The little boy grabbed his mother's hand. She let the limb go.
The boy cried out after her.
The mother returned.
The boy smiled.
Tears always bring Mommy back.
Everyone rubbed his head fondly.
"Isn't he just the cutest child? You're so lucky; I'm jealous!"
"Very handsome."
"He looks like a girl almost."
Looks were important the boy learned, to get attention.
'I am beautiful therefore I am'
The boy's parents left.
It wasn't his fault they left.
After all, he was attractive. He was perfect.
That was the nature of his existence.
It wasn't because of him.
The boy arrived at a new home.
New parents. New mother. A new sister.
They gave him anything he wanted.
Even paid attention.
Because he was pretty.
Overtime, the boy had learned that people only liked him for his
Looks.
That was all.
Maybe then, all this time, no one had really liked him at all?
(….not even Mother?)
He ceased to exist.
The boy played dress up with his sister.
He wore frilly dresses and painted his nails.
Their gleam caught his eye as Sister brushed his hair.
"You're so pretty. You could fool so many people."
"Fool people?"
"Yes. You're good at that already."
Sometimes…sometimes sister acted like Mother.
The boy didn't like it. He didn't like remembering.
She had left after all.
She had changed and left.
He was stagnant, but people moved on regardless.
What could he do to get them to stay?
The boy had to make sure he looked good in the morning.
Face washed and moisturized. Hair brushed neatly. Nails trimmed.
'Good.'
Put on a smile. Laugh.
'Perfect.'
Be what people want. Let them use him.
He'll just use them back.
Everyone's the same.
Boring. Cliché. Plain.
But he was different, wasn't he?
Not in a bad way, no, never.
In fact, wasn't he better?
People despise him. People yell at him. People snicker behind his back.
They lie to him. They take advantage. They grab at him.
The boy grows to hate them.
And to love himself more.
"I just want someone to love me unconditionally.
To understand everything, accept my desires,
And encourage and never hinder my needs.
That's what real love is, isn't it?"
The boy hated being alone.
He needed to be surrounded by people.
He needed to be praised.
Give and exchange.
He always lied for their sake, so it's the least they could do.
Then he met her. And she was fat.
And fat was ugly.
She wasn't popular.
Of course, It all made sense.
She was nothing because she was unattractive. He knew this rule of society well.
But she caught his eye.
He looked because he was curious of the outcast.
And she looked back.
Such a straightforward and pure gaze.
She was looking at him right?
He was beautiful.
Of course.
Yet, perhaps, unlike the other girls, she saw something more?
And at the thought of being the god of her small, lonely world, only him,
His heart began to beat.
~ Fin ~
In my opinion, there just wasn't enough explanation or closure in the webtoon for Darin's unhealthy behavior or frame of mind when it came to Berry or himself. So I wrote a little piece to get my mind off of it.