The flickering lights trying to keep the stadium from turning pitch black were one of the many reasons she liked this place. Darkness was her favorite setting to train her sense, so she was aware of every sound and light around her. Her legs taking significant strides across the track were not where her mind was focused on as her body was used to her running pace. The breathing she had mastered was rhythmically inhaling the cold air. Her body, dressed in all black and running against the wind, wasn't even noticeable, thanks to the broken lights across the stadium tracks. Her running jacket, zipped to the neck, matched her running legging and shoes. The waterproof set has done its job by protecting her body from feeling any of the icy water that was fighting to pass through the fabric. Unlike the rest of her body, her exposed head and face have been receiving the freezing raindrops willingly. Her hair sticking to her head was brushed back, giving her focused eyes a clear view of the tracks. No raindrop would distract her eyes when they were ordered to focus.

5 miles.

20 Laps.

That was her task which she had yet to miss since she joined the team. Her speed and pace she masted in year one, now the training was to push harder. The weight she carried in the backpack was a new challenge that had forced her body to cut its speed down by half. The cold rain, the massive weight, and the slipper stadium tracks had made today challenging. At the same time made it even more fun. Running was fun. Running in the dark rain was even more enjoyable as it forced a tiny smile across her face, whose sweat was being washed by the cold water coming right at her face. With the pain from her back, the tired signals her legs were sending, and her body starting to react to the chilly air reaching her skin, she focused her breathing and silenced it all as she gets ready to push even harder. The last lap was the most challenging but where she was expected to go the fastest.

The smile on her face as she crossed the finish line came at the realization she had just scratched 3 seconds from her last lap speed from last week. Maybe the rain makes her a better runner.

"Huh"

"Huh' she took deep breaths as she laid her tired body on the tracks. Looking up at the dark sky, she welcomed the raindrops to attack her body. She stayed down for precisely a minute before she had to do her stretches to relax her muscles. The tiny amount of water she could consume was finished as the water bottle was thrown into her backpack. The banana and energy bar were next as she sat alone in the massive field. She was enjoying her snacks which tested sweeter thanks to the water drops she consumed alongside. Considering the long day ahead, the little peace of joy she was getting out of her morning was enough to keep her going no matter what the day would bring. Her backpack, emptied from the weights she returned to the lockers, was held by her right hand as she started her slow walk home.

A nice warm shower and a full breakfast later, she was out into the night again.

The bus came late again.

"Huh," She sighs as she sends her eyes out the window and follows the tiny raindrops as they fall from the dark clouds and head straight to the ground below. Today was no different from yesterday; the never-ending rain and cloudy weather had stayed the same as Tuesday slowly walked in. Per usual, she was handed the late card and cursed out by the teachers who had made her their punching bags.

It was a typical day.

Her bag sitting by her leg; she stayed at her desk as a teacher after teaching the classes went on. No Sooner than a minute does it take her to plant her earphones as the teachers walk out. Sending her eyes to the window next to her, she lets her thoughts disappear along with the smooth melody keeping her company for whatever minutes would be left before the next teacher walks in. Most students in her class would swear on their fortunes that she was mute as they had never heard her speak or react to anything. She lived in a world none of them were interested in. The alarming bell brings her back to reality as she grabs her bag and heads out of the classroom. The following two hours are her favorite time of the day.

The only one holding a lunch bag, she cruises through the chattering students that were heading to the cafeteria. Her mp3 charged to 100 percent, which she had turned to its highest volume, was her only company as she quickened her steps to the exit by the other side of the hallway. Entirely in her own little world, she wasn't conscious of how her steps matched the quick beat of the song playing in her ear. Her boots landed on the floor, matching the song's rhythm; there was a beat to her brisk walk across the hallway. Her miniskirt swung left and right, exposing her slender legs that were always accompanied by her boots that looked ready to kick; to anybody who cared to pay attention, it was easy to pick on how fierce her every step looked, but nobody ever paid any attention to the weird mute girl.

But today was not like any other day as her boots and rhythmic steps were noticed by the only person trying to figure out if she was the same robotic so-called "mute' girl from yesterday. Her messed up hair cuddling her face was used to cover her face looking down to avoid being noticed. He couldn't quite make out her eyes covered by her ugly chopped bangs. He turned his attention to everything else. Her school uniform was neatly put on; he noticed no accessory added to it as most girls did. No neckless, no pin, no watch, no bracelet. She only had the weird bag in her hand and her mp3s. Who still uses Mp3s? He couldn't help but ask as he couldn't even figure out what the bag in her hand was for. His hands in his pocket, his attention had entirely left the conversation his friends were having as he shifted his focus to her skirt that landed halfway through her thighs. Her slender legs, with every step they took to bring her closer to view, he couldn't help but make out that she didn't wear any stockings or leggings. It was her bare skin he followed down to her black boots, which were marching. As she kept walking his way from the opposite direction, he couldn't help but notice something about her walk. Her neck held down; her shoulder slumped down, her skinny arms swinging left and right; none of her upper body matched her strong stomps. As quickly as they noticed a movement, his eyes turned their focus from her legs back up to her head that rose.

