~ Their Childhood (1) ~

Eugene Kim's grandparents were Korean emigrants who came to America during the Korean Civil War. Gradually they legalised their immigrant documents and settled there.

Naturally, Eugene Kim was born and raised there, he was just like any other native American, but he was always treated as an outcast due to his looks.

One can adapt to foreign accent, conduct, habit, style and social customs but they can never change their looks. Eugene's efficiency and adaptation still was inadequate just because he couldn't hide the fact of him being an Asian.

He had friends around him but also foes who made him feel outcast, enjoyed his discomfiture and humiliation.

*SOBS SOBS*

"Waa! Why do they say such bad words to me...I never hurt anyone...Waa...I want to make friends with everyone...Sobs…'' little Eugene kept crying and whimpering until he heard his friends calling and searching for him.

"Eugene...Where are you?" He heard Jade's voice.

"Ugh! That little punk... Eugene, come out!" Leah shouted, "It's so hot, where did he hide?"

"Found him! I told you he will hide in the playground," said Jade excitedly startling Eugene. He buried his face in his knees.

Leah came running surrounding Eugene. Leah flared ip, "That punk Jake. I wish I could sew his foul mouth with my Granny's stitch machine...Hey, you cry baby! Look at me." Leah scolded him.

"Eugene... Let's go home... Let's make a plan to make Jake and his gang surrender to us," Jade said softly. 

Eugene looked up at them shyly. 

"Yuck! Look at all those tears and snots...Come, let's go home or this heat will melt me," Leah slapped her own forehead. 

"Jade, Eugene, let's play in our house today in the evening," she looked at Eugene, "You, cry baby! Come to my house today evening. We will play there. Now let's go."

Eugene nodded silently. Jade reached out his hand, "Let's vet your snotty face washed first or Auntie will start to worry."

Eugene shyly took his hands. 

Days passed like that. It was either neighbourhood children bullying him and mocking him or school friends and seniors beating him and humiliating him.

One day, when Eugene's friends brought him home, black and blue, his mom dragged him to the Karate Centre in the next neighborhood and enrolled him there.

From the age of 10, Eugene started learning Karate and his personality changed since then.

A year had passed since then. Old friends and foes but mew Grade. Eugene had learnt, "A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye." He had learned to reply violence with violence and to fist with fist.

Older children stopped bullying him, and those who once laughed at him and made him an outcast, started treated him better and tried to flatter him.

One morning, while coming to school, he saw a truck loaded with big boxes come into the neighbourhood. His mother also mentioned about a new family coming in the neighbourhood over the breakfast at the table.

He came into school together with Jade and Leah. Just before the morning prayer their Teacher, Mrs. Jones came with a small, shy boy hiding behind her back. 

She greeted the class with a big smile, "Good Morning, my sweet Pumpkins! We have a new Pumpkin who will join my lovely garden today. Please welcome him."

Everyone looked at her eagerly. The little boy peeked a little and again hid himself behind Mrs. Jones 

Mrs. Jones laughed, "Oh, my shy Pumpkin! Come and greet your new friends. Come come."

She pulled him by her side from her back. He kept standing, still his head lowered. He finally looked up and greeted, "Good Morning, Mrs. Jones and dear friends. I am Shin Ro, I am 11 years old this year…" he mumbled, " And I would love to make new friends…" and again lowered his head shyly. 

There was a frustrating silence in the class. There was low whispering among each other, only a few greeted him back. Mrs. Jones frowned a little and said, "I hope everyone will take care of him. I will come and check on you," he turned to Shin and said, "Go and sit wherever you like. Make new friends and pay attention in the class."

Shin nodded and headed over to the empty seat he spotted just beside the window and it was just next to Eugene's row.

Eugene was still shocked and kept looking at Shin's face. They had a small eye contact. When Shin saw Eugene, his eyes became wide and all glittery, but the shocking look on Eugene's face made him shrink back 

He silently sat in his seat and pulled out a notebook and his pencils. He looked around, with a little bope in his eyes to make some friends...But the disdain in everyone's eyes and face made him shrivelled up 

Eugene was still in shock, and kept looking at Shin. Jade and Leah's light nudge on his back made him come back to his senses, "Eugene, you got a friend, huh? Must feel nice! Go up and talk to him!"

Eugene frowned and said, "How can I just go and talk to him...and I don't want to make friends with him. Hmph! Don't you guys dare to leave me to make friends with him."

Jade and Leah looked at each other and said, "How can I leave you, huh? But don't you think you should be friends with him?"

"Why?" Eugene flared up, "Just because he is an Asian and looks like an Asian, I have to make friends with him? I DON'T WANT TO!"

Shin heard them and looked at Eugene, surprised and frightened. Eugene realised and looked at him, but turned away, with a frown.

The next teacher came and everything went back to normal, except for the glares Shin could feel on him from others.

He opened his text book, but everything was blurry.

The class ended and Shin was about to get up when a hand smacked on his back.

*SMACK*