Alex shortened away with his backpack, but his mother held his hand. Alex turned back and looked at his mother's face, which was also miserable. Alex knows he has hurt his mom, his words may have gone too far. But it's hard for him to keep it all, the longer he keeps it hidden the more pain he feels. Alex could only look at his mother.
“At least take your medicine first, don't let that incident happen again.” Said Gretta.
It restrained Alex for a moment, and then he turned his head and saw his mother bring him medicine and water. Without saying a word, Alex took the pill from his mom and then drank it. Then they fell silent again. Alex wants to leave but his legs are hard to walk away from his mom, and Gretta who wants to hold back his son, but she can't say anything.
“I'm going ...” said Alex with a heavy heart.
“You can calm yourself down, but not too long.” Said Gretta.
Alex also stepped out of his house. Every step he took, he kept remembering the days he had been through. The day he tried hard to live up to his parents' expectations. It was all very complicated when he thought back. He just realized that he was just living his life like a robot that has been programmed to become a perfect person.
He again seeks to remember the wonderful memories he has ever lived, but no matter how hard he seeks to remember them, he can't recall a single wonderful memory because he never did what he wanted or did what he liked. Alex always lives by forgetting himself and becoming someone new.
He too took a deep and long breath. The night sky looked even darker because neither the moon nor the stars were shining up there. Alex continued wandering while hugging himself. The midnight air was so cold, but Alex couldn't think of a lie to get. He left very suddenly, and he prepared nothing in advance. Alex keeps thinking of a set to stay, but all he can get is his friend Drake asking him for help. Alex also called his best friend while sitting on the sidewalk.
“Hello, Alex? Not usually you called me at this hour, what's wrong? “ Asked Drake who woke up from his sleep.
“Drake, can you help me? I just left the house ... “said Alex, making Drake surprised to hear that.
As time passed, Alex sat on the sidewalk of a deserted street looking up at the midnight sky. He hugged his backpack to reduce the chill of the midnight air that hit his skin and pierced his bones. He still looked at the midnight sky and then his vision blurred, whether it was because he was sleepy or because of the injury and the influence of the medicine he had taken.
He could hear faintly the sound of footsteps approaching him. Alex too tried to open his eyes, which already felt heavy, and he could see Drake standing in front of him. He see Drake holding his waist while catching his breath. He was also sweating and looked tired. Maybe he ran as soon as Alex called him because they could find taxis and buses.
“Huh, come on ...” said Drake inviting Alex to go home with him
“I don't have the strength to step anymore ...” said Alex as he reached out his hand to ask Drake to grab his hand
“You troublemaker ...” Drake muttered with a snort.
Even though Drake didn't seem eager to comply with Alex's request, he still grabbed Alex's hand and picked him up. Alex still smiled as Drake carried himself on his back. His tiredness paid off, Alex could lean his head on his friend's shoulder.
To be honest, Alex never thought of Drake as his friend because he didn't know how to make friends . He too never figured out he needed friends in life. But now he understood that he already had a true friend. A friend who will always come when he needs, someone who will always carry him when he is tired of walking.
“Thank you ...” said Alex quietly.
“ What are you talking about? Who taught you to be a troublemaker? You're like everyone else right now ... ” said Drake.
“Maybe, I just had the courage ...” replied Alex
“Huh, you can't be helped anymore ...” muttered while carrying Alex on his back.
***
The sun was shining again, Alex opened his eyes, and he saw Drake was yet sleeping home beside him. Alex got up and went straight to the bathroom, he washed his face and got ready, Alex shook his head when he saw Drake was yet fast asleep even after he had finished getting ready.
“Drake, wave up. Hurry and get ready, you will be late. Drake, wave up! “ Said Alex while shaking Drake's body trying to wake up his friend.
But Drake didn't flinch at all, he just snorted then changed his sleeping position and went back to sleep. Alex becomes annoyed because no matter how hard he tries, Drake still doesn't want to wake up from his sleep. Alex thought of a way, so he could wake Drake, he screamed shaking his body, he even pulled the blanket but Drake did not budge and just slept like a living corpse.
At his wits' end and not knowing any other way to wake his friend, Alex became annoyed and kicked Drake so hard that he fell from the bed to the floor. Finally, Drake woke up, grimacing in pain and rubbing his back. It felt like his entire body felt crushed.
“What the hell, Alex? Sick .” said Drake, wincing in pain
“Get ready, you could be late if you keep sleeping like that ...” replied Alex
Drake followed Alex's orders and got ready to go to school. It wasn't bad for long, and now Drake was ready with his backpack. Drake was quite happy because he thought he was going to school together with Alex. But as they walked out of the house, Alex didn't carry his backpack and that made Drake stop for a moment and start thinking.
“Alex, aren't you going to school? Why don't you bring your backpack?” Drake asked and Alex instead turned to him with a faint smile.
“Yes, I just want to meet Ruby ...” Alex replied with a faint smile.
“I was curious, do you like her?” asked Drake and Alex rolled his eyes and smiled with a knowing smile
“Maybe, nothing is impossible in this world, right?” said Alex with a slight smile