After the fourth class, Hope and his friends made their way to the dining hall, where the class heads were already gathered around the largest table to discuss the trip to the sea.

"I apologize for not being able to attend School Council yesterday. Illness always comes at the wrong time," the president began.

"That's okay, we've already worked it out. I've prepared a presentation for the Rector, cost calculations, and settlement options," Phichit, the head of class M6-2, announced slightly haughtily.

(From the author: Phichit means "to win" in Thai).

"What would I do without you, Phichit! You always bail me out, for which I am eternally grateful!" - Hope knew that this girl needed to be praised more often, because in addition to her many talents and incredible beauty, she possessed the winner's syndrome - a hellish mixture of ambition and the desire to be better than everyone else, to win at all costs, and add a pinch of arrogance and hubris to it as well.

Phichit

"Hmm. Of course I'm grateful, aren't I?!  Tell me, are you going to show the presentation and all the calculations to the rector yourself?" She spoke with a note of arrogance in her voice.

"Would you like to do it yourself?" - Hope looked at the school queen, knowing in advance the answer to her question, his eyes was smiling.

"Ha, what kind of question is that? Of course! A lot of people like to get laurels for other people's work... ahem, you've never been one of them, but now... it wouldn't be fair - go to the principal alone with my ideas," Phichit was clearly making it clear that she wanted everyone's sole appreciation.

"Actually, the work is shared, we also helped to find the information and gathered all the raw data. Let the president report back as usual. We won't lose anything. We're doing a common cause," interjected a skinny guy with glasses, Witt, the head of the M6-4 class.

(From the author: Witt means "well-rounded" in Thai).

"Oh, please! All of you cover yourselves with that word 'common cause' and then I clean up the mess. Or Hope," Girl said theatrically, covering her eyes and shaking her head.

She had always recognised that the President was more popular than her at this school and was constantly showered with everyone's love and respect, more so than she was, so now she didn't want to miss the chance to show everyone that she was better. She hadn't tried to jump over his head before, as she wanted to build up her reputation by starting to date everyone's favourite, but after getting a polite rejection from him, she didn't intend to hold back any longer.

"Hey, mermaid! Aren't you getting a little too starstruck? This whole thing could have been presented differently, without the wiggling and accusations," Jean stepped in, standing next to Hope the whole time, since they were supposed to eat together after the meeting.

"Everyone! Boys, girls, let's dispense with the fighting, we still have almost another year of 'cohabitation' to go. I'll look over all the materials, and post my decision in the general chat. If there are no questions or corrections, then Phichit and Witt will go to Khun Pattanapong together after the sixth class. I'll also drop you a revised schedule for helping the "needy" to take into account those who are sick. Meeting adjourned. Have a good meal, everyone!" - Having set the stage, Hope wanted to leave, but Phichit had to have the last word:

"I can handle it myself, by the way. You didn't even ask if I wanted to go with him!"

"But...," Hope began, as he was suddenly interrupted by a smiling Witt

"President, I'm like a mole - an honest worker who doesn't think in terms of 'high-mindedness' like some people, I'm happy not to go!"

"Hahaha, Witt, you're our humble 'realist'! I'll still ask you to attend. I've said my word. Bye!" - Hope wanted to know about the report and the decisions made, not just from the words of Phichit, who often embellished her deeds for the good of the community.

Hope nudged Jean towards the exit of the dining room and, finding with his eyes Pruit, who was standing against the wall looking at his feet, beckoned him to the park.

The boys sat down on the grass and began unpacking their food containers. When Hope opened his, he saw something he in no way expected to see. Next to the fried rice and meatballs was a red bird artfully made from a tomato.

"Panit, are you sending me veiled messages? I wish I could let Red go like a bird and never think of him again," the boy smiled, remembering how he had told Yellow about "grandpa's birds" yesterday and he had shaken his head in agreement.

Hope expected Pruit to exclaim about the contents of his box, but there were none, as he sat with his head down, chewing his lunch. And in general, the atmosphere was uncharacteristically quiet and oppressive. All of Jean's attention was also fixed on her plate.

It was only when the headman wanted to bring his friends out to talk that he heard a child's voice:

"P, may I have a word with you?"

"Nong'Mali, hello! Why are you so sad again, little girl? Have you eaten yet?" - Hope stood up and walked over to the girl.

