19th July 2042

Cemetery

Beno's POV

Fourth time now....

Its the fourth time now...

"Marco..." " Yeah Beno?" " How many more funerals we have to attend..." " The last one Beno... the last one..."

We just stand there quietly after attending Adeline's funeral...

Just a few more months and we will graduate...

Our group of originally 6 is now reduced to 2... Me and Marco...

" I will see you later at school next Monday..." I said to Marco.

" Yeah... see ya..." Marco said and left quietly.

These events must be hard for him. He doesn't have a family to talk to and his only friend is also facing the same problem that he is... With this I also went back to my home... can I even call it my home?

When I almost reached my house door, I can hear shouting inside the house. Did dad drink again...

When I went inside what I saw is horrifying. I saw two strangers holding a small knife pointing towards my parents.

" Oh, so there's also a brat here. Good. Listen to me, you two bastards. This is your first warning. I am a very good guy. I'll only take a single finger from this brat of yours. If you don't try to pay back the money you owe us, ill increase it to two, then three, then four, until his fingers are all gone then it's his toes. You hear me!" One of them said while walking towards me... I feel scared... I struggled against them, hitting them with my umbrella. But its no use... while I was panicking against one of them, the other one went behind me and knocked me out.

I don't know how long I passed out... When I'm back up, I saw mom next to me... Even Marco is here too... What happened to me... where is dad?

" Mom... how long have I been out... What happened to those guys." I said weakly...

" You passed out for around 3 days... Your bleeding stop but you still need to be hospitalized for a while to be sure that you are safe to be released." mom said to me... is that so... where is dad, I haven't seen him around. Did he go to work to earn back the money?

" Your dad... he ran away... he can't pay back the debt and he ran away..." my mom answered while starting to cry...

"It's ok mom... just take a kidney or lung from me to pay the debt.... I'm going to die soon anyway..." I replied to mom.

" NO YOU ARENT GOING TO DIE!" my mom yelled loudly at me which made me shocked.

" I won't let you die... I definitely won't..." my mom said more and more weakly.

" Mom it's ok... it's better to make a sacrifice like this... I don't want to get hurt more... if we can't pay back the money in time they're going to torture me more... it's better to end this fast than suffer through it more... Please mom..."

" He's right auntie... would you still want to see them cut his fingers every time they come or just end it fast and painless... anesthetics these days are pretty strong," Marco added.

" You won't die darling... you won't..." Mom said before going out.

" Speaking of which... why are you here Marco... Shouldn't you be at school?" I asked Marco.

" I saw you aren't at school today and came out to your house and found out that you are also not at your house. I asked your neighbor where are you and they told me you are at the hospital. Which then I came here." explained Marco.

" Thanks" is the only word I can say... speaking of which...

" Marco... tell me truthfully... I lost one eye too right?" I asked.

" Yes... and your face is filled with scars... which is why they bandaged your entire face..." Marco said sadly.

" Arrr I'm now a pirate hahaha..." I tried to joke... but it became sadder instead...

" See you back in school Marco... Come visit me often... I still need to study to graduate..." I told him.

" Rest well, I'll come here every day to visit you don't worry," said Marco before leaving.

...

Please end this fast God...  I don't want to suffer anymore...

---

Marco's house

Marco's POV

" Mom, dad I'm back..." I said quietly.

" Sorry, Mom I don't feel well, ill be going to sleep first." I rushed back to my room, slammed the door, and slumped onto my bed.

" God... Please don't kill me next... Kill Beno first... he is suffering too much... I don't mind being the last... even if I'm left alone...

---

1st August 2042

Marco's POV

School Classroom

" Hey did you heard about it? Beno is coming back. " Student A

" I thought he just quit school? Having friends dying here and there is pretty sad." Student B

" Heh I bet he cant chase up to the current syllabus. Being away for so long, he definitely wont have good scores lmao," Student C

" You evil," Student A and B

What is with these guys... he endured so much and now you guys are laughing at him, do you guys even have hearts...

" Hey look!" Student A

" What happened to him..." Student B

" Well look at that the freak finally became a freak huh~ Good for him haha!" Student C

You bastard... I hope you slip even if there's no banana peel, your zipper will always get stuck and accidentally hit your bird and when you sleep you always accidentally hit the wall face first.

" Hey, Marco..." Beno said while walking towards me. He is wearing a mask to cover most of his scars while wearing an eyepatch to hide his empty eye socket.

The homeroom teacher enters the classroom and looks at Beno. " So you are finally willing to come back to class huh. What is with the eyepatch and mask, are you trying to cosplay or something? Cosplaying is not allowed in school you know." The whole classroom laughs after hearing what the teacher said. 

Freaking hell now even the teacher is making fun of him? The world is really doomed... 

" Anyways let the class start everyone open your English textbook..." the teacher starts teaching.

---

12.00 pm at the School Canteen

" Are you alright?" I said to Beno. He hasn't even said a single word today....

" I'm fine..." No, you aren't. You are not fine Beno... Stop hiding it... you know you can always talk to me about what you are thinking...

" Hiding your emotions in will not do you good Beno.... Let it out and you might feel better..." I talked to him, hoping he would be more open...

" Thanks, I'm fine... no need for that..." he said... No... you are NOT fine...

" Whops~ Sorry for accidentally dropping my drinks HAHAHAHA!" Student C

You punk, are you trying to pick a fight here? Let me get you-

" Don't... fighting won't get you good..." said Beno while he pulls my arm back... Why are my friends are all the strongest in the most useless timing?

" just 3 more months ok? 3 more months and we are free from here... " I said towards him. Knowing that he would even accept that kind of treatment, he definitely won't listen to whatever advice I would say to him...

" Yeah " he replied weakly. 

God... Please let him stop suffering.

---

3rd December 2042

Beno's POV

It's been half a year since Adeline died... Marco and I are still alive... 

We survived through high school... normally I would be happy... Tomorrow is the inauguration day... I need to prepare for it...

Marco, we survived high school... I'm sure they would be happy that we survived so long...

4th December 2042

Beno's POV

Where is Marco... he should be here... let me call him a bit...

Hrmm? Marco sent me a message. Did he slept late...

Let's read it...

" Beno..... I'm sorry."

So another one more funeral huh...