Chapter 22: Trauma

Taki's pov

Taki: Grades, grades, GRADES!! ALL MY FAMILY WANTS IS GOOD GRADES! They don't care about me, my life, or what I am going through; all they care about is my grades! AAAAHHHH!! THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!

I screamed out on the school terrace. I couldn't take it anymore. Since childhood, the only thing my parents cared about was my grades. Appa's abuse became so normal to me. Eomma's screaming and cursing at me still echoes in my head. I have forgotten what pain is now.

I would try so hard, yet still fail to meet my parents' impossible expectations. I was always compared with other students. It hurt to know that they would only love me if I scored well. Crying in the bathroom by turning the water on and crying myself to sleep became more of a daily routine.

I developed insomnia. I couldn't shut my eyes for even a minute. But my family couldn't care less. Sooner or later, I slipped into depression. Deep inside, I was fighting a battle with myself while trying hard to satisfy my parents. The school terrace was the only place where I found peace.

I was more like a hideout, a place I would use to run away from life and my problems. Like any other day, I was standing there, letting all my pain out, when suddenly, the school's topper, Mitsuha, came there. What was she doing here? But before she could see me, I hid behind a huge water tank.

She looked like she was waiting for someone. Soon, Mr. Jinta stood in front of her. They started talking, though I couldn't hear what it was about. But then, at one point, Mitsuha started crying. But her face still had a kind of serious expression.

Soon, Mr. Jinta became angry and pounced on her. Hovering on top of her, he started to choke her.

Mr. Jinta: DIE! DIE! DIE!

That was all I heard. Mitsuha was struggling with all her might. But then she spotted me. She tried calling me but failed. Then suddenly, her movements stopped. Mr. Jinta let go of her and smirked before walking away.

Once I was sure that he was completely gone, I came out and slowly approached her. I tapped her cheeks once or twice, but there was no response. And soon I knew she was dead. Not knowing what to do, I ran away from there in shock and fear.

From that day on, Mr. Jinta was no longer everyone's favorite teacher in my eyes. He had become a cold-hearted murderer. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get myself the courage to confess. Every single day, the events on the terrace played in my head in a loop.

Her screams echoed in my head. With every second, it was just getting louder and louder. She haunted my dreams. I couldn't differentiate between reality and hallucinations. Sooner or later, she took full control of me.

(Flashback no. 2 ends.)