Arriving in front of the bare doors of Ralph's apartment, I raised my fist and knocked. After making three solid thuds, I leaned forward and placed my ear on the door to listen for footsteps.
It was a bad habit, but I enjoy listening to the sounds people make as they live. The sound of the pan frying, footsteps walking here and there, even the sounds of the television droning on as the inhabitants talk among themselves. Imagining the whole scene as I listened to these sounds of living was my hobby.
However, as I tried to pick up these sounds and imagine a happy life for Ralph, all I could see was darkness.
Silence.
Frowning, I strained my ears some more to at least hear a sound. Regardless of any family's circumstance, if someone was in, there would usually be some background noises indicating they lived there. Whether it be the sound of the radio, footsteps, or even breathing. However, even as I pressed my ear so hard to the door that there would definitely be earmarks left, I could hear nothing.
It was as if the house was nothing but an empty shell.
Hearing that all encompassing silence, I could feel a deep sense of panic rise from within and stepped back from the door. Gripping the handle, I could feel sweat already beginning to form on my palms. Usually this sort of silence meant that there was no one at home. Or rather, no living person was at home.
Taking a deep breath to stop the panic, I turned the knob slowly and braced myself.
Click.
It was locked.
Feeling half relieved, half confused, I took another breath and leaned in on the door.
"..."
Hearing a sound from behind me, I looked and awkwardly met a pair of eyes, the shade of melting ice.
....
Slowly shifting into a more innocent posture, I smiled at him with my most innocent smile.
"Good morning Ralph!"
Observing him closely, I saw him turn his gaze to the door, then to me, before he walked up to me and took my hand into his.
"Good morning."
Tightening the grip on his hand, I walked a little towards the top of the stairs.
"I know we just met yesterday, but I came over to ask whether we could be friends."
Hearing my words, I saw those eyes glisten as he took a larger step forward and brought the other hand to enclose my hand in his. Without any words, I could already see how genuinely happy he was, which made me feel a slight sense of guilt.
Nodding his head, the two of us started descending the steps.
"Your mother went out to work already?"
Looking at his face, Ralph didn't show any sadness as he nodded his head.
"Then where were you until just now?"
The two of us arrived at the bottom of the stairs. Standing still, Ralph then pointed to the bottom step.
"You don't have school?"
"No. I finished in Bottom street 3 years ago."
Shaking his head as he spoke, Ralph then stopped at the bottom of the stairway.
If he finished his schooling 3 years ago, that meant that Ralph was at least 13 years old. It was mandatory to have 4 years of education, and the minimum age to enter school was 6.
Turning my head to ask him his age, I noticed the small happy smile on Ralph's face from being asked so many questions about himself. This sort of simple happiness distracted me from my questioning.
Looking at him with a sad smile, I shifted my focus.
"Then until your mother comes home, what will you do?"
A little dazed, Ralph looked at the bottom step.
"I'll probably wait here."
Taking a step back from me, Ralph sat down on the step and started to wave at me.
Waving back to him, I dragged my feet towards school. Seeing that scene of Ralph waiting alone for his mother, I wanted to do something. Even if I was just being a busybody.
"Ralph?"
Walking into the classroom, Frank's voice woke me up from my thoughts.
Taking the sheet of paper holding the news, I sat at my seat and read it first before handing it to Frank.
"Did something happen?"
Raising my head, I saw Frank's concerned look and gave a weak smile. I then recounted all the events that happened until now. Afterwards, with a furrowed brow, Frank frowned.
"I get why you want to help him."
Looking down thoughtfully, Frank tilted his head in thought.
"Maybe we could get him a job? He is of legal age after all. Having a full time job would allow him to earn money as well as not have to wait alone for his mother everyday! Two birds with one stone!"
Interrupting from the side, Linel stole the piece of paper on our table and scanned it.
"That's a good idea!"
Exclaiming, the two of us smiled at each other and then at Linel.
Once he finished reading, Linel passed the paper back to Frank.
