Myths About Love Is The Key

"Uncle, please stop!" I shouted, my voice trembling with fear. This is the worst situation I could ever be in. My uncle, or should I say, my stepfather, was trying to force himself on me.

"Don't be like that, Haruto-kun. I'm just going to give you my love," he grinned, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. My mother was still at work, and a wave of despair washed over me. She won't believe me, I thought, my heart sinking. She never does. She hadn't believed me when I'd tried to tell her about the abuse before. She was blinded by her love for this monster.

He was too strong for me to fight back. I tried to kick and punch, but he easily dodged and restrained me. He tore off my shirt, and I trembled, not from the cold, but from the terror that gripped me. Just then, the front door swung open.

"What's happening here?!" My mother's voice, sharp with anger, cut through the tension. Relief flooded through me. This time, she'll believe me, I thought, clinging to that hope. This time, it will stop.

"Honey, I didn't intend to..." My stepfather began, his voice a pathetic attempt at an excuse. But before he could finish, my mother rushed towards us.

What happened next shattered my world. Instead of comforting me, she slapped me. Hard. Again and again, until my face was burning, my nose bleeding, and my vision blurred. I couldn't believe it. My mother, the one who had cherished me after my father left, was now hurting me, blaming me.

"Why did you seduce my husband, Haruto?!" she screamed, tears streaming down her face. I tried to hold back my own tears, the pain in my heart far greater than the pain in my body.

"You really are the misfortune of my life!" she continued, her voice raw with emotion. "If only you were a girl, your father wouldn't have left me! And now you're trying to seduce my new husband? For what? To destroy my happiness?"

"Stop it, honey," my stepfather said, wrapping his arms around her. She sobbed against his chest, the man who should have been protecting me now comforting her. The woman who should have been protecting me now accusing me.

"Mom..." I tried to speak, but my stepfather cut me off.

"I think you should let him live with his father," he said coldly. "If he continues living in our household, our house will be destroyed."

My eyes widened in horror. My father was even worse than my stepfather. He would beat me until I lost consciousness. Violence was his only way of communicating.

"Mom, please don't do that!" I begged, kneeling before her, my head bowed. "I promise I will be a good son! I won't be a misfortune to you!"

But when I looked up at her, all I saw was hatred.

"No, Haruto-kun. It's better for you to be with your father," she said, her voice devoid of any warmth or compassion.

I stared at her, tears finally spilling down my cheeks, feeling utterly betrayed and alone.

Within an hour, my things were packed. I was still in shock, unable to process what was happening. My mother called my father, and two hours later, he arrived.

He looked at me with annoyance, not even bothering to acknowledge my ripped shirt or the bruises on my face. He simply grabbed my luggage and tossed it into the back of his car.

I tried to get into the front seat, but his words stopped me cold.

"Haruto-kun, don't sit in the front. The seat will get dirty," he said with disgust. "I already put some fabric on the back seat. You can sit only where that fabric reaches. Don't try to make the seats dirty."

My heart ached, but I nodded silently and climbed into the back, carefully perching on the small piece of fabric, my body tense and rigid.

We arrived at a sprawling estate, a stark contrast to the modest home I shared with my mother. My father was a millionaire, obsessed with archaic traditions and superstitions. He had left my mother because I was born a boy, believing that a firstborn son would bring misfortune to the family. He had remarried a woman from a family with a long lineage of firstborn daughters.

Maids helped him carry my luggage inside, but instead of taking it to a room, they were instructed to bring it to the old storage room.

"Haruto-kun, from now on, you will live in that storage room," my father said, his voice dripping with disdain. "And you are not allowed to enter my house. I'm only letting you stay in that storage room so I won't look bad to others."

I thought it was fine, as long as I had a place to stay. But that night, another tragedy unfolded.

Someone entered the dark, dusty storage room. The only light came from a flickering candle, and the air was filled with the scurrying of rats and the buzzing of mosquitoes.

"Haruto-kun, are you there?" a familiar girl's voice called out. It was Kyoka Reina-chan, my stepsister. I knew she wouldn't bring anything good.

"Ye... Yes, I'm here," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

She stepped into the dim light, her hazelnut brown hair and chestnut eyes a stark contrast to the grime and shadows surrounding us.

"Why are you here, Reina-chan? Do you need any help from me?" I tried to be polite, but she looked at me with disgust.

"Don't act like we're close. Don't call me by my first name," she snapped.

"So... sorry," I mumbled, looking down at the floor.

"Anyway, I'm here to end your suffering," she said, a cruel smile twisting her lips.

Before I could understand what she meant, she tore off her dress and screamed for help, her voice echoing through the house. My father and the guards rushed in.

"Wha... what happened, Reina-chan?" My father's voice was filled with concern as he rushed to her side.

"Ha... Haruto-kun tried to rape me, father," she cried, her voice trembling convincingly.

My father's face contorted with rage, and he lunged at me, hitting me repeatedly.

"How dare you do that kind of evil thing to my daughter!" he roared.

