Love & Principles: A Game of Push and Pull

A teenage boy and a girl wearing the same school uniform were walking side by side on the side of a street. Their hands firmly entwined as they chatted and glanced at each other with bright smiles on their faces. However, as the chat went on, the smile on the girl's face was replaced by a worried one.

"You won't be able to go on the school trip? Is your mother's condition that serious, Lucas?"

The 16-year-old boy named Lucas Wilde nodded. "But don't worry, Alora. I will be able to take care of my mother and stay with her all the time while you go on the school trip. By the time you return, my mother will be fine now."

"Really?" Despite Lucas's words, concern was still evident on the face of Alora McLean. "Shall I skip the trip too? You know, I can always stay with you and help you look after your mother. She likes me a lot."

Still entwining his left hand with her right, Lucas Wilde lifted his other hand and ruffled Alora's hair, almost making her pout. "I know how much you anticipate the trip. You should go and have a good time. Trust me. My mother will be fine."

"But I know you're very tired these days," Alora McLean argued. "You have to look after your mother while working several part-time jobs at the same time. You can't even come to school often. If I help you out -"

"Lora."

He called out his name in a very calm voice but it was enough to make her silent. He halted his steps and when she did the same, he flashed a little smile and said, "We are only 16, Lora. I want you to have fun like others rather than worrying about me all the time. I don't want to be a hindrance in your life. You deserve so much better."

Maybe Alora saw through how guilty he felt towards her, she felt a familiar fear but ended up forcing a smile. "Alright then. I will go on the trip. Instead, promise me that you will answer my call and talk to me at least once every day. I won't ask for more."

Somehow, the sight of the little finger that she offered for the promise warmed up the young Lucas's heart. "Fine," he muttered with a genuine smile and entwined his little finger with hers before stamping their thumbs together. "I promise."

She showed him a warm smile and he exchanged the smile; no fakeness. No matter how tiring and hopeless his life was, he always found hope in her and he was positive that as long as he had her in his life, he would never lose his way.

* * *

Two months later

Alora was alone in her room when she received a call from Lucas. As the latter was mostly busy working or looking after his mother, they rarely had the chance to talk, let alone meet. So, she was thrilled to receive a call from him.

As such, she answered the call right away; but...

"Alora."

She heard his low voice before she could say anything and she understood right away that something was wrong.

Did something happen to his mother?

"Lucas, is everything alright?" She rose from her seat and impatiently tapped the table with her fingers when she was met with silence. "Lucas -"

"I'm going somewhere."

Putting aside his words, his voice that wasn't far from shivering promptly alerted Alora McLean. "Did something happen? Tell me where you are. I will come right away."

"No."

His firm refusal made her even more anxious. "Lucas -"

"There is no time, Alora," he interrupted her. "I'm leaving with my mother so that she can get better treatment. I don't think I will return to Elentrus again. So, I call to say goodbye."

All at once, Alora's eyes grew wide and she started panicking. "Goodbye? What do you mean, Lucas?!"

"Alora -"

"Let's meet," she demanded. "I want to see you. If you have anything you want to tell me, then you say it once you stand in front of me." There was no response and she hopefully waited.

"Give me a minute," was what he said after what felt like hours. Then the call ended right away.

Pacing around in her room, Alora glanced at her phone, again and again; struggling to stay patient. Finally, a message popped up after around five minutes.

'You know the small park near my house, right? We've been there several times. I will wait there and please... hurry, Alora. I'm really running out of time.'

Reading the message, Alora McLean hurriedly got changed and put her phone and some money in her shoulder bag. She rushed out of her room and ran down the stairs. Just when she was about to make her way to the door, the door was opened from the outside and a familiar man in a uniform walked inside.

"Miss Alora." The soldier greeted her.

"Is my father home, Sergeant Lewin? I'm in a hurry. Please tell him that -"

"The Major General sent me here to get you," the Sergeant interrupted Alora who halted her steps. She glanced at Sergeant Lewin with a confused look on her face and knowing that he had her full attention, the Sergeant finally said, "Your mother is involved in a car accident and she is now in a hospital. Your father is also with her and he orders me to take you there."

Alora McLean involuntarily took a step backward in shock!

"Is my mother fine, Sergeant Lewin? Is it serious?"

Her heart sank when she received no response from the soldier. As she worried so much about her mother, Alora forgot about everything else and hurriedly left for the hospital with the Sergeant, only to hear the news of her mother's passing when she arrived there!

As someone who always had a close bond with her mother, the latter's passing was so sudden for Alora that it took a huge toll on her. For a while, she couldn't even be in her clear mind and if it wasn't for her father, there was no way for her to cope with the heart-wrenching pain!

Once she finally recalled her plan to meet Lucas, a few days passed. Still, she rushed there as fast as she could but... putting aside the park, the small house where Lucas and his mother used to live was completely empty! She heard that they had moved out and that Lucas had dropped out of school.

She tried calling him countless times but his phone was never back on again and she never heard anything about him as if Lucas Wilde vanished from this world.....