That one sentence from Joyce made Luke unable to hold back his tears, even though Luke didn't know what to cry about.
“A… hey, kid. Why are you crying? Did I say the wrong thing? Oh, I'm sorry, Luke."
Joyce looked panicked, but at the same time she remained calm. Luke shook his head and didn't want to answer, because Luke had a feeling if he uttered even one word, his anger would only grow. Accordingly, Joyce Welch held out a business card. Slipped it in Luke's palm and folded the palm tightly.
He said, “ Well , I know what I'm doing is not right. But, I think you just want to say it without any pressure. So when you're calmer, give me a call. We can talk privately. Or… yeah, we talked on the phone. What do you think ?”
" Thank you, ma'am ."
“Joceline Welch. Just call me Joyce.”
Their brief conversation ended just like that with Luke pocketing his business card. Joyce walked Luke back to where Luke had been sitting and saw that Ben was talking to someone who was none other than the large man who had been with Joyce in the pantry earlier. Ben immediately asked Luke to come closer.
"Where have you been?! It's a police station! Not a playground!” Ben asked in a snapping tone. Luke feels that Ben's characteristic of being rude and annoying is back. That relieved Luke somewhat.
"Ben, come on. Don't get scolded. Sit here, my dear. They think you are crying somewhere,” Ulfa continued. He gently stroked Luke's shoulder and smiled with the remnants of the tears drying on his eyelashes.
"No, Ulfa. I'm not crying. I just… erm, just now…” Luke glanced at the big officer and continued, “… earlier I meant to go to the bathroom, but got lost. I got to the second floor. That's how it is.”
“ Well, well, well! cried the big officer, interrupting their family chat. He led them into a quieter room and spoke in a lower tone. Before that, he was seen brushing his hair which was only half an inch long and acting like a frustrated person.
"Okay," he said again, without calling out like before. Then took out a folder that somehow he had brought. “I'll be right away. Major Larson has told me about your son—”
“Grandson,” Ben corrected. "He's my grandson."
“… regarding your grandson and his case. Yeah, though they should have the right to keep him here until—”
"Right to detain?" Ben's brows furrowed, he looked really annoyed. "Do you have an arrest warrant? Do you think my grandson is a big criminal?”
"Relax, Mr. Bright. Your grandson is not in the big criminal category. Not yet, more precisely—”
“Watch your mouth, cadet! What did you say my grandson just now, huh?!”
“Oh, no, Ben! Don't. Hold your temper, Ben."
Just now, Ben pulled the collar of the officer's uniform. he was easily offended in any way, but luckily Ulfa was quick to respond and calmed down the irritable Benjamin. The police officer himself, he seemed to be a lot calmer than the look on his face. Not at all provoked by Ben's actions. Instead, he continued on with the topic he was talking about.
"Yeah, in short Major Larson has guaranteed Miss Bright that she will not be detained here. But you still have to fill out this form and sign several statements. Please, sir ."
Restraining his anger, Ben snatched the sheets of paper. Read it briefly then sign. Even though the big officer thanked him, Ben ignored him and hugged Ulfa to walk out. Luke followed behind them.
As he walked out it was as if all eyes were on him and Luke heard this kind of conversation too;
"Hey, isn't that the kid who knocked his friend off the school building?"
“ Yes, she is. ”
"Is he released?"
"You ask Beck."
Ah… annoying! Why can their voices be heard, anyway? That made Luke embarrassed, angry, and sad at the same time. That's why, as soon as he got home, Luke immediately got out of the car without saying anything to Ulfa or Ben. Go straight to the room and sink into the bed.
In the stillness of the room, Luke's mind wandered. Twice. Luke had twice injured others by using a power capacity that Luke wasn't even aware of. Many times Luke thought about it and many times Luke did not find an answer. One of the possibilities that crossed his mind was that Luke could be possessed. This opinion strengthened after Luke chatted with Amy. He called a few minutes after Luke lay down on the bed. The vibration of the cellphone buzzed loudly and was quite disturbing in the bag. So Luke grabbed his cell phone and found lots of calls and messages. Again, it comes from Amy, Rei, Andrew and Valentina Miller .
Let's put Valentina Miller aside for a second. Start picking up the phone from Amy, who has a record history of calling 225 times since the hour Luke was brought to the police station this morning. Crazy girl.
“ Lookey! Oh, my Lookey! ”
His loud scream at the line in the first second almost shattered his eardrums. Luke even thought his ears were going to explode.
"Keep your voice down, idiot."
“How can I keep my voice down, when you still haven't heard from before. You know, Luke, I even thought about chasing the police car that caught you earlier."
"Yes, yes, yes, liar."
“ I'm not lying . You can ask Andrew that I forced him to skip class and meet you at the police station. Right, right, Babe ?”
“ Yeah, that's true .” Andrew Judges shouted from a distance.
"Oh hi Andrew," Luke greeted him. Then a cell phone was heard that had changed hands.
Hi Luke. How was it at the police station?”
“ Not so good .”
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, you could say that."
"Have you eaten, my Lookey ?" she asked.
"I guess I can't swallow for now, Amy."
It was Andrew's turn to ask back. Still continuing on the previous topic. "Are you being interrogated?"
"Yes of course."
Amy interrupted in a high voice "Are they torturing you like in the movies, Luke?"
"Not. Don't be stupid, Amy."
"And now, where are you?" he asked.
"At home."
"At home? Have you been allowed to go home?"
“Yeah, that's how it is. The story isn't very interesting. Erm… guys . May I ask you guys?
"Is there anything that forbids you to ask them?"
" Well, how are the Bowleans?" Luke asked back, rubbing the nape of the neck which suddenly felt sore.
“Bowlese?!” Amy screamed, "You were beaten up, humiliated in front of the kids in class, detained for hours in the police station, and still have questions about the Bowleans?!"
Andrew immediately interrupted Amy's screams with two short words.
"He's in a coma."
***