HANA

by Rainyday9090

For the longest time I studied revenge to the exclusion of all else. I built my first torture chamber in the dark vaults of imagination. Lying on bloody sheets in the Healing Hall I discovered doors within my mind that I'd not found before, doors that even a child of nine knows should not be opened. Doors that never close again. I threw them wide. Revenge is what I want.

47. Chapter 47

Hello, beautiful readers. I hope you're having a productive week. I can't wait to read your reactions to this chapter. Enjoy :)

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The two knocks at the door; she didn't wait for a response to slowly open the door and walk into the office.

" Hello," she was welcomed with the soft smile of Jihoo, whom she had been anxious to see since they said bye to each other yesterday. The usual time she spent getting ready this morning was all in preparation for this moment. He was the reason for even the five minutes she spent in the bathroom next to the student council before coming in. The mirrors in the bathroom, thinking about how he found her cute enough, had made it tolerable to stare back at her reflection she hated. Her hair was tightly placed into a high bun, then low, then let loose to be put back into a low bun; most of her time was spent figuring out what to do with her unruly hair; she never cared about even getting a professional cut. It was done with scissors and in her bathroom. All that mattered has been making it easy to manage until now. Her uniform, which she had neatly put on, even the bow the girls wear instead of ties, was placed on today. Eun, who had been the first to see Jandi, had noticed it and instantly started making fun of Jandi for dressing up now that she was dating the school president. The few jokes were enough for Jandi to remove the bow before entering the student council office.

" Good morning," her response was sent with a small smile as she walked to the bookshelf, where she always stood by. She sent her right hand, hidden by the sleeves of her cardigan, to grab the tea he always gets her by his desk.

" How was your weekend?" Jihoo asked, letting his eyes follow her right hand. Her nervous habit of pulling her sleeve to her fingers was noted, and he couldn't help but smile at how adorable he found her nervousness, which had become more frequent after their first kiss.

'It was okay." Her sly smile hinted at the playful person she hid underneath he couldn't wait to get to know. She took her first sip.

" It was only okay?" Jihoo, sending his eyes from the email he was writing to her, asked. The smile they exchanged brightened her face, lit not just by the light from the window she was standing in front of but by the pure joy from within.

" How was yours?" She took another sip.

" Mine was fantastic. I got to be with you." his eyes had lingered longer, waiting for her reaction. And he wasn't disappointed as her stunned eyes stayed on him while everything else faded out of her sight. The tea she brought was held halfway as she took some seconds before turning her eyes away from him. The way his eager eyes were looking at her, she had found it best to look away before they made her do something. The sip she took, which she had hoped would calm her down, had had the opposite as her eyes returned to Jihoo, who had stood up from his chair.

" I have a meeting with the director now." His slow walk around the table, the choice to take slow steps toward her, was intentional. The way her nervous eyes followed him, he enjoyed nothing more than watching her standing there.

" But I would love to show you something at lunch." His hands sent to his pocket, and he stood two steps away from her.

" I am always in the office during lunch."

"It's not here. It's off campus."

"Okay" was all she could whisper as her eyes were directed to his lips which he parted for a shining smile.

" We'll eat there, so don't eat before we leave."

" Okay," the sip she took, she had used the cup to hide the deep breath she took when he started walking again. Maybe it was his kind demeanor that had made him seem shorter than he was, and it was always when he was in her space that she recognized how tall he actually was. Her eyes that had to look up to stay on his face; his perfume had drowned out the smell from the tea in her hand. Her eyes, religious following his, had lowered their gaze to his lips, which her wild thoughts directed her to focus on. The kiss every inch of her body remembers well; his closeness had forced her thoughts to be sent to that only. She was eagerly waiting for the dream-like world he sends her to whenever he was this close, but they were disturbed when they heard a knock at his door.

" Yeah." Jihoo, stepping away from her and towards his desk, sent his right hand to his lips. And that was all she needed to know: he was planning on doing what she was waiting for him to do.

" The director meeting is now" one of the student officers who opened the door had only put his head past the door as he announced.

" We have to go now," the boy added as he glanced at Jandi, standing where she usually stands and sipping her tea.

" I'll text you." Jihoo, smiling at her, picked up the folder he needed for the meeting.

" Sure," she responded with a smile. The two who had forgotten the boy was still standing by the door; he glanced back and forth between them as he watched them exchange smiles until Jihoo walked past the door. He was one of the few officers to dismiss the gossip that there was something going on between the two. But lately, even he had been suspicious of the relationship, and Jihoo's big smile as he led the way had made it harder not to question what was happening between the two.

" I'll be back." Jihoo, handing the folder to the boy, had started walking back into his office. The door he closed behind him, and his steps were quick as they got him to the startled Jandi, who had turned around when she heard the door being locked.

He had expected her to be just as caught off guard as she was when his lips landed on hers, and he had made sure to send him right hand to hold the cup she might let go of. The morning light warming her face; was now behind him and had turned into a glowing light around him. The angelic view was the last thing she saw before her eyes were slowly closed. The speed at which he had rushed to her side, the soft wind that brushed against her cheek, had a tingling feeling of its own. His warm lips, just the softest touch from them, had sent shivers freezing her body in place. The sweet coffee she could taste on his lips, she had parted hers to let him guide them to wherever he wanted.

Her eyes had decided to stay closed even when her lips were freed from what they had started begging for a second after he left them.

" Good morning," his low whisper has done more damage than the kiss as her eyes open to catch his smile. The glowing light still surrounding him; her bewitched eyes had slowed down everything as they followed every step he took away towards the door.

The teacup she placed down, she needed both her hands to wrap around her chest to contain her heart that felt like it would escape her body. Her rapid breathing and her giggles were hidden by the hands she raised to her face. Her warm cheeks that felt like they were burning. Her palms had landed gentle slaps to help her realize this wasn't a dream. It just felt like one. The Monday most hated, she was skipping as she left Jihoo's office and headed to the best place on the campus to hide her joy-filled self.

Her earphones plugged into her ears, she had kept her smiles to herself as she cruised through three floors of the building before she headed to walk across the garden and to the old gym. The water she had missed, she was beyond excited to have some moment of calm under it. It was the best place to celebrate her day which had started with a kiss as well. The noise of the students she was passing was background noise which she easily ignored as she kept her skipping legs to match the rhythm of the upbeat song. The students disappeared once she entered the garden; her steps were allowed to move to the beat as she swung left and right with every step on the neatly laid-out stones across the garden. The trees, veins, and flowers around her, even the birds, were singing along to her melodic mood. The garden, which gets darker and unkept once you cross the main campus zone, most students wouldn't even dare to pass; Jandi had found even that dark corner charming. The darkness and solitude added to her beaming smiles; she had even twirled as she looked up to find the intertwined veins letting the sun rays in beyond beautiful to look at.