"Sorry, I didn't say hello. Hello, P'Hope. Hello!" - The girl folded her arms as a sign of respect for her elders, and then the boy noticed her red puffy eyes.

"Guys, we'll step back. How about you two talk finally and solve your problems!" - Hope turned to his friends, shaking his head, and then put his arm around the girl's shoulders and led her to his favorite bench, which was thankfully unoccupied.

When they sat down, the boy immediately began: "Tell me, Nong'Mali. I'll listen to you carefully and help you if it's in my power."

"You probably won't be able to help me, P. *Whimper*, *whimper*... I'm very sick," the babe sobbed.

"Sick with what? Let's get to the point, bunny," an agitated Hope stroked the shaking girl on her little shoulders to calm her down.

"I don't know exactly... *Whine*... Some kind of cancer... *Whine*... Oh, it's not even that. Mommy said she didn't want me like this," Mali mumbled and, unable to stand it, burst into tears.

Hope sat in shock at the child's words and tried to find the right words. After a couple minutes, the girl calmed down a bit and the boy decided what to say:

"Come on, pull yourself together, baby! We'll solve the problems one by one. First, let's go to the hospital to a wonderful doctor, he'll examine you, and we'll find out everything for sure about your health. And then we'll go to your mom's."

"No, no, I don't have money for doctors! *Whine*...and my mom said not to come and to go to my dad, who I don't even remember," a small hand grasped the sleeve of Hope's shirt, and Mali's eyes read anxiety and fear.

"Well, well, well, do you know who I am? I'm the president of the school and I know and can do a lot of things. Trust me," the guy tried to cheer the girl up by smiling at her and then added: "Do you have any more classes?"

"One more," the girl looked at the older guy with a sad yet tender look.

"Okay. So after fifth period, you and I will go to the hospital. I'll meet you on the porch. Got it?"

"Uh-huh," Mali nodded, and they walked to class.

Running into the classroom almost as the bell rang, Hope sat down at his desk, glanced around at his friends, and noted that nothing had changed:

"Apparently they never talked, or couldn't work out their problems. Well, tomorrow Jean will tell me everything, and then I'll think about it. In the meantime... Mali... How can this little girl have cancer? I don't even want to think about it, I'll let Dr. Sunan examine her first."

The guy sent a message to the doctor:

<"Doctor, in an hour and a half I would like to come to your place with a sick child who needs help. Will you be able to accommodate us?">

An affirmative reply came back a minute later, and Hope immediately texted Troy:

<"Grandpa, I need to help my youngest. Going with her to Dr. Sunan's on a taxi. Don't come. I'll call you when I'm done."

Troy didn't answer. The class ended and Hope, packing up his things, ran toward the exit of the building.

Bumping into one of the national team players in the hallway, a tall, athletic-looking guy with a very short haircut in a sports uniform, Hope remembered about the practice:

"In the midst of worrying about Mali, I'd completely forgotten... Oh, silly me, what am I going to do?"

While Hope was mentally berating himself, the guy, tossing a basketball from hand to hand, greeted him:

"Hello, Captain! Glad you're already in the lineup. The match with XY is just around the corner. Our sixth class was canceled, I'm going to leave for now."

"C, hi! Can you tell the coach I'll probably be late. I have an important thing to do, but I'll try to be on time!" - the guy quickly muttered as he was in a big hurry - he still had hope to be back by the start of practice so he wouldn't let anyone down.

"Alright, captain. Maybe you need some help?" - C's last sentence was spoken into the back of Hope's running back.

Mali stood by the school porch, head down and rolling a pebble with her foot.

"The taxi's waiting for us. Let's go!" - The boy picked up the girl's large backpack and they walked to the parking lot.

Sunan's office. 14.30

"Hello again, doctor!" - Hope entered the office, knocking tentatively.

"It's so good to see you again, young man! Have your condition returned to normal?" - said the elderly man cheerfully, stepping out from behind his desk until he saw a little girl with two ponytails timidly peering out, hiding behind Hope's back.

The doctor froze, his eyes rounded, and the pen he was about to hang on his breast pocket fell out of his hand.

"Are you all right?" - Hope was concerned at the doctor's sudden change of mood.

