I… don't know what to say. I lower my hand…
"I knew they had a big argument during the holidays, but I thought things had calmed down. Maybe I just didn't want to see the signs. I like how happy we were. At least with Helene, I have never been unhappy. I bet mom hid to cry a lot. After almost two decades together, she learned that dad has another family outside, and he has been treating her like an idiot."
Silence. That is the only thing I can come up with because I don't know what to say. I recall the encounter with Emmie's mother, and the words I said. Some guilt starts to creep up in my heart, because if not for me, maybe Emmie would not have lost her smile.
Suddenly, she raises her head and smiles as if the cloud of depression just now did not matter. But maybe I should say that she does not want it to matter. She would rather it doesn't matter.
"Thank you, Max."
"Hm?"
"Helene told me what you said. At least, she won't have to hide to cry anymore. If anything, we can cry together now."
Emmie smiles. She tries to show the usual radiance, but that only pierces through my surprise with how glaring it is.
I open my mouth, and don't know what to say. I put my fork down and take my water bottle to chase the sudden dehydration that has afflicted my mouth.
The taste of the milk inside clears my head a little with some light shed through the cloud of gloom the situation has brought.
"After class, let's go to the mall. We need to see the situation there and the kind of job we must get. We will have more options gathered in one place, instead of running through the city."
"Okay~"
Emmie's upbeat tone as she replied makes me smile despite the remaining gloom that is lingering. My appetite is gone for the most part, but sometimes, desire may not be there, while need is firmly entrenched and shouting.
"Let's eat."
Because we will have much to do later.
"Hm!"
Emmie nods, but then snatches my water bottle to take a swig of its content. She closes her eyes with a peculiar expression, something like a mix of enjoyment, wonder and peculiarity.
*Pa*
"What is this milk, Max? You never told me."
Looking at Emmie's face, my lips twitch in wonder at how she will react when she knows the truth.
My silence even as she picks up her first mouthful of her food prompts Emmie to push with more curiosity:
"Or did you put something inside to change the taste?"
I also return my attention to my plate, and smile meaningfully:
"Helene might recognize this milk. You can have her try someday."
Emmie frowns, skeptical and intrigued, but I don't say more. She glanced at my water bottle, a gleam like a thief planning around her target flashing through her eyes.
I simply shake my head. However, it is true that Helene may recognize the milk. She must have tasted her own milk when she gave birth to Emmie. I think most mothers must have, even if not out of curiosity, at least to check what they were feeding their babies.
After recess, we continue with the rest of our classes, before the last bell rings. Like a toll to announce freedom to a bunch of prisoners who have not tasted fresh air for the better half of their lives, chairs and tables were made to scarp the ground as they were impatiently moved to make way. Feet hit the ground with the rhythm of a stampede, and the corridors, after the doors unceremoniously dismissed out of the way, were filled with as much noise as a trade fair.
I frown slightly, and it is not only because I have come to like less welcoming of such an agitated crowd, compared to before, but because of all the waves that seem to resonate into a growing, incessant shouting. It is worse than what is being voiced. It is like, despite not speaking, everyone is working their lungs out.
I must say that no matter the universe, no matter how the body is wired, it is a perfect creation with its autoregulation function. That is the only reason I'm not clutching my head with a migraine like someone with a hangover from emptying a whole tank of liquor.
"Max, are you alright?"
Emmie's question as she comes to stand beside me with her bad sling over her shoulder pulls me out of my thoughts and makes me smoothen my frown.
"It's nothing. Let's go."
Alright, if I had drained a tank of liquor, I don't think I would have survived until the hangover came.
I smile at myself, ignore the thoughts ranging from irrelevant ones to relevant and disparaging ones flying around, and walk out of the school grounds with Emmie.
"Max, should we take a taxi?"
I look at the sun in the sky, then at the road, before shaking my head.
"No need. With the bus we can arrive soon. It is not the rush hour, so we will find seats inside."
"Okay~ Tomorrow I'm going for my first session with the swimming club. But I heard that most boys there are only after the girls of the club."
"You are learning to defend yourself. If anything comes up, you can get some practice, right?"
"Yeah!"
Emmie nods with emphasis, and we both laugh.
"Hey, Max. Seriously, what do you think about our assistant coach at Def-Art? He is handsome, has a good temperament, and is very handsome. He really seems interested in you."
The bus stops just then, and I roll my eyes before climbing inside.
"Since he is so handsome, why don't you try yourself? I won't stop you."
As we sit down, Emmie seriously looks to be contemplating my words, leaving me speechless. I open my mouth, but words fail me. I can't help but bite my lip and send my hands to her inner thighs and the side of her right boob, before pinching her to snap her out of it.
"Do you think I'm so generous, or were you serious when you proposed a threesome last time!?"