It's been a year since everything started to happen and James was already ten years old. He was not the best kid but he for sure knows how to survive at a young age making him a bit mature than his age. Though, he still gets in trouble like now. He and Alex was in the principal's office for they are reported to again cause a fight at the hallway. They were full of bruises and Alex's nose is even bleeding but he acts as if pain is nothing to him.
The principal looked at them sternly and tired as he sigh and spoke, "Who started the fight again ?" But he didn't get a proper answer for the two boys were blaming each other at the same time and their voices would raise in anger and fear. The principal rubbed his forehead and then, "QUIET!". The principal yelled in anger to which makes James and Alex shock and loss of words. The man took a deep breath and continued, "Everyday, I get to deal with both of you! Everyday! Aren't you both ashamed even just a bit, huh!?" He let out a exasperated sigh and then stared at the boys. "If you both keep this up, I have no choice but to call your guardians or expell both of you!" James stiffen and Alex stood up on his seat and tried to defend himself, "Sir, it's not fair! I-i literally didn't do anything! He started it first!" At those words, James too got defensive and got mad—"My fault!?" He shouted. "You're the one who pushed me first!" They again have a little fight before the principal finally shut them off and punished them by cleaning the school's bathroom. Typical.
While cleaning, neither of them spoke a word to each other but you can see them glare when one isn't looking. "This is all his fault..." James muttered, "thanks to him, I'm stuck here instead of Mr. Dela Cruz's..."
****
"I'm just going to get fresh water, okay? Stay in bed." The old woman says to his grandson who was laying sickly on his bed before leaving the room. The poor boy looked at the window that is just besides his bed as the curtains were blocked the sunlight that tried to get in his room. He couldn't do anything but just close his eyes and listen to his surroundings and his short breaths as he tries to fall asleep even though it's still early in the afternoon. Suddenly, a quiet creak broke the silence to which makes the sick boy open his eyes and slowly turn his head, "...Miri...? What...are you doing...here....?" He asked softly yet you can see how his eyes were watery and face was sweating. "It's Maurie, idiot. Why? I can't see my lil bro anymore?" The short haired girl who looks nothing alike to her younger twin brother spoke with bratiness yesterday a hint of worry in her voice, "...yeah... Grandma says that... Aren't you... supposed to be in school...?" He spoke again as he let out some short coughs. The little girl spoke again to answer him, "I faked that I wasn't feeling well today! Plus, no one can tell me what to do! I'll go in your room anytime I want!" As she said those words, their grandmother suddenly appeared just in cue and saw Maurie standing there, "Brat! How many times do I have to tell you that you're not allowed here!?" The old woman's scolding voice startled the both of them and Maurie turned around to face her grandmother, "Stubborn child!" She said with furry. "Do you want to be sick too!? Thomas! Get your granddaughter away from here!"
Maurie was sadly kicked out of her little brother's bedroom with a frown on her face. Her grandfather saw her face and tried to brighten up her mood, "It's alright, Maurie. Your brother is too sick to play for you right now but you got us! Now, how about we watch cartoons at the living room?" Maurie, with still a frown on her face just slowly nodded and they both walked downstairs towards the living room. Maybe it really would help her lighten up.
Meanwhile, inside the room—the grandmother gently placed a wet cloth on top of the poor boy's forehead so that it could make the fever rise down a bit. "Children these days do nothing but put 'emselves into troubles!" She scolded while still wiping the boy's feverish body with another wet cloth, "Tsk! They really took after your father's recklessness!" Those words caught the boy's attention. That's right, they have a father and once had a mother too back then. They were once lived on his mother's hometown at their other grandparents until one day, everything fell apart and his parents moved away and started living here when he was just four years old. Not long after, his mother died because of some sickness to which they believed that he got too and that's why he was bounded here on his lonely room all sick and hopeless.
The old woman glanced at her grandson's face and scowled again, "I hope you really took after your mother in everything. In that way, at least I have a grandchild who's quiet and neat." She rubbed her forehead and again spoke, "Are you feeling better now?" The young boy softly nodded and his grandmother let out a hum. "Well then, I will come back later to bring you food and your medicines. Go get rest, okay?" Again, he couldn't do anything but just nod and watch his grandmother leave. He stared at the ceiling with hopelessness. Doctors said that he might not even make it but for some unknown reasons, his body keeps finding its ways to stay alive so all he can do was to wait for a miracle to happen or just die.
But there's only one thing that lifted his spirit up. Sometimes, he would take a peek on his window. Waiting for someone to arrive as the children and bicycles passed by their house. He would wait for a boy with raven hair and bruises around his body. He wasn't sure why but he was drawn to this specific person. But this time, the kid did not passed by. How strange. He heard from his grandmother that this boy is full of misfortunes in his life and sometimes children would beat him up, did something happened to him again? He could not help but feel worried as he thought about it.
Out of courage, he slowly got up and with all of his strength, he opened the window for the first time that was always closed for years. He could feel the wind blows on his body and how his hair dances through the air as it hits him gently. He longed to be free like the others.
He rested his head on his palm as he waited by the window for the specific boy that always passed by. The sky was now orange yet there is no trace of the kid. He was about to feel disappointed when a sudden strong wind was felt and flew all the papers and origamis that he spent most of his life making. Everything was on the floor and was a mess except for that one paper plane that the wind still carries through the air and tried to get out of the window. The sick boy tried no catch it but it's no use, the paper plane was already out of the room and went flying towards a person's hair. The blonde boy was so embarrassed that he wanted to hide but he glanced to whoever his plane hit and was shock to see that it was actually the boy he was waiting for.
"Hey!" James called out, "Is this yours?" He asked while waving the paper plane that is now wrinkled. The sick boy who doesn't know what to do just nodded in response. He is slightly shaking but he doesn't know if it's because of the fever or the nervousness in his heart. James flew the paper plane back to his room and the boy caught it with his shaking hands before he looked at the fleeing boy. The sick boy tried to shout for the boy but his voice remain shaking, he took a deep breath and then shouted as loud as he can, "Wait!!!..." James stopped on his track and turned to look at the window and saw how pink the other's cheeks was due to his first time shouting. "...Do...Do you want to be... Friends with me!?..." He spoke again shakingly.
James stared at him for a moment. He had not expected those words from the boy. But nevertheless, he couldn't help but smile at that and then nodded. They both became friends at an odd time, or was it the right time?