In the end, Lucas didn't eat anything and instead head straight for home.
*Home,* he thought. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep that had made him laughing. He raised his head and sighed. And repeated in his head the word home.
*How could I forgot easily?* he asked his self as he headed towards his brother's apartment.
The darkness brought by night had long been vanished. The five street-lamps near the apartment had long been dead. Above him, the sky was painted with dark-blue shadow as the sun continues to rise.
True to his word, the apartment wasn't lock. He wondered if his brother is already awake or if he had gone already in his work. He checked the time in his phone. It was already 5:32 in the morning.
He decided not to checked on him in his room. And instead headed straight for his room. As soon as he dropped on his bed, Lucas fell asleep.
Just like most of days, Lucas found his self in a dreamless sleep. He woke up with a headache, and he swear felt like a vein was about to explode inside. He also felt so tired that he felt his breathing was short. He wondered if it was really just his second day in this town.
He checked the time, it was already past noon. He remembered last night's errand and how he lashed out on the pitiful boy he saw back then in the train. Lucas wasn't sure what made him be a dick on the guy.
He was just so annoyed and hungry that time, and that other guy was surely picking a fight at him. So he grabbed it like it was the most proper thing.
He stood and walked towards the kitchen. It was empty. He opened the fridge and find nothing in there. Lucas wondered if his brother left him money or anything.
Lucas didn't allowed his self to thought more of that. He remembered his brother yesterday, how he looked so old and tired. He felt a sense of pity to him, he had no energy to be mad at him.
*I had money,* he thought as he started brushing his teeth. And remembered the card that his parents gave him. *I would just get something to eat and try to explore more of this town. So I wouldn't get lost.*
His phone beeped in his pocket. It was a message from Archer. Announcing his visit would be two days from now. He just replied okay.
He snatched his jacket and head outside. He looked on the net and tried to find a place to eat but the thing is all that was had been showing to him was the commercially registered places around. He had been experienced enough to know that not all business are registered and not all you can locate in the maps are good. Sometimes you have to do some exploring to find some treasures. Something that Archer had told him before. Lucas with a never before seen vigorous energy grunted and head outside the apartment.
Just the thought of exploring and getting lost as he would tried to find something to eat was enough to thrilled him.
He stood on the front of the apartment building and debated what path would he take.
*Hmm, so yesterday I have already explored the right side. All I know about the left side was that it was direction to the station.*
Lucas in the end decided to go to the Poor Quarters. Which is right of the closest intersection. It was a very risky decision since he had already made an impression about the place. But he also realized…
"I might just be too depressed last night," he said as he walked right of the crossing.
It often happened when he was so low, and when his devils are not at bay, he would thought of everything around him as tiring, dark and bland.
He decided to give it a chance, perhaps he could find somewhere in this place where he could eat.
To his suprise this part of town was busier in the afternoon. He saw people walking their dogs heading in the direction of the community park that he had visited last night. He moved around the Poor Quarters to find somewhere to eat. But all he saw was vending machine, convenience store and more dogs.
He decided to ask the first person that he would meet in the road. From where he stood he saw an old lady walking briskly as if he didnt even age.
"Excuse me ma'am," he started. "Do you happened to know some restaurant here that I could eat. I'm sort of new to this place."
The old lady smile to him. He pointed at her back, "walked straight, you would find a series of small stalls from here. But if you wanted something more tasteful, I suggest the barbecue near the community park."
Lucas thanked the lady. There's no way in earth he would go there after showing his ass attitude to the boy. Lucas would be just ashamed now that his anger subsided.
Lucas continued walking, enjoying the sound of trees in his ears. He felt relaxed, for the first time. Weeks before he moved here, the atmosphere in his home had been stiff and in edge, as if everyone was about to say something.
Lucas didn't know if it was anticipation for him to leave or…
True to her words. There are really lined of shops here. It wasnt the type of restaurant that has their own spaces and room. Instead it look more of a small stall where the table is in the front of the stores and customers would sat on chairs to eat.
