"I am on standby if you need anything, you know" Bom took the helmet she took off and handed him. His leather jacket switched to the distressed black jeans jacket he had on; he was still the all-black biker the people in the neighborhood knew him for.
" I know," she whispered as she fixed her backpack. The small smiles she used to send his way were gone as he took in the disappointment still plastered all over her face. They were used to it now, but it still hurts to meet another dead end after putting in so much work.
" You don't have to deal with them; it's endless anyway," he added as she lifted her eyes to him. His last point has stung both as they have concluded that the years she spent in this school might have been the most useless use of their time. All the work they put into it was proven to be a dead end. Time after time, they tried various ways, but it was still the same dead-end result. The only thing that came out of their work last week was her being recognized by the devil himself, who would delight in the hell his minions would unleash on her.
" Don't let them do anything to you. Call us," he added as she started moving toward the train station. His words didn't get a response as she just waved by and headed to the station across the street. In seconds his bike would start and disappear out of sight, leaving her to face the world by herself. She preferred it that way at times. She was trained for it.
The long ride to the school was filled with mixed emotions as she recalled the childish games she had dealt with yesterday. It was open season for her, and she knew the wicked students had only started their silly games. She didn't even have to wait until she got into the building. The two security men had started it as she walked in. She was expecting the worst, which might even reach new levels once she gets the red card she is surprised she hasn't received yet.
" How much for a night?" One of the new security men asked as the other two started laughing. Her eyes glued to the ground, she ignored their words. Maybe she needs to blow up the whole school. Considering all their failed plans, what else did they have left? The people she had been hunting were becoming elusive figures that didn't exist. The only thing left was the grand school which had caused her more pain and suffering than anything the spoiled kids could throw her way. Maybe just diminishing the great building to ashes might give her closure to end it all and disappear into the unknown. If not the people themselves, perhaps the building hiding all the sins could pay the price.
"Huh," she sighed as she glanced at her desk, marked with all types of curse words. The giggling and laughing classmates of hers were really beyond immature. She smiled as she liked her desk and the corner's punk vibe. The red and black markers had marked her whole desk and the wall around her, giving her corner a distinct look. Her unbothered face might have surprised most, but it was doing a great job hiding her liking for the new look of her desk. How do these idiots think calling her names would affect her mental state? They can't even imagine that some people never care about what you call them because they have better things to worry about. Being called all variations of slut was useless to the girl who would sell her body to whomever & whenever it would lead her to execute her revenge. If she could find the people she wants to kill with her bare hands, she would do even worse than sleep with many disgusting older men. That was easy.
"What's up, freak?" Her quiet morning was disturbed the moment she sat at her desk. The boys from yesterday had walked into the room; eyes focused on her.
" Oh, we're starting early today," she whispered to herself as she glanced up to catch the only other scholarship kid in her class. He was the only one with a worried look at why he got his attention. Her latest fascination with human behavior has been studying other people's sympathy and empathy. She is reading about it, which was pulled from her bag and placed on her desk before the boys entered the classroom.
" You were lucky yesterday. '' One of the boys walking to her desk sat on top of it as she leaned as far back as possible to get him out of her personal space. Only 3, she counted as the other two stood behind her. They were busy reading all the marks around the wall.
" Are you listening to me?" picking her book, he landed the first slam against her head. He needed to get her attention.
" What the fuck are you looking at?'' As her eyes turned his way, he slammed the book against her head again. Choosing to focus on the fingers holding her book, she sent her eyes down.
" We should introduce each other properly, don't you think?" He smiled as she noted the mischievous intent hidden behind it. Which she didn't need to analyze as the book he held was sent to her dress shirt that wasn't fully buttoned. The thick book was slowly pulling her shirt down as it exposed a glimpse of her chest going up and down with every calm breath she took. His eyes focused on her clear skin before they lifted to her eyes.
" more formal introduction so we know who you are" he lifted the book
" More intimately," he added with a wink accompanying his smile. She seemed like the only person who didn't seem that entertained or worried about what he intended, as everybody in the class had gone on giggling and chatting about what could be waiting for her.
