Mystery of the locket

"Pass the ball to me!" One of the boys I share the room with shouts to the other. His face showed his happiness.

"Catch it!" Another threw the ball towards him, and he caught it without missing a step.

"I told you to pass the ball, but you threw it!" He shouts.

The tone he made use of might make it sound like he's angry, but in truth, he's not.

He instead beats his chest. "You can see how good I am at catching a ball."

I sat at the extreme as I watched them. My knees tucked in. My hands, gripping the locket, I'm always with.

Today makes it thirteen years I've been here. Thirteen years of staying to myself. Thirteen years of nothing but pain, sadness, and darkness. Nothing moves.

Others have made friends. Some lucky ones have been adopted into families, but the same can't be said for me. No one wants me as a friend, to talk more of a son.

It doesn't help matters, I have eyes, unlike others. Most times, they always talk about how strange my eyes are. Unlike others, I have dark violet eyes that can be mistaken for purple.

Eyes that make all who see me avoid me.

Most times, I wish I were born blind. Then would I have had peace of mind?

No one will in any way make fun of my eyes and their strange, unusual colour.

*

"You sucker!" One of the boys from the same room as I pushed me to the wall. A dark look on his face as he glared down at me.

"What did I do?" I stood straighter.

A bad move on my part.

All these years of being bullied by others should have taught me it's better to endure things, and not talk back at all. But I don't seem to listen, and that always has me ending up in the clinic.

I know all that happens when I talk back, but I can't seem to hold myself back from doing so.

It's more like another soul is controlling the things I do.

"You dare talk back!" Pushing me to the floor, he kicked me on my stomach. His hard laced shoe caused me more pain than I've known.

"Stop it!" I curl on the floor. My hands clutched to my empty stomach.

"He's still talking." The others sneered at me. "Teach him a lesson, Gal. Show him not to talk back!"

Their chants seem to fuel him on. It made him hit me more.

The pain became much until I can't take it anymore.

"Please stop." I silently begged him. Blood dripping from my mouth. "Please stop."

I don't think I can take more of the beating. My fragile body is in its yielding state. I don't think I'll survive it this time.

"What? What did you say?" He kicked me on my legs.

A whimper escaped from my mouth. My legs aching like no man's business.

It's obvious now, that I'm about to die. The only thing that's keeping me from doing so is another kick. Should he kick me in the stomach, I don't think I'll survive it at all.

One sad thing about dying is this. Should I die now, no one will notice my absence at all.

No one will feel it.

Those in charge will be glad to have finally gotten rid of me. Rid of a kid that have being nothing more than a burden to them.

So far, I'm the oldest kid here (Oldest not in age, but in the length of time I've stayed). Those that were in the same room with me when we were found have all been adopted, but the same can't be said for me.

How happy the people of the orphanage will be when they learn of my dismissal. They'll be super-duper happy to have the place free of me.

"You still have the strength in you to talk?" He laughed. " I'll make sure you don't have the strength to do so." He made to kick me, but his friend stopped him.

" Leave him be. He has had enough. Kicking him might result in killing him. Don't do that."

" I think I like the sound of that. I won't in any way mind killing him." He laughed maniacally as he went in for another kick.

"Stop, you'll harm him."

Feeling relieved when I heard the other's words, I clutched tightly to my locket as I sought guidance with it.

This might sound stupid, but I feel safe whenever I touch the locket. It's as if a power somewhere is trying to soothe my pains.

"Okay." He squats in front of me. "I'll leave you be, but I'll take this with me." Without further warning, he ripped the locket from my palm.

"Give it back!" I rose in anger. I wasn't at all mindful of the pains am currently feeling. All I want right now is to get my Locket from him.

"Oh My." He placed a hand on his chest in mock shock. "He rose from the floor all for this?" He gave my locket a look.

"Give it back." I slowly walked toward him as his friends snickered at me.

"Take it back." He kicked me on my Stomach. The force caused me to fall to the floor, and even at that, I kept on Crawling toward them.

"That's right, odd eyes. Crawl to Papa," He burst into Laughter. "This is where you truly belong, far beneath me." He kicked me again. This time perfectly, knocking the pain from me.

I closed my eyes from the pain. It's officially about to happen. My death is inevitable.

They've taken the only source of comfort I have.

"Give that back to him." I heard an unfamiliar voice say, but I have no strength in me to look up to the one talking.

" And why should we do that? " My bully laughed. " Who are you to tell us what to do and what not to do? "

" You'll soon get to know who I am."

" And who are you?" The others laughed.

" Your worst nightmare."

Thereafter, I heard nothing but grunts and the breaking of bones.

My heart went out to the boy who tried to rescue me. I'm sorry you got caught in the fire.

"Hey, are you alright?" I heard the familiar voice of the boy who was attempting to defend me.

Just hearing his voice made me look up despite the pain. My strange Violet eyes locked with the most beautiful pair of eyes I've ever seen.

