"Mom."
The person looked up from the worn and aged yet well-cared for locket. Seeing that it was her son, the woman smiled at him and gently tucked the locket away.
"Geo, how was school today, son?"
"It went well," Geo said and remained mum about everything else. He placed down his backpack and brought a stool to sit next to his mother's hospital bed. He didn't plan on telling his mom about his fight at school today. It would only make her unnecessarily worried.
"Look, mom, look at what I brought you today," Geo said as he smiled and lifted up the plastic bag with the [Golden Broth] logo. Inside was a high-quality, non-toxic, heat-bearing plastic container filled to the brim with chewy noodles and savory broth.
"Oh my. What a considerate son I have." Geo's mother was surprised and then she laughed with joy, her hands covering her mouth as tears welled up. She pressed down on her urge to cry and simply smiled at her filial son. She accepted his kindness and happily took the container Geo handed her.
Opening the lid of the container, a fragrant and salivating aroma burst out. The sight of the golden broth and thin, white noodles resting peacefully amidst a field of greens and browns made one's appetite open up. Even Geo swallowed his saliva from the appetizing sight. Too bad he couldn't afford a second bowl. He needs to save up all the money he could for his mother's upcoming treatment fee.
"As long as it makes you happy, mother," Geo said while looking away from the bowl, afraid that his mother would want to share the bowl of noodles with him after seeing his reaction.
His heartfelt words made her happy. So happy that she wanted to cry. Not only because of happiness but also because of heartache. To know that her son was being bullied and beaten up at school yet not being able to do anything about it made her, who is a mother, feel distressed and self-blame.
She blamed herself for not seeing through his lies and silence. For not being there for her son.
She blamed herself for her powerlessness to stop the other party's actions. She knows that the bullies of a school like S High School were from rich and powerful families, and right now, her poor family who couldn't even afford to eat three meals a day has nothing in their hands that can go against them.
She tried once and caused her overworked body to collapse, consequentially forcing her son to become the main provider of their small family of two.
She feels so sorry to Geo for having such an incapable mother like her.
Her heart shed silent tears.
Unaware of his mother's thoughts that sprouted due to the bowl of soup noodles, Geo stood up and walked to the bedside table and picked up the kettle and poured a cup of water for himself.
Geo lifted up the water cup and drank it in gulps. He was thirsty, it's been a few hours since he last drank water.
His mother's eyes subconsciously followed his movements and involuntarily drifted to his back. A memory flashed past her eyes. She recalled the spread of blue and purple she saw last time on that back.
Scars, burns, old and new bruises.
A horrible sight that made her end up in the hospital again.
The delicious bowl of soup noodles suddenly lost their appeal to her.
She ate a mouthful of fragrant noodles that now tasted tasteless to her.
'If only my husband were still here.' She thought sadly to herself.
She knows her son has always been embarrassed by his circumstance at school so she never directly said anything. But she knew. She knew even through his excuses and lies that he was suffering. But both of them were powerless to do anything.
She never tore off his cover because she didn't want her son to suffer even more from her knowing when he tried so hard to hide it.
Oh, if only my husband were here.
She bemoaned in her heart once again. He would protect them, not allowing others to treat their son like this, if he knew. If he was here. More than anything, she wanted their family to reunite.
Her hand subconsciously rubbed the locket she hid in her clothes.
Geo felt his back burning.
He could feel his mother's gaze on him, full of pity, distress, and heartache.
He felt complicated.
He had a feeling that she knew. Well, it was obvious with all the bruises and injuries on his body. And how could he hide anything from his surprisingly perceptive mother.
The emotions in his mother's eyes aroused the negative feelings inside Geo he had buried.
He had acted calm in front of Manl and his gang, but deep inside, molten hot lava was boiling like it was about to erupt. He had suppressed it so that he won't worry his mother when he sees her later.
But now the pity in his mother's eyes completely surfaced the ugly emotions deep within him.
He felt even worse.
Resentment surged up like indispersible gloomy clouds.
He resented Manl and those who lord their power and wealth over others for self-satisfaction and a sense of superiority.
If it weren't for them, his mother would not have ended up in the hospital in the first place. Yet they dared to make fun of his mother. Provoking him with her health. If he had not held back, he would've had to compensate for their medical expenses when he had just gotten rid of the ones for the class monitor he beat up.
Even if he has to pay, he would delay it for as long as he can. It's not like they need his money that's spare change for them. But what's spare change for them could be used to supplement for the amount he needs for his mother's treatment.
Beating them up might make them stop wandering around him, or it might infuriate them enough to break their promise to Ian. Either way, he really doesn't have the money for fights.
Fights are expensive these days.
Geo has to penny-pinch his family's savings, especially now that his mother needs to be hospitalized and treated.
Again, if not for Ian, he would be even more financially burdened because of his impulse today at school. Though even now, he did not regret finally standing up for himself and fighting back against those arrogant and conceited pricks.
Geo roused the fighting spirit hidden in his blood just by thinking back on the incident. But when he came back to his senses and thought about the problems of reality, his spirit deflated.
Feeling depressed and gloomy about the future, Geo told his mother something and went out of the room. He wanted to go to the backyard of the hospital for some fresh air to clear his mind.
Opening the closed door of the ward, Geo stepped out and was immediately bumped into by someone, nearly causing him to fall on his butt if not for him catching a hold of the door frame in time.
Geo's heart tightened. His pupils contracted.
In his haste and fright, Geo had no time to notice anything else before the man who knocked into him muttered a quick "sorry" and then disappeared around the corner.
Standing back up on his feet stably, Geo patted his pounding chest. He found what happened to be strange and inexplicable. His mind turned and he quickly checked his pockets. With a sigh of great relief, he found that all his valuables, including his wallet and phone, were still there. It was weird, but he didn't lose anything, maybe it was only an accident.
Geo took a long glance at the direction the man left in and then left with puzzlement in his eyes.
On the other side, around a corner, the man who had mysteriously bumped into Geo took out his phone. Dialing a phone number with nimble fingers, the call soon went through and someone answered.
"Yes?"
"Boss, I've obtained the sample."
"Excellent." The person behind the call laughed, full of joy in his voice. Then his tone turned serious. "Bring it securely to the testing lab. Be extremely secretive about this, and make sure no one tampers with the results."
"Yes, boss."
"No mistakes must be made in the process. Get rid of anyone who tries to tamper with the results."
The dark undertone in his boss's voice made the subordinate tremble with terror. The latter quickly nodded his head even though his boss couldn't see him.
The subordinate replied in a firm tone, as firm as his will to carry out his boss's orders to perfection.
"Yes, sir!"
Beep.
The call ended.
The subordinate held up the thin and long item in his hand against the ceiling light of the corridor.
The aqua color of the single strand of hair shone glaringly in the artificial lighting, dazzling the eyes.