The man shook his head, then crouched down to take the pen and spoke slowly, "Good afternoon, little lady. Can you sit in the hallway for a moment while I chat with your senior?"

"Hello, Khun! Yes, of course," Mali greeted respectfully and walked out the door.

The doctor immediately took a seat on the couch and with a concerned look started pelting the guy with questions:

"What happened to Mali? Why isn't mom with her? You said she was sick, sick with what?"

After analyzing the situation, Hope had a question he decided to ask right away, "Dr. Sunan, do you know her?"

"Oh, this little girl is my granddaughter, her father is my son...asshole! He abandoned the family, after which her mom wouldn't allow my spouse and I to communicate with the girl. So what's up with her?" the old man recounted, while frowning his eyebrows and nibbling his lips, and Hope concluded that the topic was very painful to him.

"I don't know much, only from her words. She said she had cancer, and that her mom...gave up on her."

"What??? Poor little girl. How could that be? It wasn't enough that she was sick too! Her parents didn't love each other, she came into this world accidentally and unexpectedly for them... They were still minors then. My son got married only because my wife and I forced him to take responsibility, but two years later, against all odds, he divorced and went to Russia," - there was a deep sadness in the old man's voice and he felt guilty. He was silent for a few seconds after what he had said and then stood up abruptly:

"Okay, let's examine her first. I'll take care of all the expenses. Thank you, Hope, for bringing her to me."

The boy couldn't say a word as he was discouraged by this coincidence.

The man led him out of the office and, seeing Mali sitting on the bench, said cheerfully: "Little one, let's take a walk and I'll show you my domain."

"Doctor, I'm sorry but I'm adult already and I know we'll be going for blood draw procedures and x-rays" the girl said seriously.

"Hehehe, I apologize, young lady! Since you're so smart and mature, I'll speak to you accordingly," the doctor adjusted his robe and added, addressing the young visitors: "Please follow me!"

Taking the elevator two floors up they got to the pediatric oncology department, the girl was holding Hope by the shirt the whole time and you could see how worried she was.

"Mali, we will have to leave your eldest here, but I will accompany you everywhere. Right now the children of this wing have quiet time, so we will be as quiet as mice," Dr. Sunan squatted down and spoke softly, looking the little girl in the eyes, and she in turn looked up at the boy and said in a timid whisper:

"P., you will wait for me, won't you?"

"Of course, Nong'Mali, I'll wait for you here. Don't be afraid of anything. That man is the best doctor I know," Hope also quietly answered her question, and he and Sunan exchanged nods.

"Well, I won't be in time for the start of the training anymore. The gods heard me after all... but I didn't want that to happen to Mali. I'll make my requests clearer next time. I wonder how Lion will react to my absence. Will he be angry? Or will he not care?"

The boy was alone in the fifth floor lobby of the hospital. He called Troy, who finally answered his message, and whispered to him about what had happened, then began to look around at the place he'd gotten himself into. He sat in the center of a long hallway with white walls and children's drawings on them, the wards arranged on either side of him. At one end of the hallway was a window, and at the other end were large swinging doors that led to the outpatient department, where doctors were diagnosing patients.

Looking around, Hope saw a little boy of about six, who kept looking out into the hallway and then ducking back in, followed by the sound of children's laughter. There were no doctors or nurses around and the guy decided to approach the child and ask if he needed anything.

Knocking on the door, Hope entered and saw five bunks in the room, the kids were lying on them pretending to sleep, the naughty little boy even snored theatrically loudly, occasionally opening one eye, "Hrrrr-pshhhh, hrrrrrr-pshhhh."

"Guys, I know you're awake. Come on, open your eyes," Hope said with a smile as he watched the show.

"And we are asleep! I'm the one talking in my sleep!" - said the same six-year-old, like an alien, and immediately everyone in the room laughed, including Hope.

"I see, let's keep it quiet. Shall I tell you something interesting, since you're awake?" - The boy said quietly, and the children immediately jumped up from their beds and ran to him, shouting words of agreement.

"Then I will tell you a parable-tale by an ancient poet, which is called 'The Conversation of the Birds.' It begins like this:

Simurgh, the mystical king of the birds, dwelt on Mount Kaf, the mountain chain that girdles the earth at its edge and supports the heavens. One day, flying over his vast domain, he dropped a feather of indescribable beauty in the center of the earth. This feather, if you looked at it, changed lives and destinies."