" very intimately," one of the boys leaning down behind her whispered in her right ear. Unlike the expected, she didn't smell that bad; the boy took note of the fresh fragrance of her shampoo he took a sniff. Was this supposed to be intimidating? She questioned as she kept her eyes on the one holding her book. This was more annoying than Intimidating. It was annoying as she focused on her book in his hands. All she cared about was her book. "Please don't take it," she whispered, praying. She can't lose yet another book.
" come to the old art room on lunch break," the one by her ear whispered as everybody noticed the teacher standing by the door.
" We'll be waiting," the one holding her book added as he stood up from her desk.
" Don't be late," he added with a wink as he left the desk and headed to the back door. Her eyes weren't concerned with anything but her book as she followed the boy leading the way out of the classroom. Her book in his right hand was all she cared about. Is she ever going to get her books back? Why do they like taking her stuff? Couldn't bullying be enough? Ughhh, she sighed.
"Good morning class" as the English teacher starts the lesson of the day, she focuses her energy on contemplating if she should carry any weapon when she meets them later. Maybe it was best to empty all her pockets of sharp objects before she meets the boys. It could all be used against her. Should she defend herself? She had questioned for some seconds as she concluded that if she was ever going to physically attack anybody it would be the last day she would step into his school. If she had to beat or even kill anybody that attended this school, she had to be ready to disappear before she was hunted. None of the boys who have started her morning were worth even a slap let alone her wasting everything she had worked for. If it has to come, it would be the 4 boys. If she had to lose everything she had worked for it had to be because of causing some harm to the famous 4 boys of the school. If she had to lose everything, it had to be for something worthwhile and the childish minions were not even worth her time let alone energy. Even the four boys weren't her goal but if it comes down to it, she would sacrifice it all to take them down. It would cost her everything, maybe even her life but it would be a good way to go. If she can't fully fulfill the lifelong dream she had stayed alive for, at least she could take them down with her. That would at least give some type of meaning to the worthless life she had lived for only one reason.
The 45-minute classes went fast as the bell rang dismissing all for lunch and just like she had planned she headed to the swimming pool locker room. She emptied her pockets and stretched her body to get it ready for whatever before heading to the old art room on the last floor of the art building. Choosing to use the stairs, she had even made sure not to bring her earphones with her as they could be used as a strangling device. If pushed to her limits, it would be too tempting to have it in her hands. She preferred other types of cords and ropes but that thin wire in her hands could be just as deadly as her other favorite tools. Being physically weaker had given her the perfect opportunity to learn how to use every tool in space as a killing tool. It was one of the few pieces of training that had taken her eyes to master. Now, it was one of her greatest skills and why she was the one sent out to execute the scariest tasks. There was a reason the crew was even scared of the heels she puts on. She had demonstrated how deadly she could be with the pretty heels she often wears as a backup weapon and not as a fashion statement.
The lunch she had jumped in preparation, she was the first one in the room. She doesn't need food in her system if she was going to be kicked and punched. The two energy bars she ate were enough to give her the energy she needed to last whatever they were planning. Punches slaps, kicks, maybe some slams against the walls and floor...she expected the most common forms of violence the boys were famous for. Ripping her cloth, sexual assault, taking photos for sharing, making her do graphic and sexual acts ... the bullying the scholarship girls and boys perceived gays had faced, which was a common gossip everybody knows about, she was ready even for that but how she could handle it was up in the air. Considering she had no reason to stay in this school anymore, she might end up slaughtering 4 people during her lunch break and never return. She had been at this school for a while to know of every type of bullying and assault that goes on that everybody was aware of but can't seem to even whisper it to the police if ever somebody dared to make a report. But then again the police officers that were bought and paid for were as useless as the ethics committee that reviews any reports. All of a sudden there were no witnesses, no video, no photo, and no evidence as victims were even gaslighted to accept a simple apology letter. If they were lucky they would get money settlements.