The old building she entered from the back door she had unchained; her lips had started humming to the song once she was alone in the dust-filled building. Walking down the empty hallway, the only thing guiding her was the small light coming from the glass windows that had been painted. The locker room for the pool was her target. The only one that looked clean and of use, she had opened the locker it to reveal all the stuff she had neatly kept in it. Her uniform changed to the black swimming suit; there was a reason her smile had gotten bigger as she zipped the back. The thick surfing suit she often wore when she swam in front of people in her actual gym locker was the only place she would dare the other swimming suit she had on. The swimming suit that left her arm and most of her leg exposed was chosen so she could feel the cold water. There was no other reason for daring to wear something revealing so much skin. The short length of her swimming suit that ended halfway at her thigh had exposed enough of her leg she was willing to show even alone. The crew neck zipped to her collarbone, her hands had helped put the hair cap before they were sent to her thighs, which she started messaging to warm them up.

Her uniform folded and neatly placed in the locker; the only things she had grabbed were the towel she had resting on her shoulder, and her phone still attached to the earphones blasting music to her ears. With the flip-flops she had on, she headed to the empty pool. The swimming pool windows letting some of the lovely morning light in; her smile was uncontainable just looking at the calm water nobody but her swims in. The towel and her phone placed by the bench, which she always kept clean and washed, and had dragged to the edge of the pool; she stretched for a few minutes before slowly sinking into the water she had missed so much.

A different type of happiness takes over the second her body is fully submerged in the light water. From one corner to another, she spent some minutes waking all her muscles and enjoying the cold water. Her thoughts that vanish once she was in any body of water; it had taken about ten minutes before all had faded away, and she was just there. No worries. No stress. Nothing but just floating as she adjusted her body to rest against the water. The sun rays from the window hit the left side of the pool; she moved closer to that side. Her eyes slowly closed; she had let herself completely shut down while she just floated away. The peace she gets from this pool has been one of the few reasons she hadn't lost her mind being stuck in this school. Her small moment of joy that was never uninterrupted, she would get another reason to curse the day she had decided to play along with the F4 boys when it was finally disturbed.

Her mind completely lost in its zen world; she hadn't even heard the door open, let alone noticed the person who had walked in. His hand still on the door, Junpyo had scanned the rusted and hunted-looking place before his eyes landed on the pool of water. His loafers not making any sound against the old floor; he only took three steps before choosing to stand by the door so as not to disturb the figure in the water. His right side slowly rested against the wall; his hands were sent to his pocket as he zoomed his eyes on the weightless-looking figure floating in the water. The AirPods in his ears, the playlist had decided to aid him in his curiosity as the next song started playing.

The sun rays hitting her legs; his mesmerized eyes were already losing their focus as they started at her feet and trailed up her glowing skin. The hypnotizing water covering her body; he had never seen water gliding against one's skin look this sensual on anybody. Her right leg slightly raised above the water, his eyes had caught the water falling down from her calf before she placed it back in the water. The golden water drops, his right hand, hidden in his pocket, had reacted to the instinctual need that was triggered the moment his fingers dared to want to wipe the water off her glowing skin. To distract himself, his eyes were directed to her arms, which were slowly moving as she kept herself floating in circles. Her right arm, closer to his sight, had gotten his attention as he followed the slender length to get to her hand. Her fingers, moving to their own melody, were guiding the water to dance along. Memorized by the serene movements of her fingers, his eyes stayed glued to that for a few seconds.

His slow breathing, he had lost even his sense of time when his eyes finally landed on her face. Her hair tightly wrapped into the water cap; there was nothing to distract from it. The few sun rays hitting her face, his right hand had reacted to her tempting skin again. His triggers he was well aware of; he should have been careful but had no intention of stopping himself from following the water that slid down her neck when she pushed her head back. Her long neck; his dark eyes had their own salacious ideas as they zoomed enough to notice the two beauty marks which he remembered to be on the right side of her neck. His lower lip pulled in; the bite of his teeth was more damaging than ever.

Her closed eyes, even when shut, had done their job of piercing through his gates and striking at his troubled heart. A heart daily weakened by odd and new desires he wouldn't be able to satisfy. Used to getting instant gratification from whatever he desired, his new friendship was set to be a great lesson in self-discipline and the soft smile that escaped her lips made it seem like she was aware of what she was doing. The small movement of her lips, his memory had brought back the sweet voice of her laugh to silence the sound of the song playing in his ear. Her serene face, he didn't need another proof of how breathtaking it was, but he had gotten one as he took as many mental pictures as he could. He was used to staring at her temper-filled face, and it was amusing to stand there and watch her when she looked at peace, floating away as though the rules of gravity didn't apply to her.

"Huh" a smile came with the realization that he really had just stood there for about five minutes, just silently watching her. That was until they were both disturbed by a loud sound. His phone buzzing, his right hand silenced it before his eyes were sent to the pool to find her eyes open up. Her startled eyes not even blinking, she needed a second or two to accept this was real, and he really was standing there. She immediately dropped her body to sink into the water.

" Hi," he said as he placed his Airpods in his pockets. Ignoring him, she started swimming to the other side of the pool to get as far away. She also needed as much time as possible to accept how he had been there, just watching her. Of course, he would discover her safe place. Who else would it be How he found out, she saved the question for later.

" You know there is a swimming pool in our building."

" A cleaner one," he added, catching the way her eyes glanced at him. It hadn't even been a few minutes since she saw him, and her anger was already on display.

" What do you want?" The anger wasn't just on her face but in her voice.

" Just wanted to say hi," his smile; he couldn't help but find her moods that change when he's around cute. Somehow, it was endearing how it was a reaction she saved just for him. He also knew that if he pushed enough, anger was a strong emotion that was always connected to several others he could get out of her.

" Hi," she gave him a fake smile.

" I didn't know you love swimming." his steps slowly started, and he sent his hands back to his pocket.

