Somehow Nohan felt he was alone in the world, even whenever Nohan said that he was bullied by his friends. His mother did not believe him, as if everything Nohan said was just his imagination.
"Mom doesn't believe me? I'm like this because ...."
"Bullies?" interrupted Nohan's mother, looking at Nohan tiredly.
Nohan gaped in disbelief, what more proof could there be? Maybe Nohan should jump off the building first, then his mother would believe him?
"How many times have I told you, Nohan? There is no such thing as bullying, you watch too much television, and soap operas, that's why your brain is hallucinating," said Nohan's mother trying to explain to Nohan, that such a thing does not exist.
How could it? How could Nohan survive like this? How could Nohan not hate his life? If the only person he expected to support him refused to believe in him.
You really don't want to understand me, Mom. Nohan's heart was broken.
"Nohan! I know you might be having a hard day, but stop hurting yourself ...."
"I'm not hurting myself, Mom! How many times have I told you?" Nohan railed in a tone that began to rise, Nohan was annoyed that him mother always didn't believe him.
Nohan's mother took a breath, looking at Nohan gently.
"Nohan, I know there are no kids like you said in that school ...."
Nohan looked at his mother disappointed, "No! You don't know, Mom. You don't know how they really are, you don't know! They are the bullies, and the others just watch! I'm the one being bullied, Mom," Nohan railed at his mother looking hurt.
"Enough, Nohan! Enough!" said Nohan's mother in a raised tone.
Nohan was silent, then he chuckled. He felt that his life was very hilarious, really hilarious.
"Mom! Could I have hit myself? Did I drink that much soda? Could I have poured the drink on my own head? Am I that insane in your eyes, Mom?"
Nohan said as she looked at her mother disappointed.
Nohan realized he was alone in the world, everyone was just watching him as he broke down. They are all criminals, they are all the ones who should be destroyed.
Nohan's mother was silent, turning her gaze towards the window.
Nohan sighed, "I don't know why you hate me so much, Mom. But I'm sorry, I'm sorry to you, Mom. I can't go to that school anymore, please transfer me. Please, Mom!" Nohan pleaded still looking at her mother, who was also still looking at the window.
Nohan's mother now turned her head, turning around.
"Hang in there, Nohan! Make mom believe and trust you," Nohan's mother now looked at Nohan seriously, her eyes as calm as the dusk sky.
Nohan remained silent and began to bow his head, he was alone in this world. His mother did not want to believe him, was Nohan really that unbelievable?
Nohan did not greet his mother anymore, he chose to lie quietly on the hospital gurney. Nohan's gaze was empty, as empty as his confidence that vanished somewhere.
Nohan increasingly felt that the world was cruel to him, he began to wonder. Did God really create him to live? But why was Nohan's life so horrible? Why, God?
If Nohan had a father, maybe none of this would have happened. His father would have believed in him, let him change schools, and he would have been free from the bullying of Jay and his friends.
Of course, wishful thinking always feels better than reality.
But if wishful thinking is bigger than action, then be careful. It will consume you, and make you live in a world of your own making; an illusion. Yes you will live in an illusion.
"I have to go to the police station, I've received a call from the commander," Mrs. Nohan said after a long silence.
Nohan just nodded weakly, after all, even if Nohan forbade it, him mother would not listen.
Nohan's mother stuffed something into Nohan's shirt pocket.
"Take good care of yourself, Nohan! I'm going!" The middle-aged woman said goodbye, leaving Nohan alone in his hospital room.
Nohan's mother had disappeared behind the door of the ward.
Now Nohan got up from his lying position, he sat up while thinking, could Nohan be the victim of bullying until graduation? Isn't that too horrible?
Yes, again the phrase if only was in Nohan's mind, as if it was the only thing that would befriend him.
"If my parents weren't my mom and dad, would my life be better, God?" Nohan asked while looking up.
God always listens to His servant's prayers, always grants them. But on one condition, you must prioritize God in running your life, in your daily breathing, and stepping on this earth.
Nohan has tried, but God has yet to fulfill his prayer. Maybe God is delaying it, so that he can be stronger.
Nohan now decided to get down from his gurney, he wanted to get out of his hospital room for a while.
Nohan went out while dragging the IV pole on his left. He walked through the hospital hallway, and stopped when someone called out to him.
"Hi!"
This time it was just "Hi!" with nothing added, Nohan was too used to being called "Hi, Loser!" and other "Hi!", and most recently "Hi, Socialist."
Nohan turned his head, looking at the figure of a teenage boy around his age sitting in a wheelchair.
"What's wrong with you?"
Nohan paused, this was the first time anyone had asked him such a question.
Would Nohan finally have a friend?
Would it be nice to have a friend? Well, it seemed nice, considering how his schoolmates were often hanging out, chatting, having fun, and of course Nohan could only look at them with a sour face.
"Hi! Are you okay?"
Nohan was even more amazed, it seemed like he would have friends now.
"Can't you talk?" the teenage boy asked in sign language.
Nohan paused, and immediately shook his head. Nohan knew a little sign language, his mother had taught him when he was in middle school.
"No! I can talk!" said Nohan still standing where he was.
People passed by along the hospital hallway.
The teenage boy smiled, approached Nohan and extended his hand.
"My name is Nasai!" the boy said with a friendly smile.
Nohan nodded, unconsciously curling his lips perfectly. After all these years, this was the most perfect curve on Nohan's face.
"I'm Nohan!" he said as he shook Nasai's hand; the boy who was the same age as him.
Nasai immediately took Nohan to the park. He said he wanted to take Nohan to see the strange plants in the hospital garden.
Continued.
***