MINE MY HEART

CHAPTER 5: A GIFT

“Jerome!” a voice called out, Jerome could feel a gentle tap on his shoulder, “Estelle go away, I’m tired” he groaned holding unto the pillow, “Jerome get up the bus is about to leave” the voice spoke still trying to wake him. Bus? What bus, he didn’t need a bus to get to the mines, where exactly was he? He slowly opened his eyes, it wasn’t his sister but a young man who had a worried look on his face. “Thank goodness, everyone is gone, the last bus is about to leave” Oliver informed, Jerome could feel his head hurt as he lifted himself into a sitting position.

“Where am I?” he asked running his finger through his light brown hair, as the headache continue to pound against his skull, “you got to be kidding me, you must had been too drunk last night” Oliver was ready to get in trouble he picked Jerome’s clothes from the ground, Jerome was confused, he looked at himself and he was bare, it was just the sheets that covered him up.

“Where are my clothes?” he said almost screaming. Oliver throw his clothes on the bed, “those are your clothes now get dressed. Mr. Roy would be mad” he tried to explain, Jerome began to wearing his shirt but his eyes scanned around the room, his eyes met with a paper not too far from where he sat.

There was money underneath with a note on top, ‘thanks for the night’ Jerome held the money hand, it looked like a large sum. Oliver raising his head from the ground immediately snapped it from his hands. “Are you crazy? You want them to take this from you?” he placed it into his pocket helping Jerome get dressed.

“what’s with the holdup” the man who brought them last night spoke walking into the room, luckily Jerome was fully clothed. “sorry he over slept” Oliver spoke trying to avoid trouble.

“Over slept? Huh does this look like your damn room that you would be comfortable? Let it not repeat itself” he walked out, Oliver turned to Jerome who was still confused, they made their way outside and unto the bus. “here’s your pay from last night” he handed them money, Oliver grabbed both before resuming his seat close to Jerome. The bus began its journey.

“You serious can’t remember what happened last night” he inquired, he knew people got drunk and forget somethings but this wasn’t something to just forget. If his client gave him extra money. “Roman” Jerome finally replied, that was the only thing he could remember. “who’s that your client?”

“I don’t know that’s the only thing I could remember” he placed his hand on his head as the pounding headache hit him once again. “Alright, I’m Oliver and I work at a fabrics store in the village close to the Marcel mines” he introduced. Jerome looked at the light skinned browned eyes man sitting next to him with a smile.

“I’m Jerome. You already know that, I work at the mines” he replied returning a smile, “You’re disgusting” rang through his ears. “Amadeus!” he whispered, he could remember his rejection.

“I couldn’t hear you.” Oliver spoke trying to understand everything about Jerome, “It’s nothing, what time is it?”

“4am I think, that’s when the last bus usual leaves” Jerome squeezed his hands together, his sisters were definably going to bury him alive along with his father because it was just a few minute to the mines been opened. The rest of the ride back home was just Oliver asking random questions and honestly Jerome had never talked with anyone this way since Amadeus left, he had no friends because he was scared they would found out who he was. The bus finally made it’s stop and the boys got down. “Here” Oliver pulled out the money from earlier out of his pocket.

The day was still a bit dim, “thank you” he smiled before taking it, if anything this was good he found someone just like him. “I live that way but I’ll leave for work later, I guess I will see you around” he spoke waving before leaving. Now Jerome was left alone with face his family, he looked at the money in his hands, he couldn’t believe it, if he wanted he wasn’t able to make this even if he worked months in the mines but he got it in one night.

“Estelle? Come into the house. You need to rest you’ve been up all night” her sister Celeste called out, Estelle was standing outside their house waiting for her brother. “How can I rest? Tell me? Jerome has never done anything like this before, I don’t even know where to look for him” she replied worried.

Celeste walked out of the house holding her sister’s hand, “I’m worried as well but you need to rest with your health, you shouldn’t be falling sick in this condition”

Estelle sighed, if it wasn’t for their father she would have been out on the street searching for her baby brother, “I just want to know if he’s okay” she voiced hugging her sister, she didn’t want to think of the possibilities that something terrible might have happened to him.

“What are you two doing outside this early” Jerome spoke and almost immediately Estelle turned around rushing to hug him. “You’re alright” she sighed a relief. Jerome hugged her back.

“where the hell were you?” she yelled pulling from the hug and hitting him on the chest, “ouch that hurts, I’m sorry I missed your ceremony” he apologized.

“she should break your head as well, you made everyone worried” Celeste added walking towards them with her slipper in her hands. Jerome moved away escaped been hit by Celeste. “would you guys calm down, I got stuck in town and couldn’t get back. I’m sorry” he lied.

“what did you go into town for?” his father’s voice echoed

“I went to get Estelle a gift for the wedding” Jerome looked his father in the eyes, they had both had bad time but from the tone of his voice Jerome could tell his father was worried. “go get ready we’ll be leaving soon” he informed walking back into the house.