"What is it, Dora?"
"Hehe~ A 4 leaf clover. . . Here you keep it."
"Me? Why? You found it."
"Because, it would bring you luck when you leave for England tomorrow. . . I'll miss you Darren. . . When you see this it will remind you of me that way you can never forget me"
"How can I ever forget you? I'll will always treasure this 4 leaf clover."
We were at the airport now and Darren was holding his luggage in one hand while the other hand held the tightly-sealed plastic bag that held the 4 leaf clover. He smiled brightly at me waving goodbye as I watched him walk towards the airplane.
* * *
Yawn, it has been 3 days since Darren left and I wondered how he was, if he made any new friends and if he was still thinking about me. After a while I made the decision that he had probably having to much fun over there since he hasn't contacted me since the day he left. I jumped out of bed and prepared to get ready for my 3rd year of primary school feeling extremely excited as I couldn't wait to catch up with Belinda and the others. It has been so long since we last seen each other and there is so much we needed to catch up on.
" Morning. . ." I paused mid sentence as I noticed a dark brown hair boy sitting on the dining table. His head looked down onto the table were his cereal was placed, his arms were flopped down at his sides and he was slouching in his chair. From the back of his head, I immediately knew who he was and without a second thought I ran up behind him giving him a big hug.
" Darren. You're back. When? Why are you here? I missed you. You haven't contact me in awhile I thought. . ." I stopped again and my eyes widened. Something was off, Darren didn't seem excited nor did he react to me hugging him like usually would. In fact, instead he stayed where he was and stared blankly at the cereal in front of him. I knew from that moment something terrible must of happened, that was why he was here and that was why he seemed so emotionless. I stood up straight again, looking at my mum who look at me with a gloom but sympathetic look on her face as her gaze slowly inched towrads Darren. I understood and walked towards my seat on the dining table as I started eating my breakfast while constantly looking at Darren wondering what I should say or what way I could try and comfort him.
"Darren, I have enrolled you into the school with Dora. You don't have to start right away I understand if you need some time. I prepared your room, it is the second door on the left once you walked up the stairs. . . If you don't feel like eating you could go upstairs and sleep or take a shower you had a pretty rough few days. . . You still have us, I would care for you just like my own son." My mum tried to comfort him as well as try to get some kind of response out of him but without a word he left the dining table and up the stairs. We heard him walking into his room and then into the bathroom before the door closed behind him. I wanted to question my mum about what exactly happened but she already knew what I wanted to ask and immediately explained the situation. My mum wanted me to help him walk out of this grief and guilt that he is feeling right now understanding that I knew this feeling very well. I nodded and smiled back at her reassuring her that I would do my best. My mum was just about to get ready to send me to school before Darren appeared in school uniform and his bag standing at the door waiting for us. I still couldn't look into his eyes as his head hand down low and his arms dangling on his two sides.
"Darren, We can go to school together. I bet we will have lots of fun and create lots of new happy memories. Lets go" I said cheerfully trying my best to be optimistic in order to lighten up the mood. As we left the house I pulled me hand closer to his to hold on to his hand like we used to when we skipped in the park a few days ago but he immediately pulled his hand away and walked in front of me as if he didn't want me to come any closer to him. I walked beside my mum wondering what else I could do. I tried telling him how the school was and about my friends and what we could do after school but he made no response and just continued to walk with us until we reach the school. When we were inside the school, my mum instructed me to go and find my class and friends while she took Darren to the office. I watched his back walking away from me and I felt depressed that I couldn't do anything to help him but only just watch his lonely back as he walked beside my mum. Halfway through my thoughts I felt two warm arms wrapped around me, before thinking twice I already knew who it was.
"Beautiful, Long time no see. I missed you so much. How was your summer holiday?" I cried.
" Great, My mum and I went on a road trip together to Brisbane. It was so much fun. What about you, Adorable? You seemed to find a liking to that guy over there." questioned Belinda as she stared behind me. "He seems a little down if you ask me though" I turned around and explained the whole situation and that I need to help him get over this feeling. Belinda agreed and came up with a few ideas as we walked towards our new class where Ryeowook and Yuki were waiting for us.
"Beautiful, Long time no see. I missed you so much. How was your summer holiday?" I cried.
" Great, My mum and I went on a road trip together to Brisbane. It was so much fun. What about you, Adorable? You seemed to find a liking to that guy over there." questioned Belinda as she stared behind me. "He seems a little down if you ask me though" I turned around and explained the whole situation and that I need to help him get over this feeling. Belinda agreed and came up with a few ideas as we walked towards our new class where Ryeowook and Yuki were waiting for us.
* * *
In our new classroom, the 4 of us sat on a table of six waiting for the teacher to call the roll but before she started she came in with a new student next to her. My eyes laid fixed on him cause I knew it was Darren again, he hadn't changed since I last saw him still with his head looking down but this time his arms were now holding onto his bag straps.
" Good morning class. So many new faces. Today there is a new student that has joined the our class. He is new to the school so please be extra nice as you all remember how daunting you first school experience was. So Darren would you please give a self introduction." There was silenced for a minute until finally Darren lifted his head and stared blankly at the back wall. I noticed there was no emotion at all shown in his eyes and he looked awfully pale.
" Hello, I am Darren. Nice to meet you." he announced dully with a monotonic voice. The teacher looked at him for a bit before deciding to look around to see where she should place him before I put my hand up.
"Yes, you have a question." asked the teacher.
" If he wants, he could come sit on our table." I responded. Darren's head turn slowly towards my direction and for a second I thought I saw his eyes soften. I saw a slightly happy yet depressing and lonely look in his eyes before he let his head dropped back down and walked towards my table and sat down before the teacher was able to respond. She watched him walk towards our table and instead of stopping she decided to let it be as she felt that there was something bothering Darren and seem to believe that being on our table would make things better. She continued with marking the roll before starting the lesson. I watched Darren as I could seem him staring blankly at the board and when it came to work we had to do, he would just bow down his head and completing the task at hand. Everything he was doing seem a little mechanic as if he was a robot doing anything he is told but has no emotions at all. Such familiar actions reminded me of dark times, I shocked my head as if to shake at the thought and decided I need to do something. I got to help him get out of this phase I know he can get through this.
