Chapter 7: The Past

Shin embraced his mom so tight while crying and trembling. He then turned to his dad and hugged both of his parents.

"Dad, Mom, please come back. please... please! Cried, Shin.

"Oh God, why is this happening to me? Why? P-Please… cried Shin repeatedly.

Shin was sobbing while hugging his parents from his lap. He didn't want to let them go, and he didn't know what to do.

A few minutes later, Shin smelled gasoline followed by smoke. And when he lifted his head, the house was already on fire.

Shin ran to the door but the door was locked from the outside. He tried opening the windows but it was also locked from the outside and the fire was starting to grow. He ran through the kitchen and checked the back door but it was also locked from the outside.

Those men poured gasoline all over the house and locked the whole house so no one could escape.

Shin quickly get and opened the toolbox her mother used for gardening and tilling the soil. He picked up the pickaxe and started hitting the back door.

"Mom, Dad, I will! get! You! Out of here! I will never!...let! You burned here. I won't leave you, mom, dad, please hold on a little." He said while continuing to hit the lock until it broke and the door was opened. He was so tired and bruised all over his small hands. But Shin never gives up.

Shin went back to his mom and dad, using all his strength. He tried lifting his mom, but he is too small and weak. He can't carry his mom and dad outside. Shin pushed the center table aside and pulled the carpet. He rolled his mom's body over the carpet and pulled his mom outside. He managed to get his mom out of the burning house and placed his mom in the garden free from fire. He went back inside to get his dad.

Shin ran as fast as he could to the room and got a quilt and rolled his dad over. His dad is heavier than his mom so he struggled a lot. Shen saw the photo album that fell from the center table and picked it up, and then put it over his dad's body. With all his might, he pulled and kept pulling his dad's body until they were in a safe place.

He placed his dad beside his mom and Shin watched their burning house. With a heavy heart, he turned to look at his dad and mom who were laying on the ground lifeless. He sat down beside his mom and dad while sobbing. His little body was so tired, bruises all over and burnt on his skin. Shin couldn't fight the darkness that engulfed his whole consciousness. With a heavy heart, tired, and aching body. He slowly closed his eyes and drifted into a nightmare...

The following day, Shin woke up at the hospital. His expression was blank and thought he had a horrible nightmare. He tried to get up but instantly the incident last night sunk into his mind. "Mom! Dad!" Shin blurted out and was about to get up but was stopped by Marius Dad, Feng.

Feng hugged him while stroking his back to comfort him. "U-Uncle, Mom… Mom and Dad–

Shin couldn't utter the word “dead” and began sobbing again.

"Ssh, ssh, I know, don't say it, don't say it, child. I will bring you to them later, okay?" Feng said and Shin nodded.

"Now, you have to eat, you need strength. You need to regain your energy to face your parents, okay?" Uncle Feng tried to calm him down as he was trembling terribly. He just let the child cry his heart out until he calmed down.

"Your sister Lulu, and Aunt Yu are here for you." Said Feng and Shin followed Feng's hand.

Aunt Yu is preparing the food, while Lulu wipes her tears and she cries along with Shin.

"Shinshin, mom brought your favorite Lotus rib soup. You eat first, alright?" said Lulu, and hug Shin, she wipe the leftover tears onto Shin's face with her thumbs.

"What should I do now sister, Lulu? Mom and Dad... they… they–" Shin couldn't utter the words that he is about to say. "I am all alone now, sister." He said with his raspy voice and tears began to trickle down his face again.

"Shush, little Shin, we're still here. Dad, Mom, Marius, and me. We're all here for you. We're family now, okay? So don't think that you are alone, okay?" She said and hugged the boy until he stopped sobbing.

"Uncle, how could I get here? I remember I lost my consciousness after– Shin couldn't continue and lowered his head thinking of his mom and dad. Uncle Feng holds his little hands that have been bandaged.

"You are so brave Shin, you know that? Your mom and dad didn't get burned because of your bravery. I'm so proud of you little child." Feng gently caresses his hand over the bandages

"After we got back home from your birthday party, Marius told me about the cars that park not far from your house. I also noticed them when we were driving home. There were two men in black suits while sipping cigarettes outside the car and looking in the direction of your house. I didn't pay much attention to it, I thought it was nothing. But after an hour Marius told me that he has a bad perception of those cars. I tried calling your Dad but his phone was turned off. So Marius and I decided to come back and check again if the cars were still there. But they're not there anymore. What we saw is the burning house.