It didn't take long for her to sense the dark set of eyes looking her way. It was one of her skills. She had been trained to recognize when she was being watched. Occasionally she gets random gazes from students who get shocked by her presence and try to figure out who the hell she is. With the disgusted and startled look on their faces, she gets those once in a while and hoped the set of eyes looking at her would end up ignoring her just like every other time she was noticed. But one look into the dark eyes, and she knew that wasn't the case. He did not look disgusted or startled. He did not even look that shocked by her presence. She slowed her steps as her hands tightened their grip on the lunch bag. She needed seconds to assess the situation. Her eyes, hidden behind her bangs, glanced up one more time to find his eyes still on her. The blank stare following her steps was something she needed to worry about. Hands in his pocket, the same luxurious-looking uniform, and the same unbothered look on his face; the dark eyes had the same blank stare from when she noticed them by the stairs twenty-three hours and forty-nine minutes ago. The two boys walking alongside him were busy chatting as he zones out of the conversation and focuses his eyes on her. He was not even hiding it as his eyes scanned her up and down before they landed back at her mysterious eyes hidden behind her dark hair dangling halfway through her face. Hidden behind those badly chopped dark strands of hair, he was sure her brown eyes had noticed him.

A couple of seconds was all she needed as she quickly sent her eyes to the floor and quickened her steps. Assured that he was looking at her, all she could do was quick her actions and disappeared. "Huh," She sighed as she opened the door below the exit sign and headed down the stairs. Knowing his reputation of not even remembering the names of girls he slept with the next day, she brushed off what happened as nothing as she quickened her steps to her secret hideout. Maybe he remembered her being called the "mute girl" and was curious. That was the most exciting thing about her anybody knew. Perhaps he was bored, and she happened to be in infront of him. How she dresses could have been why he picked her out too. She may need to start dressing a bit like the other girls, so she blends better. Concluding that it was nothing, she enjoyed her lunch in peace.

But as always, luck wasn't on her side as she found those hauntingly dark eyes glaring her way while heading back to her class. Hours later, she would find them focused on her as leaves the main hallway and started walking to the driveway. Standing by the VIP parking spots, the eyes she tried to hide away with her hair were noticed as she glanced their way. "Fuck" she whispered as she changed her pace and started walking faster. She needed to get out of his view as quickly as possible, and the long driveway leading to the gate was a 5-minute walk ahead of her. The trees planted along the driveway were used to hide away from the parking lot she left behind.

She had prayed Wednesday would be different, but no. It became a thing for her to notice his eyes glancing her way wherever their bodies were in the same space. She was too smart not to be worried about the attention she was getting. Her ghostly existence being her mission; she knew getting even a little attention from any of the boys whose reputation she knew very well would erase everything she had worked hard for. Every day she walked into the campus waiting for her doomsday, but there was none. There was no name-calling when she walked into her class, no mysterious things hidden in her locker, nobody stealing her cloth, and nobody attacking her in the bathroom. She was as invisible as always. She let out a small laugh as she remembered she was way below their standard, even to bully. She had given it a week, every day coming in prepared to manage whatever they threw at her, but there was nothing. By the end of the week, she knew nothing out of the ordinary accompanied those dark eyes that never failed to glance her way whenever she was in their presence. Most of the time, the interaction didn't last long before she disappeared to whatever corner she hid from the rest.

With 6 hours to go, she sat hidden in her favorite lunch spot, busily calculating all the plans for tonight. The light from the two windows she opened were the only ray of light coming into the dark room; she enjoyed most of her lunch on rainy days like today. The lunch she enjoyed in peace was neatly tied and placed on the table; she left the rest of the break to enjoy the book she hadn't been able to stop reading since her literature teacher assigned her the next project. "You seem like you like dark stuff," he said as he asked her to find ten dark books to read and write a short synopsis for his class board. It was his job, but he had better things to do than find ten books before the yearly Horror week festival the school hosts. As always, one of the scholarship kids was an easy target. He could threaten them with their precious grade, if necessary, but it never comes to that. The kids knew their place. She, above all, was his favorite because she never said anything, and she was smarter than most. She was a talented writer, which he had told her a couple of times, but she did not seem like she cared. He had seen the books she hides and reads in his class, so she was the perfect person to assign for this. Even though she would never tell him, she also enjoyed her assignment. Burying herself in the library, she had borrowed Twenty-five books to read and pick from. Currently reading book 13, which she hadn't been able to put down; she was lost in the fictional world as her lunch break went on and on in silence. But it did not last long.