A couple of years ago one girl had gotten millions in the settlement because somebody had screenshotted a copy of the video of her having sex with one of the boys that were shared across the school. Her drug laying on the bed was even used against her as a threat that she would lose a court case and better settle for payment. The party she had walked into with her two legs, the drink she had consumed with her own hands, the three well-paid lawyers of the school had done the work to convince her she would even be charged for false claims if she goes to court. Her family had accepted the family and moved to the countryside. The only person punished was the boy who had taken the screenshot and not deleted it on time. The boy from the video was sent to study abroad at a private school in Europe. That was justice. That was how the world worked. She was actually one of the lucky ones who were paid settlement money. Most just walked away with lifelong trauma and pain that only death could erase.
" Huh" she sighed as she focused on the old painting that was supposed to be covered up but was open. Maybe this was their hideout, she assumed as she noted some of the drinks and snacks by the corner. The video games plugged into the old screen were a dead give away this was a hideaway. Wouldn't the music rooms be better? She had questioned as she noticed the opened windows that would broadcast any loud scream. But there was no other building around this one so most likely nobody would hear it. The building that housed the old art studios, film auditoriums, and music room all were empty during this hour anyway. The music rooms at least were soundproofed, she would have chosen them if it was her. She could only imagine all the things that could have happened in this room.
"Oh wow you're even early" one of the boys who opened the door brought her attention from the window she was standing by and the garden she was looking at back to the room. She knew they were probably enjoying their lunch while she sat there looking at the grand garden that led to the conservation and greenhouse their biology teachers were in charge of.
" Eager to see us hu?'' the one who had taken her book walked in. Her eyes zoomed on his hand and found them hidden in his pocket. No sight of her book. She really is not going to get her book back, she sighed as she could only wonder what trash can he had thrown her book in.
" Why so far?"
" Come here" he pointed at where the drinks were placed as the other two who walked in headed to the game consoles. Now there were four of them, she registered the fourth face she hadn't seen in the morning. She had taken a mental picture of every one of them. She needs it for when she crosses them out of her mental list.
" Don't be shy. come here, '' he added as she started her slow steps his way. The slow steps she took to assess if they were carrying any weapons were taken as her being scared.
"Don't be shy," he repeated.
" SHY?" the two started laughing.
" I don't think shy is the right word for a slut like her"
" Here" Ignoring his friends, he pointed at the floor. The fabrics used to cover the paintings had been thrown on the floor as blankets. The white fabric hand paint splatters covering every inch and was beyond thin. The stacked chair next to it was where he stood by as she walked up to the blanket he was pointing at.
" Let's see?" he leaned his eyes down to her name tag.
" Geum Jandi?" His questioning eyes lifted from her name tag.
" She's mute so she's not going to respond to you" the 4th one added while laughing. She doesn't understand where any of them got the notion that she can't talk. But it was useful now that it was a fact everybody accepted as a fact.
" So you can't scream?" he asked as he sent his right hand to her head and started patting it. The first touch was always what triggered her body to prepare for fight or flight but she was in total control as she shut it all down.
" She might have a voice" the 4th one seemed genuinely curious.
" Do you?" he asked as his hand that was gently brushing his hair grabbed a handful and pulled her closer to him. The snatch at her head should have been registered as pain but it was ignored as she focused her attention more on his name tag. She needs to match it with the school register to see who his family could be.
" Oh, that doesn't hurt" he pulled harder before he kicked her knees. "Huh" she sighed inwards as she bent her knees and went down landing on the white fabric. He needs to work on how the leg and how to land kicks, she assessed as her hair was used to lift her head.
" Do you use this for anything?" his left hand poked at her lips as her eyes finally landed on his.
" Or is it just used to please men and make you money" his fingers were cold as they squeezed her lips. Her black eyes weren't what he was expecting as she doesn't seem phased by what he was doing. She actually looked curious as she was trying to read his eyes.
" YAAA. Make a noise" he screamed as the silent glare instantly sent him to his anger mode. Her hauntingly distinct eyes affected people. Whether for good or bad, She will get a reaction out of people when she uses them to stare into their eyes and try to dig deep into the soul they hide behind it all.
" YAA' he screamed as he pulled her hair to the left, swinging her weak body in the same direction. She wasted a second assessing the situation. Was this a power trip? Could she get out easily if she plays into it and boosts his ego? Was he one of those?