His proximity was always a danger; she knew to get out of the water before he even got to the pool. Her body she was about to pull out; she had turned to look at his dark eyes. It was odd how, even from such a distance, his eyes were such a problem to worry amount of skin she hated showing, even this much, was too much as she swung her hands to the pool bench and started reaching out for the towel. Whatever she was doing had made it worse, as Junpyo was now even more focused on what she was trying to do. The towel she grabbed and placed by the edge, she used all her energy to jump out quickly. The towel she swiftly picked up and wrapped around her; she hadn't thought about how long he probably was there and how much of her he had seen. What she was doing was useless since her swimming suit was more conservative than all the ones Junpyo had seen the girls wear. It had more coverage than even the school one-piece suit the girls were given, which Jandi doesn't use. She had begged to use the surfing suits which her teacher had allowed. The towel was not long enough; she decided to cover her arms and upper body she was tightly hugged by the waterproof fabric. The towel ended by her knees, she was okay leaving her legs exposed.

" Do you come here to be alone?" he asked, looking at the pool that looked eerie. He was courtesy why this place hadn't been demolished yet. If he remembered correctly, they were planning to turn the whole area into an art and tech center for students, maybe then students might come to this side of the school. At the edge of the pool, he stood by, he sent his eyes back to the girl adorably wrapping herself with the blue towel. What was she doing? The towel she was tightly wrapping even to cover her neck, he questioned her action that did not make any sense but was still cute.

"I used to, but somehow, I think I won't be allowed to do that anymore." Her phone picked up; she was angrier at how he had found yet another of her hiding spots. Her left hand holding the towel tightly at her neck, her right hand was then sent to adjust the slippers.

" I am not going to stop you from coming here." She didn't have a response to his smile accompanied words. He won't stop her, he will just annoy her until she stops coming.

" Why are you at school this early?" her annoyed question; she wasn't seriously curious but just wanted to change the topic.

" I wanted to see you." his smile had gotten bigger at her reaction. Pausing what she was doing, her eyes had reacted on their own as they increased in size. What did he just say? Her question was forgotten about for a second as her eyes demanded to focus on his smile.

" Am I not allowed to?" he asked. His smiling face she was trying to ignore looking at for long, she turned to what she was doing.

" You can do whatever you want." She started walking to his side of the pool. The door to the showers behind him was her goal.

" You shouldn't give me that kind of freedom" his little smirk; she didn't like how she could tell what his eyes were masking behind those cunning smiles of his.

" Remember what you promised' raising her right hand, she used her phone to point and warn him.

" What did I do?" his question she chose to ignore; she continued with her walk.

" Don't you have somebody else you can annoy? Where are your friends?"

" You are one of them," his quick response; his dimples had appeared as her reaction forced a full smile out of him. She was just too adorable. Too lovable when even just some words could startle her like this. What will become of her when he starts saying everything he was keeping to himself, even Junpyo is curious about what she will do then.

The tiny red flag, her eyes were immediately sent to look away from his face she could see clearly with every step she took towards him. The strain between them that worsens with every inch she decreased to bring her body to him; she was too used to it by now but still was odd enough for her to start rushing her steps to get away.

" How was your weekend?" he asked, catching how she wasn't looking at him anymore and was walking faster.

" It was okay."

" Just okay?'

" Just say what you want to say," she demanded, her eyes raised back to him. Only he had found her irritated tone to be this charming. The emotions he could easily get out of her; he hasn't figured out how to use them to get what he wants yet. Once he did, it was game over for the girl who was nowhere a match for the fiery emotions, even her angry eyes, just looking at him like this could bring out of him.

" I am just asking." Whatever he was hiding behind his smile, she didn't like it. But finally, she understood why he was deemed just as much of a playboy as Yijeong. Just his dim eyes and cunning smiles were enough clues to know how dangerous he was. Nothing about him she trusted; she had assumed she was immune to the web-like games he was playing to trap her in.

" Are you?" steps away from him, her angry eyes were ready to challenge.

" What are you really curious about?" she asked, getting ready to play his game as she watched his awkward smile. His right hand leaving his pocket was brought to his hair he brushed back.

" If I like him or just taking advantage of him?" she had askedl her own deep worry slipping out and leaving her more surprised. Her lips seemed to have developed a mind of their own and were choosing what truth they wanted to share whenever she was around this boy.

" We already know you like him." Junpyo couldn't help but smile at how just changing the topic to Jihoo had changed the look on her face. She really does like him this much.

" Why would you kiss him if you didn't?" The question was for himself and the things he couldn't seem to accept.

" Wait, who is We?" she asked, taking the wrong step right and starting to walk straight to him.

" He likes you a lot. '' His right hand brushing his hair to rest behind his ear; he gave her the affirmation she didn't know she needed. Nobody knew Jihoo more than Junpyo, and him confirming how Jihoo liked her meant a lot. She had thought hearing it from Eun would be enough, but this was what sealed the deal.

" Does he?" how sweet her voice had changed, the tiny twinkle in her eyes; Junpyo had to lean back as he watched how even her walk had turned softer as she asked.

" He might not have said it yet but I'm sure he has told you in so many ways." Junpyo's claim was wrong. Not only had Jihoo said it, but he had also listed all the things he liked about her. The Jihoo Junpyo knew was the one before Sunmi broke his heart. The Jihoo after that was a different one and was doing everything to be different than his older self. Expressing himself and being proactive were the first two things he challenged himself with, and so far has done a good job at both.

" What other ways are there?" she was not ready for the words she once gave to him to come back to her.

" Didn't you say actions speak louder than words?"

" Isn't that why you like him this much? Because he was nice to you from the beginning" The smile that appeared on her face, he didn't like how Jihoo had been the reason for it but still couldn't be happy to see it.

" That is the main reason but not the only one." The opportunity he opened; she was quick to decide to take it.

" He respects my boundaries. He listens to what I say." She started listening as she slowed her steps.

" He is really kind and sweet, not when he just wants something." The smirk she saw on his lips; she knew Junpyo understood everything she was saying. Every plus point she was giving to Jihoo, was pointed at him.

" He says what he means and doesn't play mental games."

" He also likes me just as I am."

" Does he?" Junpyo jumped in.

" Wouldn't he have to know you to do that?" he added another question.

" What makes you think I am not who I am when I am with him?" she asked by rephrasing the question. She knew what he really meant but wasn't asking.

" Are you?" his questions poked at something deeper; she chose to take a second and think before she spoke.

" He would still like you, so don't worry."

" He has no option not to," his low whisper; Jandi was allowed to question his claim but had chosen not to. The look in his eyes, she trusted her sixsense that was alarming her not to be curious about why what he said seemed off.

" Why do you even care?"

" He is my friend."

" Aren't we friends? You don't seem concerned about me?" In her attempt to make the conevrstaion light she had asked the wrong question. The second small red flag waved for her, the uncertainty behind if he was aware she could read his eyes or if he was doing it intentionally; she again chose to dismiss what his eyes were whispering to her in their own language.