"I wish I had one of those," the girl with the short haircut who sat closest to the boy said sadly, the others nodding in agreement.

"Yes, I would definitely change my fate," the six-year-old said menacingly but quietly, making Hope's heart flutter and his eyes water, but here and now he couldn't allow himself to flinch.

The children commented on what was happening throughout the story, especially at the point where the members of the bird troop were described:

"Not everyone is ready to make this difficult and dangerous journey to unknown lands: the nightingale is consumed with love and being loved; parrot - confesses that he is absorbed in cares from which he is unable to detach himself, the peacock speaks of a lack of courage, the duck is absorbed in purity and reflection in the water, the partridge is attached to wealth, the chickadee - is unable to detach himself from power, the falcon does not want to lose his place at court, the heron is attracted by jealousy and emotion, the owl - cannot part with treasures and ruins, and the finch hypocritically complains of weakness and cowardice.

But the brave and determined hoopoe finds the words to persuade them to set out on their journey"

Hope had to stop the story to hear everyone out.

"I'm a peacock, I sometimes lack courage, but I try," said a bald boy of eight.

"I am a nightingale," said, embarrassed, the oldest girl in the ward.

"And I'm a brave hoopoe!" - blurted out the varmint six-year-old and everyone laughed again, and one girl even added: "And when the doctor comes to draw blood, you look like a finch!" and again the ward was filled with children's laughter.

Suddenly a young woman in a white coat came through the door, "What's going on here? Children, are you already awake? Your room is the noisiest."

Seeing Hope, she immediately addressed him: "Good afternoon, young man. Who are you here to see? Our visiting hours are from 4:00 p.m."

"Excuse me, Khun, I'm here with Dr. Sunan, and I thought I'd have a little chat with the kids while I wait. Is that a problem?" - the guy got up from his squat and was about to think he was going to be scolded, but he heard back:

"It's fine. It is to our pleasure! Those mischievous kids always ignore the quiet time. We sometimes catch them in the hallways, so it's very good of you to keep them company."

The Doctor smiled and then spoke quietly, leaning over to the boys, "And I have a surprise for you today! First we'll have a snack of your favorite buns and yogurt, and then you'll have a fun guest coming over."

"Hooray!!!!" - came the children's shout.

The doctor wheeled the food cart into the room and held out one serving to the guest: "Here you go, we have one extra serving today."

Looking at the bun and the box of yogurt, Hope swallowed and changed his face, thinking bad thoughts. The doctor, seeing his reaction immediately added: "The patient has an urgent operation tonight, so he can't eat" The boy immediately felt relieved and accepted the treat.

There was silence in the room, the children were engrossed in their food. Hope was told by Dr. Sunan that they would need another hour, so he decided to stay in the room with the children to finish the story.

When everyone had finished eating, the door to the room opened and in came a cheerful "Hey guys! Long time no see!" a man in very brightly colored clothes walked in. It was a clown in a motley costume with rainbow hair, a yellow flowered hat, a red false nose, and colored makeup.

The children squealed with joy, and the clown began to sing a funny song about yellow shoes and danced funny, sometimes stumbling and falling, which made the children unrestrained joy.

Hope noticed that the colorful guest often looked in his direction, but decided that he was just surprised to see an adult in the ward, and to make the animator more comfortable, the guy also began to dance, clapping his hands.

When the song ended, the clown sat down on the floor and, taking out of his big bag a suitcase, began to show the children tricks. Hope, along with the children, was sincerely surprised by every deft trick and illusion that this man created, and did not skimp on applause.

Then the animator took out a ball and offered everyone to play a game. The rules were not complicated: he throws it and sets the color, and the child returns the ball back, naming an animal or fruit of this color. The clown would exaggeratedly cheerful voice designate the color, and the children would respond. This went on for about five minutes, as suddenly....

The clown, changing his voice to a normal male voice, slowly said: "Red" and tossed the ball to Hope, whose insides instantly clenched and he, pale, froze with the ball in his hands. For a second... two seconds... the clown looked at the boy without averting his gaze. The kids began to tell the guy fruits and animals in red, and in his mind at that moment only one thing was spinning:

"He definitely knows me. Who is this guy?"

