And yet again, the state of the room took a drastic turn.
Rose: It was.... whaaaaaaat!?
Of all the things the team could ever have expected of Maximillian Hunter, this was the last of them.
His planet.... destroyed?
All of them turned to Max concernedly.
After all, it had just occurred to them.... all this time.... Max was dealing with that pain.
He'd never once mentioned or hinted to it. No, not even once.
It was akin to hearing that one had lost a loved one, or in his case, several loved ones.
Just to think.... Max's own home was destroyed.
Or, in better terms, a friend had lost his home.
Someone they had befriended had lost something near and dear to him.
The understanding of the importance of a home to one isn't something someone ever has to do. After all, a home is a home. No one needs to explain how and why that is important to someone.
If one leaves one's country, one becomes homesick.
That is, simply put, in somewhat of a wishywashy term, home is where the heart is. Home is where one can relax. Where one can unwind. Where one can truly be one's self. Where one can do what one wants. After all, there are people around them who not only understand and accept you, but also love you for who and what you are.
Why would anyone want to leave that is already a question? But hearing that the Hunter's species planet was destroyed.... that was simply a horrifying truth.
All their heads turned to Max at that point, all in pity and sympathy to a still somewhat perplexed looking Max.
Rose: (thinking: That must be why...)
Luke: (thinking: Now I get why...)
Ken: (thinking: Max....)
Tiffany: (thinking: All this time...)
Their eyes were full of pity and empathy, all the while not knowing exactly what to say.
And as for Julianne Hunter, she was, oddly touched.
Seeing her previously lonely son now surrounded by people who not only cared about him, but also cared so much that they didn't know what to say....
Needless to say, even the mother found herself at a loss for words. If she could, she would allow a tear to drop from her eyes. But no, not today. There was work to be done.
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The four teens looked away from Max, trying to think of what to say.
After all, how does one console someone who lost his or her very definition of home?
It was Rose who spoke first.
Rose: I... I'm sorry about that... Max....
Ken: Yeah.... (thinking: I... I don't know what to say...)
Even Ken didn't know what to say.
Luke: Yeah, sorry man....
Tiffany: Hmmm... yeah....
Even the usually tough as nails Tiffany could feel for Max enough that she clenched her fist, of course, obscuring it from the eyes of the others.
Tiffany: Sorry... Max....
Julianne's eyes simmered.
She almost smiled, but still, she wouldn't let a single tear fall off of her eyes.
As for Max, he didn't know what to say. Of all things, he did not expect his mother to tell them that. At least, not right then.
Max: It's..... it's ok. After all, it happened a long time ago.
And then, there was Max speaking about how it didn't bother him.
Empathy is an interesting thing. The ability to relate with what people feel.
After hearing him say that, they felt that he'd tried to downplay his own pain.
That awakened a feeling they'd all had at least once before in their lives. A feeling they had while saying, "It's ok. Don't worry about me. I'm fine," all the while hiding incredible pain.
Rose: Max.....
His reply only served to multiply their concern for him.
And at that point, Julianne continued...
As to what she would say, it was obvious.
The first question was Max. The next question was who, what, when, and how.
Julianne: It happened just after Maxie, I, and...
For a moment, she herself paused.
Julianne: ...my late husband, arrived here on Earth for a vacation.
All the teens turned towards the mother once more.
Rose: A... vacation?
Yet again, Julianne Hunter found it hard to speak. Was it that she was still reeling from the memories of the destruction of the place she'd once called home, or was it something else....?
Julianne: Y... yes.
She took a massive sigh.
Julianne: It all happened around 10 years ago.
Rose: Ten years ago!?
The mention of the duration of time shocked them even more. The teens all looked at each other again before looking at Max once more. He still seemed somewhat upset.
Julianne: Yes, ten years ago. Back when Maxie was still a little kid.
They turned back to Max.
Rose: Max....
Luke: (thinking: Just a kid...)
Ken: (thinking: Tch....)
Tiffany: (thinking: I still.... I just can't believe it...)
Max's own eyes narrowed. The destruction of his home planet was not something he enjoyed discussing.
As for Julianne, she remained silent again. The memories of her own planet came back to her.
Julianne: To be completely honest with you all, ....
Her eyes looked to the side....
Julianne: ... I don't really know all the details about it. We didn't expect it to be destroyed once we'd left.
She hesitantly turned to Max, who himself had turned from the rest as well.
Julianne: And I'd rather that we don't talk about it now.
That was understandable. Not one of them would have protested or continued to ask questions about such a pressing matter.
Rose: I.... it's ok. Mrs Hunter.
Luke: Yes, ma'am. It's fine.
Ken: (solemnly) Seconded.
Tiffany: Yeah....
Tiffany herself turned once more to look at Max in concern. She never would have believed that Max had such a tragic thing happen to him.
Tiffany: (thinking: Is that why you're like this.... Max?)
And, as she continued to look at him, she made yet another observation.
Tiffany: (thinking: He looks less shaken up than before. Could it be that something else was bothering him?)
Julianne: So... yeah. Me, Maxie, and my husband now live on Earth and have been for the past several years. It's fine. We do make do.