"But you clearly don't live with them anymore," said Theodore, a bit confused.
"I lived with them for two and a half years. They… they were hurting me, so my Aunt Fran took custody of me."
"What did they do to you?"
"They didn't do anything I didn't deserve."
"Star, don't talk like that. So that's why you let Danetelo treat you like that?" He felt bad for her.
"I deserve it."
"No, you don't. It's not your fault."
"It is! Like you understand how I feel. You don't know how it feels to lose someone you love. Or how it feels to wake up every day and think, 'what if I didn't do this, would they still be around?' Your life is perfect, so you don't have the right to say that." She got up to leave but he stopped her.
"Who told you that my life is perfect?"
"Oh please, we all know that it is."
"What if I tell you that my life is just as messed up as yours? Would you listen to what I have to say?"
"Try me," she said as she sat down.
"Don't you wonder why I never mentioned anything about my dad?"
"I guessed that he is late."
"Yes and no. I never met him. I… I was born out of wedlock."
"What?"
"It's my darkest secret."
"Is that why you have a strained relationship with your grandfather?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't have a father because of him."
"Did he separate your parents?"
"Something like that."
"Go on."
"He killed my father."
"What?"
Starry stopped breathing for a second. The restaurant noise faded out.
"It was when I was nine. He got drunk that day and he beat me up as usual. I looked at him with contempt and he said, 'Don't look at me like that. That was the same way Henry Towers looked at me before he died. I didn't mean to kill him. I just wanted my boys to beat him up a little so he would stay away from my dear Celine. Who knew he would die and Celine was pregnant with you.' That was exactly what he said. I remember it clearly like it was yesterday. I asked my mother who was Henry Towers and she told me he was my dad. She told me never to mention that name. I guess she didn't know the truth. That is why I hate that old man with passion. I knew he was evil but didn't know he was that evil."
"I thought I was the only one with a sad story, but I guess everyone has a sad story. But why didn't you tell the cops about it?" she said as she touched his hand gently.
"I was only nine that time. I was scared that he would kill me too," Theodore said.
"I'm sorry, Theodore. I'm a burden, haven't I?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle," he said as he smiled at her.
"So what did they do to you?"
"Um… why don't we do this? Trade by barter. I'll tell you what my uncle and aunt did and you will tell me why you hate Hansel."
"Wow, you are actually smart, Starry Knight. Well played. Then it's a deal."
"Let's shake on it." He shook her hand.
"I'll go first. After my parents died, I moved in with Edward and Jane. Their daughter Anaise hated me so she bullied me whenever she pleased. I was removed from Emerald High School and enrolled in Sunny Town High and Anaise took my spot. They took everything. My father's company, his money, everything except our home. Jane made me take on jobs — working in a convenience store, a restaurant, a salon, and a spa. Worst of all, she took all the money I made and didn't give anything to me. She said I needed to pay them for taking care of me. If I didn't agree, she would beat me up. Sometimes with a cane or a belt. Edward said nothing about how his wife treated me. One day, she used a shovel and I landed in the hospital. That's where I saw Tyler again. He helped me contact Aunt Fran and Uncle James and they rescued me and took custody of me. Jane is still in jail."
Theodore didn't say anything. He just moved her water glass closer, like she might need it.
"Star, are you sure that you are fine?"
"Yes, I am. I had therapy. It's your turn."
"Okay. It happened when I was twelve."
- _ _
*Six years ago — Grade Height Middle School*
When Theodore still lived in his grandfather's mansion. He was newly admitted in Grade Height Middle School. He made friends with two boys: Erwin and Hansel. They were best friends. They did everything together — went to school together, had the same class, and even went to the same taekwondo class together. Theodore was the smartest among them and he was also the best among them in taekwondo. So he always protected them if they were bullied by anyone.
One day, Hansel was in class with his head on his desk. Theodore and Erwin went to call him for lunch.
"I'm not in the mood for lunch."
"Why?" Erwin asked.
"Can't I just not be in the mood?" replied Hansel.
"On three. One, two, three," Erwin and Theodore said at the same time and tickled Hansel.
Hansel laughed, raised his head and said, "Stop! I'm in a lot of pain."
They saw that he had a black eye and his clothes looked tattered.
"Who did this to you?" Theodore asked, angry.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. Besides, it was a senior. It's Jerry Martins."
"The next time he does that I will kill him," Theodore said, angry, and the trio decided not to go for lunch that day.
Two weeks later, the same thing happened and the boys decided to pay him back. They went early to school and set up a prank. The prank involved a bucket of pig blood that was connected to a wire on his seat. When Jerry sat on it he was drenched in blood. He got so angry and went to meet Hansel. He pushed him and punched him.
Theodore came to his rescue but he beat Jerry up until he passed out. Hansel and Theodore were called into the principal's office with their parents.
The Principal, Mrs. Walters, said to Theodore, "Why did you beat up Jerry?"
"That's because he's a bully. He beat Hansel up and stole his money," Theodore replied, angry.
"Hansel, is that true?" Mrs. Walters asked.
Theodore looked at him, waiting for his answer, and Hansel said, "No. It isn't true."
"What? What are you saying?" Theodore asked, shocked, and stood up.
"Sit down, Theodore," Celine said, and he sat down.