The ambulance and firefighters arrived a few moments before us. I wanted to go in but the police didn't allow me so I couldn't do anything.

I didn't notice Marius had already run and sneaked into the backyard of the house. Until we all heard him screaming and followed him to the backyard… I'm sorry, Shin. If we arrived a little earlier– Feng lowered his head.

"No uncle, you don't have to be sorry, it's not your fault, where is Marius?" He asked

"He is with Dylan right now, he was also shocked and terrified..."

"Now eat before the food gets cold, it's almost afternoon. I will accompany you to see your parents after you eat." Said Feng and Shin nodded.

Shin couldn't hold the spoon because his both hands were covered with bandages. Lulu feeds him and Shin just eats quietly. After eating, his uncle accompanied him to the morgue. And once again Shin broke into tears. His uncle just let him cry and poured all his sorrows and agony. He just remains standing beside Shin, rubbing, and patting Shin's back from time to time until he gradually down.

One week later after the Funeral, the two police officers came back again to ask Shin for the second time. Shin again told the police officers about what he heard from his dad and what happened at their house that night. Nevertheless, the police still didn't believe him just like the day at the hospital when the same police officers got his statement. The police officers insisted that it was just an ordinary robbery. And Shin maybe just hallucinating and under stress and was traumatized.

Although Shin is just 11 years old, he is not stupid to not understand that there's something fishy about the two police officers.

Back then at the hospital, he heard the two officers talking about their boss.

Officer 1: Do we need to give him this drug? He's just a kid, no one will believe him anyway.

Officer 2: Chief ordered us, or do you want to end like that kid's parents as well?

Shin was just pretending asleep. He wanted to run away from the two officers, but he was so scared. From the corner of his eye, he saw one of the officers empty the bottle of medicine on the bedside table and replaced it. Then they sat on the couch pretending that nothing happened until his Aunt and uncle Feng came...

Because of the lack some evidence, Shin couldn't get the right justice for his mom and dad. Shin asked his uncle and Aunt if he could visit his house ‘burned house to be exact.

"Uncle, and Auntie, I want to visit our house, can I?

"Of course, you can, but are you sure? Will you be fine?" Asked Feng.

"I'm sure uncle, I'm fine," replied Shin.

"Okay, but I will go with you," said uncle Feng.

"No, uncle, I want to go alone.

"No! I forbid you to go alone, at least go with Marius or ask your sister Lulu if you are not comfortable with me.

"Yes Uncle, I'm sorry, I know you're just worried about me."

"Don't be sorry, child, take care when you were there, okay? and don't stay there too long. come back before dinner.

Marius, Shin, and Lulu went to Shin's old residence. Shin hesitated at first but he gathered all his courage and stepped inside. The place where his memory of his childhood. The memory of his once-happy family. A loving father and a caring mother.

Shin's eyes started to feel stings, every step he made was too heavy. He couldn't imagine the once happiest place is now gone and burned to ashes. His tears started to trickle down his face and fell to the burnt ground while reminiscing those days with his mom and dad.

"Shin's feet bring him to the garden of his beloved mom. The once colorful garden now turns into ashes. The white, red, orange, pink, and red roses were now like a monochrome world. All he could see now is black and ashes. The house that burned is black, the garden is black. Everything is black as if there are no other colors around. As if the world suddenly becomes black in Shin's eyes.

Shin feels like the world is spinning. His eyes become hazy, and his head is getting heavier.

Marius and Lulu that were standing beside him were fast enough to catch him before he fell to the ground. Shin once again drifted to oblivion.

A few months later

Marius' parents adopted Shin after his parents passed away. Shin continued his studies, even though he is in great sorrow and occupied by nightmares every night. It didn't affect his studies and still managed to be on top. Before the graduation ceremony, The owner of the company that gave them the scholarship abroad met the top 5 students at the principal's office.

Dylan, Riley, Luke, Marius, and Shin were sitting on the long couch at the principal's office together with their parents while waiting for the visitors.

The principal entered the room followed by three other people.

A very beautiful, fine, and elegant woman holding hands with a good-looking man. Shin couldn't understand why his heart is feeling at ease upon seeing the lady and the man smiling at him.