"You don't need to work!" My mother spat. Most of the times she was angry, but I understood. She was frustrated and tired. I looked at her with concern and kept quiet.
She let out a frustrated sigh and I could see her anger turning to sadness. She grabbed her handbag and left. As much as she hated the idea of me working, I knew I needed to considering the situation we are in.
The walk to school was strangely off. Everything felt cold to the bone and the silence was loud. As I was walking I saw Parkour standing near a tree on the other side of the road. His face was still sad and this time it was pale like a body drowned and dead.
Maybe the pain he felt drained everything living in him…
I looked down contemplating if I should go to him and check if he was okay. I wanted to, but I didn't. I looked back once more so the despair on his face could be the only reason I ran to him but he wasn't there. Only a few dried leaves lay where he stood under an old tree that stood alone.
Maybe if I didn't think a lot I would have reached out to him, anyways…
I was the first one to enter class as usual and as usual I picked the last sit at the corner of the door. I opened my book and was perusing all the notes. After a while I looked at Jaya's seat. She has been absent for two days and she hasn't called yet. I made a mental note to visit her at home if she didn't show up.
Soon the classes began and I noticed Alan wasn't beside me. Then my head instinctively turned to Parkour's seat and he wasn't there too. Jaya came though. She looked like she hasn't been sleeping, her eyebags looking heavy and dark like bruises.
The class went fast without me being mentally present. As I turn to look at Parkour's seat the class was interrupted by the school principal. Mr Jake looked sad as he told something in low tones to the teacher. The teacher looked like she received some tragic news from the way her hands trembled with the papers she was holding.
She looked at Parkour's chair for a minute and walked fast outside the class past the principal.
The principal followed her immediately after she left leaving everyone in shock and mostly confused.
"Your attention students. " The speaker was turned on for an announcement.
"It's with deep sorrow and regrets to announce the death of one of our beloved students, Parkour"
The words echoed the hall and all of a sudden everything was in slow motion, All my classmates faced were filled with horror and terror. I looked at my book trying to control my thoughts while my mind started to play all the memories of parkour that was in my mind. His teary face lingered most. I could feel the blood flow in my neck and the eerie sound rushing in my head.
"He was found dead today at 6am. The concerned legal authorities have confirmed it is a suicide case… all who attended class with him are advised to receive counseling which will be mandatory" the speaker went off with that sad note.
I could feel consciousness hitting me with great force.
The words from the speaker which echoed felt like they hanged around. Everyone looked sad while some looked too broken.
The truth cut deeper than the lie. He lied about being happy but the truth was out today. Parkour was the person who was hurting the most. The emotions that I hit me felt new. My body and thoughts froze as I looked at everyone.
I noticed how some people cried when the news was out, some of which didn't seem true. The classes were dismissed early to give time to students to take in the news. The news about Parkour's burial was shared. We were advised to show up for the burial held tomorrow only if we were comfortable enough. Was it the loss of a good person that made me feel the way I did or the guilt of knowing that I could have done something to save Parkour yet I didn't.
Jaya looked shocked and sad but she didn't cry. Jaya wasn't the one to fake her emotions. She looked at me back in that spur of moment and let out a light smile but her eyes lied. Everything was uneasy and as soon as the silence broke everyone started leaving.
How was Parkour's family feeling? Would it be the same pain for my mother if I ever did the same?
Maybe it would be a relief from all the expenses.
Everyone left except Jaya, she knew I always waited for everyone to leave before leaving. After a few seconds, I saw her standing in front of me.
"Hey" she whispered.
"WHERE WERE YOU?" I tried to contain my loud tone.
"I got lost in this new app I found and since my parents are barely around and I know a doctor, I faked my sickness"
I was half relieved and half worried because this wasn't the hardworking Jaya I knew. I looked at her tired eyes and shrugged every suspicion that hit.
What can I say? Even if there's something going on I should be worried about, I am too scared to think of it.
I was able to reach home sooner than I thought. Soon after a light snack, I washed up and went to the bakery to familiarize myself with the tasks before my shift began.
When I got there I saw Angie taking over Alan's work.
Maybe his shift hasn't began yet.
I helped serving the pastries and receiving orders in the mean time. Even if it wasn't time for my shift, I felt better helping Angie because she seemed to struggle alot working there in the bakery alone.
"Why doesn't he employ another person to help around?" I asked when it seemed that the orders has ceased for a short moment.
She let out a sigh and wiped the table looking away from me.
"Mr Brown is raising money for the treatment of his nephew who's ailing bad. They barely have enough for everything but this bakery is their last hope. "
"Most of the times I just add the tips I receive to the cash box because of what I know"
"Damn that's intense" I whispered to myself.
"I can't afford to let them down even if the work has piled up."
"Me too" the words out of me without me having to think of it.
Perhaps that was the right thing to do and having a good purpose in life is something everyone needs to ease a guilty conscience