051

Classes only happened in the morning. After lunch, it was time for clubs. Ron joined none and wasn't interested in finding any. He had better things to do. Throughout the day, he had been thinking of escaping. He could just take out his money from his bank account, getting physical bills, and leave. This idea remained for a long time until he decided to check its feasibility.

Turned out it was impossible.

Fingerprints, Iris scans and facial recognition… Even if he managed to get himself a different idea, those things would detect him. Especially now that this planet's security had been heightened due to the terrorist attack.

As he walked back to his dorm for lunch, he was quite depressed. Hope only brought him despair this time. He wouldn't be giving up soon though, he didn't have such a luxury.

As he entered the building, he saw Grey pacing around anxiously. He wanted to quickly escape in case the guy was here to nag him again. He tried to move furtively but was easily found out. He sighed a she expected the burly old man to lecture him… He took him into a big hug as he told him: "I'm so sorry Ron"

Ron was flabbergasted. What was going? He asked: "What's going on?"

Grey took a deep breath and with a serious face, he stated: "Laila died. I'm sorry, Ron"

Ron remained there. He stared blankly. It was as if his time had stopped as his brain tried to process the information and failed to do so. It was too much. After a few moments, he fell to his knees and wept. Grey hurried to get down and hug him as he tried to calm and reassure him. His own tears were threatening to fall. He was feeling empathy for this poor kid. His last acquaintance just died… The pain, and sadness, he couldn't even begin to understand.

As for Ron, he simply cried. He poured all he had into it. A few students witnessed the scene but most walked by without a word. They had enough tact for that. As for the rare one who tried to take a video or gloat, a murderous glare from Grey was enough to force them to flee.

As such, Ron wept within the arms of Grey. All the while, Grey did his best to calm him. It took long minutes for Ron to calm down. Once he did, Grey looked at him and was frightened. He hurriedly hugged him back and tried to reassure him. Ron's look…It was blank. His eyes didn't have any lights anymore. His fake smile wasn't even there any longer.

In the end, Ron asked about the funeral. Grey told him that her corpse had already been cremated. Since she had no longer any relatives, this was the usual process. Ron became angry and he punched into the walls without care for his self. One of his arms was puncturing holes while the other was bleeding but he didn't stop until dozens of holes later.

Then, he stopped.

He turned towards Grey and said: "Thank you, Grey. Could you go ask for me for a leave? I…I need some time"

Grey nodded: "Yes, don't worry, I will"

Ron nodded and left right away. He left the campus. He reached his destination soon enough. The hospital. The one where he and Laila had been in.

He walked to the counter and directly stated: "Tell Doctor Amundsen that Ron Morgensen is waiting for him here please"

The nurses at the counter didn't know who this young man was and what he thought he was but that's not how things worked in this hospital. You didn't see a doctor just because you asked. They only met with patients. Still, they sent the message to the doctor. Whether he came down to meet the youth or not, it wasn't their problem. If he decided not to, the kid would have to spend his day waiting for nothing. Unexpectedly and surprising them, the doctor arrived moments later, out of breath. It was obvious that he ran all the way here.

As he found the youth, he was shaking. He didn't know how the kid would react. Still, it was his duty as a doctor to take the responsibility. He walked up to the youth and said: "Hello Ron, I'm sorry for your loss"

Ron got up and without a word, grabbed him by the neck with his mechanical arm. He used the strength of the mech to held him up, his feet dangling in the air and asked him as tears fell down his cheeks: "Didn't you promise me to take care of her? Didn't you say everything would be alright?!"

He scared everyone in the hospital. The nurses were ready to call the police but the doctor hurriedly screamed at them to stop and that it was alright. He grabbed Ron's mechanical arm with his own hands and apologized honestly without trying to make excuses: "I did. The responsibility is mine. I wasn't good enough. I'm deeply sorry Ron"

Ron shook.

He dropped the doctor back down as the tears kept flowing. This doctor… He was a good man. He shouldn't have tried to send his anger at him. But then, what was he to do with all those feelings?! The doctor hugged him as he wept once more. This time, some people in the surroundings began to weep as well and a few even joined the two into the hug.

Unexpectedly, a dozen people ended up hugging each other as they cried.

Moments later, things calmed down and Doctor Amundsen took Ron with him further inside the hospital. At first, he didn't want to show this to Ron but he changed his mind. The kid had the right to know. What it would do, he wasn't certain. At the very least, it couldn't be worst than now. The kid was broken.