Blinking, Laty forced a smile. "Are you okay?" He asked the boy with mesmerizing beautiful eyes. Eyes that are as blue as the sky. So clear and full of emotions.

The boy chuckled at that. His face became more handsome as he did so.

Laty felt like joining him in laughing, but he can't do that. His ribs ache like no man's business.

"You're the one hurt among us, and you're still bothering to ask if am okay?" He said in a very smug tone. His face shows the smugness he's feeling.

His words made Laty slowly look around the bathroom. It's deserted, with none of his bullies present. "You got no wound? I thought...."

"The ones that got a beating aren't me." He smiled brightly. " This is yours. " He placed Laty's Locket in his hand.

Taking the locket from him, I put it into the pocket of my shirt. Later, I'll wear it on my neck. Much, much later when the wound finally heals.

" Thank you." He sniffed. Seeing the locket made Laty feel more than okay. He thought he won't get to see this locket ever again, but this unfamiliar male made it possible.

Without the boy with beautiful eyes, he doesn't think he would have survived all this. The boy is a ray of sunshine, one that was sent by the creator when he saw others bullying him.

He might be feeling pain right now, but he doesn't care. The pain is nothing compared to the happiness he's feeling right now.

For years, he has not talked to anyone as a friend. Not even his classmates at school want to have anything to do with him. They bully him any chance they get.

This is one of the reasons Laty hates both the school and the orphanage. He can't wait for the day he'll be free from this place. He can't just wait for that day.

"Can you stand?" The boy asked. His face filled with concern for me.

"Who are you?" I asked Instead.

I've not seen him before, and neither do I know who he is. He might be familiar with me, but that doesn't change the fact he's a stranger.

He tilts his head to the side, an amused smile on his face. "Are you worried I might be a kidnapper?" Asked the not, who's not all that older than I am.

I scoffed at his words. "You might be a kidnapper, or whatever you want to call yourself, I don't care. All I would like to know is the boy who saved me."

One that makes my heart skip a beat just from looking at me.

A feeling am not familiar with. Aside from fear and nerves, no other feelings will make my heart beat as fast as it's doing now.

"Am Mate." He smiled brightly.

"Mate?"

I've not heard of such a strange name before. "Is that your full name, or do you have another one?

He shrugs at my words. " That's the name I grew up with. I have no other name aside from my last name."

" Oh." I didn't bother telling him that's the same case with me.

I have only a name and a surname. A name my birth parents gave me. They want me to answer the name they chose for me, that was why they pinned my name on my clothes.

"And you, what might be your name?" He raised a brow at me.

"Laty." I smile at him.

"Laty? What an unusual, cute name for a cute boy." He ruffles my hair a bit.

His words made me blush deeply. My cheeks getting hot. My heartbeat accelerated the more.

"It's the name my birth parents gave to me." I look down in shyness.

" Why? You shy about the name?" He playfully punched me.

"Ahhh!" I shout in pain. My hand clutched that part of my body.

I know the punch he gave me is a playful one, but that doesn't mean he didn't accidentally punch me in one of the numerous places I got beaten.

"Are you hurt? Gosh, how can I forget you had a beating."? Gently taking my arm in his, he helps me rise to my feet.

"Thank you." I smiled despite the pain. I don't want him to feel worried About me.

"Let's go."

"Where are we going?" I stop him from taking a step more. I need to know where he's taking me to before I agree to follow him out.

Left to me, I would have waited for the pain to out before going back to my room to slowly heal.

As Strange as it sounds, the wounds on my body don't scar, and they sure don't pain me for a long time.

The longest a wound has stayed on my body is three days, and subsequently, it completely disappears without a trace whatsoever. I guess this is one of the ways the creator is trying to make up for me for all the things I've endured.

This is his way of telling me he's still looking out for me despite the things happening around me.

"To the nurses' office, of course. Where else do you think I am taking you? To the bar?" He raises a questioning brow.

" No," I tightly clutch his hand. " Don't take me to the nurse's office. Take me back to my room, I have some medicines there."

Who said anything about medicines?

There's nothing like having medicine in that room, but I can't tell him that.

If he's to know, he might insist I visit the nurse, and that's just one thing I don't want in my entire life.

"Why's that? Why don't you want to go to the nurse's office?"

"I can't."

I would rather not be counselled for something I didn't do.

" Why? "

" They'll blame me for this wound. She'll say it's what I deserve, and that's not something I want to hear today. "

" Don't you think the bullies should be punished? Not telling anyone means they go Scott free. " He angrily balls his fist.

" It makes no difference should I report them. No one will believe me, even when I try.

I've done that countless times until I found out nothing will move the way I want. If anything, it increases bullying."

I've still not recovered from the one I got, I can't afford to piss them off by telling the teacher about them.

"Why's that?" He looks perplexed.

"You won't understand," Slowly shaking my head, I refused to say more on that.

"I am taking you to the nurse's office." He says in a serious tone.

His words made my heart skip beats. Currently, I would rather not do anything to piss off other people. It's just better I stay on my own without that.

