~Chapter 34~

All the medical instruments including some antiseptic medicine bottles were made to throw away from the table. The metal instruments fell on the marbled floor with different sounds based on their sizes and shapes as an impact and the medicine bottles got shattered with all its content spilling out on the floor. This must've caused quite a commotion because two girls who were passing by the infirmary opened the door of the sickroom out of concern for the nurse in there. Their concern of Miss Inlon's successive strange behaviors, attitudes, increasing distant and coldness made them open the door without seeking for permission.

"Miss Inlon! We heard a loud noise, are you oka—?"

The two girls steadily retreated back after few seconds. A tinge of discomfort evident on their face. They shuffled away from there all the way discussing how the ever gentle, caring and lovable Miss Inlon has changed enough to glare at them murderously. That glare, those eyes, certainly do not belong their non-discriminatory Miss Inlon; the one who treated and behaved with everyone with a gentle clear smile on her lips. THAT Miss Inlon roamed around the school like some kind of ghost, appears in places just out of nowhere, and doesn't bother to remain in the infirmary much, she treats the wounds and injuries of the students to the bare minimum possible as if she's doing the job for job's sake which was never the case previously.

"Miss Inlon…..has gotten so strange…isn't it?"

"Yes you're right. I wonder what happened…."

"Is she troubled by any chance….? Relationship problems?"

"Eh? She has a fiancé though?"

"So what? Fiancés don't have relationship problems?"

"That's also true…..but I really wonder what happened to her…"

Rumors are like wild fire. Once ignited or originated it'll spread like crazy travelling from and to different directions, sometimes even reach to such unimaginable heights and levels that it becomes stubborn to die down properly. The rumor of Daniel Fleabagh being dismissed from his position as captain of the basketball team spread among the student masses and within two days the official announcement of Daniel's dismissal and suspension from basketball was announced. Everyone was also aware of Daniel's excessive bullying of Luke Coswell that led him to get hospitalized at a crucial time of senior year. All of them were of the opinion that indeed Daniel took his bullying too far. It was inhuman of him to push someone at the brink of death no matter how angry he was with that person. He had no right over someone's life. The student body of Roschend High buzzed with hot gossips and rumors which they could only discuss about. No one seemed to be worried about the upcoming examinations in the next month.

Daniel was no longer seen hanging out with his cronies/friends, nor was he found in the basketball court. He wasn't found secretly smoking behind the swimming pool supplies storage room, he didn't throw anymore parties. Word has it that his mother will be staying at this town permanently for now, she won't be travelling for business trips anymore, she cut down all his credit cards, froze his bank account and practically grounded him. Some even had seen him doing community services. Few students who had usual contact with Luke informed the other curious fellow students that Daniel and his mother had visited the hospital and they were heavily reprimanded by the Coswell family. Although Luke's father had deterred from filing a court case against Danny, the Coswell family refused to accept the apology that Mrs. Fleabagh and Daniel offered. Luke's mother was enraged and gave an ultimatum that if something happens to their son, Coswell family would go to the ends of the earth to put Daniel behind the bars.

It's been a week since the ambivert, happy-go-lucky, somewhat timid Luke Coswell has slipped into a medically induced coma.

Rio had slipped back into his vegetative state of not talking much, Seon Hul lived on as usual, but her eyes lacked life; only Emilia was the only one among the three who stood strong and comforted both her boyfriend and her bestie. What ate up both Seon Hul and Rio was guilt. One was guilty of not informing about Luke becoming the prospective target of Daniel's bully while the latter felt guilty of not being a better friend to keep contact with his only friend who bothered talk to him ever since the end of middle school.

They acquainted through mathematics when Luke requested his help in solving a sum, gradually their acquaintance progressed to that of conversation, well, and Luke did most of the talking with Rio as the attentive listener. Still it was always Luke who approached him. Rio promised himself that this time, when he wakes up it'll be him who'd approach him. He clenched fists on the glass covered window beyond which Luke's steady breathing body lay quietly. His heart monitor beeped and a serene atmosphere encapsulated him wholly. He looked peaceful. Seon Hul was also there in the hospital. When Emilia went to washroom, Rio sat down beside Seon Hul. After few minutes of sitting in silence, Seon Hul sighed as she bent forward to cover face with one her hands, the other hand tightly grasping a grey mobile which is Luke's. His family gave it to Emilia before they went for lunch as she has been visiting him every day. Neither Emilia nor Rio knew about Seon Hul's daily visit to Luke. They only came to know today.

"Have you ever been through a situation where you regretted your life choices and wondered if you had done better had you chose something else?"

"Life…..life is not always about choice, y'know." Rio gulped inaudibly as he remembered few days back his instinct and consciousness pushed him to do something he never had the courage of doing. "Sometimes….sometimes you need believe your instincts…" As if on cue, Luke's phone buzzed signaling of an incoming call.

Seon Hul took a glance of the unsaved number that's calling, her face hardened; "Right now my instinct is saying that I should kick this son of a bitch's ass." Before Rio could even ask what she meant, she stormed off to opposite direction, receiving the call on her way.

December rolled in and so did the winter, snow covering the Roschend landscape. The seniors of Roschend High prepared themselves for their final year examinations. This year would be memorable to all in a good way or in a bad way.

On the first school day of December, Luke Coswell walked in slowly in his school.