THE BLEEDING HEARTS PROGRAM

TENTH TUTORIAL

"Wait, your dad isn't," Sabrina asked Yohan. "I thought our connection was us both having Nigerian fathers who didn't get rich from scamming?"

"Our connection is nothing of the sort - my father is a Cabo Verdean man. The rich ones are my Hawaiian mother's family."

"That sounds... a mess," Raphael commented sipping his drink. "How do those even cross paths to create a child? And even if you ignore all that, how do they end up in England where you grew up?"

"There's a crazy thing called... immigration. I know... unheard of. But I don't know why you're speaking on fathers - refresh me where yours is again?"

"He's dead. And both of my parents are black."

"Oh shit, sorry," Yohan apologised sincerely patting Raphael's shoulder. "I thought this whole time your father was just a deadbeat."

"Because I'm black?"

"Exactly."

Brielle knew she was losing brain cells.

She didn't know if Brielle what would end her first... the conversation was so ignorant and low vibrational, it probably belonged on a newly formed podcast.

There was a lot to unpack.

"I thought you told me your dad was from Brazil," Sabrina questioned Raphael. "Is that not just a Latino? So now he's black?"

"Yeah... ethnicity, skin colour and nationality is dragging you by the roots," Brielle sighed scratching her head. She had a headache brewing just from listening to the three of them going back and forth.

"How are they different?"

Yohan, Sabrina and Raphael looked between each other before collectively sighing.

"Jesus Christ Sabrina," Yohan whispered. "Harvard will go to jail if you graduate."

"Before a podcast mic spans in the middle of the table" Raphael blinked clapping his hands. "Where should I take Junya this week?"

"To go shopping with me."

"What about ice skating," Yohan suggested instead. "The ring has just opened up. It's indoors as well so you don't have to worry about outside weather."

"It's been awhile since I've done something like that. That sounds fun - good idea Yohan."

"I wanted to go with you though," Brielle sulked slightly glaring at Yohan - she was literally going to ask Raphael that day if he wanted to go together.

"Meet us at the ice rink," Raphael suggested lazily reaching for Sabrina's plate. "As long as you guys aren't doing weird shit, it's a public space. I'm sure Junya would like meeting other people."

"The diner nearby the ring is really nice as well - they have such good smoothies! We can all go there after, catch a vibe."

"But... I was thinking we could go just us two Raphael," Brielle pouted towards him. "We haven't gone on a friend date in such a long time."

"Going together will be more fun than just the two of you. You'll still be there at the same time so you can cross it off the list," Sabrina innocently shrugged.

"Makes sense," Raphael smiled. "It'll be one big date."

Sabrina only said that because she knew how much it meant to Brielle. She didn't care about her little crush on Raphael, she just wanted to see her annoyed face.

Like she said, her little candle stayed on for Brielle.
...

"That coat... I need it so, tell me right now what it is Junya?"

"I promise I'll ask my aunt - I got it as a gift so I don't know the brand."

"You're not gatekeeping-"

"Back the fuck up before security starts tripping," Raphael fussed poking Sabrina's forehead for her to sit back down. "He said he'll find out and tell you. Relax."

"I'm sorry Raphael. Are you the security or is it the guys behind you?"

"He's protecting his recom-"

"Junya, what do you want to eat," Raphael cut off slightly glaring at Yohan. Yohan had such a big mouth and he was about to say something he shouldn't.

Raphael had told them a million times not to say anything about recommendation letters or even about the program around Junya. He could tell Junya was a sensitive person and he didn't want to upset him.

"I haven't looked at the menu properly- let's see... maybe a burger..."

"There's not many options at a diner, it shouldn't be that hard to choose," Brielle commented with a smile but, Sabrina caught the underlying tone.

"Regular fries and Cajun fries completely change the vibe of the meal," she spoke with a smile just to contradict Brielle.

"Some people would die if it meant they could have the last word. Sad."

"What do we have in this world but our honour," Sabrina bit back with a smile knowing she was getting underneath Brielle's skin. "When your body rots, all that remains is your name."

She thanked her Nigerian father for such great quotes.

Raphael tuned out Sabrina's and Brielle's passive aggressive back and forth to focus on Junya. He was looking so intently at the menu... there weren't even that many options.

"Your dad won't be mad at this?" Raphael asked as he gently brushed his fingers across the red area on Junya's face.

He was sure it would heal pretty quick but, it still looked a bit swollen. Junya fell a bit too hard on the ice when he tried skating on his own. After that, Raphael held his hand the whole time because Junya didn't want to leave the ice so soon.

Junya's security team freaked out about the fall despite the boy saying he was fine constantly. Now sitting this closely to him, Raphael could see that his cheek was a bit red.

"He'll probably make it a big deal but, he'll calm down by next week. It doesn't even hurt."

Junya felt that his face was only red at that moment because Raphael touched it... his hands were very warm.

"It doesn't hurt right? You don't have to force yourself if it does-"

"No! I mean, no. I'm okay. I want to stay and eat with everyone. Falling didn't hurt, I promise," he assured. "I want this burger and this drink."

"Alright cool," Raphael smiled softly tucking a piece of hair away from his cheek by instinct. He just didn't want it to irritate the bruised part of his cheek.

Whilst Sabrina and Brielle were too distracted to notice it, Yohan caught the whole interaction. He smirked knowing exactly what was going on.

Junya was going to-

"Yohan go order for us. Two cheeseburgers and two sparkling lemonades with salt and pepper fries."

"Who made you leader of the group? You're sitting on the edge too! Go order-"

"Yohan don't be difficult and go order - I'm hungry and I'm not nice when I'm hungry," Sabrina complained. "I want a vanilla shake and a chicken burger and tell them to do my sweet potato fries properly! I don't want a lanky fry in sight."

"I want loaded fries and a chocolate shake," Brielle added calmly putting her menu in front of Yohan. "Tell them I want them loaded not fake loaded."

"Well you guys are fucked because who told you I was going to do your orders?"

"We can get ask Alex to go," Junya suggested timidly. "I'll call him-"

"No honey you don't understand, we're picking on him. And he'll go do the order because that's how group pressure works."

"Junya is about to get his bodyguard involved," Raphael teased laughing. "If you starve him, they're going to beat your ass."

Yohan sighed deeply standing up after pondering for a bit. He walked towards the ordering desk as Raphael and Sabrina laughed loudly.

"I'm gonna get new friends. I'm serious this time."