When Zhou Kang woke up, darkness was the only thing that welcomed him. He frowned as he widened his eyes, trying his best to make out of his surroundings.
\”Kang!\” Zhou Kang almost flinched when he heard his mother’s voice. \”KANG! WHERE ARE YOU!\”
He trembled. \”Mama?\” he called out as he tried to calm himself. \”You… Are you here? You are dead… Why are you… I saw you die!\”
A scoff echoed. \”Of course… I am dead. You killed me, you moron!\”
\”That’s not true.\”
\”YOU KILLED ME.\” Her voice turned eerie. \”Murderer!\” it was almost a whisper, a murmur… It was as if…
Zhou Kang stilled. He felt all the color left his face as he slowly turned his head to his left.
Her voice sounded as if she was sitting next to him. But there was… nothing but darkness.
\”Zhou Kang…\” she laughed. \”How are you my son?\” her voice had always been condescending. She was never nice when they were alone. \”Did you see Zhou Wu Ye? He got the highest grade in his class, yesterday. How about you?\”
\”You are not real! Leave me alone!\” Zhou Kang yelled. \”Leave me alone! I don’t want to hear anything from you!\”
\”But why?\” she cackled. \”I only want the best of you. Why don’t you… become like him? Hmmm? Your cousin is perfect in every way. You should act more like him, you know. Fake it till you make it, that sort of stuff.\”
\”Mother, stop!\” Zhou Kang started to tremble as he used his hand to cover his ears. \”STOP! You are not real! Leave me alone!\”
\”Zhou Kannggg…\” she whispered. \”Here let me take a look at your grades. Eh? I thought… I thought you are smart enough to become number one. I guess you are not?\”
She laughed. \”Look at Zhou Wu Ye. He is not only good at sports. He is also good at academics. You can be like him too.\”
\”Why don’t you study more?\”
\”From now on… no more playing. You are not allowed to meet any of your friends unless you get the highest score in your class!\”
\”Are you not embarrassed enough? You… I thought I have given you enough? Why did you fail this class? What will Zhou Wu Ye say when this news spread? You — you are an embarrassment!\”
\”I told you to stay away from that man! He wanted you to fail! Stop playing with Zhou Wu Ye! Can’t you see? He wanted to be the number one and beat you! Then he will show it off in front of you. He will make you feel like the loser that you are.\”
\”STOP IT!\” Zhou Kang shut his eyes, his breathing quickened. Just like a child, he crumbled into the floor and hugged his knees, his lips trembling. \”SHUT UP! That’s not true! I am the best! I am the best of everything!\”
\”Fool!\” Zhou Kang heard his mother’s voice next to him. \”You are a disappointment! You are not my son! I don’t have a son as dumb as you!\”
\”But…\” Zhou Kang trembled. \”But… I already did my best. \” He whimpered.
\”Your best isn’t good enough! You fool! Go kill yourself!\”
\”NO! That is not true!\”
\”Then look at Zhou Wu Ye now… he still won. In the end… he still won. He got everything that was supposed to be yours. The woman, the wealth, a good son. While you…\” he felt a cold air swept through his neck. \”You will rot here. Alone… with me… Ha… Hahaha…\”
In response, Zhou Kang shook his head as if his life depended on it. \”NO… that is not… not true. Just leave me alone! You are dead. You are dead…\” he chanted. \”You are not real. Leave me. You are not real.\”
\”Of course I am not real. You killed me! You, my murderer son, killed me!\” she said in a coarse voice.
\”It was self-defense!\” he yelled. \”I never intended to kill you. I was trying to defend myself!\”
\”What a pathetic loser. That woman must have been laughing at you now as she sat on Zhou Wu Ye’s lap. You moron! Why can’t you become just like him? Look, he got the looks and the brains. Wait… he is rich too. He is everything that is not you. Why don’t you follow his footstep, hm?\”
\”I — I don’t want to become like him! I don’t …\”
\”But he is the best! You have to be the best Zhou Kang. You have to beat him!\”
Zhou Kang turned silent as his mother’s voice continued to assault his senses. He closed his eyes, trying to mask the pain in his orbs. He was the best. How could his mother say that he wasn’t?
All his life, he had competed with Zhou Wu Ye. And he always wins.
\”You know that’s not true.\” She taunted. \”You always lose. You are a born loser. Just like your father.\” Her voice was full of poison.
\”Wait… you killed him too…\” she gave another laughter that sent shivers down his spine. He pursed his lips and memories of his mother’s painful words flashed in his mind. He tried his best to block the voice. But it was futile. All he could hear was the woman’s continuous ranting and curses.
It was as if… he was back in the past. All those hurtful words that his mother said to him, all those insults, all the comparisons. It whirled inside his brain repeatedly, like a never-ending cycle.
*Thud*
\”SHUT UP!\” Zhou Kang yelled as he repeatedly hit his head into the concrete wall. \”LEAVE ME ALONE! This was all your fault! Leave me alone!\” Silence. His mother’s voice stopped.
Zhou Kang opened his eyes, but before he could move, dizziness overtook his senses.
*Click*
The sudden light assaulted his eyes. He squinted, his gaze hazy.
\”He is bleeding! His head is bleeding!\” he heard a muffled voice. \”Call Mr. Zhou, inform him about this matter now.\”
Zhou Kang tried to widen his eyes as he tried to make out of the people inside the room. To no avail. He opened his mouth into a silent scream. He felt his throat itch before it started throbbing.
\”His fever is so high.\” And that was the last thing that Zhou Kang remembered before darkness overtook his senses.
