I was now 10 years old; two years had passed since I left the church.
I helped run a mobile food business with my older brother, Fuji (age 15).
When I left the church two years ago, I had doubts.
It turned out Brother Fuji had already started a small business that I hadn’t known about before.
He sold grilled chicken.
At first, I was a little surprised, but my life outside the church now felt very safe with him.
We stayed in a cheap apartnt; Brother Fuji usually stocked the food supplies he got from the chicken farm sellers.
The distance between the church and our apartnt was quite far.
We often moved around to find strategic selling locations.
The chicken sellers from the farm were very kind.
My brother shared his sales revenue with them, and in return, they often gave us bonus raw chicken to process and sell again.
We sold using bicycles with baskets on the back.
We split up when selling; Brother Fuji said selling in two different directions would earn more money.
I cycled and sold alone toward the east, and Brother Fuji did the sa, cycling toward the west.
Because this was still a rural area, there were rarely police patrolling.
So, we felt very safe here.
"Son, how much is one portion of grilled chicken?"
An old man approached .
It seed this chicken would sell out quickly.
I usually carried ten portions of grilled chicken in each basket; each portion contained bread and sauce.
I didn’t understand why Brother Fuji wouldn’t let carry more than ten portions.
However, I still obeyed him because I relied on him now.
"Oh yes, Grandpa, each portion costs two dollars, would you like to buy it?"
I opened the basket on the back of my bicycle, then took out the portion box and showed it to the Grandpa.
"Wait a mont."
The Grandpa took money out of his pocket, a crumpled two-dollar bill, then handed it to .
"Thank you, Grandpa. Please enjoy."
I closed the rattan basket again.
Now only five portions remained.
Five portions had been sold this afternoon, and I was carrying ten dollars.
I got back on my bicycle and pedaled, continuing today’s sales.
While cycling, I rang the bell on my handlebar while shouting, ’Cheap grilled chicken! Two dollars a portion!’
I had been cycling around the housing area for two hours, but no one had bought any more.
I took a short break in a quiet small park.
I leaned my bicycle against a rusty swing, then sat on the swing.
I looked at the park view while drinking a bottle of water.
"Phew, it’s scorching hot today."
I wiped my sweat using the white handkerchief I brought before selling.
Then I took off my hat, placed it on my lap, and swung the swing a few tis.
The breeze from the swing and the shadow of the nearby tree made my body feel sowhat refreshed.
Not long after, three teenagers walked across the way, quite far off.
"They look like basketball players."
I watched them without looking away.
The teenagers turned and seed to be talking to their friend.
Their voices sounded like low grumbling; I couldn’t hear their conversation.
Then they walked closer to . I just stayed still because I didn’t know if they wanted to buy my grilled chicken, so I waited, sitting and playing on the swing while watching them walk closer.
The one walking in front wore a red cap and a striped bandana around his neck.
His shirt was loose, with an NBA logo.
His two friends had similar appearances.
I thought they were big fans of basketball, but their behavior and faces looked rather strange, unfriendly.
I also often thought about my five siblings who were still at the church.
’Are they okay?’
I rarely saw them when cycling around.
Perhaps they played near the church, because if they went out without permission, Sister Leonora would surely scold them.
Pfttt
When I rembered the Sister being angry, I imagined her expression.
It looked very funny.
I sighed, closing my eyes.
’Is Sister okay?’
I smiled slightly, then slowly opened my eyes.
I flinched seeing a pair of dirty sneakers stop right in front of .
I looked up, surprised.
It turned out the three of them had surrounded .
I didn’t notice them; maybe I was daydreaming.
Their cold stares made wonder what they were thinking to look at like that.
"Little bro, are you selling sothing?"
The friend in the back, on the left, glanced at my bicycle parked near .
"Y-Yes, I’m selling, big brother. Would you like to buy? There are still five portions, and they’re still delicious."
I got off the swing. When I heard the question, I thought positively; I was happy they ca to buy.
I quickly opened my basket, taking out one portion box of food.
"Big brother, how many portions do you want to buy?"
As I sorted through the food boxes, I didn’t hear any answer.
I turned my head.
The gaze of the teenager in front was very cold and piercing.
I was a little scared.
But, one of the ones behind him was actually smiling.
I didn’t understand the aning of all this.
"Little bro, hand over the money from your sales right now."
His index finger pointed right in front of my face.
"What?" My voice choked.
"What do you an, big brother? I don’t understand."
I gripped my rattan basket tightly while staring at the three of them.
"Sigh! Stupid kid! You don’t understand, huh? Don’t you go to school, huh? Such simple words can’t even get into your brain!"
