My parents never smiled at me since the day I was born.

3

Staring at my mother's flat stomach, I cried in a corner where no one noticed.

It was an ugly cry, but thankfully, no one was paying attention.

I should never have been born. My very gender was a mistake.

I was in a slump for a while. I started spacing out in class and messing with my classmates after the bell.

It wasn't for any particular reason, except that I saw how the bad kids got their parents called in when they caused trouble. I wanted my parents to get called in, too.

It was fine not to be loved. Just a little attention would be enough.

"Look at her. She's just an unwanted stray. Her parents don't even care about her!"

"Haha! Uncared for and unloved!"

One day, as I was napping on my desk, I heard mocking laughter from nearby.

I looked toward the voice. It was the class's notorious troublemaker, and the one he was mocking was me.

It all started because of the parent-teacher conference on Sunday. No one from my family showed up, so he started calling me an unwanted stray. I wanted to argue back—I have parents! I'm not an unwanted stray.

But... he wasn't wrong. It was true. No one looked after me.

I thought if I just ignored him, he'd say his piece and move on. I never expected him to come and bother me again today.

"Will you just give it a rest?! You've got nothing better to do, is that it?!"

I shot him a vicious glare, hoping it would shut him up.

But who was he? He was the biggest asshole in our class. Seeing me get angry only egged him on.

"Ooh, getting all bent out of shape over a few words? Figures. You're just an unwanted stray with no manners!"

"Say that again, I dare you!"

I was the one my parents ignored. It was fine as long as only I knew it. I couldn't stand to hear anyone else say it.

It was like a thorn in my heart. I was willing to endure the pain, no matter how deep it went, as long as I could do it in silence.

Having the deepest wound in my heart exposed like this would drive me mad.

I grabbed him by the collar. 'If he says one more word, I'm punching him in the face.'

"Rhoda Valerius, what's with the tough act? My parents told me all about you. They know all about your name and how your parents just wanted a son. Nobody at your home gives a damn whether you live or die."

"You...!"

I couldn't take it anymore. With all my might, I slammed my fist into his face.

The truth is, I regretted it the moment I hit him.

I'd unleashed all my pent-up bitterness on him like some vengeful ghost. But he was just the trigger. The real culprits were somewhere else entirely.

"You... you unwanted stray! You hit me! I'm my family's precious treasure! My parents won't let you get away with this!"