Something was thrown towards the window of my room. That faint sound woke my sleepy head. Peeking through my heavy-lidded eyes, I found some pebbles near the window that escaped the metal grilled of it. I guess I know who it was.

“Ten minutes Mike!” I shouted and jumped out of my bed realizing I would be again late for school today.

Hurriedly I washed up and took my packed bag. Mom was busy in the kitchen.

“Mom! I’m leaving for school.” I came running through the staircase.

“Leo! How many times do I have to tell you not to move out empty stomach? Have some toast and milk.” She came out of the kitchen.

“Mom! Mike’s already outside. He’ll kill me if I won’t go in a second.” I grabbed a toast from the plate on her hand and kissed her cheeks. “Bye mom!”

“ Leo!(hesitatingly) I’ll take your bike to the mechanic this week. Bear some more days honey.”

“Mom! I’ve already said that it’s fine. I don’t need that bike now. Mike is already picking me up these days. I can continue this way.” Saying this, I ran out closing the main door.

Dad was never a part of my life. He ran away from home within the first week of my birth. Mom says he escaped poverty to get success. But that reason now seems bullshit. How can someone leave his family? ‘DAD’! This familiar word seems very unfamiliar to me. The only thing he did for me was--- he gave birth to me.

“Sorry! Sorry! Really sorry brother! Here, take it.” I put the toast in Mike’s mouth.

“(Munch)Hey Fluke! (Gulp)Hurry up. If I get late for you, I’ll kick your ass, you dickhead.” Mike cursed chewing the toast.

I sat on the seat behind him and continued to argue while he paddled fast down the street. “Don’t get angry. It was all your fault. How tough is it to hit the window pane? Probably you missed numerous times before hitting the correct spot.”

“Hugh! Don’t underestimate my aim. It’s perfect.(He flaunted his long strands of hair over his temple) It was you who was sleeping like a log perhaps.” Mike taunted me.

“Really? Then I shall show you the heap of pebbles inside my room that you missed to aim.” I mocked rolling my eyes.

“See! I told you. It was your fault. If you had closed the window last night, I could have easily hit the window pane and woken you earlier.” He dodged the blame to me again.

“Moron! Was it my fault now?” I pinched his butt.

“OUCH!” He trembled while paddling. “Stop poking my butt. Or else I’ll make you fall down.”

“Fine! Hurry up dude! We’re seriously getting punished today.” I peeked at the way ahead me.

And yes, my hunch was right. The school gate was already closed and Mr. Began, our gatekeeper, was guiding the gate.

“Hey Mr. BG! Could you please excuse us for today? I promise we won’t be late again.” I blinked my eyes to look cute and pouted my lips to look innocent.

“You lazy lad! How can I forget this innocent face? You can never get me wrong. You get late every three out of five days. It’s almost your last year in school. Why can’t you get serious?” Mr. Begen glared at me.

“Please Mr. BG! Please!” Mike begged him like a kid.

“Please Mr. BG!” I too joined.

“No! “There’s a strict order from the Principal these days.” He was adamant.

“Mr. BG! I know you can help us. You can turn a blind eye this time.” I added some more affecting words.

“But you’re infront of me. How can I turn a blind eye?” He was melting a little.

“If you just roam a little away from the gate, perhaps we can slip in without anyone noticing.” I was wise in this case.

“Fine! But this will be definitely the last time Leo.” Mr. Began quietly opened the gate and swiftly walked away from us, while we entered tip-toed.

“Why did he call you Leo?” Mike whispered as we moved inside our class.

“He’s my distant relative.” I whispered back.

Mr. Began was my father’s cousin elder brother. As he was from my father’s side, we never talked much or met in any family functions. I just knew about him from mom when I got admitted to this school. Whenever mom visits school, they usually greet each other as someone they know but never shared any belongingness like a family.

Panting and huffing, we ran straight to our class hoping the teacher doesn’t scold us. Luckily, the teacher wasn’t in the class so it was easy for us to sneak in.

Five classes were over and there was boredom and tiredness seen in everyone’s faces. Soon it was lunch break and as usual, Mike and I ran competing to the canteen.

“Huff! Huff! What do you wanna eat?” I asked panting.

“Huff! Anything with chicken.” Mike answered as his mouth watered looking at the menu.

“I’ll get a pork steam bun for me and pink milk for both of us. By the time you can get a table for us.”

I waited in the queue while Mike wandered to get an empty table for us. The canteen becomes hustle and bustle with a crowd after the school decided to ban children going out to eat. So everyone has to eat from the canteen which becomes overcrowded now.

Finally I got the things and holding the plates, I looked for Mike over the sea of heads.

“Hey Fluke! Here!” I heard Mike’s coarse voice shouting from a corner.

Walking through the congested fill, I finally reached the table. I kept the plates and huffed.

“It’s freaking a hassle every day; to get the food is one thing and to get a table is next level exhausting.”

“I know! I can understand! But today we got a good place. Let’s enjoy this food.” Mike merrily pulled his plate and starred at it.

I sat down. “Tomorrow let’s switch our jobs.”

“Fine.”

We had our lunch and grabbing our drinks, we went out of the canteen. We were strolling near the basketball court until the lunch break gets over.

“Hey Fluke! Have you completed the English assignment?” Mike asked.

“Why? When’s the last date?” I asked taking a sip from my drink.

“Today.”

“-----“

“What? I’m sure it’s today. I remember it correctly.” Mike assured me.

“Fuc*! How can I forget about it? Last night after completing it, I forgot to keep it inside my bag. SHIT!” I was freaking worried.

“What’s now?”

“I think...I’ll....I’ll.....” I was biting my lips in nervousness.

“What about the thing you did last time you forgot to get the assignment done?” Mike was on point.

I remembered how last week I managed to submit my assignment on time. I cleverly sneaked into the staff room and took out some xerox pages. Then I rushed to Mr. MB as I know that his resting room has an unused printing machine. From there, I easily get my works done whenever I forget any assignments. And Mr. BG is sweet enough to let me do so every time I beg him for a couple of times.

“Oh yes! I can get my work done since there’s still some time left for the lunch break to get over.” My eyes sparkled.

“But this morning itself Mr. BG scolded you. And now if you again bother him, won’t he get annoyed?” Mike was correct maybe.

“Hmm...” I took a sip from my drink. “But I know he won’t....”

            THUD!!!!!!!!!!