Chapter 132
The seasons passed swiftly. One moment the air had just started to turn chilly, and before long the days grew shorter, and the new year arrived. News spread of classmates being accepted into colleges, one after another.
While everyone else was frantically busy with college applications, only Koi quietly moved between the hospital and school. His father was admitted repeatedly, but the silver lining was that, due to his bankruptcy long ago and their near-impoverished status, they didn’t have to pay for medical expenses.
Koi would stay late at the hospital to watch over his father, then return to the motorhome and fall asleep alone. There weren’t particularly warm conversations exchanged. Still, it was different from before.
After his brother died and his mother left, ten long years had passed—but now, they didn’t have much time left. Both of them knew it, but neither said it aloud. Instead, they tried to bridge the gap with small, trivial talk, spending what little time they had left getting just a bit closer. And that was enough.
“Koi!”
Ariel shouted when she spotted Koi walking by. He was about to hop on his bike but stopped and waited as she approached.
“Where are you headed? The hospital again?”
“Yeah.”
Koi nodded without hesitation. His friends all knew about his father’s condition. Ariel frowned, concern knitting her brow.
“Are you really not going to college? I heard you didn’t apply anywhere.”
She and Bill had already decided to attend a state university. Koi had once wanted that too, desperately—but in the end, it had become just a dream.
“I can’t leave my dad and go off to college.”