The Hater 3: Hated to Love You (The Hater Trilogy #3) [SPG]

Chapter Epilogue — 4

YUNHO

I WAS walking past the street, walking alone, in my own. The clock has already struck five in the afternoon, a sign that it is already the class dismissal.

This is my life without them, being alone, kapag wala si Serim-hyung, ang pinsan ko and also my other friend named Mingi-hyung. They were just my friends, the only people I can trust with. Kapag wala sila, I prefer to be silent because I'm not that sociable and they don't even want to talk with me.

I am a grade three student now and they are both grade four student. They are both a year ahead of me. On a usual and regular basis, they would come with me while going home. Unfortunately, they are on their break and training today, kaya mag-isa lang ako.

The thing about saying they are the only friends I have, that's true. I tried making friends but I have given up with the thought. Some kids tell me that my dad is a prolific criminal. They even tell that Serim-hyung's father is also a killer. I do not know what their bases are upon saying that but I'm sure they are not that worst.

"Pst!" A familiar sound eventually surrounded my ear. This is the worst. I should face this with my own now. "Nasa'n 'yong mga kuya mo ngayon?"

I turned at them. They are these bullies who always wanted to bully me. The bullies who always think of bullying me as their hobby. "Nawala ba 'yong tapang mo dahil wala 'yong dalawang protektor mo?" ani ng isa pa sa kanila. "Ngayong mag-isa ka, saka ka walang imik."

The guy who catcalled me slapped my left cheek slightly twice. "Nawalan ka na ba ng boses, ha? Hindi mo man lang ba kami masagot."

"Kunin mo na lang 'yong wallet ko," I said, not giving them a motive that I will fight back. They kept on telling that my dad and my tito are worst criminals yet they are doing what criminals are supposed to do. "I have no motive to fighting back. Kung gusto ninyo ng pera ko, get the wallet and let me just go."

"Hindi gano'n 'yon kadali," ani ng isa pa sa dalawang malaking bulas bago hinawakan ang hawakan ng bag ko nang akmang paalis na ako. "Anong laman ng wallet mo? Hindi ba mayaman tatay mo, ba't hindi ka humingi ng pera sa kaniya ta's 'yon ang ibigay mo sa 'min."

"Bakit sa dad ko kayo humihingi ng pera? Wala ba kayong father?" I told them sarcastically. "If you want to ask money from my dad, tell it him directly."

The guy who was the bigger one slapped me hard, a reason for me to lose my balance and fall of hard. "Ang sabi ng mom ko, your dad and your cousin's dad get their money from what my mom and dad is earning. Why don't you get it back by giving it to me?"

"Now I know why you kept on asking me money," I said while avoiding gazes. I may be brave by saying these words but honestly, I am scared. "It's not my fault that your mom and dad is not earning enough money to feed a pig like you. Bakit ba ako ang sinisisi mo—"

Naputol ko ang sinasabi ko nang tadyakan niya ang aking tiyan. "The reason why my mom and dad is not earning well kasi ninanakaw ng dad mo. It is their fault, not my dad."

"You have no evidence that my dad is claiming you mom's money. How can you assure that?"

They both then continued on stepping their dirty feet towards me. "Kapag magnanakaw ang dad mo, you are also a thief..." What he said made my whole life confused. How can they say that kung hindi naman nila alam kung totoo ba ang sinasabi ng mga magulang nila?

"Hoy!" a familiar voice shouted from afar. When I opened my eyes, it was Mingi-hyung bringing a two-by-two piece of wood with him. "Get your feet out of Yunho or I'll slap you both real hard."

"I thought Yunho is alone today," the other guy from the bullies told his boss. "Sabi mo wala siyang kasama."

The fear in his voice is audible. Kilala si Mingi-hyung bilang kinatatakutan sa school. Whenever I'm with him, I am at peace kasi alam kong hindi ako aatakehin ng mga bullies. How I wish I was as strong and brave as him to face these bullies.

Kaagad namang tumakbo na palayo ang dalawa. The last time they both got black eyes because of how hard Mingi-hyung punched them both. Hindi naman nagreklamo ang mga magulang nila sa hindi malamang dahilan.

Serim-hyung who was casually walking with his hands inside his pockets showed on the scene. They both dashed through me who was just laying on the ground.

"Yunho, are you okay?" Mingi-hyung replied while attending on my body parts. "What's in pain?"

"Mingi, you should've thought that it was his bleeding lips that is badly hurt, right?" Serim-hyung replied before getting a cartoon band-aid inside his pocket and placed it on my wound. "Sinadya naming umalis kaagad sa training to fetch you. Bakit ba kasi umalis ka agad?"

He even slapped my head slightly but it hurt, though. He is undergoing a training of whatever they are training for so his force is a bit heavier than of mine. "That still hurt, hyung."

"Why don't you fight with them?" Mingi-hyung asked with furrowed brows. "Will you continue on letting them defeat you."

"They are unusually bigger than me, kahit na pilitin kong lumaban, it will still a loss for me. If only I was brave and strong as you both. Hyung, should I try undergoing a training as well?"

"If you're thinking that the training is just easy then collect your thoughts because it is not," Serim-hyung replied. "You know, Yunho, when you are at the right age, ask Tito Merck to make you train as well."

"Speaking of my dad and your dad as well, Serim-hyung, why do they keep on telling that our dads are bad? I do not understand this. Masama ba talaga ang mga dad natin?"

Both of them stopped and looked at each other. It was Serim-hyung who replied to me. "It's not the right time for you to know the reality of our family, Yunho. Hayaan mo, when you are at the right age, you'll know what our family business is for..."