"I swear to God I didn't take it, " out of nowhere the body landed on the floor. As she heard the door banging open from the other side, thanking the dark room and her instinctively quick feet, she slid down from her chair and sat on the floor, hiding from the people walking into the room. She silently pulled her lunch back down and placed it by her right side. Thanking the grand piano behind her, which had covered her away from view, she sat waiting for more sound to help her with the situation.

"Why would I steal from them? I swear to God," bamm when the shoes landed on the boy who had already crawled across the old piano room floor. She slowly closed her book and squeezed her body as small as possible to hide completely behind the grand piano.

Bamm. came another kick. Then another as sat there quickly planning for an escape plan. There was none. The great window in front of her was no help as it was shut closed. The only door being the one the boys walked in, she knew there was no way to exit the situation. She just had to hide, stay quiet, and wait till it was over. Yet another of her hideout place has turned into their bullying ground.

"I swear to God it wasn't Me" Spitting blood along with his words, the boy tries to reason with the boy who walked his way and mercilessly landed another Kick. Slowly she leaned her body to get even a tiny bit of view of what was happening. Hidden behind the piano and the stacked chairs, she quickly scanned the room. Apart from the one standing tall in front of the body lying on the floor, there were two more giggling and chattering. They were his errand boys. Her eyes stayed on the body receiving the kicks as it shrunk and folded to every kick that landed against it. The blood gushing out of his mouth did not bother the boy as he landed a perfect kick against his face. Her eyes hadn't even flinched as she saw the two blood-coated teeth landing across the room as the boy's cries got louder and echoed through the soundproofed old piano room.

"Pleases. Pleases "with the last bit of energy left in him, the poor boy grabbed onto the feet that had been attacking him.

"Yaa fuck off"

"You're getting your fucking blood on my shoes" another kick swung his body halfway across the room. The blood gushing through her veins was itching for her to make them experience the same pain they were causing the poor boy, who she was sure did nothing to them. But no. This was not her fight. It was none of her business." You have a goal," the voice in her head whispered as she reminded herself why she was even in this school. The heartbreaking cries that started echoing through the old room were begging for mercy if there was a person with a heart to hear them.

"Fucking mess"

"Now I have to change "the merciless kicks go on as she turns her eyes to the window. She had seen enough. Witnessing an unconscious body being kicked was where she drew the line for today as she turned her focus to the tall window and sat taking in the sounds of the kicks. It was a natural reaction for her fist to squeeze tighter as her body reminded her it was ready to fight if she decided to make the call. Taking deep breaths, she just sat there knowing there was more to lose than gain by defining one. She has bigger plans.

" OH MY GOD" came a shocked voice, followed by the door slammed open. Recognizing the voice, she turned her eyes back into the room,

aimed at the two men who walked in.

"What is wrong with you?" the only one who looked startled by what he was witnessing quickened his step towards the body lying across the room. Her eyes followed his every step as he kneeled and tried to help the lifeless-looking body up. His soft voice she remembers from days ago went on cursing at his friends as he started checking for a pulse.

"MY God" he shouted as he sent his angry eyes to the unbothered looking one busily taking off his shoes.

"I told you to leave him alone," he shouted, this time his anger directed at the person who walked in with him. Following his angry words, her eyes turned to the figure walking their way. It wasn't surprising to find the dark eyes that had become typical at picking her out in the hallways focused on the body on the floor.

"Why? because you have a crush on him?" throwing his shoes across the room, Wonbin started giggling as his boys started their chain of laughter along with him.

"Are we late to the party "her eyes quickly turned to the door to find two terrified-looking boys thrown promptly onto the floor as the three behind them shut the door and walked in.

"Please, we didn't see anything" Their tear-filled eyes glued to the lifeless body next to them, they started begging.

"Please. Please. "Their tears were too quickly as they began to cover their vision before the first kick landed against their stomach from the ones that brought them in.

"Shut the fuck up." a sarcastic smile followed the second kick.

"This is the one that stole your watch last time" Pulling the cigarette between his lips, Yijeong landed his feet right on the back of one of the boys.

"Yaa" Jihoo, with a concerned look on his face, screamed.

"You know what, for your sake am going to be nice," Wonbin winked as his goons went on laughing.

"Which one of you mother fuckers took my watch?" her eyes glued to the ones lying on their knees; she waited for an answer that never came. Whether they denied it or not, there was no point. They all knew what was waiting for them. The blood stain across the floor and the unconscious body next to them was the reality waiting for them. It was better to take the beating. That was their faith anyway.

"This is going to be fun if you," all halted as they heard a soft slamming noise. The book had slid out of her lap and landed on the floor. All eyes turned toward the piano as one of won bin's boys started his slow walks to the grand piano.

