The High School Bad Boy
Chapter 28. T'es Ou (Where Are You)?

Max smoked his cigarette deep. Then it breathed its smoke into the air. He sat alone on the edge of the building staring blankly ahead. In the rooftop his favorite place if you want to be alone.

The memory room was filled with shadows - the shadow of Nadia's cry, the anger of Madam Dasia, the Mother and Child's debate, then seeped into the pale face of her adoptive mother who was limp on the sofa, he was silent when questioned by police about his daughter's death. Then the body bag containing Nadia's body passed in front of him.

Her chest feels tight. Full of regret, full of guilt, full of sadness that he wanted to immediately overflow through cries and screams. He could have done the same with Nadia, taking his own life. He just dropped down there. Done it. The suffering will end, maybe.

He felt like the Titan Atlas in Greek mythology, who was responsible for bearing the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, the burden given to him as punishment by Zeus.

But he is not a god. He was only a sixteen-year-old teenager who had to become an adult prematurely.

***

JEAN LYCEE - BAPTISTE SAY, SURESNES.

It has been a week since news of Nadia's tragic death by suicide became the talk of Jean-Baptiste Say High School, Wulan did not see Max in class. He did not find the young man anywhere. Max is lost in the earth. He had even questioned Etienne, but nil. The young man also did not see Max in Stalingrad.

Where's she? Why did he disappear after the news of Nadia's death?

Benak Wulan is full of various questions that require immediate answers. He returned to meet Etienne and took the young man to the cafeteria for questioning.

"I really don't know where Max is, Miss," Etienne replied as Wulan asked back about Max's whereabouts.

"You're not lying, Etienne?" cecar Wulan's.

"No, Miss."

"Okay." Wulan sighed. "But I want to ask you something." He looked at the young man in black. "What's Max got to do with Nadia?"

"They're foster brothers, Miss. Nadia's mother takes care of Max from the baby."

Wulan's lips formed the letter O and then nodded. Now his heart is tingled to dig up further information about Max on Etienne.

"Etienne .. Is Max's relationship with his father really bad?"

Etienne scratched her curly hair. "Yes, Miss. His father often beat Max and asked him for money to drink and play women. Max is also the one who takes care of all the needs of the day."

"Didn't work?"

Etienne shook. "So long ago he lost his job."

"Why Max doesn't just go and live alone. Can't he be enough of himself?"

"Come, Miss. Max can't leave his father alone. Although his father hated him," said Etienne who immediately made Wulan's chest feel tight.

Max, who was so young, understood very well what responsibility meant. Wulan felt admiration and compassion at the same time.

Why did he want to meet this young man?

"Do you have the number, Etienne?"

Etienne grimacing. "I don't have a cell phone, Miss," she replied shyly.

Wulan sighed. "Kira - guess where he is now?" wulan Mumam.

Etienne pressed her shoulders. He looked at his Master Mother full of investigation. Remember the words Max said about his feelings of joy in the beautiful woman before him.

***

MARAIS LES, SURESNES.

"Pat, you don't mind, do you, if I stay here for a few more days?" ask Max to Patrick, focusing on his streak on the canvas.

The old man chuckled. "Just stay here as long as you want, Max."

"Oowhh, c'est si bien (very good), Max."

Max nodded. Then back to struggling with the paint and brush.

The phone in his pants pocket is shaking. He immediately picked up the object and checked the screen.

Max, are you still at Les Marais? Could meet? I'm at Boot Cafe. Eloise.

Max keeps the phone back in his pants pocket. Then grab the jacket and put it on.

"Pat, I'm going to Boot Cafe to see a friend" he told Patrick, who was also struggling with his brush and paint.

He stepped out of the gallery and walked a few meters towards a small blue-painted shop flanked by classic buildings on his right and left sides.

Entering the narrow store, he waved at Eloise who was sitting down enjoying her coffee. The cute brown haired girl smiled at him while waving her hand.

"Bonsoir (good afternoon)," Max said as he pulled a chair from under the table and sat down.

"Hi, Max, want to order something?"

"I order the same thing as whatever you're drinking" he chuckled at Eloise's coffee mug.

"D'accord (okay)" said Eloise. "Classic espresso, s'il vous plait!" he shouted at a servant who was immediately greeted with a nod of the head.

"Alors (so), want to continue our conversation yesterday?" ask Max.

Eloise. "No. I think everything's sorted out. You just come bring your paintings, et voila (yes it is). I'm walking around here and I want to take you for coffee."

"Ah, bon(ohya)?" Max scratched his long black hair that was tied up just like that. "I'm actually finishing a painting. I thought you were gonna talk about something important about the show."

"Owh, I'm sorry I bothered you" said Eloise.

"C'est pas grave (it's okay)," said Max. "Merci" he told the waiter who had just served him coffee.

"You know, Max .. I still can't believe you're still in high school."

Max's lips are throbbing. "Pourquoi (why?)?" tanyanya while tasting her coffee. "Damn! So bitter!" it makes Eloise stupefied. "I don't really like coffee, I prefer beer."

Back Eloise. "Ah yes, I will answer your question. First, because your painting is perfect. Second, you're not like kids your age. Your mind is like an adult."

Max turned his shoulders. He just smiled thinly without intending to respond to the words Eloise said. He chose to throw a glance out the window.

Eloise was still chattering enthusiastically. While Max just responds to potluck. Sometimes he nodded, then replied with a small laugh, and then immediately tasted his bitter coffee with a struggle. To be honest, his mind was somewhere.

"Max!" call Eloise. "Isn't that your teacher?" eloise asked as she looked towards the entrance of the shop.

Max squinted his forehead. He immediately looked back and immediately saw the figure of a woman with gray-and-ash weight disappear beside the door.

A wulan?

Max got up from his seat and stepped out of the shop. He turned to and fro looking for the figure of Wulan, if indeed he did not see wrong, among people who passed along the sidewalk.

But he did not find Wulan anywhere.

Max breathed a disappointed breath. Then step back into the store.

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