??? ??? ???? ━━━ ????

| | • • • • • | |

Author's POV

While the two best friends who were enjoying the feeling of what liking someone felt, the girl was not doing that good. Aera's parents, her dad was getting toxic day by day and she was slowly losing her courage to live with him and her mother fighting everyday. The girl was somewhat trying to keep her brother safe. Along with that, school wasn't the best times of her life unlike she had thought. She started getting bullied. But she had no one to tell all these. Her friends were busy with exams while she was busy trying to cope up with life with a stable mind and health.

Aera's POV

The way to the work place was surprisingly peaceful. Dad wasn't home and neither was my mother so I finally left the house in peace after a while. With a smile, I walked to the staff room changing my clothes before taking sit in front of the counter. Maybe today isn't that bad. Studying trigonometry, I yawned getting tired but still didn't give up. I liked keeping myself busy with things instead of being lazy all day.

"You can go now." After almost three hours of working, the manager let me go as my substitute came taking my place while I changed my clothes. I was happy and wasn't unwilling to go home because maybe today was a good day. But my smile vanished thinking too much hope could also be the reason why my day might not be good.

I was now in front of my house as I stared at the night sky and then at my lighted house breathing heavily. Right at the moment, when I unlocked the door, I heard the sound of plates crashing down on the floor making my heart drop. Trembling, I immediately entered the house to see my drunk father angrily break the plates. "I told you not to touch my stuffs!" He shouted at my mom as I flinched shivering.

"I-i am sorry." My mom cried out getting on her knees as I balled my fists getting angry. My eyes widened as I noticed my dad raising his hand towards my mother. "Stop!" I quickly got in the middle holding his hand with both of my hands' strength as he glared at me. "The fuck do you think you?!" He screamed at the top of his lungs getting rid of my grip as I felt a sharp slap causing me to fall on the floor.

"Aera!" My mother came over to me as I stayed still on the floor while touching my cheeks. The woman held onto me checking if I was okay or not before I noticed my younger brother who was doing his homework walk out of his room crying. "Noona.." he cried out as he met my red eyes. "Don't forget I'm your goddamn father!" The monstrous man shouted once again.

"Father, my foot." I said out calmly as he stopped. Both the older parents stared at me shockingly before my father tried coming towards me immediately but got stopped by my mother. "Please stop. Aera take Aheon and leave the house!" My mother shouted struggling as I gritted my teeth. Grabbing onto my brother, I got out of the house as the young boy cried.

"Don't be scared Aheon please.." I crouched down to his level as he sobbed making me feel bad. Pulling my little brother into a soft hug, I let him wet my shoulders with his tears. "Where should we go now?" I said out trying to distract him but he was still crying. The boy pointed at his homework copy that was still in his arms as he opened a page with an address.