Enduring the pain to ensure will not be punished is entirely worth that.

"If you do that, I'll know you're not my friend." I frown at him.

Had it not been for the extreme pain I am feeling, I would have left him long ago, and gone back to my room. But I can't do that. The wound I incurred in my body is much.

" As a friend, that's why I am doing that. I can't allow your wound to be infected. You need to be treated by the nurse." He insists on that.

" Am not going there. " I furiously shake my head. " I can do well on my own, you don't in any way have to worry about me. "

If I can get to my room before any of the teachers sees me, I'll be safe.

" What of the bullies? Don't you think we should report them? "

" And risk being bullied more?

Mate, it seems you don't understand at all. Telling them will make things much more difficult for me. It'll make them more eager to hurt me more for telling on them.

Just take me back to my room, and we'll be okay. " I smile.

Seeing how Mate is behaving, it's not too difficult to believe he either grew up in an orphanage that doesn't have bullies in it, or he lives with his parents.

These are the reasons why he'll act the way he does.

I don't think he has ever endured the harsh realities of life. Had he done that, I don't think he would have wasted time in taking me back home as I requested?

"You're sure you want to go back to your room? You don't want the wound checked out at all?" Raising a doubtful brow, he tries to make me reconsider my request.

What he doesn't know is this, there's nothing to reconsider about the request. I'm far more convinced about them.

"Yes. Take me back to the room I share with the boys."

The room isn't all that a safe option, but it's far better than going to the nurse's office.

"Are you convinced?" He tries once more.

"I am."

*

" Which one is your room?"

Currently, Mate is leading me back to the room. His left-hand circles my waist as he gently escorted me. There was no hurry in his steps as he walked.

"That one." I point to our room.

Based on how quiet the hallway is, I have no doubt they all have gone out to play like they do most of the time.

Opening the door, Mate led me inside.

"Which of the bed is yours?" Looking at the five beds in the room, he tries to locate mine.

Taking in the room from a visitor's standpoint.

I blushed in embarrassment as I noticed the only neat space here is mine.

I just can't help being neat and orderly. I get cranky whenever am in an untidier place. It just gets on my nerves.

"That one." I point to mine. A deep blush on my cheeks as he nods.

"Figured that one out pretty quick. I knew it was yours by seeing how neat the space is. You don't in any way strike me as a careless person."

Smiling, he led me to my corner and helped me sit on the bed. His hold on me was gentle and caring.

"Thanks." I smile brightly.

"Where's the medicine? I can help you apply them." He tries to open my cupboard. One that's just there for beautifying sake.

Should he open the cupboard, I don't know what it is he'll consider it to be the cupboard is empty, and devoid of anything.

Aside from the small bag, I was found with, I have nothing to my name.

Most of the hand me down clothes I've been given have been taken by those far stronger than I am.

"Don't bother about that. I'll take care of my wounds. You can now leave. Thanks once again for bringing me home.

I'm more than grateful." I smile.

As much as I'll like to have him here with me, I can't do that. I won't allow him to see just how helpless and broke I am.

"I won't leave until I help you with your wounds. I'm not that heartless to leave you here all by yourself.

What if you end up dying for not properly taking care of yourself?

Don't you think that as a friend, I ought to help you" He still has that playful smile on his face?

Closing my eyes, as I would rather not see the expression on his face when I say the words I want to utter.

"I don't recall ever calling you a friend."

" What?"

I can picture him blinking, confused, but I dare not open my eyes to look at him. All I did is tightly close my eyes to avoid not going through with the words am about to utter.

As painful as it is to me, I would rather not do it, but I had to. If not for anything, but to prevent him from taking me to the nurse's office.

Should he know I have no medicine, I don't doubt he'll take me there to get medicine.

"I just met you, today Mate, I can't call you a friend. Moreover, I don't know your agenda for helping me. All this might be because of a prank you plan to play on me. "

I close my eyes tightly.

" You think that low of me? " He asked in a minimal voice. One that makes me want to open my eyes and hug him senseless, but I dare not do that.

I need him to leave.

"As I said, I don't know you at all."

"After the help I gave you, you still don't trust me?"

"I don't. In this world, it's not good to trust easily."

" If that's the truth, open your eyes and tell me you don't want me here." He says after a moment of silence.

" I can't." I frantically shake my head.

"That's to say you don't mean your words." I hear him walking toward the cupboard, and that caused me to spur into action.

"I don't trust you as a friend. I need you to leave." Opening my eyes, I level him with a glare.

"Oh." His eyes met with mine. "I see." He nods slowly.

"Can you leave now?" I ball my hands into a fist.

"You don't need to ask twice. I'm leaving, don't even bother calling me back. I hope you die from infections." With those words said, he walks towards the door.

I tried calling him back, but I can't bring myself to do that.

It's for the best.

I try convincing myself.

But deep down, I know it's not for the best. I've lost the only friend I Just got.

A friend with mesmerizing blue eyes.