Living in the Background

“I am telling… he start… this co…otion!” The voice was muffled and barely audible.

Boom… boom… boom!

Drums beat in his head loudly. His ears rang and slowly adjusted like turning a knob on a radio. Voices became clearer, but clearly unrecognizable. He doesn’t recall inviting anyone in his home, and he was sure he couldn’t find his spare keys on the way back.

“Aahh… Who the heck is talking so loud…?” He became aware. “Ugh… Did I drink too much again?” He tried to sit up. “W-Why can’t I—move?”

He couldn’t make a single muscle move. His eyes were staring at blank white curtains, but he remembered having red curtains inside. In fact, he didn’t own the bed he was laying on, and he can’t smell the lemon air freshener he bought a week ago.

“Ok… this isn’t funny! Where the f*ck am I?!” He was trapped with his thoughts. “Did I get drugged and kidnapped? Sh*t… I told Antonnio I’ll pay next week!”

The place, however, wasn’t Antonnio’s place. It was too clean and it doesn’t smell like beer and leftovers. He managed to move his fingers and pushed out a twitch with his arms and legs. The voices behind him were arguing and it was not about him this time.

“They are children, madam! They get into fights, as many boys do…” said a deep, masculine voice.

“Do not give me such reasons!” The other voice spoke back with venom. Female and on the mature spectrum.

Thump!

“My boy is an angel... That fiend is a devil incarnate.” the venom filled voice accused.

“Ahem…” Someone responded, sounding attacked.

“Hmm, why do I feel I’m the problem again?”

As they bickered, he tossed his shoulder to the soft sheets, then pulled it back. This made him be in a twisted position. He switched to moving his arms and legs again, and he couldn’t lift them. Can’t feel a thing until electricity surge thought his body. Warmth soon followed, but his muscles begin to be wrung themselves.

“Goodness! I-Is he waking-up?” A distressed voice of a woman sounded excited.

“No, he must be dreaming.” Answered a rough voice from a man.

“Unbelievable!” The venomous woman sighed.

Pain was calling and it was going to be a rude awakening for his receptors. Intensity was rising like increasing the power output of a generator. Best thing he could do now was grit his teeth and pray for mercy.

“Oh sh*t… Here comes a big one.”

His body shook and the bed rattled. The pain thundered all over him and was latching into his very fibers. Luckily, it was slowly receding and he only had to wait. But he spoke too soon.

Thud thud creek clank

Clak clak clak—

He suddenly gasped.“…Aaaaah!!!” His back arched off the bed. ”Jesus Christ! This hurts like hell!"

“Aah! He’s possessed!” The venomous woman shrieked.

“Ma’am, please calm down. It’s only muscle contractions.” A different voice reassures.

Rough hands grabbed his shoulders to stop him from shaking. The hands belonged to a man and hi face was straight and cold, having seen worse things in his career as a medical practitioner. But his efforts mostly worked, but it didn’t save the pillow and blanket falling off the bed.

"Son?" his eyes turned wide. “Me? You sir… are no older… than my niece!”

The man placed his hand on the lower chest. He pressed down until the back met with the soft cushion. Soft embrace of the bed didn’t help much with alleviating the pins pricking his nerves, but it showed signs of subsiding at least.

“D*nm it… I wish this was a hangover.” He groaned; fingers clutched tightly on the bed frame. “But I probably shouldn’t be drinking in my fifties…”

Steadying his breath, he turned his head to see the environment. Then he spotted a mirror with a reflection of a boy, looking back at him. He blinked and the boy in the mirror did too. Experimenting, he showed his teeth, tongue, and lastly— he smiled.

“What—in God’s name am I looking at?” He was stuck staring. “I-Is that’s—ME?!”

“Good, you’re awake. We have a lot to discuss Mr. Williams.”

Tap tap tap…

She stood close to him, wearing large pearl earrings. She was an old woman with short brown hair, round glasses, and a black uniform with white round collars. Now, he knew who the venomous voice belonged to.

“You are in deep trouble, young man. Not only did you cause distress to my poor boy, you also destroyed school property.” She looked down on the boy with clear distain.

He didn’t like her already and decided to focus on the ceiling. It was egg-shell white with a single tube of light stuck to it. The light was humming with the soreness he had. It was difficult to think of anything when his limbs felt both weak and sore. On the bright side, he wasn’t feeling like sh*t as he usually did.

“What kind of Isekai BS is this?” His eyes swept the room. “Is this hell?”

“What are you doing?” The older lady and gave a disapproving look.

“Uhmm… ignoring you?” The boy could only look at her. “… … …” He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

“Please son, don’t move.” The man took out a comically large stethoscope cope. “Let me see what’s ticking.”

The man gently pressed the cold piece on his chest, over the black shirt with a printed skull. Baggy shorts cover his lower torso and his feet had worn out shoes. Said footwear was never taken off while he lay the white, and he wanted to protest.

“Uh huh... Well, headmaster?” The doctor called from somewhere.

“Yes, what is your assessment, doctor?”

An aged man walked out of the curtain covers and stood by the foot of the bed. Clean and pristine like nobles from the Victorian era, but he had more of a wise look than being pompous. Eyes were weighted down by experience and now it meticulously inspected the him.

