After Failing to Pretend to be His Brother

Could I claim to be Jaden's sister, merely desiring to sit in a bright, clean classroom and pretend to be a college student?

I couldn't utter those words; it felt like a dull pain as if a wound was being ripped open.

Jaden and his classmates were intent on escorting me to the police station, but I kept repeating, "I just wanted to attend the class."

As we were stalled at the classroom door, Noah, passing by the adjacent classroom, was drawn in by the commotion of a crowd.

Tall enough to see the scene without straining, he listened as a classmate filled him in on the situation.

I was encircled. They didn't pull hard, but it rendered my standing impossible.

Pushing through the throng, Noah grasped my arm and steadied me, preventing my fall.

He spoke earnestly, "Sir, he is my cousin. He likes to come to school to play with me on Fridays. He must have been too bored and was drawn in by your class after I finished."

Turning to Jaden, he continued, "I'm not helping my cousin, but you haven't been attending class for ages. My cousin answered for you, and you haven't even thanked him, yet you're still complaining?"

Seeing my usual serious attendance, Bob let it slide, advising me not to repeat such actions.

Under the stares and whispers, Noah led me away from the crowd.

Noah didn't inquire why I had done this; perhaps he truly believed I yearned to attend university classes.

He smiled and said, "I have an appointment today. I don't want to stand someone up. I'll treat you to lasagna next time."

I nodded mechanically and walked back home.

Upon reaching home, I found my best shoe broken, the hole as large as the one in my heart.

I washed my face, wanting to count the money I had earned from moving bricks.

Only when I counted those ten-dollar bills could I catch my breath.

I retrieved the iron box I had hidden beneath the bed.

I weighed it in my hand unconsciously, opening it with trembling hands, only to find all the money gone.