Salvation 2035

Prologue 5- Farewell

『Lindy』

     Having a part-time job during the day is actually super fun! Sure, I lose out on a few hours of sleep, but it's a lot more fulfilling than sitting around at home. Besides, Tsuki's old enough that I trust him to stay home by himself. He's taken days off work recently because he hasn't been feeling too well. Usually, Cromwell doesn't care, but she saw the state of him with his wicked stomach flu, so she let him off the hook. Before that, he had twisted his ankle. It's been a little over a month that he hasn't been going. To be honest, these ailments are probably a blessing in disguise. Recently, Tsuki's really been focusing on the homework I've been giving him. It's good to see that he cares a lot about getting out of this mess. Every week, I look over what he's done. He's really good at writing but could improve on math and science. Luckily, I'm good at both of those things, so it's no problem for me to teach him.

     "Man, it's hot out there!" I exclaim as I return to the apartment. This heat isn't the nice kind of heat that makes you feel energetic and happy to be outside. It's the kind that's all stuffy and mixes up with car exhaust to mutate and creates this unbearable funk that makes you run from building to building trying to escape, but you tire yourself out in the process, making it even more unbearable. Unfortunately, we don't have any air conditioning, so this place is unbearable without electric fans.

     Strangely, though, Tsuki is wearing a jacket and over-the-knee socks. I'm practically melting in a tank top and shorts! Currently, his back is facing me, so I walk over to him.

     "How are you not burning up?" I lean over beside him. I notice that his hand is shaking, and he's staring blankly at some factoring questions. Tears drip off of his face.

     "I... I can't solve it," he says quietly.

     "That's okay, I can walk you through it—"

     "Why even bother?" he suddenly shouts. "I know I'm too stupid to understand anyways!"

     "That's not true at all!" I try to comfort him. Clearly, there's something else going on. "You can take a break, and we can try again later-"

     "If I'm such a disappointment, why don't you just throw me out?" he shoots back. "I know you don't actually want me here!"

     "Tsuki—"

     He storms off to his room, but before he can close the door, he collapses on the ground. I rush over to his side. He just sits there for a while, silent, his back heaving up and down. Slowly, he moves to a seated position, and hugs his knees tight against his body, uttering quiet sniffles. I grab one of the stuffed animals from his bed and hand it to him. He promptly takes it from me and holds it close.

     "... I'm sorry I yelled at you," he apologizes. Getting a better look at his face, his eye makeup is completely ruined, with the majority of it running down his cheeks.

     "I know you didn't mean it," I sit down beside him. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

     "...I lied to you," he mumbles.

     "About what?" I inquire.

     "I'm not actually sick," he confesses, "and before that, I wasn't injured. I just told you that so I wouldn't have to go to the brothel."

     "Oh," I say at a loss for words. It makes complete sense that he wouldn't want to go there, but what about the money? Surely Cromwell must be suspicious. "You know Cromwell will be looking for the money soon. But it's okay, I'll just give her the cash from my part-time job and everything will be fine."