The City Held Its Silence byIrel Knx 158

158 What’s up with your eyes? 

JASMINES POV 

He contemplated tor a bit. “Okay,” he then agreed. 

I took out some scissors and found a clipper machine. After making him sit on a stool in his bathroom, I started his trim. I did my best to properly shape her. 

“Mum I want ask something,” he then suddenly spoke up. 

“Mhmm, what about?” | asked absentmindedly with my main focus remaining on his 

hair. 

“Well… it’s about Marco,” he said nervously. 

Immediately my scissors and clippers stopped moving. I looked at Tony through the bathroom mirror in surprise. 

“What?” I asked him to repeat. 

“I’ve been talking to Marco,” he told me. 

My widened in disbelief. What was he saying? I literally told him not to NOT to talk to speak with Marco or go anywhere near him. To prevent any issues with Diana. 

My lips parted to berate him but he spoke up first. “I know you told me me not to talk to him and that I’m changing schools next semester because of him and his mother,” he quickly started. “But I could couldn’t help it, he seems like a nice person. And I think he is. I also feel like…” 

“Like?” I encouraged him to continue. 

“I think Marco’s in trouble,” he said. 

My eyebrows raised in surprise at this information. 

** 

**** 

ANTHONY’S POV 

EARLIER THAT WEEK 

I was looking forward to Marco again after our conversation the other day but I hadn’t seen him much this week. We had crossed each other in hallways here and there. 

10:57 

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158 What’s up with your eyes? 

11 

It was Friday afternoon and Albert and I had just finished lunch in the cafeteria. We decided to play frisbee for the rest of lunch hour on the playing grounds of the school. Albert had brought it from his home for us to play with. 

“Summer break is going to be in a couple of weeks,” Albert said as he threw the frisbee at me. “Do you have any idea you’re going to do?” he asked me. 

“I wonder,” I replied as I caught it and threw the frisbee back at him. “I hope is something fun.” 

With how exciting my mother had been making our weekends lately, she must have something fun planned. 

What are you planning to do for the summer?” I then asked Albert. 

“My Dad says he’s going to do some business abroad in Asia so he’ll be taking my family to Bali, Vietnam and Cambodia.” 

“Wow, that sounds great,” I said and the threw the frisbee back. 

“Yeah, I can’t wait. But as soon as it’s summer break that means I won’t see you anymore since you’re changing schools,” Albert said to me. 

I hated the fact that I was leaving him behind too. 

“Hey don’t worry, you’ll be just fine without me, Zeke and his crew won’t be bothering you and more,” I encouraged him. 

“I know but it will just be different Albert said in a sad tone. He then made to throw the frisbee back at me but 

He let out an annoyed sigh. “I’ll get it,” he said disappointed in himself. He immediately turned away and went in the direction of the frisbee. 

I then looked around as I waited for Albert to return. Looking at the other student either playing on the field or sitting on the grass. My eyes then focused on a familiar figure who was passing by. I caught Marco crossing the fountain nearby, walking down footpath of the playing field. He was alone. He then looked in my direction and his eyes parked up. I waved at him to say hello. And then he did the same. 

As–walked past I then though of something. 

“Do you want to play with us?” I then asked him randomly. “We’re playing frisbee.” The thought suddenly coming to mind. 

2/5 

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158 What’s up with your eyes? 

“Doesn’t he have his owns friends?” Albert asked as he returned with the frisbee, very out of breath from running. 

I knew Marco had his own friends he played and ate lunch with. But he wasn’t with them right now so maybe he was free to play with us. 

Marco looked at us for a moment as he seemed to think about it. I took his hesitation 

as him saying no. 

“Okay,” he agreed. “But just for a little while since my friends are waiting for me.” 

With Marco joining us we spread into bigger circles so we could throw the frisbee freely with enough space. 

The game started off well. With each of us passing the frisbee to one another, in our triangle. 

I threw the frisbee a little too high 

“Sorry Marco!” I said to him. 

“It’s okay,” he said and followed after it. 

I noticed he was getting a little bit too close to the fountain as he focused on catching 

“Marco wait,” I tried to warm him. 

However, it was already too late. 

Marco jumped high to catch the frisbee and he managed too but in the process he tripped on the fountain and fell backward and directly into it. 

Albert and I immediately looked at each other before we rushed toward Marco. When we reached we found him seated in the shallow rushing watts of the fountain. 

“Oh no, Marco are you okay?” I asked him. Albert and I grabbed helped him out of the water. And had him sit at the endge. He was completely wet, his uniform a mess. 

His hands immediately went to his eyes and he groaned like he was in pain. “Marco what’s wrong?” I asked him in concern as he aggressively rubbed them. He immediately backed away from me. 

I remembered he wasn’t supposed to be near water because he has sensitive skin. He didn’t even do swimming classes at school. I guess the sensitivity included his eyes. 

3/5 

158 What’s up with your eyes? 

“Marco, let me see. Maybe we can help,” I said as pulled his hands away Rubbing them that hard probably wasn’t good. 

from his eyes. 

“No!” he complained and pushed my hands using his shoulder. However, I continued fighting to make him remove his hands. It resulted in a tussle, as I pulled away his arms, I also ragged the collar of his shirt causing it to shift as his hands came away. 

Now, able to see, my eyes locked on his and noticed how ‘foggy‘ they appeared. They were completely red and irritated. 

They were reacting so badly I thought to myself. From I had ruffled up his uniform shirt sMy eyes narrowed as they I tried I saw purple, marks that made me even more concerned. 

Marcos foggy looking eyes then widened as if he realized something. 

He then quickly recovered his eyes as he backed away from me. “Leave me alone!” 

He then ran away from Albert and I. I watched as he ran wondering what had just happened. Other students noticed as he ran as well since he was completely wet he would catch attention. 

Hopefully, they didn’t think it was my fault. After lunch, I heard students talking about 

Marco. 

I wanted to follow after Marco but was worried about how he would react. I couldn’t stop thinking about the bruises under his shirt. Where had he couldn’t them? 

“Did you hear they said Marco got completely wet during lunch?” someone said amongst a group of students that were speaking in the hallway as I walked past. 

He went home home in the end,” I heard someone else say. 

My eyes widened at this. It got so serious that he had to go home? I thought to myself worriedly. 

“What was he doing?” another person asked. 

“Apparently he was playing with his brother, Anthony when it happened,” another answered. 

12 

Suddenly, the students in the hallway turned to look at me as I passed by. My eyes widened at the sudden attention. 

“I didn’t do anything!” I yelled out in my defense, feeling like I was being blamed. 

4/5 

158 What’s up with your eyes? 

They continued to stare at me though. I ignored the accusations but it was so annoying. I was just trying to enjoy time with Marco when he tripped into the fountain. I didn’t know he was going to jump in there. I just hoped he was alright since he ended up going home. 

That evening I went home feeling conflicted. Was Marco alright? I understood he had sensitive skin but those marks under his shirt looked concerning. They looked like someone had beaten him up. Now Marco was being bullied at school. He was popular with people. So couldn’t have gotten them from school. 

So did he get them from home? It must be, I thought to myself. Suddenly, I was worried for Marco. Was he okay at home? 

Should I tell my mother I thought to myself. She will be mad at me for talking to Marco though. What if Marco needs help? 

I thought about what I should do during the weekend. It’s on Sunday when my mum asked to if she could cut my hair that I felt it was the right time to bring up the issue. 

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