He saw noodle houses, bakeries with meat fillings and coffee and tea shop. Lucas decided to order his self a bowl of fried rice, as he waited for his order to serve, he bought his self a tea.
Aside from him, there are only a total of five of customers right now. The owner of the restaurant brought his order and gave him a smile.
"Are you new here?" he asked politely. "It's very uncommon to see new faces here in this part of the town."
"I moved in yesterday in my brother's house," he replied with much cheer.
He smiled, "then I hope I would see you more often."
As he eat, Lucas felt relieved. It was as if all the problems in his shoulder had vanished. He made sure to make his self full before he moved out of the restaurant.
In his way home he heard girls of his age talking about the upcoming school which would be two weeks from now. Lucas thought that it would be nice to visit the school to make his self familiar with the place. He cannot bare the thought of losing in his first day, his elitist ass couldnt just take the shame if he did.
So instead of heading home, he traced his way towards the school. Of course in doing that he have to use the map provided by the internet. He can't helped but to admired how helpful it was too him. Though it had put him in worse situation, the one he had with Archer when the two of them got lost. But still he choose to use it everytime he got a possibility to used it.
It turned out that he still need to ride a bus to reached the school. It was a less than thirty minutes ride, Lucas figured out that he could walk from there especially since he woke up early.
The school where his brother enrolled, North Dale Highschool turned out to be a good looking modern school. From outside the gate, he could already see that it was a huge school
The first thing he thought was the name. *If it is north then there should be south or west or east.*
Remarking how big this city could be was enough to make him tired but at the same time brought a sense of excitement since he could have a chance to moved around and see many different places. In that moment he had thought that this set up wasnt as bad as it seems as he thought it would be.
There was a guard in the school, but aside from giving him a look, he didnt bother anymore at him.
He wondered if the building are opened at this time of the day. Because Lucas thought the building in his front was pretty beautiful and he had some thought of walking up and seeing the rooftop for his self. He headed in that direction and climb the four storey high building.
He opened the door and saw that he wasn't the first one to visit this top floor. He was torn that time to go back but the two had already turned the moment the door started creaking.
Lucas reaction and the boy who touches the window immediately changed upon seeing one another. He immediately turned around.
The guy from his side asked if he knew him. He didn't answer
Lucas immediately find a spot where he could sat and lay his back. That time the weather was fair. There are clouds above, white clouds that completely blocks the sun.
He thought how wonderful it would look to see the blue sky, bare with little to no white clouds to it. He imagined how wonderful it is to raise his head and be blinded by the light of the warm sun.
He laid his back on the wall and reached for his cigarette. Upon blowing the first smoke in his lip. The two turned at him.
"It wasn't allowed to smoke here," the other guy said.
He removed the cigarette in his lips, "it is? That's fine, the last school I attende doesn't also allow smoking."
In that moment, Lucas knew immediately that he had made his first enemy.
---
"You and that guy are almost alike," Noah said to Josef as Lucas left.
Josef looked back and spared a glance to Noah that made him took a step back and raised his hand.
"Woah, why so prickly! I'm doing you a favor," he said.
"I didn't asked for it."
"You should atleast try to show gratitude," he said.
"You wouldn't go here if isn't benefitting you," Josef said. And pulled his cigarette, "you wantwd to smoke right? You wanted someone to push you? I am that someone."
He looked at Josef and at the cigarette.
"Do father know?" Noah asked.
He nodded, "I told him last night."
"What does he say?"
"He was shocked."
"What about your guardian?"
"What about my guardian?"
Josef looked at him and imagined Grandma Nita on the day that he found out. She doesn't spare him glance but Josef could felt the disappoinment in the way she acted. Josef knew what she wanted to said.
*That I am like my father. But she doesn't have the courage to tell it.*
In the end she refused to acknowledge it. And they still go back in the way they used to be as if nothing happened.
But to Josef, it angers him to be thought that way. And that anger came back when he had finally met his father and remembered that day. Perhaps Noah thought that he was mad and angry at him. He distance his self and didn't talk anymore.