" What if he doesn't really like me and is just taking advantage of me? Have you thought about that?" She chose to keep the conversation light.

" Ji Hoo?" Junpyo asked, holding his smile in. Even she had found the scenario hilarious as she started smiling.

" The one who was talking in circles about if he was overdressed for a picnic?" Junpyo asked as their smiles matched each other. Just like she was with Eun, Jandi questioned if Jihoo had talked about every second of the date with his best friend. Was he just as excited as her when he talked about their date?

" A picnic he spent hours planning, by the way," Junpyo added, enjoying her smile. The charm of the boy she liked, it was heartwarming to hear all the work he had put into the perfect date even he wouldn't be able to top. Mainly because it was her first and he was the one and only man to ever do such a thing for her. That was how eternal he had made himself to be in her world.

"Yeah, he doesn't seem like the type to take advantage"

" That seems like your thing," she added, ignoring the small laugh that escaped Junpyo.

" Why does every compliment he gets seem like an attack on me?" Junpyo, brushing his hair, asked.

" Maybe because you are a narcissist and think everything is about you" This had gotten a smile out of both.

" Or maybe you like him because he is the complete opposite of me and you hate me." Junpyo had predicted all her little reactions to what he said. Her utter disbelief at what she heard, she had even done a double take to make sure.

" You really are full of yourself"

" Wouldn't you be if you were me" The embarrassment at what he was saying, even he had to hide his laugh by biting his lips.

" I am so happy he is nothing like you."

" Me too" She didn't know what to make of his response as she just stared back.

" He never does this so I don't think you should ever worry about him liking you" Somehow talking to Junpyo had become more than tolerable, and even a bit enjoyable, when the topic was Jihoo and how much he liked her.

" Really?" her eyes sent to the tiled floor, and she started walking again.

" Yes. You know who and how long he had his first crush"

" I know" her eyes sneaking a look up were sent back down to her slow steps. A few steps away from him, Junpyo was quick to pick the way she had said it.

" She is too beautiful, who wouldn't have a crush on her" her muffled words, she recalled the elegant woman even though she was stunned whenever she saw her.

" That is not what I meant" Junpyo, getting ready to explain what he meant, which was about how they were childhood friends, stopped himself halfway. The second she looked up, he recognized that wasn't the issue.

" Is this about looks?" he asked, his eyes demanding an honest answer and staying on her until they got one. It was scary how quickly he was learning to read her body language. Close enough from him to even notice the water drops falling from the ends of her hair, he waited until she chose her silence to be the answer.

"That's ridiculous," his laugh, her eyes couldn't decide to be angered or charmed by it.

"You're insanely beautiful" The words weren't the ones that had paused even time; it was their interlocked eyes.

The silence that took over was the loudest ever. One. . Their breathing matching the count of the seconds that passed by both were too frozen to process what was said and unsaid.

" I have to shower before class" Her eyes directed to the floor, and she rushed away. The boy she could run away from, it wasn't that easy for the words she was running away from. They were all she could think about as she stood underneath the warm shower water. Even when she was putting her uniform back on, the conversation by the pool was what she was thinking about.

" Huh," the fresh air of the trees she breathed in, her regular self was placed back on once she left the building. In seconds she sensed something off about the environment to turn to her right and find Junpyo standing by the building.

" huh" A deep sigh, she sent her hands to her uniform cardigan pocket as she started walking. The muddy steps leading into the garden, she wasn't even questioning why he was still there. She has to get used to him being around.

" Did I cross a boundary?" the minutes he had spent wondering if what he said was wrong or unacceptable, that was the only reason he was there. The thin line she had him walking on, the anxiety just from crossing one of her boundaries was already eating at him. The first thing she listed for why she liked Jihoo; he knew how much it meant for her for others to respect her boundaries. The first and only person who did not want to play by his rules; she had even made him promise to play by hers. All the people around, including his friends who followed his lead for how their friendship functions, there was a clear reason why the first person to challenge him would get his attention. Why he couldn't help but be pulled towards her? The subconscious reasons were slowly making their way to the top.

" No" was her short answer as she led the way.

" But you shouldn't lie like that," she added.

" I wasn't" he silenced himself before he said anything. He doesn't need to say another problematic thing. It was enough for him to knwo what he said wasn't a lie. Even if it was, it would have been because the word beautiful wasn't even the right one to describe what this girl was. At least not in the traditional sense.

The dark trees finished in a few minutes; they were brought out into the well-maintained and flower-filled garden. Just like the setting, their conversation had shifted to a colorful one as she was busy questioning why he didn't wear the school uniform after he complained about the mud his white loafers had stepped on.

" Is it because you do not want to look like everyone else"

" Or I just want to wear whatever" The shift from walking behind her to beside her happened minutes ago. He had made sure to be at least a step away from her. The nicely laid-out stones weren't wide enough but were enough for him to stay by the right edge. The literal energy he could feel pulling him to move closer to her, the internal battle to not step into her personal space was becoming more challenging by the day.

" Or you want to show everyone you can do whatever you want," her eyes glanced his way; she had sneaked a view at his smile. His hair covering some of his face; it really was puzzling how different he looked when his hair was down. Sometimes not as scary as he thought him to be. Once in a while even a bit pleasant to look at. Her eyes that were already on his hair had followed his left hand that moved his hair behind his ear. The two earrings getting her attention, a useless thought had crossed her mind as she questioned why and when he got those. If she was correct, he had three on the right one. The earrings completed the look his hair and style gave off, she questioned if he even cared about how he dressed to have done this intentionally. Were the earrings and those famous tattoos of his she had heard about but never seen a phase? Maybe he had a bad boy phase? But that wasn't what rich boys do when they go through the bad body phase. He can't possibly have had a bad-boy phase when he in fact was a bad boy. How is he going to be the face of the company looking like this? Maybe he was too rich for her even to understand. What was she even thinking about? She shook her head to focus on the topic.

" You four are untouchable. Maybe it is a symbolic representation of that"

" How are we untouchable? You are dating Jihoo, slapped me, Yijeong is your fangirl, and am sure Woo Bin has a beating waiting for him soon"

"Hu" her right hand was sent to cover her mouth before the laugh escaped her.

The two, in their own world, didn't seem remotely worried about somebody seeing them even after they reached the garden visible from their building. Lucky for them most students were heading to their class to be by the balconies that faced the garden. Almost everyone.

