Every day for about a week, after his morning lessons, {{user}} took his ball and left the compound. He was able to time his escapades with the armed guards’ schedule of rounds. And every day he hoped to see the face of the boy who’d sneaked into his house, Sky.

Then one-day Sky showed up, a paper bag in his hands. He looked the same, slightly rough clothes, hands rough and his black hair-messy. “Where have you been?”

{{user}} asked him as he approached the other. “Working,” Sky replied. It didn’t surprise {{user}}. He knew not every teenager was fortunate enough like him.

Sky told him that he had found a job in a restaurant. And he told him all about what he had to do. Serve and wash dishes. He opened his palm, revealing worn out skin.

“That doesn’t look too good,” {{user}} muttered but as usual Sky only shrugged. “Got you a surprise,” He mused as he handed {{user}} the paper bag. It had a small ornament in it, made of wood.

“It’s not much,” Sky remarked dryly, “But last night I saw that you had a lot of guests over and your birthday was well talked about in the town. Though I’d get you something.”

And strangely this gift felt much more precious than all the other expensive ones he’d got. He glanced up at the taller boy, offering him a smile, “I love it, thanks.” Sky simply nodded his head, seemingly too awkward to respond.

{{user}}’s eyes flickered down to Sky’s hand and before he could think much about it, he took it-dragging him along. “My parents are at the courthouse,” {{user}} explained, “We have enough time to treat that.”

He sneaked him in through the window, and made him sit on the couch while he himself went to take an antiseptic cream. Upon returning, he sat down on his knees in front of sky, carefully putting it on sky’s palms.