The teenager on his right side chid in, holding his head and shaking it cynically.
The teenager in front of snatched my basket and pushed until I fell hard.
My rattan basket ca loose, opened, and all the fragrant grilled chicken spilled out, scattered on the ground.
I whimpered.
Seeing my rchandise was already dirty and unfit for sale, I fell silent.
My gaze was filled with disappointnt.
I crawled, trying to collect the food boxes scattered on the dry ground.
"Hey, bro, don’t be so rough, he’s just a kid."
His friend on the left side held the right arm of the teenager in front, looking at like dirt.
"Let him be. He’s just a poor kid, haha. How ridiculous, who told him to sell here?"
The comnt from his friend on the back right ca through, and he chuckled as he watched pick up so of the scattered food.
The teenager laughed coldly.
"It’s useless, you bum! Who told you to sell here?"
The first teenager walked toward then squatted down, staring at without pity.
"Listen closely. Hand over all the money, or I’m going to smash your bike into scrap tal!"
He gripped the handlebar of my bicycle.
That cold tone pierced my heart.
My eyes welled up, and tears began to stream down. Suddenly, he slapped my back.
"Hand it over quickly! Such a crybaby, you damned kid!"
I endured the pain.
I turned and stared at him.
"Why... why are you so an?! You spilled my rchandise, that’s our capital! I won’t give you the money from my hard work!"
I wailed through my tears.
The teenager spat on the ground, stood up, and stomped hard on my bicycle.
"Hand it over quickly! Or this bike will be destroyed! Feel this!"
He stomped it again until my small bicycle was slamd hard onto the ground.
Because this was a used bicycle, I knew it must be completely broken this ti.
’No! That bike was a gift from Brother Fuji, given when he was secretly starting this business.’
I tried to reach for my bicycle, letting go of the leftover food I had collected earlier.
I gripped the bicycle tightly, using my back as a shield to protect it.
He sneered cynically then kicked my back.
"Feel this, hahaha!"
He kicked repeatedly.
I endured it.
It hurt so much! My breath was ragged.
Fresh, warm blood flowed from my nostrils.
They truly had no pity.
Why were they extorting ? What did I do wrong to them? All I wanted was to sell.
The continuous flow of tears blurred my vision.
I continued to withstand his kicks.
His two friends were busy playing on the swing instead.
It seed these three were genuinely bad people.
"You guys! Stop! What are you doing, you idiots!"
The shouting voice from afar sounded familiar.
I felt a little dizzy, then I collapsed after hearing the sound of quick footsteps running toward .
About five people ca; it seed they wanted to save .
I didn’t get ti to confirm.
Then, everything went dark.
I slowly opened my eyes.
My vision began to clear.
I saw the ceiling of our apartnt.
My body was wrapped in bandages, and my back still hurt.
I tried to sit up.
I wasn’t wearing a shirt, only bandages were visible and my short pants.
Both my knees were also bandaged.
My whole body felt numb.
Not long after, the apartnt room door opened, and I looked over.
"Michael, are you feeling better? I’m sorry for telling you to sell alone!"
Brother Fuji approached.
He cried, hugging tightly.
I returned his hug with a smile.
It turned out Brother Fuji was the one who saved .
However, questions imdiately crossed my mind: what happened to those three, and how did Brother Fuji manage to find at that mont?
"Brother, what happened after that, and why did you et ? Weren’t you cycling toward the west?"
"Michael, I’m sorry. My rchandise was already sold out then, and I was looking for you to help you. I saw you being pushed by those teenagers. I imdiately pedaled my bike to find help from nearby people. When I ca back, you were already slumped over, unconscious, and bruised. I’m sorry I was late, Michael."
I felt happy, then I closed my eyes.
Suddenly, my heart pounded fast.
A cold adrenaline flowed, accompanied by a strange whisper.
"Brother, what about those three people?"
Brother Fuji released his hug, sobbing and wiping away his flowing tears.
"They have been arrested and handed over to the authorities."
I squinted, watching Brother Fuji cry.
My heart felt a pang of pain.
Suddenly, my heart beat faster and faster.
My chest started to burn, like a small fire was burning and pressing against my chest.
’Watch out, you three! You made my brother cry! Just you wait until we et again. Wait until I’m an adult. I will kill all of you!’
I restrained my expression so Brother Fuji wouldn’t suspect anything.
I lay down again, closed my eyes, rembered the incident, until I fell asleep again.
’This is the first ti I’ve felt my heart filled with hatred.’
Then suddenly it happened again, and the mory flash shattered into pieces.
’Why do I feel like my mory is starting to disappear? What’s happening, and where am I?’
The light ca again.
I was forced to look.
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