"huh" she sighed as she closed her eyes and let everything sink in. It was not long before she was snatched up by her hair. Her fingers clutched in; she swallowed every instinct to fight back. The pain her scalp was sending was not even processed as she got her body ready to receive some kicks and punches. She didn't even flinch as she was thrown across to land right next to the blood-covered face and motionless body she had witnessed being beaten. Her eyes focused on his chest; she thanked whoever was in heaves that he was still alive.

"Who the fuck is this" Wonbin asked as he started walking closer to the girl thrown on the floor. To his dismay, she didn't look frightened as he leaned down and grabbed her neck, bringing her head up for all to see.

"Never seen her before," came the response from his boys.

"Must be one of the charity kids, "one after the other mumbled as he quickly let go of her neck and started walking away. She looked too creepy. Her face swung away; she had ignored all that was being said about her. Her eyes were focused on the one walking to the piano she was hiding behind.

"Who the fuck are you?" he asked.

"She's mute," the only one with a concerned look answered before she even processed the question. The antagonizing eyes glaring at her from an inch away were nothing to be worried about as her eyes again went back to the one sitting by the piano and picked up her book.

"puff" Wonbin took the cigarette one of his boys lit and passed to him; he blew the white smoke at her unbothered-looking face. Her attention did not last on him longer than a second as she switched back to the one by the piano. It was better to distract herself than think about all the ways she could shove that cigarette down his throat and make him the mute one.

" Jandi" he pulled the cigarette away from his lips and grabbed her name badge. His eyes had scanned her face very carefully as he tried to figure out why her blank eyes were staring right back at him emptily. Most would be bawling their eyes out by now as their shaking bodies lay next to him, but she was beyond undisturbed as she sent her eyes from his to her book. He could not even get most of her attention that was focused on her book.

"yaaaaa" Jihoo screamed as a quick slap landed against her left cheek. Her eyes glued to her book didn't even look back as the sensation traveled across her face. When the reaction he hoped for didn't come by, he landed another slap. The only response he got from the second one was her eyes returning to him, which only stared back. No fear. No tears. She just stared back at him, which he could not pint point to why but it was making him even angrier.

"What the fuck are you staring at?" he blew out another smoke clouding her vision before he landed another slap. Her face, which swung half across the room, was playing along with her hair that covered her face as she landed on the floor. This one stung a bit. The echo of his hand landing against her icy pale skin was where the one skimming through her book finally looked her way. Blood streaming through his nose, even the boy on his knees felt bad for the girl that was being punished for being at the wrong ace at the wrong time.

"That's enough; she didn't even do anything" Jihoo coming to her defense, started kneeling next to her and helping her sit up. Wonbin, blowing out the white smoke, didn't protest at all as he turned back and started walking away.

"Are you okay?" grabbing her left arm to bring her body up to rest against his, Jihoo asked. Her messy hair covered her face; he could not make out her eyes scanning him as the breath she took to regulate the pain came with the soft smell of his perfume. His chest, which her body was pulled against, gave her even more access to determine if the luxurious fragrance was a perfume or his natural scent. His hands holding her tight, her body started rising. His broad shoulder and well-toned muscle hidden behind the uniform; it took her seconds of being held against his body to asses it all.

"Can you stand up"

"I got you" his sweet whispers as they hit her ears forced her to look up. His eyes had caught hers hidden behind the messy hair strands. The small smile he extended her way was an involuntary reaction to her eyes. His right hand tightening his grip against her waist, he held her body even closer. She was taller than he had imagined, but she still came short as her head rested against his shoulder.

"Can you walk?" he asked, lowering his head to see if she was okay. She knew he did not expect an answer. He had claimed she was mute at the begging of the week. He was looking for any reaction as an answer. Shaking her head up and down, she gave him what he was asking for as she slowly started separating their bodies.

"Just leave" he slowly retracted his arms back as he whispered to the body slowly moving away from his grip. The first step she took away from him gave him an unobstructed view of her whole frame. Jihoo felt terrible for the girl who never dared to look at any of them. Her weak-looking body swinging left, and right she started her slow walk to the door ahead. Unlike she expected, nobody was stopping her. All the boys stepped out of her way as she realized the boy with the soft voice and smile had just saved her. Her lunch bag left behind was not even thought about for a second. It was her book she cared about. Hiding behind the dark hair covering her whole face, she glanced back at the one sitting by the piano, her book in his hands. She knew there was no way she could get it back, but at least she was out of there.

Bang- She fixed her shoulder as she closed the door behind her. Her hands brought up to her, brushed all of it back as she settled her walking and started heading to the nearest bathroom. Her feet that orchestrated weak and tired steps were now back to their regular march as she moved her jaw side to side to ensure the slaps harmed nothing she took in silence.