Come Back, Spring Day

One

I pace around my locker. Seth is always sick. But he never gets this worst. I don’t think I could do anything else, except for taking care of him now. I have a test soon and my stomach can’t stop hurting. I might have a cramp. It’s not period, it’s mostly because of Seth’s condition. He can get sicker if I stay here. But without this test, I can fail and I don’t want that. Jack is kind enough to give me money for college. I won’t waste my time around here longer. I need to go to college. Maybe my life will be easier. Get a proper job, not just frying and flipping burgers around.
“Hey, Day,”
I turn back and see Francesca, the head of cheerleaders in senior varsity. She has dark hair and tan skin. I admire her tan. I doubt I can get that tan even if I do sunbathing every day in Summer. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Can you introduce Toby to me?” she asks. For once, Francesca looks so nervous. She’d never been nervous before. With the body like her, I doubt I’ll ever be nervous.
Toby is a freshman in a college, just like Jack. Both of them used to fight all of the time to get girls. Now, no Jack here, it means Toby get all of the attentions. And he absolutely loves it. If I tell him another pretty girl like him, then it’s the end. He won’t stop bragging about it.
“Please, Day. I can introduce you to a guy you like. From football team, probably?”
“Um. I don’t know, Francesca. It’s not that I don’t want to introduce you to him. It’s just.. what if he’s bothered because of it?”
Francesca smirks. “He’s a guy. I know what a guy thinks.”
“But, I know what Toby thinks. If you really want to meet him, then come to his gig this Saturday night.”
“I can’t,” she said.
“Why not? It’s Spring Break.”
“I’m off to Europe this Friday. I can’t cancel it,” she said. “My dad will be furious if I do.”
“Then, I guess you can’t meet Toby at the moment. He’s really busy with this gig. And I’m sure he doesn’t want to be bothered.”
“Fine,” she said. “At least give me his number.”
“I’ll write them for you. Now I need to go class. I have a test.”
It may seem like I am so arrogant. But I can’t think anything else because Jack is ignoring me. He doesn’t send another letter, nor an email. It’s not that I hope he reads all of my letter. But he never replies any letters. I just want him to reply this one. This is for Seth.
My pen is focusing in my test paper, but my mind isn’t there. I keep hoping that Jack will reply my letter this time, or write an email. I don’t know what to tell Seth if he doesn’t come.
“Please collect all of your answers quickly. I’ll start collecting your papers,” Mr. Anderson says.
I quickly write my answers because some of them are still empty. I don’t get a chance to write one answer in a question, but I think I’ll pass this test. I sigh because it’s the last period. It means I have to go home and find Seth.
What if he asks for Jack again?
I don’t know what should I tell him. Telling him Jack will come can be lie if Jack doesn’t come. Telling Jack won’t come will make him cry.
My head is hurting. I don’t know what should I do.
“Day,”
It’s Tommy. He’s a football player in our school. He’s handsome and he has this kind of smile which makes you smile. Tommy is one of the ladies boy. He has many girls clinging beside him.
I admit, I once fell in to him. He’s very charming and my wouldn’t stop fluttering. But these days, I am more worried about Seth. I don’t have any time to feel any love moment.
“Hey, Tommy. Do you need help with your homework?”
“No,” he says. “Tomorrow is Spring Break right? I have a party at that night. Fancy to come? It’s Mid Term Break.”
“I don’t know.. I’ll check my schedule first. I’ll email you later.”
Tommy holds his hands up. “No need. Come by if you want to. If you don’t, you’ll be very missed.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Tommy.”
“Sure,”
I take my backpack and start walking home. I don’t have a car, I don’t ever drive! I can’t drive because I never try to learn. So at the moment, I ask Toby or Hans to drive me. But Toby is so busy about his gig. I don’t have a heart to ask him driving me home. After all, it’s only a couple of blocks.
During my walk, I find a TV that is sold in a store. There is Jack wearing a brand new tux, interviewing with a beautiful host. He seems calm, rather relaxed. I feel a bit sad. He can’t come to visit Seth. But he can be all flirty with a girl in the TV.
****
“Nana, I’m home!” I say loudly.
In the living room, there’s the kids. Lewi, Tatiana, Galen, Thomas, Sonya, Max, and Peter. “Spring! You’re home!” they shriek all together.
“Hello, bunnies,” I say. “Where’s nana?”
“With Seth,” Sonya answers. “He’s getting better, the doctor said.”
“Good, then. I’ll shower up, okay kids? Don’t be naughty until I prepare the foods for all of you.”
“Yes! FOOD TIME!” the kids shriek in delight.
I’ll shower up firstly because nana won’t let me near Seth if I’m still dirty. He’s very sensitive with bacteria and I don’t want to make him sicker. If he’s getting better, I want him to get more than better.
I walk to Seth’s room once I finish showering. Nana is there. She’s checking Seth’s body temperature. I glance at her nervously.
“Spring, what are you doing?”
“I’m waiting to see whether Seth is okay or not. Hey nana.”
Nana smiles warmly. “He’s okay, thankfully. I’ll leave you then. He wants to talk with you. I’ll prepare foods for the kids first.”
“Hey, Seth bear,” I say.
“Spring! Is Jack here yet?”
“Um.. that .. about him.. I’m so sorry, Seth. It seems like he’s very busy. He has a tour soon. Maybe he’ll visit us later on?”
“You don’t seem to be convinced.”
“Listen, Seth.. I don’t know whether he can or not. Let’s just hope he can, okay?”
“But I want him to come!” Seth cries.
“I know, I know. But he doesn’t even reply my letter. He’s very busy, Seth.”
“You don’t even try to meet him. Don’t you love me at all, Spring?”
“Seth …”
“I don’t want to talk again. Spring, you’re a liar. You said he’ll come.”
I look at Seth who’s facing at the wall, doesn’t want to face me. I sigh. I need to make Jack come. Really coming here to visit Seth. But how?
“Spring!” Max calls. “It’s time for FOOD!”
“Alright! I’ll be downstairs quickly.”
My mind is playing something. I know what should I do to make Seth happy. Making Jack come here so Seth will be the happiest kid. It’s maybe a stupid idea. Or even the very-idea-that-will-make-nana-furious-or-ground-me-forever. But I can do it. I've been saving up for a trip I want after I finish school. But I can save it again. It’s for Seth. I won’t stop until Jack visit him. Or neither. Then I’ll just drag him here.
Fancy to trip to LA world?