The itching on Luke Bright's fingertips had started to turn into blisters three days ago. This boy literally couldn't resist scratching all his fingertips under his fingernails because it felt so excruciating.
Even though the doctor said that it was just the effect of the changing of the seasons, but believe me, in sixteen years, Luke had never felt this itchy this badly at the time of the turn of winter. The doctor just gave him some anti-itch ointment and said something like, "Hope you get better soon, Bright."
That doesn't really help much. Because now the wounds under his fingernails are starting to open and occasionally there is blood coming out. This made it difficult for Luke to do many things such as playing the guitar or writing or gripping because every time his fingertips put pressure on an object, at that moment an itchy and burning feeling ambushed him. It was as if something was about to emerge from within his fingernails. Really like in hell!
"Stop scratching, then!" cried Luke's grandfather, old Benjamin Bright. "It just gets itchier because you keep scratching it every second. So, stop scratching it and apply the ointment the doctor gave me!" Then he left grumbling.
Luke would have almost cursed at Benjamin's yelling, if it weren't for Ulfa calming him down. The grandmother came to Luke with a vial of sulfur-smelling ointment in her hand. Asked him to sit up and then rubbed the anti-itch ointment into Luke's fingertips.
"Maybe it's because of the unpredictable weather lately. Don't be lazy to apply this ointment, darling," said Ulfa, soothingly.
Luke has always favored his grandmother, Ulfa Bright, over his grandfather. The two really have different characteristics. One is a veteran of the Vietnam war, and one is an old woman with extraordinary patience. Even the wrinkles that started to attack her skin didn't reduce the elegant impression on my grandmother's face so that it affected how I behaved towards them. For example, If grandma asked me to mow the backyard, Luke would immediately get up and oblige. In fact, Luke would say, "Well, my dear grandma."
It's different with grandfather. Since childhood, he taught Luke very hard like a soldier, so that made Luke more daring to oppose him. So if Ben told Luke to mow the grass back there, Luke would chuckle in annoyance-occasionally slamming a book if he was carrying a book-then yell at him.
"Why don't you just do it yourself, Ben?!"
Eventually, the two would argue and grandma came to reconcile them both.
But, speaking of eggs. Luke doesn't seem to be eating so many eggs lately. At the very least, Luke only eats four eggs a month. However, if Ulfa was referring to the egg content in everything Luke had eaten in the past few weeks-which is common in eggs, mayonnaise, and all-then it might be true. Luke intends to reduce the food.
But, oh, what a madman! Incredible itching! Luke could even scratch this with the blade because it itches. But of course it's impossible because that could hurt Luke and the medical expenses would increase. So all he could do was apply some ointment and wrap the bandages all over his fingertips. The downside is that Luke can't write properly. The upside is that in some classes Luke has an obvious alibi for permission to be in the infirmary at the school.
For Luke, napping at school isn't such a bad thing. But, itching on the fingertips is definitely a bad thing.
***
Luke woke up when the school guard shook him. Unfortunately, Luke overslept too long and it was already dark. The officer asked if Luke was okay, as if he was looking bad and offered to drive the boy home. But, Luke replied that he was better. After all, trains are still operating at this hour. So the school guard let Luke go home.
Putting both hands in his coat pockets, Luke ran towards the underground station. His feet nearly slipped as he passed a closed butcher shop then turned south and there was the entrance to the subway station.
The city's subway station, Hydra Cost, is the best transportation option. The light is bright enough. It doesn't flicker mysteriously like in scenes that I often encounter in horror films. Where would a station look more sinister than a staff room with its silent passageways, faintly flickering lights, and strange echoing sounds from nowhere.
Luckily the station is not that scary. The hallways were well lit although Luke did get a whiff of a faint smell of urine at some point but it didn't really bother him on his way to the train platform. There are still lots of people milling about and also some street singers trying to busk there. Almost all of them were wearing thick coats that looked like teddy bears bouncing around in the subway station.
Luke threw two pennies into the busker's tin because by chance the busker sang Luke's favorite song; Fix You from the band Coldplay. The busker smiled while giving a nod of thanks and Luke continued on his way.
The train was arriving in five minutes so Luke chose to stand at the back of the line rather than sit around. He looked around, and found several potential passengers also waiting behind the line.
There was an old madam in a silver fur coat. Two punk-style youths wearing leather jackets and tight pants, both chatting and sharing cigarettes. Then, a father and his young daughter. A group of people who just returned from work. There was also a girl wearing a dark jacket, a mask that covered her nose and mouth and carrying a light-looking backpack.
Not long after, a 'ding-dong' sound was heard, followed by a train's whistle which suddenly appeared to emerge from the tunnel. The floor beneath Luke's feet shook as the train stopped. The door opened, letting the passengers inside get out first, then they got on.
Luke chose to sit on the closest bench, and immediately leaned back. The atmosphere on the train was pretty quiet because people chose to keep their distance from each other. Luke also wanted to be alone but it turned out that the girl in the black jacket had chosen to sit next to Luke. The two of them only stared for two seconds.
Luke again felt the vibration under his feet as the train started to move. He also decided to close his eyes because there was nothing that could be seen from inside here because the train was entering the tunnel. Luke felt like he wanted to sleep but the itch at the tip under the fingernail started creeping up again. Luke reached into his coat pocket but apparently he didn't have any anti-itch ointment with him so all he could do was rub his hands against the cloth in his coat pocket. It hurts, but Luke has no other choice.
"Is it that painful?"
Suddenly, Luke heard a voice from the side, making him reflexively open his eyes and turn his head. It was the girl in the black jacket speaking from behind her mask.
"Sorry?"
"I asked, is it that painful?"
It seemed the girl saw Luke grimacing in pain so she asked. Luke just nodded slightly, then looked back at the front.
"Oh, it's just... itchy," Luke replied. He didn't say anything else either.
They didn't continue the conversation all the way until the train stopped at the next station. Luke's house is still at the next stop, but some passengers do stop here, including the girl in the black jacket.
The girl stood nodding at Luke as if to say goodbye. Then, just as he was getting off the train, the girl stopped and reached out to Luke. Luke thought the girl wanted to shake hands, but apparently she slipped something into Luke's hand.
And, for some reason, even though half of her face was covered by a mask, Luke could still tell that the girl was smiling.
Said the girl, " The itching won't last long."
***