Chapter 4

Madge

"Madge, dear," my dad, who had been busy for the past few months, had finally had the time to talk to me for just a few minutes in a night.

"Yes, Dad?" I asked as I sneaked a peek in his office, where the TV was turned on and he was in his desk, writing. He usually never turned off his TV when he worked, because the noise helped him concentrate more.

He smiled. "Rosie told me all about your mother while I was gone. I'm glad you're helping out."

"Of course I am." What else would I do anyway?

"But your mother's condition is getting…the same, still."

I nodded. "It's been a while." It's been a long time ever since my mother joined during meals, or spent time with me, or even stroke my hair in days were I had missed my dad during his work hours. It had been a long time ever since I felt a mother by my side. But I never blamed her. I never would. That would be enough to break everything that was still left.

"I'm sorry if I'm not able to help in the-"

I cut him off. "I know, Dad. It's okay. This District needs you to work. I can handle Mom. Trust me."

He nodded. "Well, it's nice to know that."

I bade him goodbye, and finally left the office for his and the TV's peace. As I removed the bun that held my hair for a bit, a single statement left a mark on my mind for that whole conversation.

And I'm glad you didn't give up on us, Daddy.

My father told me just after the conversation earlier that the train cabs were back. I had expected…a week? before they'd even come back. The Victory Tour was done early this year, and seeing the long line of cabs connected to one another brought different emotions around me.

I had hopped outside the house to see my father, who was working his way toward the railroad. I had second thought to follow or not depending on what might happen. I decided to go. In the end, as soon as I saw my dad greeting Katniss and Peeta at the steps, I was a bit...ecstatic and confused. I wouldn't say emotionless, but it made a pang to the chest.

Although I was standing close to the pack of crazy reporters with snapping cameras, I was so sure I would at least be caught in Katniss' eye. It turned out I wasn't, and I didn't even make a shout to make myself emphasizable. This was Katniss's moment. And she needs to enjoy this.

What was different, though, was that a single man caught my eye instead—Gale.

And as he was slowly ingesting the sight, he shook his head and walked away slowly, without a word of doubt.

He went to the back of the Justice Building, where it was a path that usually led to the Hob, and not that I was some raccoon or anything, I followed him. And for the first time, I heard myself starting the conversation, with hopes that there was going to be a conversation after this. "You don't like to see Katniss again?"

He smiled, then shook his head. Then his smile disappeared. "Katniss's busy."

"You're not. And based from what I see in school before, there was always time between you two."

"Well, Undersee, before's before." I was sure he said that through gritted teeth.

"You'll see her later. We'll both see her later." I said, with a reassuring tone in my voice. Because I had thought that this is once again a reunion between everyone and Katniss. And I was sure it was finally going to happen after the grueling games.

As I looked at Gale, his gray eyes were in deep thought, like a bottle finding its way through solid ground in the broad sea, and he then started walking, away from everything.

Gale

I didn't like the view.

It was too flashy. Too attention-springing. Too much attention to begin with. All in all, a mix of chaos and hate.

I woke up especially early for the said date. After the long time of the Victory Tour, Katniss comes back, alive. Somehow, rich, but I know she'll be the old Katniss I knew. She always was. People don't just change because they became part of something. They change what they've become part of. Katniss redefined the Hunger Games.

And that Katniss, that Katniss, was finally coming home, and everything was going to be back to normal. Just like it always was.

The train station wasn't expecting much of a visitor, since the station was mostly empty. I had already made my way through the Hob, and the station was my last and final stop before going into other chores. Her face, her voice, just one glance and one pitch of it, I was satisfied.

Then the moment came. As the trains came, so did the cars stop by with people and devices. They were busy bringing this to the public, as if they'd care. Thinking of it, of course they'd care. Someone much more special than any other person won the Hunger Games. It wasn't just about the star-crossed lovers from District 12.

As soon as I saw Katniss step off the platform, she greeted everyone with smiles, with Mellark walking just behind her, all being greeted with flashes of light. It was a tight-bound space. I continued looking at Katniss's face, but she just wouldn't put a gaze.

Then there I decided that this wasn't really the proper moment to start.

I sighed. It was Katniss's and Mellark's moment. I wasn't supposed to be the one to ruin and steal it.

And with a simple turn, I left, and with all the wrong odds, I was again greeted by Madge Undersee.