" The show is opening next week." Yijeong, leaning closer to the glass rail, turned his attention to the two people in the garden. His focus from the phone conversation shifted to what he was looking at. The only clue he needed was the all-black outfit. There were only three people who never wore uniform and only one of them wore this much black

" I am on a cruise this weekend" The words he was whispering, he had focused his eyes on Junpyo to make sure that really was him. That was indeed his friend. There was no mistaking the outfit or the way he was brushing his hair. Yijeong's eyes quickly shifted to who Junpyo was smiling at, anybody making his friend smile would be a sight but Yijeong was in no way prepared to find Jandi.

" What?'' The question was aimed at both the person he was talking to and at what he was looking at. From Jandi back to Junpyo, then back to her, Yijeong was doubting what he was seeing while looking straight at it. Hands in their pockets, the two walking side by side, had even matched their steps while the garden they were hiding in had added to the energy he could read between them even from here. The SOS signs going off in his mind, and he was having a hard time processing what he was looking at his eyes were sent to zoom on Junpyo's smile.

" I will call you back" his phone slid into his pocket; he leaned closer to get a better view. He was too far and on the third floor but still, he could make out his friend's smiling face from anywhere. What is going on? Was all he could think about as his quick brain started recalling every clue he had been collecting but hadn't started connecting.

" My God ", his right hand sent to his lips, he stepped back.

"This can't be happening" was his only thought as he left the balcony. The questions he had lined up for Junpyo, the bell had rang alarmingly all to head to their classes and he had chosen to save it until morning break or lunch when he would get to see Junpyo face-to-face.

Her Monday classes she was hoping to go smoothly, Jandi had sat in the back of her class as her math teacher walked in to start the first class. The exit exams they would be taking in a few weeks, the teachers didn't have much left to teach the kids that were weeks away from graduating. The acceptance letters all had celebrated, their minds were on the colleges they were excited to go to and the summer before that they would go crazy for. One of the few not going to college, Jandi didn't have much to look forward to apart from just being done with this school. Even having to commute to this side of town daily, she was looking forward to the last day of school so she would never have to do it. Sitting in the back, quietly enjoying reading her book, she had only stood up and bowed as the teachers changed one after the other. Even after the third teacher left and they were given their morning short break, she was seated at her desk and fully in the world of the book she was reading.

Her classmates rarely paid any attention to coming in and out, she had treated them like the ghost they saw her as. Once in a while she would read the room to lower her earphones and pick on what the new gossip of the school was. And she had done that as she saw a few of them walk into the class and start giggling about something.

" Did you see it"

" She deserves it. She is disgusting."

" I told you that girl was lying. What would Teacher Kim want for her? She wasn't even that cute"

" How could she even show up here again."

Her book dropped on her desk,jandi had left the class when she heard Teacher Kim's name. The teacher she hadn't punished for what he did to Eun, she knew these students enough to knwo what had them giggling. Finding Eun becoming her only aim, she rushed out of the class. Her quick feet stomping down the hallway, her right hand was turned into a fist as she rushed to the elevator. Her middle finger kept pressing as she started calculating which one would be faster. Deciding it was running up the stairs, her legs were tasked with what they were trained for. Her most comfortable boots on, the two floors until the the fifth floor that had the art studios; it had taken Jandi four minutes to walk out of the exit stairs door

The chatter and laughter she could hear from afar guided her, and she increased her speed. Left turn then right, the loud laughter she could hear was adding to the way her fingers were forming a fist. Just the mere thought of anybody bothering Eun lighting the fire that fuels her anger, her body was sent another dose of dopamine as she made the last turn to notice the large group of people that were standing in circles. A sight she had seen so many times; she had spent years being a bystander to it. Her mission that was her top priority; she had stood there, letting them do whatever they wanted until now. Even when they attacked her, the anger she felt wasn't as furious as now. Her anger was already reaching a new high thanks to all the foreign feelings she had been dealing with, there was a frustration that demanded an had also crossed a line when they came for somebody she really cared about. With her slow steps, she was documenting all their insults and laughter she would use to justify why she was imaging punching all. Their ugly, loud laughs, she would have focused on that if not for all the training she revived about assessing the environment before jumping into a situation. Their backs turned to her, her eyes did a quick scan to notice the lack of weapons or tools around. All they had in their hands were dairy produce. Wait, why do they have dairy products?

Before she decided how to Jump in, the crowd had turned to face her when one of Eun's classmates pointed her out.

"Look here's another one" the boy from the stairs had pointed as all turned to Jandi. Their faceless bodies ignored, what her eyes landed on was Eun in the middle. The milk dripping from her hair, Jandi started from that as her eyes scanned Eun's body covered with the egg still dripping from her shoulders and the white powder that had covered her.

" I told you they all get in by sleeping with people"

" This one is an escort and this one probably chased taacher Kim to get in"

" That is why they stick together"

" birds of a feather"

The words not even entering her ears, Jandi's eyes were still on Eun. Her head held low, the shaking body covered in white was what had all her attention as she slowly started walking to the crowd. The egg shells spread across her body, each representing the exact place she has hit, one didn't need to count how many. The yellow liquid she was surrounded by was enough of a clueand even one was too much.

" I think this one is haunted"

" She looks like one" the students have gone on as Jandi walking through the passage they created for her headed to Eun. Her proximity they hated, she disliked how she couldn't ignore why they had moved and let her passthrough.

" How are they allowed to still be here?"

" They shouldn't even exist"

Her legs halting right when she got to Eun, and her right hand was sent to Eun's face. Her hair covered in a weird mixture of eggs and milk; Jandi had started with picking the egg shells before she pushed Eun's hair back to see her face.

" Do you want some too?" the loud shouts at her; Jandi was an expert at letting it in one ear and out the other as she continued cleaning the eggshells from Eun. Her cardigan pulled to her fingers, she started using that to clean the face she got a glimpse of once she moved Eun's hair away. The smiling face she had seen first thing in the morning, the sting that pierced her heart had come from the marks she was seeing on the terrified face that looked nothing like the one she had breakfast with. The Eun that was dancing around the house, only Jandi knew how excited she was to be back in the art studios and pain again. Their loud waves of laughter she thought she could ignore, were only the beginning of the awful day as the first egg landed on her head. As though the first one was what they were waiting for, all had sent their hands to throw whatever they had grabbed from the kitchen at the two girls, now mainly Jandi.

The cracking sound of the eggs hitting her head had taken Jandi a second to react to any of it. Her body moved closer to Eun; all she did was shield her away as she accepted all to target her.

