CHAPTER 4

SAGE POV

I didn't sleep throughout the night, truly am curious about where I came from but do I really want to leave the Hamburgs, not after yesterday I don't, I'm feeling so guilty right now that a whole river can not wash me clean.

The truth is i also want to know about my family root, I need to follow Adeline if I wanna know more about my parent and move on with my life. And I also have a personal reason why I want to get to know Adeline and her family. This is Clearly stressing me out.

I sighed out loud and checked the alarm beside my bed to see that it only 5 in the morning, I got up from bed and put on my grey sweat pants and a black wife beater, I put on my jogging shoes and went jogging in the abandoned park that is five minutes walk from our house to clear my head.

After an hour of jogging around like a maniac, I haven't come up with a decision. I collapsed on the ground tiredly, I took off my shirt, good thing only joggers come to the park early morning, I closed my eyes to relax until I heard his annoying voice.

"Well well well, boys looks like we got lucky today, what do we have here."

Him and his goons started to laugh, I also forget that highschool kids also came here to smoke and fight and last thing I need right now is aching body.

"if it isn't our very own Sage Hamburger."

Sean laughed with is stupid goons, well that my cue to leave, I got up and came face to face with Sean, and he doesn't look happy. Come on, give me a break.

"Where do you think you are going huh?"

"Home."

They laughed, how is me going home even funny, sometimes I will never understand teenagers, wait I'm a teenager, Sean heavyweight punch snapped me out of my thought when I doubled over on the ground, damn it, must he always hit my stomach always.

"Hey d**khead, listen when I'm talking to you, I don't like to repeat myself."

Sean shouted at me while I groan in pain, for some reason today I'm angry. I'm trying to make a big decision in my life and this fucker is not giving me a breather, I mean what do they even know about me that gives them the right to hit me, I never hurt anyone so why should be hurt, why should I feel pain for their sick amusement.

"Oh I'm too busy trying to avoid your bad breath that why I didn't caught your bullshit."

Sean face was red especially when some of his friends "ooh"ed. And I laughed, gotta admit that felt good.

" you must be feeling smart today."

His voice was deep and laced with anger, it was like he was warning me to back off, I scoffed and dared him with my eyes. I must be crazy.

"I'm naturally smart you are just too stupid to realise that."

Sean looked like he wanted to kill me and he probably will, which made me to bursted into laughter, they all looked at me like I grew a second head and I also wonder if I have gone mad, maybe I have, oh God I'm so dead.

"Do your worst, oh wait you already have."

The next thing I know was a kick to the chin, shit, I forgot that Sean and some of his goons are part of the taekwondo club, nice reminder, another kick in the stomach, that hurt like hell, followed after was another kick to my back.

"What are you standing there for join me in teaching this dummy a lesson."

They laughed and joined the beating, I was in a world of pain, I really hate them right now, but what I hated more than them is this unfair world.

'Help me .'

That all I can think about before everything went dark.

*******************

I woke up beside the park pond  with an achy body, what happened, did I blackout, how much did they hit me, the questions was for no one in particular but me, what a loser I am. I sat up groaning in pain, looking around I can tell that the time must be 7 by now.

I shifted to stand up when the most excruciating pain shot up my body from my knuckles, and I screamed, looking down at my knuckles, I was shocked about how it looked, the sink has tore off, it was bloody mess, there was a tooth stuck in my left knuckle, I have a feeling that it broken, but who did I hit and when did I hit someone. I should get it treated first.

I dipped my hands into the pound and the water relieved my pain, but it couldn't relieved the bad feeling I have in my stomach, I knew my knuckles will heal soon as long as I clean it up.

Getting home I ignored Rose greeting by the kitchen and went straight to my room, I was freaking out, I went to the bathroom and got a the first aid box and fix my knuckles, I took my bath first.

After bathing, I stared at the already healing knuckles and wondered what I'm I really, the personal reason I want to know my real family is because for some unknown reason I heal extraordinary fast. I read in a magazine that some people heal faster than the other and this is because of their hereditary genes, so if I have it my parent must have and if they have it meaning my aunt will also.

I wrapped my knuckles in bandages and dressed in a grey sweatpants and a black top, I laid down on my bed relaxing a little, I wonder how my knuckles got broken,someone knocked on my bedroom door interrupting my thought.

"Sage please come down to the living room, that woman is here again."

I could make out the hate in Rose's words, I opened the door and followed Rose to the living room where Adeline was sitting with elegantly.

"Sage did you sleep well last night."

I shook my head, she hummed and took a sip of the tea in her hand. I sat down opposite Adeline, and she  looked pleased to see me.

"Mrs Hamburg can I talk to Sage privately."

Rose looked like she wanted to protest but she swallowed her rage and left Adeline and I alone, and I felt a little guilty.

"What happened to your hands?"

I hide my hands quickly and I hissed when I felt a shock of pain in my hands, not all healed up yet, got it.

"I fell when I went out for jogging, it no big deal."

"But it is."

Her cool aura suddenly turned serious she looked at me square in the eyes, this feels like an interrogation.

"When Sean attacked you this morning you do known that you fought back to the extent that Sean and his friends were taken to the hospital by yours truly."

