Chapter 21: Goodbye

Luke reached his home in 8 minutes after sprinting and leaped from the roof after the roof. Upon arrived at his house area, Luke quietly sneaked into his window room and slipped through it. He had deliberately opened the window slightly yesterday just in case an accident like this happens.

Because Luke didn't think there will be someone inside his room, he accesses the window leisurely. But what he didn't expect was that Yera Lewis already sat in his bed with her arms crossed in front of her chest. The moment Luke placed his foot on the floor, his gaze automatically fell on his bed. No, it's not precisely his bed that drew his attention. It was the person who presents there. His eyes shrank at the scene. Faced with such an inquiring gaze, Luke could only gulp hard and greeted weakly, "Mom.."

"Where've you gone?" Luke's mother heaved a sigh before asking with a serious tone.

"I-I.." Luke was stammering and didn't know how to answer the question.

Luke's mother forced a smile, "It's okay if you don't want to answer. Your response already made it clear that something had happened to you, but I couldn't quite grasp what it is. Anyway, let's eat. Your father has been waiting for you quite time." Seeing his mother stood up in that manner, Luke couldn't help but run after her and embraced her from behind.

"Mom, if I said a weird thing, would you believe me?" Luke asked after he remained silent for a moment.

"What nonsense are you planning to utter on mom?" Luke's mother rebuked but was still obediently led by Luke toward the side of the bed.

After they sat faced with each other, Luke still had a conflict and hesitation in his eyes. Seeing it, Luke's mother joked, "Don't tell me you're pregnant?"

"Mom!!" Luke exclaimed helplessly but thankful inwardly. Even after those lies, mom still continued to trust and care about me. Luke let out a sigh before facing his mother with a severe expression, "Mom, don't fret out with any words that I was about to say, okay?"

Luke's mother nodded her head.

His feeling was torn into two choices. Either he revealed the truth or told her more lies. Logically, he was supposed to tell more lies, considering he got plenty of reason on his sleeve. But, at the moment, he wants to be unreasonable this once. He desired to be acknowledged as the real him, the Earth Luke, not the other one. He didn't wish to be only Luke's substitute.

Overcome by his emotions, Luke ended up blurting out the truth, "Your son is already dead."

Luke's mother remained silent and sat there with a blank face. She only managed to react after Luke nudged his mother, "What do you mean?"

Taking a deep breath, Luke repeated, "I said, your son, Luke Lewis is already dead."

Luke's mother didn't immediately go panic and asked with a tone full of suspicion, "Then, who are you?"

"I'm another Luke Lewis." Luke paused before adding, "I'm another Luke Lewis from another world."

"You're joking." Luke's mother forced a smile.

With a serious expression, he took her mother's hand into his own, "No, I'm not."

Seeing the serious expression which her son never expressed, Luke's mother's hand began shaking immediately. Holding back her tears, Luke's mother asked with a trembling voice, "A-Are y-you telling me the truth??"

"Of course, I wouldn't be joking in such a serious matter." Luke sighed as he replied.

Luke's mother couldn't hold back her tears, and immediately tears rolled down her cheeks. She was obvious to her son's abnormal behaviour these past days. She thought he was only in a rebellious state as her son said. But now, her son suddenly confessed that her actual son is already dead. She couldn't help but become dizzy by it.

Seeing her mother holding her head weakly, Luke worriedly asked, "What's wrong mo-" before he finished his sentence, he forcefully bit his tongue to pause his words.

Not noticing her son's action, Luke's mother fragilely spoke, "It's fine. My head just got a little aching upon hearing your words."

Luke heaved a sigh of relief hearing it's only a simple headache. As Luke puzzled about what to do next, he heard his mother spoke, "So, when?"

"When?" Luke questioned back puzzlingly. What does his mother mean?

With a conflicting feeling, Luke's mother inquired, "When he's dead?"

'So it's what his mother refers to,' Luke thought silently before answered hesitantly, "He died shortly after calling you a few days ago."

"Oh." Luke's mother reply simply as her mind drifted away. Luke wanted to comfort her but couldn't do so upon looking at her expression. He was aware that his mother probably needs some time to digest such surprise news.

The silence in the room prevailed until a knock sounded outside the room, "Darling, what happened inside? Is Luke still sleeping?"

Luke's mother snapped out from her thought while her hand lifted up to Luke's face. Luke didn't dare to move and let his mother touching him freely. He felt her hand caressed over his face before stopping at a faint scar around his side chin. He heard his mother speak, "This is the scar you received when you at age 5. That day, mother couldn't reach you in time when a sharp object hit you."

Luke didn't interrupt her speaking and remained silent as he listened, "After that incident, mother grew more proactive on you. Even so, mother still failed to protect you. Would you even forgive mom?" tears began stung out from her eyes once again.

"Don't say that. I'm pretty sure Luke will not blame you. He would certainly get sad if he knows that his mother blamed herself for his death. The best thing you can do for him now was don't let guilt vent up onto yourself and move on." Luke comforted while gently stroking his mother back.

"Are you there? Hello?" Luke's father knocking resounded once again.

Luke's mother wiped her tears and stared at Luke's eyes directly, "You go meet your father first. Tell your father that mom is on the toilet, thus can't come up soon."

"But.." Luke was afraid that if his mother would do something bad to herself due to guiltiness.

Knowing Luke thought, Luke's mother quickly reassured him, "Don't worry. Mom wouldn't try to do stupid things. Even if my actual son is gone, there's still you right here, right?" Luke quickly nodded his head at her question and replied gratefully, "Thanks for accepting me, mom. I was a bit afraid earlier whether you'll accept my existence or not."

Luke's mother, for the first time after Luke's confession chuckling, "Of course not, silly! Go now. Your father must be worried that there might be something going on with us."

Luke nodded his head obediently before he started walking toward the door.

As Luke left the room, Luke's mother's eyes landed on the photo frame in which three people look laughing happily at the scene. It was a photo of Luke's family. She slowly made her way to Luke's desk and grabbed the frame. She stared at it with a melancholic expression and began mumbling, "I'm sorry, Luke. Mom couldn't properly protect you."

She paused as if remembered something before broke out into a smile, "Fortunately, there is a person another of you that willing to accompany mom. He had the opposite of your personality. From mom observation, he's chatty and certainly an optimistic person. It would be great if he could become your brother. Alas, you're already not on this world anymore." She shook her head in an instant to remove the negative thought before continuing, "My son, wherever you are, I hope you can hear mom saying today. I hope you'll not be jealous when I treat another Luke Lewis as same as you. I only had one wish right now. That is, I hope the current Luke Lewis wouldn't suffer the same fate as you."

Yera Lewis took a deep breath before muttered under her breath, "Lastly, Luke Lewis, son of Yera and James Lewis. Goodbye~"