"I didn't..." I tried to explain, but he struck me again, silencing me. He continued to beat me until I lost consciousness.

"I hesitated to let you in on my estate when your mother called, but I still let you in," he spat. "But what have you done?"

"Hit him until he won't be able to move!" he commanded his guards. "Let him receive the punishment he deserves!"

They obeyed, their blows raining down on me until I blacked out.

I woke up in an unfamiliar alley, my clothes torn and my body aching. I couldn't move. I was bleeding. My luggage lay beside me, thankfully. I cried, the memories of that day flooding back, the pain of betrayal and abandonment overwhelming me. Everyone thought of me as a nuisance, a misfortune. I shouldn't have existed.

My throat was dry, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I cried until I lost consciousness again.

When I woke up this time, I was in a room with beautiful furniture. Someone had found me and brought me to their home. It was a doctor named Takashi Renji-san, and his son, Takashi Akihito-kun, who was my age.

Dr. Takeshi Renji-san helped me recover, and seeing my situation, he and his wife, Mrs. Takashi Misaki-san, decided to adopt me. They had a daughter, Takashi Aika-chan, who was a few years older than us.

My birth parents readily agreed to the adoption, eager to sever all ties with me. It hurt, but I was also relieved. I finally had a loving family, even if we weren't related by blood.

My new parents allowed me to use my birth mother's last name, even though it was a complicated process. I wanted to keep that name, a reminder of the mother who had once loved and cared for me.

I started attending the same school as Akihito-kun. We were both in 4th grade, but in different classes. I was always placed in Class A, while Akihito-kun was in Class B. Even though we weren't in the same class, we ate together during breaks and walked to and from school together.

I was happy with this family. I cherished them, but I was always aware of my place. I never asked for anything, and I was always grateful for what they gave me. They treated me like their own, but deep down, I was still traumatized. I was afraid to get close to anyone, afraid of being abandoned again.

I studied hard, but I kept a low profile. I didn't want to outshine Akihito-kun or Aika-chan. I tried to distance myself, but it was hard with Akihito-kun always clinging to me. He introduced me to his friends, Kobayashi Riku-kun, Mizuno Keisuke-kun, and Mizuno Yusuke-kun, and they became my friends too.

But I had a secret, one that only Akihito-kun knew. I admired someone. He was my classmate in 4th grade, the coolest and smartest kid in school. He excelled in everything, and he had a handsome face. He was perfect. I didn't feel any romantic attraction to him; I was just inspired by him. He was the perfect role model. But in reality, I envied him. He could smile, achieve his goals, and he had a happy family.

The boy I admired, or should I say envied, was named Kobayashi Takeshi-kun. I had always watched him from afar, like a shadow, admiring his brightness. But everything changed in my third year of high school. Our seating arrangement was changed, and I was placed next to him. The person who never knew I existed was now beside me. I felt shy and scared.

What surprised me even more was that even though he looked bored in class, he still topped the exams and excelled in all school activities. The classroom was warm, and he opened the window, causing a gust of wind to blow dust onto my glasses. I took them off to clean them, and that's when he saw me clearly for the first time.

"Wh... Why are you here?" he blurted out, his voice filled with surprise.

I looked at him, confused. Did he know me? But how could he? We had never spoken, never even made eye contact before. It was the first time I truly looked into his eyes.

I didn't know what to feel. I was happy that he seemed to know me, but there was also a hint of disgust in his expression that made me uncomfortable.

The bell rang, signaling break time. Everyone left the room, but I was exhausted. I had only slept for two hours the night before, working my part-time job to save money for college. I didn't want to depend on Akihito-kun's family any more than I already had.

I laid my head on my desk, hoping to catch a few minutes of sleep. I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, someone was kicking my chair, waking me up.

"Hey. Wake up. Class is starting," a sharp voice said. It was Kobayashi-san.

Did I do something wrong? I wondered, my heart sinking. Why is he treating me like this? The person I idolized seemed to dislike me. Maybe I had misunderstood him. Maybe I didn't deserve to be close to him. Maybe it was better to admire him from the shadows.

"Thank you... for waking me up," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper.

Throughout the class, I could feel his gaze on me, as if my presence was a distraction. Maybe I should ask the teacher to change seats tomorrow. I didn't want to bother him.

When the bell rang, I was still sleepy, so I decided to take another nap before meeting Akihito-kun at the cafe. I could feel Kobayashi-san rushing to leave, as if he couldn't wait to get away from me.

Was it something I did? I wondered. Or does he just not like being around me?

My thoughts were interrupted by two classmates whispering behind me.

"Look at Fujimoto-kun, sleeping again. He's such a weirdo."

"Yeah, that guy always acts like he's better than everyone else, but his grades are just average."

Their laughter stung. I had never acted superior to anyone. I just wanted to stay under the radar.

Their conversation ended abruptly when someone kicked the door. I peeked to the side and saw it was Kobayashi-san.

Maybe he just doesn't like gossip, I thought, trying to find a positive explanation for his actions. I had been watching him for years, and I knew he was kind, even if he often got into trouble.

