It has been a few weeks since James and Mark became friends and fortunately, the boy's health is getting better and better every visit he made. Though, the news of James visiting the frail boy became a huge topic from kids to adults and it spread like a wild fire. James again became popular but in a positive way but he did not like the constant attention he was recieving. Everyday, the kids who once avoided him now kept asking questions about the "mysterious Rosewood boy" and James could not help but say the same answer as they bombed him with words.
This day was no difference. During lunch time, James' table that was once empty is now filled with curious children from first to seventh grade. "What does he looks like!? Is he a ghost!?" A kid younger than him squeezed in and questioned. James, who was already overwhelmed by the huge crowd just answered "No... He was... Just a boy..." They all murmured to each other at the same time, saying that James is lying and he was keeping the boy a secret, "Liar! I bet he was an alien!"
James frowned as he heard those words, "No he was not! In fact, he was actually like an angel..." Everyone fell silent after he said that and suddenly— one by one, the students spoke and they couldn't hide their excitement as they bombarded James with incoherent words,
"Does he have wings!?"
"Can he fly!?"
"Can he grant your wishes!?"
"Is that the reason they locked him up!?"
James became even more overwhelmed at their loud voices, his food forgotten from his table because he doesn't have the same peace he have before. Suddenly, one perked up, "You can draw right!? You might've been drawing him so show it to us too!" They all agreed and nodded. Some girls couldn't even hide the squeals and glee on their faces. James was defeated and agreed. He showed his notebook and one immediately snatched it, turned the pages, and then showed it to everyone.
"Is this him?" When James saw he drawing of Mark, he slowly nodded through feeling shy for everyone saw that he had sketched the unknown boy like a loving artist. The others awed as they saw the drawing. It was the young boy with his shiny golden locks, amber eyes, and worried look as he looks out the window. He was breathtakingly beautiful, "Are you sure? You're not making this up?" He nodded again. How can he create a drawing this beautiful? That's what he thought to himself.
The girls could not help but fall in love at the lovely portrait. Some were squealing loudly and others even commenting how he looks like a prince from a fairy tale. James was not surprised by that, but the way Mark became popular even though he's still not attending their school was just amusing to him.
News spread wild again as the portrait of the mysterious boy was passed to one person and another, filling their curiosity more and even feeling envious to James for he saw what the boy looks like first than them. Of course, because of the wild spread, it also came across to Maurie because one of her friend spilled the tea with her in front of them. She was not happy about it.
"Don't treat my brother like he's some unique animal from the zoo!" Her friends looked at her and snickered to one another, "No we aren't! We're just reaaallyy curious, y'know?" "That's right!" Another spoke up, "We're just curious if he's also single!" Maurie gasped and frowned, "What the heck!? We're only nine!" They laughed again, real loud. Like Maurie just said the most silliest thing a man could hear, "So what if we are? Young love are normal these days! You're just jealous because you're brother was recieving more attention while you're behind his shadow!"
With that, Maurie finally broke. She can't believe that her friends would say things like that.
"That's it! Our friendship is over! Don't even think about coming closer to my brother ever!" She got up and stormed off the cafeteria, leaving her friends stunned and dumbfounded. "H–hey! We're just joking!" But it was too late, Maurie had already made up her decision. If your friends says mean stuffs to you especially when you're around, it's best to leave them be. And her friends? Well, they were more disappointed for not having the chance to even have a glimpse of the boy they have a crush with. Maurie dashed into the hallway and into the school's bathroom. There, she cried herself and sobbed as she thinks about the hurtful words her so–called "friends" had said to her.
"Are you okay?" Asked the high pitched voice. Maurie looked up and saw a girl her age. Her hair is curly and has the colour of coffee and skin brown as mocha, "Are you okay?" She asked again. Maurie shook her head as more tears spilled down to her cheeks, "My friends are mean..." She spoke with her voice shaking.
"Why? Did they do anything to you?" The little girl leaned down to meet Maurie's gaze, "No... But they made fun of me..."
"It's alright, I'm sure that whatever they said is the opposite!" Maurie, still sobbing, finally look at her in the eyes, "What do you mean...?" She asked. "Well, you're really pretty to me." She chuckled at the others observation and the other did too. "I'm Opal! What's your name?" "Maurie..." She responded. "I'm new here. And lost. Can you show me around?" Maurie wiped her tears and nodded as she stood up with Opal. "But didn't someone is supposed to show you around?"
"I'm forgetful so the school is like a maze to me."
"That makes sense"
They walked out of the bathroom and Maurie took Opal a quick tour and also have a little talk, "The reason I'm crying earlier is because my friends says that I'm jealous of my twin brother's sudden popularity... But I'm not..." "Huh? But I never seen anyone that looks like you here." "That's because he's sick... And we don't look like each other too." Opal thinks about it a little and hummed "but how come he's popular if he doesn't go out?" That made Maurie think about it too. No one knows what Mark looks like unless... "I think I know who spreads the news..." Suddenly, the bell rang signaling the time for another class, "Oh come on!.. Sorry, Maurice... Talk to you later!" "Yeah... See ya..."
****
James made his way to the next room, when he got in, he was surprised that Maurie was staring at him and was signaling him to come closer so he did. "What's wrong?" He asked, "You clearly know what's wrong...! You're the one who spread the news of what Mark looks like, didn't you?..."
James was quiet and stunned before he gave in and admit the truth, "I did... But I tried not to! I promise! They just stole the drawing from me before I could even had the chance to stop them..." She raised an eyebrow as she listens, "Sketch...? You mean it...?" She spoke again with uncertain in her voice. "Yeah! Cross my heart and hope to die, I promise you I didn't mean it to happen." He even raised his palm as an act of surrender. "Alright... I believe you... But be careful next time! I let you met him for a reason, y'know...?"
That's right. Maurie thought that James was trusting enough to let him meet Mark face to face. He felt like a fool for breaking her trust in him. "I'm really sorry... It won't happen again, I promise." He apologised one more time and Maurie accepted it.
****
"So that's what happened earlier?" Mark asked as he looked to his older twin sister who was now sitting next to his bed. "I didn't thought that people would be obsessed with my appearance..." Maurie nodded and even commented, "When they saw James' sketch of you, they were completely smitten and they even looked like they were worshipping you!" She sighed as she remembered the event earlier, "My old friends even says that they wanted to date you but I strongly opposed and even made a new friend!"
Mark closed the book on his lap and stared at the window. The sky was now painted with purple and countless of stars were seen twinkling in the sky, "Is that so...?" Eventually, Their grandma walks in with a tray of food for Mark's dinner and placed it in front of him then turned to Maurie, "You should go downstairs, hon. Dinner's ready."
"Yeahh!" She stood up from the chair and turned to look at her brother one more time, "Oh well, James regretted being to careless so it's alright! Later again, Mark!" She happily went out and it looks like she was thinking of James' regretful face earlier. Mark couldn't hide his small smile at the scene, "Later, Miri..."
The door closes and Mark was all alone again, "Wait, James drew me..?" He sat there, staring at his food in realisation as he thinks about that James drew him. He couldn't help but have a new feeling as he thinks about for too long.