“The boy is fine. Normal heart rate and breathing. No complications...” He then pressed a finger on his head. “But I need to check for the head injury.”

“Oww! [Beep]” The boy finally made a sound. “Did I just made make a Beep?”

GASP!

He furrowed bushy brow and a darken expression. “Language, Mr. William!” The headmaster scolded.

“Disrespectful little devil.” The old lady jabbed in a comment of her own.

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth, son?” The doctor shook his head.

“Says the [Beep] that touched my injury!”. He spoke aggressively.

“God [Beep] it…” The boy immediately froze. “Eh? W-Was that a censor tone actually from ME?”

“Gasp!” they cried out in unison once more.

SLAP!

Cursing earned him a smack to the face. It stung and definitely burned a hand mark on his cheek. The hand that struck him was from a younger woman with wet eyes, as if she didn’t want to do what she just did. Behind her was another man, likely her partner, staring down at him like he was going to whoop his ass.

“Don’t speak another word, James!” A woman, in a floral dress, spoke firmly, her eyes started watering.

“Serves you right, boy.” The old woman cackled.

“Mrs. Peterson!” The headmaster snapped.

“Piece of [Beep]! To heck with women’s rights!” James jumped out of bed and was ready to tackle.

“James! Be silent!” The doctor grabbed and pushed James’ back to the bed.

Yoink! thud!

“Show some respect!” The doctor’s grip squeezed tightly. “I wasn’t careful… so please—calm down!”

"Aah!" James could feel the doctor squeezing his bones.

He tried to shake himself off him; spasming and wiggling like a worm being sprinkled with salt. But he didn’t have much strength left to use. The strength difference between him and the doctor was huge. With no other way, his cheek flopped on the bed and stooped resisting. The young woman was biting her lower lip while she watched, her fingers were clutching her dress tightly.

“I’ll… cooperate. But who are you people?” James spoke, exasperated. “Where… am I? Who… am I?”

It was complete silence when he said that. Got them all wide eyed and made them look at the doctor for answers. The doctor loosens his grip and pulled back before rubbing his chin.

“Son… do you know where you are?”

“Definitely not… a place I know.” He replied lazily.

“Do you know who they are?” He nodded to the couple.

“Not… a clue. I’m supposed to be in… my apartment. But I’m surrounded by you guys.”

He clicked his tongue. “God, I was afraid of this...”

“What do you mean, doctor?”The woman’s voice cracked.

“W-well...” He loosened his tie. “He may have lost his memories due to the blunt force trauma. Which may also affect your child’s mind. Mixing and overlapping memories and information.”

“What are you implying, Doctor?” The headmaster walked closer to him.

“What do you mean by that? This...” Mrs. Peterson snarled. ”Child... forgot who he is?” She shook her head. “Great, just great…”

"Huu... this is a predicament.” The old man wiped sweat off his brows.

“Headmaster... He might just be pretending!”

He turned to him. “Young William, do you recall the events that led you here to begin with?”

“Beats me…” James shrugged and the headmaster looked at him sternly. “I mean—Sir…” He cleared his throat. “I do not have any recollection of what is happening nor do I recognize who all of you are. I don’t recall what happened prior to being hospitalized here. I apologize.”

All their brows peaked and they all exchanged looks with one another before landing back to the doctor. The doctor simply combed back his hair and crossed his arms over his chest. He turned his head to the headmaster and shook it.

“Gods... We have no choice but to discuss this on a later date.” The headmaster ordered.

“Wait Headmaster… Headmaster Stroume! What about my boy?”

“Mrs. Peterson, can you not see how serious the situation is?” He pointed his cane at James. “That boy is apologizing! This has changed things and this need to be resolved.” he explained, with firm resolve. “Doctor, send the boy home. Let us go, Mrs. Peterson.”

“Uff… I shall have complaints about this!”

Thump… thud thud thud…

She turned around, opened the glossy varnished door, and walked away. The door was closing, but the headmaster caught it. His sights landed on the woman sobbing on the man’s shoulder for a moment before addressing the doctor.

"Sigh... I’m getting too old for this.” The headmaster muttered before leading himself out.

The doctor’s eyes followed the old man as he closed the door behind him. After that, the doctor turned around and found James looking straight past him. So, he followed the boy’s line of sight to a calendar on the wall.

“Am I reading that right, Doc? 1977? USA?”

“Yes, today is 1977. Land of the brave, home of the free”

“Today? In the USA?” he repeated and closed his eyes. “I’m screwed; I’m not a U.S citizen to begin with!”

Pop!

A blue panel appeared in mid-air. Showing James status and condition, but he didn’t react to it like anyone would expect. His eyes move from left to right and took in the details he saw.

———

[Name]: James Roger William (Carlos Santo Sumaca)

[Age]: 10 (57)

[Condition]: Recovering from head injury…

[Status]: Background Cast (Permanent)/ ???

[Title]: Trouble Maker

[Overall Reputation]: Refer to [Title]

[Note]: Welcome to the world of the living. Good Luck with life.

———

“Well… Eff me.” His head fell back.