Everyone was quietly chatting while some were already asleep.
"It's strange. There are feeding bottles in the School," Michael said, bewildered.
Everyone pondered for a moment and then looked at Deiji, who had obtained them.
"So many problems, Michael. Is that really what you're thinking about?" Deiji retorted sarcastically to Michael while biting into her sandwich.
"Fine!" Deiji surrendered when she noticed that everyone was still staring at her.
"When I used to live outside the Sitio, I used to fetch my younger sister from nursery. Some of her classmates were still bottle-feeding. I was like, Oh my gosh! They were already 4 years old but still using bottles," Deiji began her story to them.
"And then, there's one mother who calmly told me that there are indeed children who have a hard time stopping bottle-feeding. And that's why I thought maybe there were some in the Canteen earlier," she continued, looking at her companions who were listening attentively.
"As you can see, Yuki, there's a name on each bottle I gave you. I think they give each one to a specific person," Deiji concluded, and Yuki indeed looked at the bottle Zebby had used earlier, who was now peacefully sleeping beside her.
"Wow, that's true," Michael exclaimed in amazement.
"What the hell is wrong with you guys? I didn't expect you to be so serious about this topic," Deiji sighed as she noticed the reactions of her companions.
"Think about how we can be rescued," Michelle suddenly interjected, sitting up from lying down.
Everyone was surprised and silenced, having just been happily chatting earlier. They thought she was sleeping soundly on Michael's lap.
"Your family will probably notice from outside if they can't reach you," Glenn chimed in, having just arrived.
"Sister Yuki, don't your husband pick you up every Saturday?" Michael asked Yuki with desperation in his eyes.
"We had a fight last Sunday. I told him that I'll be busy and won't be able to come home next Saturday and Sunday because I have a lot to do for work for the hotel's big event. And... He got angry. He told me to quit my job and stay with them. But I love my job. Besides, we've been saving since I started working here. You know what I mean. That's why it will take some time before he notices," Yuki explained at length. She felt sad because their last moments with her husband weren't good. She felt guilty because she knew Karu just wanted to be with her and complete their family.
"What about you, Ate Deiji?" Michelle suddenly asked, diverting everyone's attention to Deiji.
"Don't expect anything from my family. They're all jerks," Deiji explained simply to them.
"What?" Glenn asked in shock.
"I just ran away from home. And it's been 3 years since then," Deiji stood up and walked away. She didn't want to talk about her family. It's the most sensitive part of her life.
"What about you two, twins?" Glenn asked the twins beside him.
"Well, we also ran away from home," Michael said with a grin, like a dog explaining.
"You guys are really something else," Yuki smacked his head.
"I was escaping an arranged marriage. And Michael happened to protect me," Michelle murmured as tears escaped from her eyes. She thought that if she wasn't forced into that useless arranged marriage, they might not even be siblings in that place. But she also remembered those incredible and carefree days with her roommates and classmates.
"You two aren't working students. Where do you get your money?" Yuki asked the two because she knew they were just focused on studying aside from their own addictions.
"It was our Uncle who spoiled us when we were young. He doesn't have any children, and he's also against that arranged marriage," Michael explained.
"And you?" He asked Glenn after explaining.
"You're lucky to have run away. I was kicked out from home. Ahaha," Glenn pretended to laugh, but they noticed the pain in his eyes.
"My father is the Mayor outside this Sitio, and he kicked me out from home for the sake of his image. I was rebellious when I found out that my father was seeing someone. The thrill is, both my mother and little sister died a couple of days ago. I think he was already cheating with my mom when she was still alive," Glenn clapped his hands once and smiled bitterly.
"Your lives are so dramatic," Deiji suddenly exclaimed, surprising them all as she was now smiling at them and standing behind Glenn.
Maybe they didn't notice her because of their serious conversation. Deiji sat beside Glenn and was ready to tell her own story.
"I was a middle child. Since I was a child, I felt like my parents didn't love me. Their attention was always on the eldest, and they always spoiled the youngest. Whenever I needed something for school and asked for money, they would always get mad at me. They didn't deprive me, but the way they gave felt like they regretted it. That's why I chose to run away. For them to see that I can survive on my own without their help. I'm tired of feeling that emptiness. What's home if you don't feel like it's home? The reason why I haven't told you guys is that I'm afraid you'll judge me and call me insensitive and immature," they were all speechless. They couldn't find the right words to say to Deiji because the twins and Glenn knew that they lived in a luxurious and comfortable life.
"I won't judge you, Deiji. But as a mother, you shouldn't run away from home. I'm sure they're worried about you now," Yuki gave her opinion.
"They forced me. I mean, when I was about to enter college, I asked them which school I would go to. I asked them. Because I have no control over the School I can attend. But they just simply replied to me that I have to stop. That I have to prioritize our eldest finishing college first. And it will take 2 years for my brother to finish college. Our youngest can be supported in private. And then I should adjust?" Deiji explained through sobs.
It seemed like Deiji's arrogance disappeared, and she became emotional and soft. The friends also shed tears because they only now saw Deiji like this.
"I can understand them if my siblings are studying in public schools. But they're in private schools and they're being supported," that time, Yuki hugged Deiji as she felt the pain from Deiji's words and behavior.