Xander's POV
As Luka and I walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but feel a raising anger in me as I recalled the conversation we had after we left the infirmary.
*flashback*
"I need him to come back to himself, Zayn and I want him back not this drunk man wallowing in self pity, guilt and have become abusive."
*end of flashback*
I can still feel the pain he felt and when he turned to wipe his tears, that was something that really broke me. Who would believe, that Luka who is always all smiles would have this lot much going on? I guess the saying is true that the saddest people smile the brightest, the prettiest smiles hide the deepest secrets, the brightest eyes have cried the most tears, and the kindest hearts have felt the most pain.
I don't feel pity for him because I know no one likes being pitied but I do feel like a bad friend because I'm not there to help him out.
'Luka, what do I do with you?' I guess what I need to do is be a good friend and pay attention to my friend. Even if he doesn't need it, I'll still be there for him. That's the least I can do.
"Hey guys!" I heard a familiar voice calling, snapping me out of my thought as a frown replaced my previous worried and sad look.
"What the... why is she here?" Luka who was close to me whispered. Ohh that's true, I forgot to inform him.
"She's the new transfer student. Mrs Heather introduced her this morning." I said still with a straight face as Ryan walked towards us from the opposite direction. When she came close,
"Where have you guys been? Xan you left the class and didn't come and little mouse what happened to your face?" She asked as her eyes darted from me to Luka.
"Call me little mouse again and see if I won't tell everyone that you were called, what is it again, pipsqueak, monkey bun, kitty, chubby, ha wonder woman. Alex do you remember when she tried cosplaying wonder woman? she was outrageously funny, she couldn't even carry the shield properly." He said laughing and I couldn't help but laugh also forgetting all I was thinking of as the image which popped up in my memory was very funny.
"Do you remember how she accidentally got tied by the golden lasso while trying to manipulate it and when she fell hard on her butt and started crying, ohh that moment was golden." I said laughing as I cleaned a drop of tear that escaped my eye as a result of laughing hard.
"Haha, very funny." she said with obvious displeasure both in tone and face.
"Sorry sorry, Pfftt.. We just couldn't help it." Luka said as he struggled to stop laughing. "Besides, why are you here, aren't you supposed to be home schooled?" He asked the question that have been on my mind. I managed to stop laughing as I listened to her response.
"Well, I was supposed to be home schooled but mum thought it would be better if I were to learn with other people of my age and class. You know how mum is right?" She said making me shrug as what she said did make sense to me.
"So you guys are on your way to the cafeteria right?" She asked as she looked at us for an answer.
"Hmm." I hummed in response to her question
"That's nice, I'm also on my way there. Let's go then." She said as she placed herself between us, hooking her hands to ours as she dragged us towards the cafeteria.
Cafeteria
As we stepped into the school cafeteria, I scanned the place looking for June when my eyes located her at the extreme end. Turning to Luka, I whispered in his ear,
"You had better start thinking of a reasonable excuse for your bruises." I said to him while giving him a mocking glance.
"Hehe." He chuckled awkwardly as he scratched his head.
"What are you guys doing back there, move let's go sit with June and Luen." Ryan who was walking in front getting her meal said before she made her way towards their table. Luka and I exchanged glances before also moving towards the table after getting our meal.
As we approached the table, I heard Ryan asking June for assistance as she just resumed to which the latter agreed.
"Heyyoo!" Luka greeted as we both took our sit bringing the attention of the three to ourselves. Looking at Luka, June frowned while Luen frowning turned his face towards her probably for a clearer visual.
"What happened to your face?" She asked as she examined his face. June looked at me as though questioning me to which I shrugged my shoulders as though saying Luka is the only one who can answer that.
"Yeah, I also asked you that, how did you get injured?" Ryan asked as she focused on him, seeking answers.
"Hehe, it's a funny one." He said as he released an awkward laugh. They all looked at him expecting the funny story and I also listened to hear what he'll say.
"So, I was on my way to school and when I was close to I think the barbeque joint, I saw a woman beating a little girl. I tried to find out the reason and she said the little girl refused to give her money to buy alcohol. Like that isn't even a reason and when I spoke up for the girl, she gave me a reasonable beating. Ouch!" he said as Luen touched a part that wasn't covered by band aid.
"Ohh, sorry. It must have hurt bad." She said as she looked at him in pity. I internally face palmed myself as Luen bought the story also when I felt a lingering gaze. I turned to the source and saw June looking at me brows up in question. Guess she didn't buy that, at least someone is still capable of reasoning. I shrugged saying I don't know. After looking at me suspiciously clearly not believing my lack of knowledge, she returned to eating her food.
"That sound like aunt Caitlyn, she must have gotten drunk again and beaten Abby. Ohh, that poor girl having to give her savings to her drunk of a mum." Luen said. Ohh, that's why she believed the story. Silly.
*Knock*
"Ow, what was that for?" I heard Luka ask while rubbing his head as Luen hit his head with her hand.
"I'm sure you said something to provoke aunt Cait. Tell me what did you say to her, I hope you didn't make her beat Abby more?" She asked as she squinted at him.
"Of course not, I literally took the whole beating for the girl." he answered in disbelief as he looked at Luen
"That's good, it's good you took the beating not Abby or I would have added to it." She said as she returned to her meal. Luka was looking at her, dumbfounded.
"You don't feel sorry for me, you won't console me?" He asked surprised as she responded,
"Nah, you'll get better soon and you don't need any consoling, you're not a child." She said as she focused on her food.
"I'm your boyfriend remember?" He asked
"Mm, I know." She said as she chewed on her burger.
Pfttt... I couldn't withhold my laughter as that was an unexpected turn. Ryan also let out a laugh while June looked as though she was trying hard not to laugh but couldn't hold it in as she burst ina fit of laughter. Luen kept on eating, she wasn't even sorry for her boyfriend.
"Really guys?" He asked looking at the three of us laughing, with disdain.
"Sorry sorry, but that was so unexpected." Ryan said as she continued laughing. I gave him a look saying 'serves you right' to which he rolled his eyes.
He was sulking as he turned to face his food.
"Stop sulking and eat your food." Luen said as she rubbed his head where she hit previously. Grinning at the affection, he looked at me bringing out his tongue in mockery as he faced his food. We all ate our food as we talked moving from one topic of interest to another.