Beyond the Boundaries

10

10 - Keep It In Check, Nothing But Net

My vision was blurry, though just for a moment. My throat felt extremely dry, and I had an extreme headache. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. It felt disgustingly familiar—a Penurious virus.

It felt like everything was going downhill.

I was surprised to see Kyrell and Mako beside my hospital bed, alongside Milo right next to me. I could barely remember what happened. I only remembered what was important: the final goodbye to my friend.

"W- what are you doing here?" I asked, specifically to Kyrell.

"That's a rude thing to say for somebody who just saved you, you know. Maybe ask "what happened?" or something. I don't need your attitude right now." Kyrell insisted. He wasn't his usual joking self right now. He seemed more serious, more than ever now.

"How do you expect me to act nice to a person like you? Your father burned down everything I loved! And you're just another bully. Now that I'm over here, you must feel belittled. Like you can't do anything but talk smack!" I yelled.

"That's because I have no time to argue with you right now. I care for my father's legacy, no matter how unserious I may seem. You're right. I do feel little. That's why I pick on people smaller than me. Whether or not I want to accept it though—and you, too—the Penurious side is gone. We're all Affluents, so now I'm just another kid. Nothing more than anybody else. All I can brag about is my dad. That word, "dad," doesn't roll off the tongue as well as it used to. It doesn't feel right to say his name anymore." Kyrell confessed.

I get it. Kyrell's embarrassed of his father now. Even he was horrified at what happened with the burning of the Penurious side. I knew he couldn't hold that smirk forever. All this time, he's been seeing a fake version of his dad. He's been seeing one side of him, that's why he used to act that way. Because in his eyes, and in most eyes, Luke Novak was a good person. Or at least a half-decent leader. Kyrell had something to brag about, something to look up to. But now? His father is a monster. Kyrell doesn't want to be a monster, he wants to be successful. But just like his dad, he's doing it in the wrong ways.

I wanted to say, "I'm sorry," but Kyrell didn't deserve it. I didn't pity him at all.

"What's going on?" I broke the silence.

"A virus from the Penurious side was caught up in the smoke in the air. I've been trying to call my dad, but he isn't answering for some reason. I- I don't know why. And I'm scared. He already has this bad reputation. He's tarnished it, probably forever. I don't know if Milo is going to make it out alive. His immune system isn't strong like yours, you've probably gotten used to all the viruses over there." Kyrell remarked.

I chuckled, despite it not being a joke. He wasn't wrong, though I could say when I did get sick over there, the only thing keeping me alive would be hopes and prays. Since nobody went to the hospital—in fear they might go missing, too—there was no medicine or pain killers. You just had to bear through it.

I saw Mako rapidly tapping his foot. He then stared over at me, his eyes reading distress. "Do you think he'll be here for the game? It's tomorrow."

I didn't understand why he was asking me, but I knew he was desperate for an answer.

So I gave him the one I had. "I don't know, I'm sorry."

"That can't be all you care about. A stupid basketball game. He has to recover, even if he wakes up!" Kyrell shouted. It felt like a knife was driven into my heart. If was a strong word to use.