As much as Ben wanted to do the wish now, he dissuaded himself because there is still the rest of the day to tackle. And besides, if the change does happen and this is not some elaborate prank, he should spend most of his remaining hours in his current skin. As if there is anything worth enjoying in this crummy life and body.
Cole came back with his brunch. Even though he knows Ben is such a hard-headed fool when it comes to accepting gifts, he asked him anyway if he wanted a cheese melt sandwich. Ben's stomach grumbled at the sight and smell of the delicacy. The future is uncertain so what the hell. To Cole's surprise, Ben grabbed the sandwich and thanked his friend. Ben took a bite and another until there was nothing but crumbs in his hands and the desire of wanting more. But patience is a virtue, and he'll follow those words until the end of the day.
The two usually lounge in the bleachers where other students who have nothing to do watch other students do their gym exercises. In this case, the basketball team is practicing. Amidst the sounds of squeaking sneakers and dribbling balls, Cole broke the monotony with Ben's schedule after school hours. Tomorrow is a holiday followed by the weekend, and he was thinking that they could hang out together. And if possible, they could hang in Ben's place for a change of scenery since they are always at Cole's exorbitant mansion.
"I- uh… my foster uncle is at the place with his kids so it could get messy. I don't think this would be a good time." Ben lied. "And I have ummm… a Science project that I need today. So, maybe another time."
While Ben knew about Cole's lavish lifestyle, the same does not hold true for the opposite end. Cole knows that Ben is an orphan but what he does not know is he is still unadopted with no signs of a stable life in the foreseeable future. Ben shudders at the thought that Cole might change the way he looks at him when he knows the truth. He knows because that is how he felt when Cole said the truth. The change may not be evident, but deep down, he knows that Cole will look down on him. He will be no different than every other person Ben has acquainted with throughout his life. And soon, Cole will leave him too. This lie is the only safeguard against that fate until this magical gem came into his life.
After their leisure time, their school routines went back to normal. Mrs. Haynes was duly fired for her attempts at stabbing the principal and they found a substitute teacher with relative ease. The two wished that their new temporary professor was the fun kind.
After classes meant that Ben and Cole went their separate ways. Cole is fetched by a personal driver in an expensive-looking black sedan, while Ben rides the school bus to the orphanage. When Cole comes back home, there is nothing but him and the maids in the mansion. He spends the rest of the night finishing his assignments in the house library and playing the newest video games in the second game room in the basement.
As for Ben, an orphanage caretaker is waiting by the stairs and nagging at him for being late. As if it was his fault he was the last student who comes off of the bus, or the bus driver conveniently forgot that Ben is still on the bus and took a detour in the local burger joint. Ben hid his backpack in the locker room which is his only personal space in the orphanage. He changed his clothes to tattered rags and fled into the streets where he panhandled on busy roads and sidewalks.
Ben comes back home, dirty and tired. He barely reached the daily quota and he hasn't even done his assignments yet.
Cole finishes his game, easier when he has the money to buy every microtransaction in the store. He takes a lengthy bath in the jacuzzi inside one of the many bathrooms of the mansion, and a maid prepares his pajamas for sleep.
Ben rushes to the locker room to find…