The Love/Hate

24. Careers day

Tom drops me to school as he'll be doing a talk in class today.

I meet Lukas as usual but he looks especially glum today. "Whats up?"
"Nothing really, something just upset my sister yesterday."

Lukas shoves his hands in his pockets and keeps his head down. "Grace? What?"

Lukas just whistles and i know im not getting an answer from him. He suddenly says, "i have something to tell you later and...you're not gonna Like it."

Im confused but i nod anyway.

***************
By the time i get into class, Tom is already there with a bunch of girls crouded around him, all of their boyfriends looking annoyed. My teacher is late of course, but Tom parts through the girls when he sees me, sending Lukas a wink.

"Hey class!" My teacher enters and everyone rushes to their seats, Tom joining me next to Lukas.

The teacher gives him an introduction and he stands. "Hey class, my name is Thomas Jameson, or Tom. Some of you may know my sister, Eva." (The part where m dace goes red) "Im gonna talk to you about my job."

"Duh." I hear from the front but Tom carries on, talking about how he got to the top of his business and how we cam achieve the same by working hard. He might as well have ended with a 'STAY IN SCHOOL KIDS!" and a thumbs up.

"As i said, my family was a very big part of this." He pauses for a second, "Even the family i rarely see willed me to work hard and follow my dreams."
A couple o the boys rolled their eyes and yawned and the girls seemed fixated with Toms face. Lukas raised his hand and Tom cursed under his breath. "Yes, um..Lukas?"

Lukas stood up. "Sorry if this question is irrelevant, sir, but you mentioned family you rarely see. How did they help?"
"Well, even if i don't see them often they still show their belief in me and that helps mW believe in myself."

"Yes but what about the ones you never see, the ones that may not even know you exist?"
By now, people were muttering and i sensed that there was something going on.
Tom straightened his suit, "that's impossible. How could i? Someone i don't know os a stranger and strangers don't show love to me, nor do i them."

Lukas gulped. "But you don't know your daughter, so you don't love her then?"

Everyone went silent.
"Daughter?"
I stand up to face Lukas who has tears in his eyes. "Im sorry, Eva. Tom lied. About everything. My sister Grace. Everything! He broke my sister and then cast his child away. Im sorry!"
I was about to explode inf fr not of lukad but i instead directed my anger into the true problem.

"Eva, it was just one night...and...and she knew i didn't want to commit. It was her fault. She gave Charlie up and her stupid family decided to adopt her, its not my fault."

I raise my fist, ready to blow the lights out of him but when i thrust my arm forward, it falls him and the tears start falling in little meanders down my cheeks. Everyone is staring now and all i can do is run out if the class room.
Lukas...