< Gene >
It was a spur of the moment and regrettably, I almost made her trip when I pushed her inside the bus. A part of me thinks that I shouldn’t let her go. In any case, she just moves on and finds better friends in Dawn City.
Another part of me, my selfish side that I had secretly been hiding from her, handed over my cross so she will keep it as a keepsake.
A reminder of me, even if it’s just a bit.
But I should have known Nina, she is too unselfish and prioritizes her loved ones over her own sake.
You will be safer there than here.
This line has been in my mind for these past three days like a replay button is being pressed repeatedly.
I shouldn’t involve Nina with my problems anymore. She has suffered enough already and every time I looked at her bruised eye, I knew that I couldn’t protect her all the time.
Yet, regardless of what I thought, I still handed over my cross.
Have I regretted giving up my brother’s cross? Nah, I entrusted it to her no matter what.
“Move aside, kid,” the pedestrian pushes me aside and heads into the bus. That push almost makes me lose my footing but it helps me snap out of my thoughts.
Oh right.
I’ve been standing in front of the bus stop since she left and since another one arrived just in front of me, that means I have been in my deep thoughts for twenty minutes.
A terrible habit of mine growing up.
I check my phone to see that it’s half-past ten and I sigh, looks like I’m not going to school then.
Since I’m often mistaken for a child due to my lean figure, I decided to wear oversized hoodies to hide myself from the crowd.
As I stroll around the familiar streets of this town, at first it is an aimless activity just to kill time. Then each time I see the places we have often gone to, I suddenly feel so nostalgic.
I stop by the park and sit on the swing.
“My name is Nina! Mommy says that you look low-’nee. Can I be your frien’?”
A silhouette of my memory shows a five-year-old Nina holding my younger self’s hand as she squeezes it.
I remember now. This is the place where I first met her before the start of kindergarten. When I always waited for my brother, she always showed up to play with me, a child who couldn’t even speak.
I chuckle at that memory.
It’s already past lunchtime. I wonder if Nina has already reached the train station yet.
“Whaddya know, rusty ginger is skipping school.”
I sigh then stand up to turn around to face another sight of familiar faces.
Connie and Duke have snickering looks as they approach me. Behind them, curious stares are looking at them as they are leaning on the iron bars. They are probably some of their friends who drop out of school.
"Seriously? You're going for the low-hanging fruit?" I scoff. “First it was Gene the Ginger, then Jean Grey? Don’t you have any offensive words aside from my hair?”
“He’s got a point,” one of his friends behind says as they start bursting out of laughter.
Duke’s face reddens as he glares at his friends then he turns to me. “You fucking sissy. You may be the smartest kid but your skinny bones won’t help you.”
They are getting closer. I instinctively step backward, giving a sideways glance for a chance to escape.
“Aww, where is that girlfriend of yours, Nina, right?” I think Connie was the one who said that. I couldn’t tell since I caught sight of an escape just around the avenue. A crowded area where tourists are just around to check this small town.
Perfect.
Without a second to spare, I dash towards the avenue.
“He’s getting away!” One of them bellows.
I can’t look back as I reach the avenue and walk within the crowded place. My heart is racing and my lungs are getting tighter from the pain engulfing this chase.
I might not be faster than Nina but I try my best to be smart. I finally reach the avenue and start blending in with the crowd.
“Where’s that sissy bastard!”
I head to the alleyway, frantically looking for a place to hide. They will definitely catch me if I stall a bit.
But I made the wrong decision to run towards the alleyway of all places. In front of me is a tall building that looks recently constructed based on the fresh paint and marbles. The only option is to turn back.
“Well, there you are, motherfucker.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Me and my big mouth. Nina kept telling me that sometimes my words can make things worse for me.
Well, I guess I’m used to it, anyway.
Accepting my fate, I just close my eyes, waiting for the inevitable, like I used to.
“Gene.”
A soft yet serious voice makes my eyes snap back to reality. I quickly turn around to see Beatrice heading towards my path.
Beatrice, the oldest among the foster kids my adopted parents raised. Although she’s strict and brutally honest, out of everyone at home, she’s the only one who doesn't...beat me up.
She happens to be a police officer as well.
Because of her uniform and her reputation as the most feared police officer, the bullies start scurrying away as she passes by them. “Dad wants you home right now.”
I raise my brow, looking suspiciously at her. “How does he know I skip school?”
“He doesn’t. I went to your school first to find you absent. I happened to catch you running towards here.”
“Hey!” Duke exclaims, marching towards her. “He won’t leave until he’s black and blue all over, ya hear?”
To which Beatrice glares at him, “You’ll have your time, he needs to be at home now.”
Duke just scoffs and turns his way out, his friends follow suit. I guess even they’re afraid of committing crimes in front of her.
“You know, dad is getting impatient,” she says, nonchalantly.
“I know.”
“When are you—”
“And I won’t. I will never break my promise,” I declare, glaring at her. “Even if it kills me.”
She frowns as she crosses her arms. “I see that without that Caulfield girl around, you’ve become braver.”
“But time’s ticking, Gene,” she adds as she heads straight outside the alley. “I don’t think the law can protect you now.”
I grimace. "It never did," I reply, bitterly.
“I hope...dad is in a good mood today.” She says, reluctantly. And I immediately caught on with that statement.
I could almost laugh.
I’m used to it.
I’m used to it.
No point crying over spilled milk. Break my bones, I don’t care.
As long as Nina is safe, that’s all it matters to me.