Gregory walked upstairs to their little one bedroom apartment and opened the door with his spare key. His mother was still not here. The apartment is all cold and empty with only a food covered at the table is seen with a note besides it.
'Will be home late.
Make sure to eat well
Love, mom.'
He tossed it aside and then stared at the cold food. Rubbish. He doesn't even need this yet his mother still treated him as a vulnerable child who can't take care of his own. He grabbed the plate and then throws the food to the trash like it didn't matter at all. To avoid getting caught, he take out the trash early than usual so that his mother wouldn't cry and tell how much she was worried about him.
"My, good morning neighbour!" An old man said with a wide grin but Gregory pretended not to notice. Being deaf has a lot of advantages for him. "Oh shit, I forgot..." Yes you do, mate. Why are you even talking to a teen boy anyway?
The old man then walked in front of him and waved like a silent greeting. God, he's so persistent. Gregory also waved hesitantly only to sigh of relief when he saw the old man walking away instead of trying to talk to him like before when he had his hearing aid on. Resuming his work, he walked downstairs and finally threw out the trash at the bin as he watch some kids pass by, playing pretend like they're robin hood.
And then, somebody tapped his shoulder and when he spun, he saw Mauire. The same girl earlier from school. She waved at him and then pointed at her group of friends who were curiously waiting from afar. Ah. He gets it. They wanted him to hang out with them.
He tried to refuse kindly but she took his hand before he can shook his head. Getting dragged unlikingly but that leaves him no choice. They dragged him away from his apartment as he looked behind sadly as they depart. The angel looking boy was wearing a big brown messenger bag but he wears it like there's nothing in there even though there's some stuffs falling out. Mostly rocks. Weirdo. After long minutes of walking, they set on a green field where there is just a single tree not that far away. Probably their hanging out spot.
Maurie and the girls all sat on the grass as they talk, of course, also dragging Gregory down like he was some obedient puppy. While the other two... Uh... Well... I guess boys are boys. Mark was chasing James who was scared for his life as the blonde boy held a beetle in his hand.
Besides him, the girls have a chat and then giggling about something. Base on their expression, it might've been about boys or their love interest. James then walked and his behind him as the young boy got closer to them and gave Gregory a shock as he saw how big the beetle is. He was too not a fan of bugs. In result, it's not just James but also him running for their lives as Mark still chases them with the alive beetle while laughing so loud like he found this interesting.
Fortunately, the two teamed up and Gregory tackled Mark from behind while James tried to take the beetle away with a stick then threw it far far away. Only then the two of them collapsed on top of the grass and is in the verge of puking after all that running in the heat. Gregory looked at the two with wonder. For some reason, the whole thing is so fun and he felt more... Alive. He was feeling this funny tingly feeling inside that makes him wanna laugh with them too.
He was liking this kind of life too much.