" huhhh '' her breath she sucked in was a result of the flour bag one of the boys on the stairs had opened, and started pouring down. Their loud laughter she still had blocked away, she had only made out the sound of the eggshells hitting the floor after they cracked at where part of her body they were sent to hit. Drip drip. The sounds had the attention of her eyes until the flour bag was dropped, and she saw the premium sign on it.

" Maybe you two can take all this and make some food for yourself since you always look starved" one of the girls standing in the front row of the circle had stopped on the flour package.

" Or they could just like it off the floor," the other one next to her had added as they started giggling.

Although their words were becoming hard to ignore; Jandi's attention had stayed on the flour bag. The last time she went to one of those fancy supermarkets with Mrs. Kim to buy the fancy spice they were looking for to make Ctrl S's birthday dishes, she recalls how Mrs Kim had gone on and on about this flour that was more expensive than their whole grocery for a week. That was what these spoiled brats were attacking her with. The most expensive eggs and milk she couldn't even afford to eat was what she was covered by as she stood there. Her place they had never forgotten to remind her of; her eyes were slowly raised as she started scanning their faces. The whisper of the voice in her left ear, the darkness hadn't even waited a moment before it started.

Look at how they look at you. - the voice had started poking right where she hides all the things she claims she doesn't feel. Being seen as less than them was one thing, but the people who cry about their puppies, to be treated less than their pets, wasn't something she couldn't easily ignore. The eggs hitting her might not have caused any pain to her body. Where it hurts is a place she can't point to. No matter how immune she looked to it all or how calm and collected she could be at the surface, the internal voices that were never too far to remind her of her patheticness had rotten her sense of self from the inside out.

" They don't even see you as human."

" Look at their disgusted faces," the voice had gone on, taking advantage of the window it was given. The darkest corners of her thoughts were getting ready to take over but lucky for her she would be rescued from it all as they all turned to the other side of the hallway when they heard a loud noise.

" WHAT IS GOING ON?" Jihoo's loud voice; one of the officers who had informed him about what was going on had gotten out of the elevator behind him, and both sent their eyes to the crowd of students.

" WHAT DID YOU DO?" The perfect mixture of anger and worry in his voice, even his face looked different as all turned their eyes to their student president, who they had never seen like this. His legs that started jogging; all had moved to let him pass. The second his eyes landed on Jandi, his legs stopped walking.

His stunned eyes, a new type of emotion, had taken over as he scanned her up and down. The look on his face, even the students around, knew to leave before he recognized their face. The crowd slowly disappearing; Jihoo had ust stood there. As her head slowly rose up, the yolk that dripped down from her hair, almost missing her eyelashes; landed on her boots. Her emotionless eyes had turned to him, breaking his heart in half.

" Are you okay?" the second he saw her eyes, he started walking to her side.

" Are you okay?" he asked as he stood before Jandi. Her head moving up and down, she had turned to shift the focus to the shaken Eun. Now was when he noticed the person behind her.

" She is not," she whispered as both focused their eyes on Eun.

" Are you okay?" Jihoo, sending his right hand to Eun's shoulder, asked. Her reaction to his touch, Eun had moved away from him and sent her hands to hold onto Eun's cardigan. That was who she trusted.

" Sorry." Pulling his hand back, Jihoo quickly stepped back.

" Come with me" Jihoo who had the mental capacity to think about what to do started leading the way to the nurse's office.

Still holding onto Jandi's cargion, Eun had followed not even looking up at Jihoo walking a step ahead of them. All the students glancing their way, his presence has saved them from even any insults directed at them let alone being attacked. Jandi had been the only one to look up at the hallway they were walking on. Her eyes on the one who had come to rescue her. His angry eyes warned all the students to not even dare step out of their rooms to look at the girls, she coudln't help but feel at ease watching him lead the way to a safe place. The photos the students had snuck and taken, she would worry about what the students had done once she saw it later on.

The unphased nurse, she was focused on Eun while Jandi went to the bathroom to clean herself. How much she trusted Jihoo, he was allowed to stay behind with Eun while she left for the bathroom. The minutes she spent in the bathroom, she had chosen just to think about him rather than let the sour feelings from what happened ruin her day. He was the perfect distraction from her reality until she walked back into the nurse's office. Eun's dismissal the nurse signed, they were told it was best for her to leave and rest at home. Eun's silent response, she had shaken her head to agree to Jandi asking her to go home. Jandi was called to meet with the school administration, Eun was given the chance to say yes or no to Jihoo who had offered to step in. Her eyes glancing at Jandi, Eun waited until she got a confirmation.

" He will make sure you're okay" Jandi learning down gave her a smile.

" I am parked over there" Jihoo carrying Eun's bag and her wet uniform that was placed in the plastic bag led the way as the two followed him behind. Jihoo, who had offered to get Eun home, had even won a bonus point with Eun who was surprised by how nice he was. The back seat of his car she chose to take, her bags were placed by her side. As she put her belt on, Jihoo walked to the driver's side while his eyes were on Jandi and her worried eyes looking at Eun.

" Don't worry about her. I will make sure she gets home safe."

" You didn't have to do this,"

" I want to"

" Let me know what the director says" he gave her a smile

" If you want to leave after, I could take you home too, '' he offered as Jandi's eyes turned to him with a soft gaze. How can one be this nice to her? Her infatuated eyes didn't know what to make of his warm smile.

" Let me know if anybody bothers you"

" Okay" Jandi responded with a smile. Leaning down, she waved at Eun.

The car she watched rush away, she had stood there until it disappeared out of her view. Her sticky uniform, she didn't waste any time to change it before she headed to the admisnatrtion office she was called to report to. This wasn't the first time she had to do this and she was prepared to sit there and let what they say go in one ear and out the other. The secretary who didn't even look up from her desk had pointed Jandi to the office where two of the teachers,and the director were waiting for her. Just like she had planned it, she had sat there, letting their annoying voices be background sounds to where her mind was focused on. Everything she wanted to do with all the students that were bothering Eun, that was where her thoughts were focused. The teachers blaming all of this on her and Eun was expected. She has heard worse excuses to be amused by the teachers claiming that having Eun back in school was a disruption for the other students. The day she was planning to cut short by heading home after this, her eyes had finally looked at her principle when he changed it.

" We are going to make a decision after lunch. Come back to my office" he had commanded before she was excused from their office.

