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“Why?”
“Why can’t I see?”
“Why can’t I breath?”
“SOMEBODY…. ANYBODY!”
“Help”
Bakugou Katsuki held his breath for a few seconds before releasing it slowly. He kept on rocking back and forth, trying to count to ten and letting out puffs of air. It was not the first time a panic attack overcame him and forced him to endure. Nobody could know, however, because weakness was something he could never show . Bakugou lost his parents to a tragic car accident when he was 5 years old. None of his relatives from either parent wanted to take him in or deal with the responsibility of having a problem child so he became a ward of the country. Living in an orphanage was tough at first, having to deal with other kids picking on him, not having enough food or privacy. But, just like everything, Bakugou learned how to endure. He got used to being the oldest kid in the orphanage since nobody wanted to adopt him. The workers would encourage him to smile and be polite to any possible “parents”, so he did. He would put on the biggest smile and interact with the adults hoping that one of them would take him home with them. The adults, however, would steer clear from him and instead pick one of the younger kids. In the beginning, Bakugou would feel hurt that nobody wanted him but after his twelfth time being passed over, he got over it. He smiled to himself since nobody else would smile at him, he learned to laugh by himself and hide his tears. He kept his sadness to himself and kept on living in the orphanage.
Going to school was a tough experience for Bakugou because nobody knew that he was an orphan who would get passed over repeatedly. Nobody knew that he had no real home to go to or parents who were waiting for him with hugs and kisses. Whenever the school would put on productions and award ceremony Bakugou did not have anybody clapping for him. The few teachers who knew of his situation would clap politely while the rest of the class would snicker behind his back.
“There are rumors that Bakugou was so bad as a baby that his parents ended up returning him to the hospital”, kids would whisper.
“Doesn’t he have any friends?”
“Why does he eat the same thing every day?”
“ I heard one of the cafeteria ladies give him a free cookie because he had nothing to eat.”
The constant gossip about his personal life gave Bakugou anxiety because of cruel his classmates could be. If they only knew the truth about his parent’s demise and his living situation.
“Nobody can know.”
“ I don’t want anybody’s pity.”
Bakugou wished heroes existed in the real world. A hero would swoop in and save Bakugou by giving him a home and giving him plenty of hugs and kisses. If only heroes existed.
“One more year.”
“One more year.”
“What am I going to do now?”
Bakugou’s upcoming birthday meant that he would officially be considered an adult and thus expected to find a place on his own and be required to leave the orphanage. The orphanage that became the only home Bakugou has ever known and soon enough will be taken away from him.
“Why did you guys have to go?”
“Couldn’t you take me with you?”
Bakugou’s dreams of enrolling in college would end up being postponed as he worked two jobs that barely made ends meet but it was enough to keep him off the streets. He couldn’t afford any food besides dented canned foods marked down in price, instant ramen packages, and the occasional chocolate that were close to expiration. Beverages were no problem since he drank tap water every day. Sometimes if he saved enough he would splurge on a soda can which he made sure lasted him for a while so he could savor the taste.
“Maybe in 5 years, I can enroll in college”
“Pfft, that was a good one.”
By the time Bakugou turned twenty-three he had acquired another part-time job on the weekend which allowed him to buy decent groceries for once. Better food meant less concerned coworkers asking him why he was so thin and looked so tired. Having three jobs meant Bakugou barely slept during the day.
“Maybe I can save up for college…. Eventually.”
That day never came.