Adam Bowles is dead. Adam Bowleans has passed away.
Luke didn't believe it immediately when the warden mentioned that, but in the next day or two, in quick succession, Luke got the truth through Rei, Amy, Andrew, and Ulfa. Apart from Andrew being more silent and looking down, the three women sobbed as they said this as if this was a hard thing for him to accept.
“… hu~ you didn't do it on purpose, did you, Luke? You're just defending yourself, right? That's right, you're not completely at fault,” said Amy, who continued to express her worries about herself. What a good friend.
Along with Amy who was busy consoling even though she was sobbing, Rei also kept on wiping the snot that came out along with the tears. The difference was that Rei was babbling in Japanese which Luke didn't understand at all. But from Rei's tone, it seems that what he said, the meaning is not much different from Amy's meaning.
Next to Amy, Andrew scratched the back of his neck and said languidly. "He's been great enough to last the last three weeks with so many organs out of action. If only Adam wasn't an athlete, it's unlikely he would have survived right then and there. I grieve for him."
And like Luke said earlier, Ulfa was also crying. He came with Jeremy so they could use room 777 . Instead of talking about the case and how Luke—at least—gets the lightest punishment in court, that day Ulfa was busy sobbing and hugging Luke until the end of time. He rubbed Luke's back then hair, then said, “Oh, my dear Luke… you're a good boy, but why do you always get into trouble… I'm sorry Ulfa, honey…” It went on and on until Jeremy couldn't even talk to Luke. As a result, for the next meeting, Jeremy forbade Ulfa from participating.
Erm… Luke is a bit lazy to admit this but Valentina Miller also came to visit. He brought a bouquet of flowers and a chocolate bar which, unfortunately, the bouquet of flowers was confiscated by the officers.
"We don't want to take any risks," he said.
Luke giggled, while Valentina Miller was morose because the bouquet couldn't reach Luke.
"You're happy, huh?" asked Valentina with a sour face.
"Yeah, that's kinda funny. At least I don't have to carry those flowers in my cell. I might be teased by them for a week."
"Who are they?"
"Oh, my cellmates. Fish, Bronx, and Nad."
"Are they nice to you?"
"Yeah. We don't even talk much."
Valentina looked silent for a moment. Then he looked at Luke again. His eyes seemed to penetrate through the glass barrier.
" I mean… they didn't hurt you, right?"
" Nope ."
"Oh okay…"
Then they both fell silent for a moment, before Valentina made a little joke of words. As Luke recalls, this was the first time Luke actually laughed genuinely while talking to Valentina after their relationship had sadly foundered. Because Luke was indebted to Valentina Miller who had defended Luke at that time. Another reason is because Valentina didn't bring up anything about Adam Bowleans at all. Absolutely not. He only told me about the rugby club playing next week or the new ice cream shop near the station. Only light things, which made him calm.
On the other hand, if you were to ask how Luke feels now after hearing the news of Adam Bowleans' death, the answer would be; Empty. Very weird. It was different from Luke's feeling when he found out that Adam was still alive even though he was in a very poor condition, but apparently when he found out that he was gone, Luke just felt empty. The regret disappeared somewhere. Where does that guilt go? Luke no longer wanted to think about Adam's fate. Well… after all, it's kind of like fate, right?
Well, now it's better to just focus on the first trial procedure. Contrary to Luke's imagining that the trial would be attended by many people and media cameras, at his first trial only a few Luke were seen in the visitors' seats. There are both parents and Adam Bowleans sister, Patricia. Then Ulfa and Ben. As well as six witnesses from Luke's school. The rest were judges, jurors, clerks, three journalists and others, and others.
Luke didn't want to waste time telling how this trial went because it would be long and boring. But, if you ask how people treat this trial, for Luke it was quite surprising ... and fun. even the witnesses brought by the Bowleans couldn't move or dodge when Jeremy started asking tricky questions. huh! It was good for them—the witnesses from the Boweans' side—to say that it was Luke who started the case with Patricia, infuriating Adam Bowleans. In fact what happened was the opposite. Luckily, Jeremy brought three alibi witnesses who could strengthen his belief that what Luke did was accidental and self-defense. Then the trial was postponed for another two weeks and that left both Patricia and Mrs. Bowleans swore profusely.
Luke didn't care anymore. However, it is with great humility that Luke offers his deepest condolences to the Bowleans. But all Luke got were a heel slipping on his forehead and a scream from Mrs. Bowles.
“Of course you should regret what you did, you bastard! You'll pay for it the rest of your life, you know?!”
Luke's forehead wasn't bleeding, but it had a lump a few minutes later. Ah, indeed they should not need to get compassion. Damn it!
Now Luke is back in the holding cell again. Fish and the Bronx were still avoiding eye contact with Luke. Looks like they're still uncomfortable after the incident of Luke being possessed the other day. As for Nad, he is still busy with sleeping and lying down.
By the way, Luke was curious about this one thing; Is Luke now officially a killer? Oh, just kidding. That wasn't what made Luke curious, but since last night, Luke suddenly remembered Jade's words since the last time he came here. Namely that Luke is a werewolf. Well, Luke had heard of someone who was obsessed with cats and thought he was a cat. At least he applied that belief to himself. However, Luke had never heard of someone imposing their obsession on wolves and saying that someone else was the werewolf. This is crazy. Jade must have had severe delusional symptoms. Fortunately, Luke refuses to meet when the warden informs him that Jade is visiting.
"Why don't you want to see him? You know what, son? There aren't many prisoners who get visits from friends and relatives every day like you."
“Yeah, I don't mind if my friends or relatives come, ma'am. but, that one is a bit nuts. Living here is much more relaxing than talking to him for ten minutes.”
"Okay, so you don't want to meet that friend of yours at all?"
“ He's not even my friend .”
The warden just snorted, then left their cell . But, not long ago, he returned again holding out a letter.
"From that 'not your friend'," he said.
Luke accepts the letter because he has no other reason to refuse it. But being too lazy, Luke would read the letter the day after tomorrow or another time. Nad, knowing that Luke had a letter, chirped.
“A love letter from a boyfriend, huh? Wow, that was really fun.”
Luke said nothing and tucked the letter under the pillow. But all night, Luke could barely sleep except just turning over and moving on until the Bronx woke up and muttered rebuke.
"Are you possessed again? If not, hurry up and sleep, dammit."
Luke doesn't reply to Bronx's swearing because Luke is a good kid. Instead, Luke prefers to reach under the pillow and take a letter that is the reason for his not sleeping well. Sitting in the corner of the cell bars exposed to dim light. Luke opened the letter. Luke thought Jade would write long, moving words. But he only wrote two sentences.
'17 years and you're totally going to change. Try asking your grandparents.'
Huh…? Ah, what kind of letter is this, damn it?!
***