Love of a Thousand Colors

Chapter 4

"I'll be your ride home." Israel offered. I'm relieved that I can now go home. It's getting late and I have to check on Lucky and change her bandages. I sincerely hope that he would honor his promise and this is not a ruse to take me somewhere to ask me about the fake counseling business I read last night.

He opened the passenger seat next to the driver's. In my mind, I convinced and assured myself that there are plenty of students who knew that we're about to go home together. There are lots of witnesses and cameras in the school. The only question is would anyone bother to look for me if I met with something unfortunate? Realistically, no one from the school would bother, Lucky would be worried and look for me. I shook my head, thinking of my sister in her dire condition calling and shouting my name is something I wouldn't want to happen.

"You'd really take me home? You would, wouldn't you?" I asked. He's young, yet with my own very eyes, I witnessed how highly persuasive and powerful he is.

"I'm sorry for what I did. I really am." Israel apologized and extended his hand and formally introduced himself. I shook it very firmly. He pretended to get hurt. "My excitement got the better of me. Trina, if you only knew how important knowing about Jacob's Robe is, I'd bet you have already gone to their place and see how the thing goes for yourself."

I honestly don't. But he's indeed very eager to listen to what I'm going to say. It doesn't make sense for him to do the things he did if it wasn't for the information I have. With that, I'm increasingly curious about what's that counseling session really is.

We stopped in front of the apartment building where our home is. Israel actually thought I live at one of the units there. I have to correct him and say I live in a place where roaches won't even stomach to reside. He looks baffled. The guy left his car at a convenience store and didn't seem to worry about the possibility of his truck getting scratched or vandalized by local thugs. Perhaps he got more money to spend or parents that don't care.

We reached the back and saw our small shack. I ushered him to get in and he entered without hesitation. No trail of disgust or pity. He stayed mum all throughout the time I pointed to him where I'm living at.

"Lucky? Lucky?" I went to her room but she's not there. Franny and Tootch appeared at the room's door.

"She's not with you?" Franny asked, slightly sounding nervous.

"You didn't pick her up from the center?" Tootch accused. Looking all haughty and rude as if she caught me making a huge blunder this time. "Who's that snappy boy with you? Your boyfriend?"

I ignored her and made my way pass between her and my older sister. In my mind, I hope that she's okay. The center is closed now and I don't know where she'll probably be.

"How could you be so irresponsible?!" Franny reached for her phone and dialed the center's contact number.

I left the house again, taking an extra jacket with me. Both of them forgot that they should be the ones to pick up Lucky. But there are times they are so hangover or stoned to remember what they need to do. And it's so stupid of me to actually rely on them to do this one simple job knowing they are both dopeheads.

Israel followed me looking agitated. I don't know if it's because he won't be able to get hold of the coupon as sooner as he'd hoped or because of the problem I'm in right now. He pulled my hand and asked me if he can take me there by car.

I nodded, holding back the tears. We hopped in his car and he drove quickly to the center.

As expected, the place is closed. There's only one dim light inside.

"Lucky!? Lucky!?" I kept banging on the glassdoor. But I saw no signs of people still staying there. I muttered under my breathe a small prayer that my sister is safe. The night is so cold and she must be really hungry. But worse, without her skin ointment, she must be miserable and itching like crazy.

My eyes scanned the vicinity. The entire neighborhood is quiet.

"Trina?" I heard a small voice calling me from somewhere.

"Lucky? LUCKY?!" She's here but I can't see her. Israel peeked through the mailbox. The center's mailbox is so huge, a child can fit in.

"Is that -- your sister?" Israel asked. He can't believe seeing a mummified child inside, especially with all the bandages on her.

I hurried to the mailbox and saw my sister in there. My poor little sister cramped herself inside the box because nobody has fetched her yet. Even in the darkness, I could tell some of her blisters have bled and that she's trying hard to be brave and endure the pain.

"Some kind of a sister I am, huh?" I said. I placed the very large jacket around her and gradually pulled her out of the box. Some of the letters and thin parcels got stuck on her and I removed them gradually. I would've squeezed her tight and wailed profusely if there's no stranger with us. But Lucky isn't crying, she's really a brave one.

Lucky gave me a mini hug and smiled. "I'm already getting comfy there. I have arranged the letters and parcels like a nest." She said proudly. "But some are bloody now. The mailman would not get the letters."

"That's what you call a bloody surprise. Don't worry about it. Anyway, this is Israel, someone from school." I said. Israel waved his hand and greeted her. I'm thankful he decided to save his questions for later.