" OHH you don't want to" he let go of her hair as he started lowering his body to her body that was kneeling. He smelled like cigarettes, that was the first thing she noticed as his body broke her personal space right in front of her.
" Open your lips and make a sound" he directed as he focused his angry eyes on her. Her eyes didn't lift from him as she slowly opened her lips. Her eyes were studying every instinct that his face was showcasing and his mind was processing as her cherry-red lips slowly started parting. As though she knew she needed seconds to analyze him, she had done it all in slow motion as she lifted her head and brought her opened lips up. His eyes that were zooming on her lower lip slowly lifted to her eyes that were waiting for a reaction which she got. The first slap across her left cheek came at a cost. But she was glad she paid for it. It had helped her understand where all of this might be coming from.
" Stop fucking looking at me like that" Her slapped body was pulled back by her hair. Her eyes that didn't listen had gotten her a second slap. The physical attack to force her to make a sound didn't stop until one of them suggested forcing water down her throat. His idea was accepted as they had thought it brilliant. Her face which had accepted a few slaps was hidden behind her messy hair as she was commanded to not even attempt to stand up.
" You're going to crawl there" he commanded as her hands and knees were forced to follow them out of the art room and head to the bathroom across the hallway.
" Haha," the two who pulled out their phones started snapping pictures from behind. Her tongue had to bite to swallow everything that was bubbling inside, she took deep breaths to remind herself of her goal. They weren't worth it. They weren't worth anything. The only way her knees scraped against the hard cement of the old building were tolerating this was because she had no sense of self-respect left that should feel embarrassed by this. This was part of the challenge she accepted on her path of revenge. This was nothing compared to everything she had experienced but what stung was the fact that it was childish teenage boys with nothing to do that were doing this to her. It made sense when it was a powerful man she needed to use but this. These bored children humiliate her as this hits differently.
"What the fuck is going on" The familiar voice as it hit her ears, pulled her out of her thoughts. Her eyes were quick as they turned to the direction the voice was coming from.
" What is going on?" The voice got louder as she registered the boy who started walking closer from the Roof Exit marked door. The notebook in his hands,
"We were just . ." the one leading the way had opened his lips before shutting back down as he got a look from the student president walking their way.
" We didn't know anybody was here" the one that had been landing slaps across her face replied, sending his hands to his pocket. The confidence in his voice was what she registered as she gazed at his annoyed stance before she changed her gaze to Jihoo. He also noted how the boy had an attitude to his response. These boys are becoming bold by the day as they have started challenging him. Woobin being their leader, Jihoo knew the main reason they felt beyond bold was that he had their back. They felt invisible because of Woobin and his family's reputation which instills fear in everybody.
" And?" Jihoo asked as he crossed his arms and started back at the boy
" We will leave" the boy responded but not before staring right back at the student president which he doesn't like at all. None of them even understood why he was part of F4 considering he does way more to protect the scholarship kids. His kind-hearted and charming personality didn't fit well with the other 3 and Woobin's minions not only did not like him but they didn't fear him at all. The only one they feared was Woobin. He was the most violent one and considering what his family does, they had various reasons not to be scared of him. If they had to be honest even Junpyo might be challenged depending on the situation. That spoiled brat never did anything, even though in their eyes he was seen as a useless billionaire son. He never participated in anything, he acted like it was all beneath him. The only reason students were scared of him was that he had the last name of the biggest corporation empire in the country. But that was useless to the boys who had never seen him actually do anything.
" he had to ruin it" one of the boys whispered as they headed down the stairs. The disappointment in his voice and all over their face was clear.
" Huh" she sighed as she returned her eyes to herself the moment the boys were out of her view as they went down the stairs. This was it for today. Well, unless they force her to stay after school to continue with the water braiding or whatever they had planned for her.
" Are you okay?" he started taking slow steps her way. Her hands were busy cleaning her knees as she stood up from the floor she was crawling on. How is this the second time he had seen her knees in a span of days?