Hope pulled himself together and answered without stopping to look into the colored boy's eyes, "Scarlet Ibis"

The clown immediately turned away and continued to play with the children in the same manner as before, and Hope was torn with an inner struggle, wanting at the same time to escape and to stay, to find out who this man was who recognized him as a Club employee.

The animator sang again and Hope received a message that the Doctor and Mali were waiting for him on the first floor. He immediately got up and had already reached the door when a six year old varmint ran up to him and grabbed his arm: "P., how did the parable of the birds end?"

The guy sat down, leveling his eyes with the little boy, "I'll tell it next time, but the conclusion of this tale is this - every man must realize his bad sides and overcome them, then the divine particle inside will awaken, which will change his life for the better"

"I see. P, I will definitely win!" - exclaimed the little boy, standing up straight, and added: "Come to us again! He comes to us very often," pointing to the multicolored man.

The last line was said in silence as the song ended and everyone, including the clown, looked at Hope.

"Get well, boys!" - With those words the guy walked out and headed for the elevator with a quick step. As luck would have it, that one was taking a very long time to go. Hope waited for a long minute, and when the doors finally opened, he entered, hastily pressing the button for the first floor.

Almost exhaling already, Hope had to hold his breath again as a yellow gloved hand squeezed through the gap of the nearly closed doors and the boy met the clown's eyes again. 

The bright man walked over and stood a meter away from the boy, and as soon as the doors closed he spoke calmly, "Interesting meeting we had. Didn't immediately recognize you without lenses and gel in your hair, but you reacted so funny during the game that I had no more doubts, ha ha... Push the button."

"Who are you?" – he squeezed out, though Hope concluded that the man standing next to him was probably not dangerous as he spoke in a calm and warm voice.

"Ha, didn't recognize a colleague? No wonder though, ha ha," the clown ruffled his rainbow wig and continued, smiling: "Are you going to press the button?"

"Didn't recognize you," the boy replied more collectedly, but still didn't press the button.

"I'm the bluest of the blues in the Club. Ha ha ha ha."

"Blue, is that you?"

"Uh-huh. Me. What are you doing here? Are you alright?" - Blue asked slightly concerned.

"I'm waiting for the results of my youngest's research. She's probably sick. And you are? Is this your main job?"," Hope agreed and pressed a button with the number one almost erased.

"Eh, sad place, isn't it! No, I just come here to brighten their days a bit and chase the heavy thoughts out of their little heads. The doctors are only too happy, and it's no trouble for me," the clown was saying until the elevator stopped at the first floor.

"Okay, see you later, coworker!" - Blue waved his hand and left.

"Bye!" - Hope said hurriedly into the back of the departing guy, and remarked to himself, "I never really thought about how my coworkers spent their days outside the basement walls. I liked Blue, honest and very kind. I wonder if I could find out more about him, maybe I could talk to him, or maybe I shouldn't! Club rules are made up for a reason."

"P'Hope!" - he heard Mali's voice as she ran across the hallway to him, and when she reached him, she hugged him tightly around the waist.

Behind her came Dr. Sunan with a smile on his face:

"And she has a soft spot for you, hehehe. That's it, we've sorted it out, it's a benign mass. Tests in another clinic made wrong, screwed up with cancer markers, damn them! In the next month we'll do a simple operation and Mali will be completely healthy," said the happy old man.

"What wonderful news! Nong'Mali dear, I'm so glad!" - Hope seized the girl under her arms and, lifting her lightly, whirled her down the hallway, and when he lowered her, the girl with red cheeks looked at him tenderly and smiled.

"Hope, can you take her home? My shift isn't over yet, so I'd do it myself," Dr. Sunan stroked his granddaughter's hair as he asked the question.

"Yes, of course. I still have time before work. Did you call..." - Hope wanted to clarify if the doctor had called Mali's mother, but then Troy walked over to them, "Good day! I see your happy faces, which means everything is fine. Hi baby, I'm Grandpa Troy, Hope's daddy," the man leaned over to the little girl.

"Hello, Khun Troy! I'm Mali, and I'm all grown up. Nice to meet you!" - The ten year old little girl said loudly.

"I see, haha. Son, I got myself a day off today, so I thought I'd pick you up early. Why don't we run down to the restaurant if you're done? It's been a long time since we've been out," Troy looked happy and excited, his eyes burning, and he even bounced a little on his toes sometimes.