I dozed off again, and my phone's ringing woke me up. It was a text from Akihito-kun, saying he was already at the cafe. I quickly packed my things and rushed to meet him.

When I arrived, I saw Kobayashi-san with a beautiful girl. It was his ex-girlfriend, and they seemed to be getting back together. I quickly averted my gaze and looked for Akihito-kun.

I found him looking distraught, and Yuto-kun, one of Kobayashi-san's friends, was cleaning up a broken glass on the floor.

"Haruto-kun, I accidentally dropped a glass and broke it," Akihito-kun said, his eyes filled with tears.

I comforted him, and we sat down at a table near where Yuto-kun was cleaning up. My mind drifted back to an incident in junior high.

We were short on female characters for a play, and I was forced to dress up as a girl.

"Fujimoto-kun, you really look so beautiful, ahahaha," one of the guys had said, and everyone laughed.

I tried not to be embarrassed. I knew that if I were a girl, I'd be considered attractive. I looked a lot like my mother, and I was often teased about my appearance.

"Kobayashi-san!" one of the girls called out, and he walked over. He was always friendly and approachable, especially with girls.

"Kobayashi-san, do you want to date one of our classmates?" the guy who had teased me earlier said, and everyone laughed again.

Kobayashi-san looked at me, his expression initially soft, but then it turned to disgust when he realized I was a boy.

"I'll never date a guy, hahaha," he said, but the look in his eyes stayed with me.

That incident had reinforced my fear of getting close to anyone. I wasn't gay, but I also wasn't interested in pursuing any romantic relationships. I just wanted to avoid any more trouble or pain.

That must be why Kobayashi-san is disgusted with me, I thought. He probably still remembers that incident.

"Haruto-kun?" Akihito-kun's voice brought me back to the present.

"Sorry, Akihito-kun. I was just deep in thought," I said, taking a deep breath.

Akihito-kun looked at me with concern, but it was Yuto-kun's glare that caught my attention. He seemed annoyed that Akihito-kun and I were so close. I knew Yuto-kun liked Akihito-kun, even if he didn't realize it himself.

Akihito-kun also seemed oblivious to Yuto-kun's feelings. I remembered the first time we had come to this cafe, back in middle school. We had stumbled upon it by chance, and it was crowded. The only available seats were at a table with Yuto-kun. He had let us sit with him, and that's how Akihito-kun and Yuto-kun had met.

Since then, Akihito-kun had been eager to come back, hoping to see Yuto-kun again. It turned out that our first visit had also been Yuto-kun's first time at the cafe. He had started coming regularly after that, drawn by Akihito-kun, just as Akihito-kun was drawn to him.

They were both oblivious to their own feelings, dancing around each other, waiting for the other to make the first move.

I wasn't gay, but I supported their potential relationship. I wanted them to find happiness.

We left the cafe, and I could feel Yuto-kun's glare on my back. I chuckled to myself. He was jealous, but Akihito-kun was just my brother.

"By the way, Haruto-kun," Akihito-kun said, breaking the silence. "I noticed how rude Kobayashi-san was to you earlier."

I stopped walking and faced him. "It's fine. Don't worry," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"No, it's not," Akihito-kun insisted. "I know how much you idolized him. I know you wanted to be like him. Why is he acting like that? Is it because of that incident in junior high?"

I sighed. "Please calm down. I'm okay. It's not like I care about him anymore. Yes, I idolized him, but before that, I envied him. Nothing has changed."

We arrived home, and dinner was almost ready. I went to my room to change, then joined my family in the dining room. I always made sure to be on time for meals.

"Haruto-chan, can I ask a favor of you?" my adoptive mother asked, her voice laced with concern.

I looked at her, determined to fulfill her request. "What is it, Mother?"

"You're in your last year of high school, and I want you to get into a good university," she said. "Can you grant Mom's wishes? If it's possible, can you become the top student of your class? If you can't, it's fine. I don't want to pressure you, but this mom of yours wants all the best for you, and I know you're not giving your best in your class, so I hope you can do it."

Her words might have sounded demanding to others, but her tone was gentle and encouraging. It was the first time she had asked anything of me, and it filled me with a warmth I hadn't felt in a long time.

"Don't worry if you outshine Aki-chan," she added with a smile. "He's not good at academics, so I don't expect that from him. He has a great talent for making art, so that's where I expect him to excel the most."

Akihito-kun nodded in agreement, and Aika-chan burst into laughter, teasing him playfully. My adoptive father smiled at the scene, and I felt a sense of belonging that I had never experienced before.

"I will do it, Mother," I said, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "I promise to be the top of my class."

It was as if the shackles that had been holding me back had finally been released. I felt a surge of motivation, a desire to prove myself, not to others, but to myself.

And maybe, just maybe, to the boy I had been secretly admiring for so long. The boy who now sat beside me in class, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil within me. The boy who haunted my dreams.

Kobayashi Takeshi-kun.