Lucky looked at the both of us, her eyes went downcast and sullen. "Am I going to be alone from now on?" She asked, perhaps correlating today's event with me having a boyfriend and having no sufficient time for her just like Franny.

We stopped walking towards Israel's car. "It's my fault. I'm an irresponsible sister. Don't worry, we're not... He's not what you think he is. I promise it won't happen again." I don't know what else to say to alleviate her worries and fears. "Didn't I always tell you I love you very much?"

Lucky chuckled, "I know. You were pale like a ghost. You thought I'm gone." That's what surprises me about my sister the most. She can completely become upbeat and cheery despite circumstances.

"No, you are a tough cookie. I wasn't panicking." I replied curtly. "Why are you outside? Hasn't anyone even tried to wait for someone to get you?" Outside, I'm as calm as the Dead Sea, but I'm boiling inside and one triggering statement will make me explode any minute.

"I stayed in the lobby and waited, but they were about to close, so the security guard told me I just have to wait outside. Hmm, I was sure I'll be picked up anyway, so he placed me on the steps outside."

"Is that so? Is that the usual guard?" I asked, if I have fangs and growl like a pissed off lion, I would've done so by now. They are so going to get it.

Lucky shook her head very slightly. "No, he's new. He's been here for only 2 days."

Israel opened the door for us and delivered a mental question at him before I put my sister down on the car seat. He shrugged it off and mouthed 'No worries'. But my sister hugged me tight and doesn't want to be put down. I kissed her forehead and sat first with her on my lap. She winced and I apologized immediately, yet she didn't shed a tear.

"Sorry, sorry" I said.

Lucky is breathing heavily and seems to be in pain. She placed her hand, her fused fingers on my lips, almost telling me to stop speaking.

Israel gave me a look through the front mirror, silently asking me if we're ready to go. I nodded and thanked him. The engine revved and he drove as carefully as he could, with his eyes on us every few minutes or so.

Lucky closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. She was able to relax and rest easy.

We finally reached home. I placed my little sister on her bed. Franny and Tootch met us outside the door. I gave them both an aggravated look to tell them to shut up since she's already sleeping. Both of them cursed at me and left. I no longer care where they'll go. It makes me extremely furious that they are quick to pass the blame and guilt trip me every time an unfortunate thing happens. But lo, they are at home, doing nothing even during emergencies.

Israel waited in the living room, dwindling his thumb. He was staring into space as if he's in very deep thought. When I passed him a glass of water, he snapped out of it and asked: "How is she?" He took a sip and looked very surprised.

"Sorry, it isn't cold."

"It's alright."

He asked about my sister's condition and he was genuinely flabbergasted to know that such a disease exists and on top of it, there's no cure.

"I hope you still have the coupon with you. I'll give you any amount of monetary compensation in exchange for it." He mentioned. He raised his hand and added, "I am sorry if I'm being rude and straightforward."

"Not at all. I should thank you for your help today." I said timidly as I sat at the opposite chair. "If I ask for a thousand dollars, will you give it?"

He frowned and crossed his arms. But he smiled and gave me an okay sign.

"That won't be a problem. I could do better." Israel said. "You said you threw it away, do you think it's still here?" He does sound very anxious to get it. I'm excited, daydreaming of the things I can buy with a thousand bucks.

"Sure. Follow me." We went to the room and I reached out for the trash can. I opened the lid.

There's nothing there!

Israel noticed my frantic search for the coupon. He grabbed the bin and held it upside down to shake the contents out. It's empty.

"Why is it empty?!" He exclaimed, his face fell as if all his dreams came crashing completely.

"Franny..." Was all I managed to say. "Out of all the times I wanted her to be useful, she chose this very moment to throw away the trash..." I slumped down the floor, my hands over my head. Franny and Tootch never fail to bring me problems and disappointments. I would've asked her where she could probably dispose of it but we have to sweep every dumpster in the backstreet. But the dump truck could have taken everything and a landfill is a place where it's almost impossible to find an item so small as a coupon.

Israel walked to and fro inside the room, his hand on his hip and the other on his chin. "I can't give up. There has to be someway..." Goodbye quick money...

Israel was still distraught when he left the house. I saw a flash of anger in his eyes. The coupon probably means a lot to him. I wanted to tell him to investigate or ask around for Jacob's Robe instead. But if it were possible to find it through conventional means, he would have done so.

I don't think I'll be called back to the eSports clubroom anytime soon.

"Now..." I went to my room and searched for that paper in my trash bin. "Where does it say the counseling session would be?" I held the coupon in my hand and checked it for other details.

Sorry, Israel. If you are that desperate to have it, then it must worth more than we have agreed.