil in class. He was being more quiet than usual, and seemed subdued. I turned my head and acted as if I had never seen him. All the better for us both.
After gym class, I saw Daeil again. He smiled at me briefly, but quickly averted his eyes.
My curiosity got the better of me. “Hey, are you okay? You seem a little down.” I touched the younger boy on the shoulder, and he glanced at me.
Sighing, DaeIl offer another tight smile. “I’m just tired. Thanks, Kisu.” He was being quiet, which was so unlike the other day, when he was bright and happy.
Damn the kid…“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I somehow felt sorry for him, even though I didn’t see why.
Daeil smiled brightly this time. “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning. Bye.”
“Bye,” I replied, turning to my locker.
We hung out the next day at school, and Daeil actually seemed very cool now. I was finally learning what it was like to have a friend. After about four months of hanging out, I walked Daeil home. He stopped me before we got to the door, thanking me. He told me it was better to not come in.
Again…my damn curiosity…I put my ear against the door, but really hadn’t needed to when I heard a solid smack, then another and a cry. That was when I opened the door again. I saw a woman standing in the kitchen, obviously intoxicated. There was no sign of Daeil, however.
Furious, I glared at her. “Where’s Daeil? I wasn’t finished visiting with him.”
The woman I was guessing to be his mother glared back at me. “He isn’t allowed to have any visitors. He is doing homework.”
I nodded, figuring that in her drunken state, she hadn’t noticed that I heard everything. “I’ll see him tomorrow, then. Thanks.” I walked out before she could say anything, and feel the heat radiating from me.
When I got home, I told my parents about the encounter. My father took care of the problem, calling the police. He told me that they would handle it. I seriously doubted they would do anything. It wasn’t important enough to bother with.
I found out how wrong I was the next day, when I found out that Daeil had been removed from his home and placed in foster care. I felt guilty, but also relieved. He would not be beaten any longer.
I didn't see Daeil for three weeks, after the encounter at his house. When I did, he took me aside, when we were out of school. "Thank you for saying something. I was taken out of the home I was in before and now I am in a good one. That wouldn't have happened without you.
Thank you, Kisu hyung. You are a good friend."
I smiled at him. "Of course. That is what friends do. They watch out for each other."
"Well, thanks, still," he smiled at me, then turned and left.
I saw my usual tormentors headed in my direction, so I slipped into a hallway to leave through the back entrance. I would deal with them another day.
I went through school that day wondering…and watching my own back, wishing I had the power of invisibility. The only powers I have are some strange visions that give me headaches...and fire. Fire is banned for use on school grounds, because it is one of the “dangerous’ powers. As far as anyone knows, I am powerless. Sounds about right.
When I got home, I made my way over to the stable to take care of my horse, Rusty. He understands me, and he thinks my fire is cool. He also doesn’t care that I am not supposed to use it.
I saddled up Rusty and took him out for a run in one of the pastures. The air felt good against my face, and it was easy to forget all the problems in my life. Until tomorrow.
The next morning, I spotted Daeil in class. He was being more quiet than usual, and seemed subdued. I turned my head and acted as if I had never seen him. All the better for us both.
After gym class, I saw Daeil again. He smiled at me briefly, but quickly averted his eyes.
My curiosity got the better of me. “Hey, are you okay? You seem a little down.” I touched the younger boy on the shoulder, and he glanced at me.
Sighing, DaeIl offer another tight smile. “I’m just tired. Thanks, Kisu.” He was being quiet, which was so unlike the other day, when he was bright and happy.
Damn the kid…“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I somehow felt sorry for him, even though I didn’t see why.
Daeil smiled brightly this time. “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning. Bye.”
“Bye,” I replied, turning to my locker.
We hung out the next day at school, and Daeil actually seemed very cool now. I was finally learning what it was like to have a friend. After about four months of hanging out, I walked Daeil home. He stopped me before we got to the door, thanking me. He told me it was better to not come in.
Again…my damn curiosity…I put my ear against the door, but really hadn’t needed to when I heard a solid smack, then another and a cry. That was when I opened the door again. I saw a woman standing in the kitchen, obviously intoxicated. There was no sign of Daeil, however.
Furious, I glared at her. “Where’s Daeil? I wasn’t finished visiting with him.”
The woman I was guessing to be his mother glared back at me. “He isn’t allowed to have any visitors. He is doing homework.”
I nodded, figuring that in her drunken state, she hadn’t noticed that I heard everything. “I’ll see him tomorrow, then. Thanks.” I walked out before she could say anything, and feel the heat radiating from me.
When I got home, I told my parents about the encounter. My father took care of the problem, calling the police. He told me that they would handle it. I seriously doubted they would do anything. It wasn’t important enough to bother with.
I found out how wrong I was the next day, when I found out that Daeil had been removed from his home and placed in foster care. I felt guilty, but also relieved. He would not be beaten any longer.
I didn't see Daeil for three weeks, after the encounter at his house. When I did, he took me aside, when we were out of school. "Thank you for saying something. I was taken out of the home I was in before and now I am in a good one. That wouldn't have happened without you.
Thank you, Kisu hyung. You are a good friend."
I smiled at him. "Of course. That is what friends do. They watch out for each other."
"Well, thanks, still," he smiled at me, then turned and left.
I saw my usual tormentors headed in my direction, so I slipped into a hallway to leave through the back entrance. I would deal with them another day.
11/7/13