Some of the flour she could still feel on her skin, even the egg that had passed through the thin fabric of her uniform dress shirt and undershirt was leaving a sticky feeling against her skin that was demanding a shower. The dirty feeling coming from within was ignored when she joined the hallway and noticed the students all scanning her up and down. The snarking and giggling, she was used to being laughed at to be bothered by it but she still couldn't help but wish to snap all their necks. Turning her focus to the floor; she decided to go to the gym and take a shower. A quick warm shower will definitely help to calm down. The students she wanted to avoid, she had thought it best to leave this building. She could walk around and use the back door entrance to get to the gym. And her plan was better as there were no students around the outside of the building she was taking. If she takes a shower and wait until lunch, then maybe she could leave once the director informs her of their decision. She knew she probably was getting more service hours as a punishment. That was where her mind was until she took a few more steps to get to the custodian back exit she was planning to use to get to the building.

" Look who is here" the first voice she heard, she lifted her eyes to the hidden corner behind the containers. The three boys she had beaten weeks ago, the smiles of their faces were as menacing as she remembered them.

" What happened to you?'' One of them walking to her side started examining what her uniform was covered by. Why they were hiding here, she got her answer as she smelled the weird smell from whatever he was smoking. The smoke-free school, the only people allowed to do it were the F4 boys but even they weren't allowed to smoke anything but cigarettes. But then again who would stop them or these minions of theirs?

" Was somebody trying to cook you?" His silly joke only his friends had found funny.

" You would be a delicious meal" His eyes weren't the only thing scanning her as he started walking in circles around her.

" Did you think we forgot what you did?" another one dropping his weird smoke started walking to her side and that was where her focus was until she was kicked into the middle of the ground. Their leader she hadn't seen behind the container, he had walked onto her back. His right leg that landed at her back he had used all his force to kick her to the middle of the muddy ground.

Her knees that landed on the muddy floor, the right one was the one to send the pain signals as her knee landed against the rock that sliced through not just her leggings but her skin and tissue started bleeding. The sting from it, wasn't the shocking matter she focused on as she turned her anger field eyes back to see who had done that. His shoe mark on her cardigan, she turned around to find the leader of these minions standing behind her.

" You think I forgot about you" his hands in his pocket, he started walking to where he had kicked her. Her hands pulled up, the tiny rock marks around her palms, the cuts from it all were ignored as she tried to stand up. The blood on her hands was nothing compared to the pain she received the second she ordered her right leg to move. The blood streaming down hadn't stopped her from to stand up. Her own tongue she bit down, the pain was ordered to be shut down as her right leg was commanded to stand still Her eyes scanning her environment, she picked on how four of them had surrounded her. Maybe she should have taught them a harsh lesson last time.

" I've been looking for you" taking another step to come closer, he warned. Her eyes on his legs, she didn't even try to look at his face which she knew would trigger her to punch him. She knew to keep her head low and try to avoid any fight as much as she could. She just needs to get to lunch.

" I am going to make sure you pay back for what you did." taking another step he stood right in front of her. Her eyes on his shiny boots, she knew what was going to happen but had stood there choosing to let them get away with this hoping they would leave her alone after that. The edge of his boots that landed against her already bleeding knee, he had sent her back to land on the ground. Her right knee landing back on the same rock. Her messy hair covering her face, she was lucky her reaction from the pain that stung a bit was hidden from the boys already smirking. Her scraped palms on the ground, she had chosen to just stay there. She knew he would be done if she didn't try to fight or wound his ego. She just needs to let them say whatever and get to lunch.

" Don't even for a second think I am scared of you because you walk around with the student president" His right leg she thought was coming for her, was headed to the small puddle of mud which he threw towards her. Her eyes closed, there was no other reaction to what he was doing or saying. Not even when he moved closer and started cleaning his shoes on her uniform.

" Better watch your back bitch" his last words have gotten a smile from her only because she was happy that this was done. What she was saving for these boys, she was happy she didn't have to do it today and could live to survive another day of being at this school for the only reason she was there for. When that day comes, only God could help these boys, and knowing that had been why she could let them get away with so much. It wasn't just them that were looking forward to the day the leader was talking about, she was looking forward to it as well.

" I heard she's an escort, might as well play with her until them" the one that suggested it, her quick eyes were directed to him as she continued slowly standing up. Her right knee cut hallway to the bone was hurting too much to ignore it. But even then she had forced her leg to stand up. Her hands, she tried cleaning the dirt away using her skirt but it was useless. Her skin that was scraped had sent tiny stings the moment she forced her palm to move across her skirt.

" That might be what she is only good for."

" Why would you want to do that with her? She's not even that cute" These words she was trying to ignore all her focus was on her right leg that weren't willing to take bigger steps.

" You're disgusting" The one smoking at the corner seems to be the only one, not interested in what the one closer to her was suggesting.

" Why?"

" She probably got to this school by doing that so she might be good at it"

" Hey mute freak, do your parents know you do this?"

" That is if she knows her parents" one of them had started the wave of laughter all shared. Not even turning back, she had focused all her energy on the door that was two steps away from her.

" probably her mom was a whore just like her '' the one that started the topic itself shared as their waves of laughter got louder.

His sentence that repeated again and again, Jandi had stood still as the floodgates were opened by the trigger word he had used. The voice that always lingers instantly took over. Her head turned slowly, her terffying eyes had landed on his smiling face. Everything around them turned blurry, her focus was on him and only him as her body slowly turned around. Her right leg was limping, all their smiles were paused when they saw the blood-covered right leg take three steps and land in front of their friend. His laughing voice still echoing in her ear, she stood in front of him taking one last mental picture of his face before her left hand was sent to his neck. His airway she tightened her grip on, his choking voice was adding fuel to the fire in her eyes as his hands trying to fight her were blocked by her right hand before the perfect punch of her right hand was sent to his stomach. The blood spits from his mouth; the few drops that landed on her face weren't enough for the blood-hungry demons of hers that were slowly taking control of her body.

His friend coming to his defense from her left side, she didn't even have to run to catch him at the right distance where her left leg was sent to kick him flying back, to land head against the tree. The two that had glanced at him then back at her, her eyes solely focused on the leader. Even as she dropped the one she was choking to the ground, her eyes had stayed on him as she waited for him to do something. The one she had almost choked until his last breath, fighting to breathe was ignored as the scary aura around her caught all their attention. The blood and dark mud marks all over her face, the one next to the leader had been the only one scared of her as he started trembling.

" You think I am scared of you. '' The leader, pulling his hands out, brought out his pcoket knife. It should've been a clear clue to all when she didn't even bother to look at the knife. Her right leg now covered in blood and mud had stepped back as she adjusted both her feet and her standing. Her head tilted a bit low, her messy hair covering her predator looking eyes they couldn't see, only the trembling one had questioned what she was doing as she stood sending both their hands to her back.