Hope decided it was probably the effect of Panit's arrival in his life and smiled understandingly and replied, "Great idea, Grandpa! Let's give Mali a ride home and sit and talk. I'm starving, to be honest."

"Great!" - Troy raked the two at once with his big hands and pulled them towards the exit, saying a loud goodbye to Sunan, who looked at the departing trio and thought, "I wish Mali would call me grandpa too"

Mali's apartment. Twenty minutes later.

After the doorbell rang, an older woman with ashy hair opened the door and immediately blurted out, "Finally, I've been waiting for you for so long!"

Mali hid behind Hope's back, and Troy spoke up: "Good afternoon, are you Boonsie, Mali's mom?"

"Ha, you are what? Boonsie is a young beauty, and I haven't been one for a long time. I'm Pensry, the landlady. Here are the girl's things. Her mom is away and asked me to give them to her," the woman handed over the small suitcase, closed the door and left.

The men were mildly surprised at what had happened, and stood looking around until they heard the little girl crying softly. Troy immediately lifted her into his arms:

"You told me you were an adult. Wipe your tears and we'll go to our house together. Do you want to see Hope's room and try my signature Salo-pao?"

"Uh-huh," the sniffling girl wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her white shirt and reached down and hooked her little fingers firmly into the boy's hand.

Anger boiled in Hope's soul: "How can you abandon your sick child! It's horrible! There is no forgiveness for such an act!"

He put the little girl's palm in his hand, and she looked up at him, stopping sniffling. There was pain and despair in those dark little eyes, but gradually it changed to tenderness and gratitude. Hope noticed the change, but didn't pay much attention to it.

"Come on, bunny. This isn't your home anymore," the boy's voice sounded disappointed in this world where such things could happen.

Troy's house. 17.00

"Are you home yet?" - Panit came down from the second floor with a laundry basket in his hand.

"Yes, and we're not alone!" - Troy said loudly, walking over to his partner, removing the basket and wrapping his arms around his waist, then added quietly, inhaling the scent of his hair, "I told you not to do anything. I'm all on my own. I need to move more."

"I want you to spend your energy on other things, Snowy," Panit said just as quietly and, kissing the man on the lips, pulled away and made his way to the living room where Hope, eavesdropping on the couple's conversation, was setting Mali down on the couch.

"Why do men hug and kiss?" - The girl asked, whispering in Hope's ear, who, not knowing how to answer the question, quickly stood up and spoke:

"Panit, this is Mali. Mali, this is Panit."

"I'll heat up the food while you two talking to each other! I won't be long!" - Troy shouted from the kitchen, already putting on his pink apron.

"P, so what's the answer?" - The girl opened her eyes and stared with them at the older man sitting next to her, waiting for his words, apparently the interest was very great.

The boy was silent, so, not realizing what the conversation was about, Panit entered the conversation: "What's the question? Ask me! I know everything, baby."

Hope rolled his eyes, shook his head and, wiping his face with his hands and then looking meaningfully at Yellow, spoke, "Mali asked - why do men kiss?"

"Oh, just? The answer is simple - because they like each other a lot," the caramel-eyed boy answered so calmly and easily that Hope immediately respected him.

"Isn't love only between a boy and a girl?" - Mali persisted. Hope decided to trust Panit with the conversation and leaned back on the back of the couch so as not to block the eye contact between the two.

"No, it's not just that. There is also same-sex love, when a boy loves a boy and a girl loves a girl," Yellow explained to the little girl in her language.

"P, who do you like? Boys or girls?" - Mali immediately turned to Hope and looked at him, shifting her eyebrows, to which he coughed and blurted out the first thing that came to mind:

"I don't love anyone. I don't have time. Ahem. School, friends, basketball and work - I'm a very busy man for romantic feelings."

Panit covered his mouth and squinted his eyes, holding back laughter, and Mali spoke softly: "That's good," and two pairs of eyes immediately looked at her, trying to figure out what that "good" was referring to.

"The food is ready! Youngsters, to the table!" - Troy announced and everyone headed for the kitchen.

After eating quickly, Hope told Grandpa not to worry, called a motorcycle cab and left for the Club. He didn't notice two dark agates looking at him fondly from the window of the house.