Ethan's pov
My whole body ached as I walked down the almost empty dark street in the middle of the night. I looked at the plastic bag containing the bottle of wine I was sent to buy with expressionless eyes. My legs ached with every step, but I didn't feel like complaining anymore.
I guess this is because I am used to this kind of situation happening frequently since my parents died. Yeah that's right, I'm an orphan. My parents died when I was six years old and my aunt took me in.
When I was taken in, I saw a glimmer of hope, maybe my life won't be as dark as I thought. But that little hope was squashed after I moved in.
My supposed nice aunt and uncle weren't nice at all. They became my nightmare for the past thirteen years.
The front door creaked as I pushed it open. I saw my aunt and uncle with Daniel, their only child who was the same age as me chatting in the living room. All I wanted was to hand her the bag and go to sleep.
"Here you go aunt" I said blankly and stretched forth my hand to give it to her.
"Took you long enough" she snorted and took the bag from me. I turned around and was about to head to the cupboard called a room to rest for the night when I felt a push making me fall face flat on the ground.
"Where is my change?" Aunt Gabriella asked. Oh, I forgot to tell her the price has changed. I staggered as I stood up and faced her.
"Sorry aunt I forgot to tell you, the price have increased from fourty dollars to fifty dollars" I explained half-heartedly.
"Shut up you rascal. Just admit you kept the change instead of lying" Daniel shouted from his seat. I didn't even bother to look at him and focused on my aunt.
"Where is my change, you little thief" my aunt shouted, with her heavy makeup still on her face. I wonder how she manage to keep that on for a whole day.
"Like I said the price changed and I am not a thief" I defended myself.
Smack***
The slap resounded in the room. I held my burning cheek, my ears ringing as the taste of metal filled my mouth. I looked at my aunt with hatred in my eyes, hot tears threatening to fall.
"Look at this stupid orphan talking back at me. You are not a thief? Says a poor wretched orphan. I'm sure you hid the money in your pockets, now give me my change" she said with her hands already rummaging through my pockets, shaking me roughly in the process.
After checking all my empty pockets, she looked up and glared at me "you're lucky I'm in a good mood today. Go clean up the kitchen before you go to bed" she said and went back to sit on the sofa. I looked at my uncle who acted all indifferent to everything happening. I sighed as I made my way into the kitchen to clean up.
I woke up early the next morning by four, dragged myself groggily as I went about my chores. I prepared breakfast, woke the lazy Daniel up to prepare for school, ate my own breakfast and left for school.
During lunchtime, I sat in the library reading books since I didn't have money to buy lunch neither did I bring any food from home. I was almost beaten to death the last time I tried bringing food to school.
Once lunch break was over, I was heading back to class, my head bent low. Suddenly I felt a body crash into mine making me stumble back a few steps.
I raised to my head to look at the offender and lo and behold it was Bianca, the prettiest girl in our class. Did I forget to say she is also Daniel's girlfriend. I was about to apologize for peace sake when,
"You wretched boy, how dare you crash into me with your dirty self. Did you fall into a gutter before touching me?" she said with a disgusted expression, her nose wrinkled up. I rolled my eyes and started walking forward, ignoring her words.
"You dare walk away when I'm talking to you huh" she shouted, drawing attention from the other students.
"Brother Daniel, Ethan harrased me" I heard her say, her voice annoyingly sweet, a contrast to when she spoke to me.
I didn't even bother to turn back and continued heading back to class.
"Ethan stop right there. How dare you touch her, you filthy thing" I heard Daniel say but that wasn't enough to stop me.
"You won't stop? Hmph, look at him. Isn't he too proud for an orphan. Have you forgotten that you do everything for me at home and you wear my used underwear huh? Did your worthless parents only teach you how to be ungrateful, you ungrateful brat"
"What do you expect from an orphan?"
"He should be grateful that they took him in and this is how he treats their son"
"Hmph, his parents didn't do a good job at raising their son at all. I feel so sorry for Daniel's parents" I heard the other students murmuring, their eyes filled with mockery and hatred.
The words echoed in my head
'your worthless parents'
Damn it, I couldn't take it anymore. I turned around and ran towards Daniel and before I could stop myself, punched him square in the face. He stumbled back and landed on the floor and I could see blood on the side of his mouth. How dare they insult my parents?
They know nothing about my parents.
"You foolish rascal" he shouted and sprang on his feet and just like that, The first punch landed on my ribs.
Then another.
And another.
I smiled through the pain.
At least this time… I hit back.