"We could take him to the local shop. The Owner there is a nice person, and they could always use one more employee."
Smiling at me, the three of us discussed the details as much as possible before we were rudely interrupted by the teacher.
Returning back to their seats, we all took out our notebooks and textbooks and prepared our chalks and pens to write. And after struggling through the entire morning, when school finally ended, the three of us made our usual trip to the cemetery while discussing what we wanted to do.
However, right in front of the cemetery, before we went in, Linel turned around and extended his hands in front of us, making us stop.
"I have something for you, Frank. Could you give me a while?"
Winking, Linel rushed off to the alleyway beside the cemetery.
Frank glanced at me, and I shook my head to indicate I didn't know anything. And as soon as I stopped my head, we saw Linel leave the alleyway with a bountiful bouquet of white flowers in his arms.
Shocked, Frank's eyes widened as Linel brought the flowers in front of him and passed it into his arms.
"It's for your brother. I didn't manage to bring any flowers for our visit yesterday, so forgive me for giving it on the second visit."
Smiling a little cheekily, Linel looked at Frank's touched face and gently pushed him into the cemetery.
"You...thank you. Thank you."
With tears lining his eyes, Frank smiled and cradled the bouquet gently. It had been so long since Will had received any flowers.
"It's the least I could do. I used all the money I earned yesterday to buy it from a good flower shop on High street so I can guarantee its quality."
Walking up the stairs, Frank's tears couldn't stop as he nodded his head to Linel's words. Overflowing with thanks, Frank then set the beautiful and pure bouquet of flowers onto the tombstone and got on his knees to report the day's events to his brother.
Standing behind him, I shot Linel a thankful look, to which he replied with his signature playful smile, and we waited for Frank to be done.
Standing up and brushing off the dirt on his knees, Frank gave Linel one more thanks before the three of us headed out of the third floor burial area. Walking down the stairs, Frank suddenly paused at the second floor.
"Do you want to visit your brother today?"
Turning my gaze to the door, I hesitated for a while before taking a step towards it.
"I guess meeting Ralph counts as a good thing."
Mumbling, I opened the doors for the second floor burial site.
Identical to the third floor burial site, the area was a wide room with rows and rows of tombstones. Everything from the shape and color of the tombstones were identical to that of every other burial area.
Walking to the second row, just three to the left from the center, we stopped at a tombstone named Leo.
"Hello Leo, it's been a while since I've come."
Reaching out my hand, I ran my fingers through his engraved name.
"I'm sorry I haven't visited. Mom, Dad and I have never forgotten you, but we have been trying our best to live a life without you. If you ever come back, your room is still there for you."
Rambling on about a couple of small updates in life, I finally came to the present.
"Recently, a new family has moved into Uril's old apartment. They're a pair of mother and son, June and Ralph. June seems to have a lot of work to do to support the family, and Ralph seems to be a little slow, but big brother feels like he is a nice guy. Today, my friends and I are planning to get him hired at the local cafe."
Up until here, I smiled as I touched the tombstone.
"Big brother has finished talking. I'll go now."
Taking a step back from the tombstone, I patted it once, like how I used to pat Leo on the head, before I walked towards Frank and Linel who were waiting.
"I'm done. We should get going."
Nodding his head, Frank seemed unfazed by how short and different we treated our siblings. Linel on the other hand was slightly stunned. However, it only took my sentence to snap him out of his stunned state and to nod his head.
Leaving the cemetery, Linel seemed to be deep in thought, but he never asked why I treated my brother so much more perfunctory than Frank. And I didn't want to be the one starting that conversation, so we just let it slide for now.
Arriving at my apartment building, I immediately glanced at the bottom step of the stairway in search of Ralph. Fortunately, or unfortunately, he was not there.
Making our way to the stairway, we were about to go up and check whether Ralph had returned to his own apartment when I heard a familiar voice.
"Take some biscuits with you. Also, next time, don't wait on the bottom step of the stairway. If you ever feel too lonely, just come over and I'll give you something to do."
It was Dara!