"Hansel, please continue," said Mrs. Walters.
"Theodore beat him up to establish supremacy and territory. He goes around beating people up. This isn't the first time. He had done something like this before," said Hansel as he looked at Theodore with a grin on his face.
"That's a lie. I only beat up people that deserve it. Not to establish supremacy," Theodore said angrily.
"So you don't deny it. Then it's settled. You shall be suspended for two weeks," said Mrs. Walters.
"Please pardon my child's behavior, Mrs. Walters," said Celine.
"Don't apologize to me, Miss White. Theodore should apologize to the boy he put in the hospital," said Mrs. Walters.
"I'll make sure he does that. I'll pay for the hospital bills," said Celine.
"Hmph, as expected from a woman with loose morals and her son born out of wedlock," said Jean, Hansel's mother, as they walked out of the Principal's office.
When Theodore went to get his things he saw Hansel looking at him.
"Why did you lie, Hansel? I thought we were friends," he asked.
"Don't you know it's embarrassing?"
"Embarrassing? I got in trouble because of you and all you cared about was your own face? You selfish jerk." He grabbed Hansel's collar.
"I never asked for your help, did I? You always acted like you were better than Erwin and me. Jerry didn't actually beat me. I paid him to. Do you think that loser can actually hurt me? I just wanted to teach you a lesson so that you would know your place, you BASTARD," said Hansel as he looked straight into Theodore's eyes.
"How dare you?" He was about to punch him when Erwin stopped him.
"Do you want two more weeks added to your suspension?"
"Whatever. Hansel, you are dead to me," Theodore said and left angrily.
- _ _
Present — Happy Belly Restaurant, Sunny Town
Starry's fork stopped halfway to her mouth. "He set you up?"
"Yeah." Theodore didn't look at her. "I was twelve. Thought loyalty meant something."
She put her fork down. "Keep going."
- _ _
Two weeks later, Theodore resumed school and Erwin tried to fix their broken friendship, all to no avail. Until he devised a plan. He told Hansel and Theodore to meet him in the park they swore to be best friends: Park Sunny.
Erwin prepared a picnic for them and waited. When they finally came, they were shocked.
"What is this traitor doing here?" Theodore asked.
"What is this bastard doing here?" Hansel asked.
Theodore grabbed him by the collar and they started fighting. The park security came and broke up the fight. Then the park manager threw them out.
"Guys, you need to end this quarrel," said Erwin.
"Whatever. I'm out of here," Hansel said and crossed the street.
"Theodore, wait here," Erwin said as he followed Hansel.
"Nope," he said and turned around to leave the other way. But then he heard a car honk and then a crashing sound. He turned and he saw Erwin on the ground in a pool of his own blood. He quickly rushed to Erwin's side. People began gathering around them.
"Call the ambulance!" someone screamed in the crowd.
"Erwin! Erwin! Don't worry, I'll get help," he said and was about to stand up but Erwin stopped him.
"Theodore, please don't leave me. I'm… I'm scared. Please make up with Hansel. I don't want you guys to go on hating each other. If I don't make it, please don't blame Hansel. It isn't his fault." He said it and passed out.
"Erwin, Erwin, somebody help, please, somebody help," Theodore screamed in fear.
Hansel broke through the crowd.
"What happened?" he asked in fear as he bent close to them and held Erwin's hand.
"He got hit by a car," Theodore replied, shaking.
"Is he—"
"Is he what?"
"No," he said with fear in his eyes as he trembled tremendously. He suddenly let go of Erwin's hand. He stood up, shook his head, and ran away.
"Hansel! Hansel!" Theodore called, but Hansel didn't even look back as he ran. The ambulance soon arrived and took them to the hospital.
Theodore was pacing from left to right. Celine ran to him and hugged him, saying, "Teddy, are you okay?"
"Yes, Mom, I'm fine. But Erwin isn't. He is in the OR," he said, shaking and tears welling up in his eyes.
"What? But when you called you said that he was in the ER," said Elizabeth, Erwin's mother.
"That was before they took him to the OR," he said.
Elizabeth rushed at him but she was stopped by Erwin's father, Jonathan.
"It's not Theodore's fault. Relax, honey. Erwin will be fine," Jonathan said, assuring his wife.
"If anything happens to my son, you shall pay, you little monster," she said as she broke down in tears.
After two hours the doctor finally came out and the Bakers ran to the doctor. Theodore was far from them so he couldn't hear what the doctor said. But then he saw Erwin's mother falling to the ground. He knew Erwin was gone.
Weeks later, they had Erwin's funeral and Theodore went with his mother to the funeral. But Elizabeth chased them away, blaming Theodore for Erwin's death. Theodore heard that Hansel left town and he didn't even bother to attend Erwin's funeral.
Celine later found out that her father was beating Theodore, so she left with him to Sunnyvale.
- _ _
Present — Happy Belly Restaurant, Sunny Town
Theodore finished talking and finally looked at her. His hands were fists on the table.
Starry reached across and covered one with her own. "Erwin asked you not to blame Hansel."
"I know," Theodore said, voice rough. "That's why I haven't killed him yet."
She didn't flinch at the word. She just nodded. "My turn to ask: Do you still want to?"
He looked at their hands. Then at her eyes. "Not today."
Outside, it started raining. Neither of them moved to leave.