When Ben said that life moved on despite being an orphan, that means that he needs to go to school. And by the tolling bells, he is late! He rushed inside the room of his first-class, and it was a relief to see a classroom devoid of Mrs. Haynes. That woman scratched Ben's wits with her incessant bickering about her boring single life and her ten aging cats, or probably because she wastes half the class' time with her nagging whenever someone is late. And boy, was Ben always the late kid. Who could blame him? The orphanage is on the other side of the city and the school bus assigned to his area always stops for breakfast at a local joint.
Ben sat on his assigned chair and felt a nudge to his shoulders. He turned around to see his closest friends in this dump smiling at him.
"Cole, what's with you today?" Ben asked.
"One of Mrs. Haynes' cats just died and she's at the principal's office arguing with the principal after they denied her request of a Bereavement leave."
The smile on Cole's face became contagious and infected Ben with the realization that their entire morning is left free. Knowing Mrs. Haynes, she'll lash out at the principal and drag out their argument till the afternoon. Ben wished that the other professors got involved so they could have the rest of the day free.
"What the hell are we still doing here, then?" Ben grabbed his stitched backpack and left with Cole to the gym bleachers. Before doing so, they hit the cafeteria where Cole bought brunch. Ben lacks the money so Cole is invited to buy food for him. Cole always does this even though he knows Ben would always deny his invitations. While Ben likes to have food in his belly, it far outweighs the annoyance of being indebted to somebody even though Cole has no intentions of receiving something in return. Because why would he? His family is rich. Like 'rich' rich. The type of rich where high ranking politicians are lining up just to have an audience with you. The type of rich where you can request something from the other side of the world and have it appear in your lap in the next 30 minutes. The Cole just bought is ten times more expensive than what Ben will earn begging for an entire month in the streets. And it is a punch to his dignity to be indebted to such a person.
While Cole is buying food, Ben can't help but stare at the gem in his tattered bag and have this envious thought swirling back in his mind. Ben befriended Cole thanks to their shared interest in music. When Ben has nothing to do after school, he would often take a detour in the school's ensemble hall where the jazz club does their afternoon practice. Ben is a small kid so it is easy to hide amongst the chairs where he could have the solitude of listening to the smooth flow of music. That was until he bumped into Cole who had the same idea as him. From there, they pretty much hit off. Whenever they are in school, it is rare to see those two away from each other.
It was a year later in their friendship when Ben got to know Cole a whole lot better. For an entire year, Cole hid the fact that he was the eldest and only son of a famous tech tycoon. Cole hid the fact because his prior acquaintances only befriended him because of the attached money and influence. They do not care for who he is. Ben is one of the few people who broke from that mold. Hiding the fact that Cole is rich probably helped that. But Cole could not live in the lie further. He told him who he truly is and expected that it won't change the state of their friendship.
It did not, for the most part. Ben is a fool to think that he is without envy from seeing the truth. Life just isn't fair you know. Ben felt like he was cheated of all the comforts living could give. While they are mostly absent, Cole has parents to cater to his every need. He has money to buy everything he wants. He has the prospects to have a more than decent future ahead of him. Everything he has, Ben has the opposite. He has nothing but himself, and no more and no less. Ben is damn envious of Cole, and he is thankful that he could smother that feeling with their long genuine friendship.
But with this stone in Ben's possession, the envious feelings roared. Just a wish for a change, and he could have it all. A wish and his life will turn out for the better. None would be wise except for him. But this wish carries a burden, an equivalent price for an equivalent gain. Cole will receive his suffering. But does it really matter if he could not remember?
The gem may be in the dark but the light above reflected Ben's eyes. Does he make the wish and change with Cole?