" Are you okay?" he repeated as she glanced up, her eyes finally coming his way. Her messy hair all over the place was the proof he needed to realize she probably was slapped or pulled around.
" I am so sorry" he whispered as he stood a step away, respecting her personal space. She was quick as she noted how he had done that intentionally. He remembers how she had reacted the first time he touched her. Her hands leaving her knees were sent to her uniform; she started fixing them as she stood straight up. Her face finally came into full view and her eyes landed on him.
"They are jerks," he whispered, accompanied by a smile. His words were what she registered but his smile was. As though he knew that was what she was looking at, he kept his soft smile. Her curious eyes weren't that obvious but this is the third time he recognized she was taking in his smile. If he gets to see her more often he might be able to decipher all her looks. For now, he knows the slightly curious at his smile, the nonchalant, and the angry ones.
" I am really sorry" he added as the notebook in his right hand was sent to his left. His right hand making her hair its goal was lifted her way. Her eyes were quick as they shifted their focus from his smile to the hand coming her way. The expensive watch and bracelet that accompanied it were ignored as his soft-looking fingers were her eye's focus before they switched back to his eyes.
" Your hair" he whispered with a smile while his warm eyes communicated why he was entering her personal space slowly and that he didn't mean any harm. The reaction he expected to gain wasn't visible as his finger slanted on her hair and started brushing it down. Her body registered the moment on first contact was shut down from processing any and every emotion that might cause as she just started back. His fingers were as gentle as one could be as they went on brushing her hair down. Her whole body was ordered to stand still, everything was focused on figuring out what does this boy want? Her dead serious eyes were focused on his as the change in their gaze was quickly noted by Jihoo.
What does he want?
His smiling lips, his gentle hands, and kind eyes were in total contrast to why he would touch her. Touch her without her consent. Do these people just touch and do whatever they want?
Was she expected to accept his touches because he smiles? Or because he was perceived as the entire one? Or because he had saved her?
He had saved her. To him, it was a minor thing but to her, even this slight action was a high-value action she owed him for. And this wasn't the first time. Every time she interacted with him, he played the nice guy as he seemed like he cared. Now she owed him something which he could use against her.
What else was he planning on doing?
She was sure the bullying she would receive from his friends was 1000 times worse than the minions. Was he going to pass her to his friends? Or use his friendly guy/savior persona to get her to do things?
What does he want?
She was lost in her thoughts as she stood there, letting the student president brush her hair down as he sent his famous charming smile her way.
The ever-observant Jihoo was able to register the change in her look too. Her eyes couldn't hide their confusion as he slowly retrieved his hand from her soft hair. Why he keeps sending his hands to her hair is a question he needs to investigate on his own time.
" You should stay away from their sight," he advised as he returned his hand to his side.
" They won't stop until they get bored," he added. He knew how useless his advice was. She knew this way more than him.
" Once the rumor dies, they will stop," his smile was once ignored as she focused on the fact that he had called it a rumor. Does that mean he doesn't believe it? " Huh," she sighed as she immediately stopped herself. She doesn't care what he thinks.
" They are childish and will stop" his eyes shifted to his phone, which started ringing.
" Sorry," he apologized again before his attention was sent to the call and the steps he started skating to the stairs. He had made sure to turn her way and wave bye before disappearing out of view. His warm smile and wave bye were registered attached to a new sense that was too foreign and considered useless even to be aware of.
What does he want?
While she spent the day focused on how to avoid the minions, her evening was spent reading the school president's file. Everything and anything about him was on her desk as she studied the student president prodigy, which people call the future president. How he was being groomed and raised to be the country's next leader was not very evident, as even some magazine articles hinted at it whenever anything about his dad was published. Her computer displayed the school president in regular cloth, out of his uniform; she spent quite some time trying to understand why?
Why was he helping her?
What does he want?
That was the most important one. Nothing any of the members of F4 could do would be taken as just an action of kindness. They had no heart, and kindness wasn't part of their vocabulary.
How was he going to use it against her?
What are they planning? Was this why they didn't give her a red card for being an escort?
They will use a new angle to get her? use his fake kindness to bait her, then unleash hell.