My mouth was wide open so I quickly adjusted myself to denied the accusations, but Adeline beat me to it.

"Don't even lie about it, I asked Mr Hamburg if I could meet you privately this morning, he told me you went for a jog in the park not far from your house, so I thought we could meet and I could convince you better."

That when a cold chill ran up my body, she saw it all, she saw how Sean and his friends beat the crap out of me, but what is confusing now is that she also saw me beat Sean?

"I didn't only saw them beat you, I saw you fought back a little too hard."

I don't even remember kicking there asses, what is wrong with me, wait what if Sean tell on me, I'm going to be in big trouble and what if..

"Don't worry about Sean telling on you, I already took care of that."

Wait is she a mind reader, how come she knows what I'm thinking, does her mind reading have to do with my extraordinary fast healing.

"I'm not a mind reader, you tend to express what you are thinking although you quickly covered it up, but I can tell I'm a psychologist after all."

Wow.

"How do you took care of Sean?"

She didn't kill him did she, she bursted out laughing, she read my face again.

"I didn't kill him, I just gave his parent a large amount of money and a contract, and they decided to bury it."

She said in a dismissive manner like it was no big deal and I nodded my head like I understand.

"Thanks, but the truth is I don't remember anything after being beaten, I don't remember fighting back."

She hummed and took hold of her chin in a thinking manner.

"I thought so, do you want to know why you don't remember and how you were able to fight back."

I nodded my head quickly,

"Then you will have to come with me to Briar hills."

"There is also something Strange about me, I can healing pretty fast, not like superhero fast but like fast fast."

She smile like she won a million buck, and nodded her head in a knowing manner.

"Oh very good, why don't you come with me to Briar hills and I will explain all your questions to you."

Why does this feel like making a deal with the devil. But I can't leave like this, I can't leave the Hamburg family like this. I closed my eyes and made a decision.

"Give me seven weeks."

**********************

SEVEN WEEKS LATER.....

I packed the last of my baggage into Adeline's truck, looking over to my foster family, Rose was crying her eyes out while Darren held her, Tess was looking at me with a blank expression on her face, I know she cares because she is not with her phone, and because I spent the last seven weeks with the Hamburg accepting them as a family.

Although I'm still curious about my real family and even after knowing them, my bond with the Hamburg family will never change.

During those seven weeks, we eat together as a family, went to parks, I learnt fishing and driving from Darren, I learnt some self defense from Rose, shocker I know, apparently Rose was the president of judo club in her highschool days and she still practiced Judo till today, i learnt prank calls, sneaking out and being a big brother because of Tess, it was amazing and I didn't want it to end, but a promise is a promise. I wish those seven weeks never ended but I couldn't let go of my curiosity, I want to know where I came from. A good past yields a good future.

I walked over to them to give a proper goodbye when Rose suddenly hugged me.

"You are always welcomed here no matter what happens and you should know that you are our son no matter what anyone says."

Darren nodded his head agreeing with what she said, Darren also joined in the hug so did Tess.

"I'm gonna text you like everyday, and you must reply to them with emoji."

Her voice was below whisper, it seems like she was going to cry.

"Don't worry I'm coming back, I promise."

I'm pretty sure they heard me because Rose let out a relief laugh mixed with her cry, she kissed me on my forehead and say goodbye. After all the hugging and goodbyes, I entered Adeline's car and she drove off.

"They really love you."

Adeline said in low voice like she is talking to herself.

"They do."

She sighed and gave me a sad smile, like she knew something I don't, something sad. But she quickly covered it all up with a big smile like the matter on her mind doesn't matter.

"I hope you don't mind there is also another person following us to Briar hills."

I wonder who, not long after driving, Adeline stopped in front of a sky blue house with luggage in the front, she got out of the car and carried the luggage into the  truck, she is strong.

After waiting for 10miutes outside the house the unexpected traveler came out of the house and she turned out to be Ophelia, my mouth was wide open.

"Don't swallow a bug."

Adeline amused voice snapped me out of my uncool behavior. When Ophelia entered the car she wasn't surprise to see me.

"Hi."

I greeted awkwardly, Ophelia looked bored, I wondered why she was going to Briar hills with us. Ophelia has been strange to me throughout this break, like I offended her, but I didn't do anything wrong.

"You are probably confused as why I'm riding with you, well my mom lived in Briar hills so I'm going to spend the rest of the break with her."

Wow I didn't know that, come to think of it, I don't know much about Ophelia at all, she always make small talk to people but mostly keep to herself and she is only popular because of her beauty, I guess that all I know.

"Come to think of it I don't know much about you."

I looked over to Ophelia in the back sit and she already have her earpiece in her ears and her eyes closed, I was kind of bumped because I wanted to get close to her, did I do something wrong.

"You can get close to her during your stay in our mansion."

I looked at Adeline like she grew two heads and she bursted out laughing

"What, don't you know we will be living in a mansion."

I shook my head, I've always wanted to live in a luxurious way, I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face.

"I'm sure you are gonna love it and Ophelia will be staying in the mansion too."

Wow this might just turn out to be the best break of my life.