I turned and saw Thomas sitting on his bed. He looked concerned. "Are you okay? You look like you've eaten something rotten. Your face is so pale."
I nodded and forced a smile. At least I felt better when I finally saw the kid back in the dorms, safe and sound.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said and asked him, "I have been searching for you in school. Where did you go after your class was over?
It was only a whim, and I really wasn't really in the right mind to ask that question. I expected Thomas to answer with a whimsical, 'Just exploring around the school.'
But contrary to my expectation, the kid lowered his head and avoided eye contact. I felt worried all of a sudden, but then he smiled after a short silence.
"I-I . . . I just checked around the school," Thomas said.
I felt something was off with the slight trembling of his voice.
I didn't get the chance to question him, though, since he had already changed the topic.
