"Does not make sense!" Ben shouted angrily as they arrived at the school's parking lot.
“ It confounds the fucking senses ! How can you get suspended while that kid, that Bowleans, is lounging in the Hospital! Oh, I wouldn't blame you, son. I would be angry if you just keep quiet. I mean, at least provide evidence that I can clearly see that you're actually guilty! Instead of giving a suspension just because one student broke his arm! Hah, really pisses me off! What kind of school is this?! Damn school!”
The car door slammed shut so Luke could feel the glass windows vibrate with Ben's anger. Even during the trip, Ben continued to grumble because earlier the Headmaster had directly sanctioned Luke.
"But anyway, Mr. Bright, I regret to inform you that he—this Luke Bright—will be subject to a suspension from school for the next five days.”
With the addition of Mrs. Cindy, "Of course they will provide proper assistance and testimony if Miss Bowleans will bring this case to the realm of law, sir ."
And after that, without saying much more, Benjamin immediately got up from the chair and came out. Luke followed him. Before long, a voice came from the doorway behind them that Mrs. Cindy kinda shouted at Luke and Benjamin.
"They'll send Luke's warrant tomorrow, sir . Thank you for coming.”
Even so, Luke and Ben left the room. Rei Suzurao, who really seemed to be still waiting in the corridor in front of the Principal's office, followed with small steps. Trying to level with Luke to whisper questions. So, Luke also reflexively slowed down so that their conversation would not be heard by Ben who was already sixteen feet ahead.
"So how was it? What did the headmaster say in there, Luke?"
Luke shrugged resignedly. He replied, "Not so good, Rei. The principal gave me a suspension of five days."
Rei suddenly held his breath and shook his head.
" What? No, he can't do that! Did the headmaster himself give you that suspension?"
"Yes."
"He just gave it away?"
"Yes."
" Still, he shouldn't be tho . Why didn't the headmaster investigate first? I mean, technically you're innocent, Luke. You did it for me… I'm, ah, I'm sorry." Rei lowered his head and looked very apologetic.
"Stop apologizing. Jeez." Luke tapped his forehead reflexively.
"That can't be," Rei said gloomily, "Still… it's my fault."
Luke stopped and turned around to face Rei who really looked sorry. Actually Luke was also surprised, why would anyone feel guilty for something that wasn't his fault like Rei Suzurao. Luke thinks girls are taking their feelings too deep.
So, Luke hugged her and said, "Okay…let's just say it was your fault. But, the reason Patricia broke her arm is because I did it knowingly. It happened of my own free will, okay? So, don't keep apologizing." or put on this look again. It pisses me off. Don't overdo it. Get to this point understand?!"
Luke took off the hug, while Rei's face turned red. The girl nodded weakly and almost said; " I'm sorry… " and quickly replaced with a question;
"Then where are you going, Luke?"
"Home, of course," Luke answered as he continued on his way. "You yourself, why even follow me? You're not going to class?"
"Erm… I meant to skip Spanish class so I could keep you company."
"Hey, don't be like that."
"It's okay. After all, it's too late for class now. Miss Andréa won't allow anyone who is late to enter her class," Rei said, grinning.
Luke smiled back, but Ben seemed to be waiting next to the car so Luke couldn't stay here too long.
" Well , I appreciate your trying to ditch class for me, Rei. But now Benjamin can't wait any longer. Look, he's been getting sullen since he came here. So, I need to go right now ."
"Oh okay." Rei looked disappointed. Even so, Luke still left and Rei kept standing at the school's main door, starting from Luke getting into the car while waving his hand, to the car that disappeared at the turn of the school gate.
In the end, Luke was hit with a five-day suspension and that would be recorded in the report and could deduct points. But actually Luke doesn't really care whether he gets a suspension or not. After all, Luke was a bit lucky because what the school clinic doctor had worried about didn't happen. No police came. Instead, the emergency call was then connected to the nearest hospital to immediately send an ambulance used to transport Patricia. Luke knew these details because Amy told him through a message Luke just received after he was in the car and Amy's response was just as annoyed as Rei after Luke told him he was getting suspended for the next few days.
' What?! That bald guy gave you a suspension?! That's ridiculous! He should be the one getting the punishment because he only has seven strands of hair! ' So the contents of the message. More or less, making Luke smile amused.
But then again, it's not the punishment that weighs on him. But what came to mind was Ulfa. How to explain it to him if the letter from school comes tomorrow. This is also what Ben brought up recently.
“Ah… what should I say to Ulfa? You,” Ben glared at Luke. Emphasizing his increasingly hoarse voice. “You don't have to tell Ulfa anything, got it? He might faint if you tell him suddenly. Let me say. Hah… I'm not sure Ulfa wants to hear this news. Even though they have to pack up tonight."
Hearing Ben speak like that made Luke remember again that Ulfa and Benjamin had to leave tomorrow. As previously mentioned, Ulfa has to have her health check-up every few months and Benjamin will be waiting for her so that Luke is always at home alone. In the past, Luke once whined that he wanted to go, but Ulfa and Ben strictly forbade him because they said the hospital where the check-up was held was not child-friendly. That's how it is.
So, back to the case that happened to Luke. When they got home, Ulfa was already home. Ben whispered softly to Luke before going inside.
"I picked up Ulfa right after the call from your school, so she shouldn't know anything about it."
Ulfa was asleep when Luke peeked into her room. A second later, Ben came into the room, held Ulfa's hand then suddenly pushed Luke away from the doorway because he wanted to close the door.
"Step aside, son. Please fetch cold water in a basin and place it by the door," he ordered.
Luke did as he was told and thought nothing of it except that Ulfa might have a fever or something. Twenty minutes later, Ben came out of the room, walked to the wall calendar, looked at it for a moment and immediately took three large suitcases from the basement. He asked Luke to prepare some necessities without making a lot of noise, while he called someone in the next room. While packing the things Ben and Ulfa needed into a suitcase, Luke suddenly remembered something.
" But… wait a sec, Ben ," said Luke when Ben returned to the same room with him. Turning to him slowly because Luke was reminded of something.
"What?" Ben lifted his chin.
"Are you and Ulfa really leaving today?"
"Of course," Benjamin replied with a raised eyebrow. "Why? Are you feeling scared in your own house? Well don't worry son. This time I've asked Julia to look after you for three or four days. Her father, Mr. Chastain, is a police officer so he…"
" No, Ben . That's not it. I'm not afraid to be alone. After all, I'm sixteen. I don't need a guard. It's just how can you guys leave me when I'm in trouble at school? How about a suspension letter?"
"You can keep it and we'll talk about it when Ulfa and I get back, and… oh, come on. You just got into a normal fight. I actually broke my friend's little finger. Yeah, even though I had to get beat up by his older brother, anyway. But , I mean, you need to think too far. Everything will be alright, dear. "
But, it didn't. Everything is not alright, as long as Ben knows.
***