The knife in his right hand had rushed her way to only discover why she wasn't remotely worried about the knife. The speed at which she dunked to avoid his right hand, she had landed behind him to have her left hand wrapped around his neck while her right hand grabbed his wrist. The bone crack of his wrist, the knife was dropped as his loud scream was silenced by her left elbow that squeezed how neck harder. Her right hand coming to his hair had grabbed it all as her right leg kicked his knee to land him on the ground. Not Giving him a second to react to any of it, she pulled his hair up before sending his face to land against her left knee. The broken nose wasn't the only place his blood was flowing from but his mouth as she threw him on the ground, her eyes turning to the one she had kicked to the tree who had stood up and was coming her way with the branch he grabbed from the tree.

Forget landing the brance against her, he hadn't even walked close enough before the knife she picked was thrown his way and landed on his thigh, sending him crying down. The branch she took away from him, she had bitten her own teeth while her right arm used all its energy to wipe his back to land him crying at the top of his voice. The branch landing again and again at his friend's back; the one who was shaking by the corner had stumbled his way as he started running to the door. His eyes on her hunted-looking body, he had watched as she walked to the leader who was trying to get up but had failed when her left leg landed the perfect kick against his back, just like he did minutes ago. His body heading to the ground, there was no mercy on her end as the branch was grabbed by both arms. The boy trying to open the door, his frightened eyes had watched as she got into those potions he saw in the samurai movies, the brance in both her hands lifted up before it was sent to their leader's head. The pieces of the barnce flying around, the unconscious body had landed before them, and her blood-red eyes that turned his way, that was the last thing the boy saw before he opened the door and started running for his life.

His disturbed breathing was no match for the fear that had taken over his body as he started running with all his speed. The stairs he took up, he wasn't even sure what floor he was on as he opened the second-floor exit door and started running down the empty hallway. The students he was running past, he knew none of them would be of any help. He either had to get a teacher or find Woobin. Lucky for him the elevator he had almost passed had opened up to reveal Junpyo and Yijeong.

"Where's " his loud breathing both stepped back as they watched him trying to catch his breath while holding the wall.

" Where is Woobin Hyung?" His hands on his knees, they couldn't even make out what he was saying. Only Yijeong was concerned about the boy, Junpyo had even taken a step back to go the other way. He was never concerned about anything.

" She is "

" She is going crazy"

" What?" Yijeong had asked as he also took a step away from the scary looking boy and towards Junpyo walking away.

" The mute freak"

" The Mute freak from las' ' the boy catching his breath Yijeong was still smiling at how ridiculous this boy sounded. That was until he turned around to notice Junpyo had stopped walking.

" Who?" Junpyo turned around and asked.

" The mute freak, she is"

" She is what?" the steps Junpyo took to the boy, both his hands were sent to hold the boy up as he demanded a quick response. The look on his face, Yijeong was paused just taking note of the concern all over Junpyo's face. The questions about what he saw he was saving until they got to their game room, he was getting a more concrete clue as he watched Junpyo.

" She has gone mad, she is beat. '' The boy pointed at the exit door, his body was dropped as Junpyo started taking quick steps to the stairs exit door he pointed at.

" Where?" Junpyo asked, his scary eyes sent back to the boy.

" The smoking spot by the custodian" his sentence was cut short as Junpyo, opening the door, didn't even wait for him to finish.

" What happened?" Yijeong decided to get a bit more information and asked as started walking to the door Junpyo had disappeared to.

" She is. She is beating them up" The boy sitting down to regulate his breathing was still pointing at the door.

" That is still going on" Yijeong opened the door and started taking the stairs down. His phone pulled out, he was busy texting Woobin who was in the bathroom. His friend was nowhere to be seen, he had to assume Junpyo had run to get to the scene as soon as possible and he was correct.

The blood rushing through his body, Junpyo had gotten to the door in under two minutes. His right hand opening the door, his running body halted when his eyes were welcomed to the scene he wasn't prepared for. The only one standing, his eyes had landed on her back but were quickly shifted to the unconscious leader of the minions covered in blood. The body that didn't even seem like it was breathing, the type of emotion that swept through Junpyo's body was a new one as he sent his shocked eyes to the other boy to find him crying with the blood dripping from his mouth. The knife still on the thigh, he was crying at the broken finger she had stepped on before she kicked him until he lost the tooth that was kicked to the other side. The third one, Junpyo had no time to analyze the third one as that was the one she was getting ready to use the broken desk he had thrown her way which she had grabbed off the ground. With the tops of the desk in her right hand, Junpyo only needed a second before he knew what was going to happen.

" STOP" His loud scream, his frozen body was awakened, and started running. His voice didn't reach her ears as the desk was raised up to the perfect angle to land on the boy's head, which even she knew could kill the boy crying at his missing tooth. The words he had he said about her mother, that was all that was brought to her attention as the dark voice convinced her death wasn't even enough for what he had said. Her eyes ready to watch him take his last breath hadn't left him even when the desk was snatched away from her hand. Even without the desk," finish him" was the order she revived from the voice. She wasn't concerned with the desk as she took a step to use her legs that were begging to do the job.

" NOOO'' Junpyo, closing the gap between them, wrapped his arms around her body, making sure both her arms were enclosed. Her warm body, the fear that took over him, had come the moment her shaking body was held against his chest. The energy he could feel pouring out her body, he was scared for only one person and it wasn't the boys she had already beaten near to death. It was hers that was wrapped in his arms that weren't willing to let go.

" Stop" His frightened voice, he had asked as he tried pulling her back, away from the body she hadn't lifted her eyes away from. Her hands trying to fight his away from her, he was doing whatever he could as he kept pulling her body away. Her fighting hands trying to free her had succeeded when they were helped by her head she moved back to hit him on his face. His instinctual reaction, she had used that to free herself. His concern for himself she had thought would give her enough time but she was wrong as Junpyo had moved even quicker to stand in front of her. The blood from his lip she had hit ignored, his eyes were on her as he blocked her way. Her eyes still on the boy crawling his body away, she tried moving to the left but Junpyo had done the same.

Her still bloodthirsty eyes, the wind had brushed the hair covering them to give Junpyo a glimpse. The blood scattered around her face mixed in with the dry mud that was kicked on her face, the look on her face was unnerving but none of it had come close to whatever was hidden behind her eyes that slowly moved form the boy to him. Her eyes rising up, landed on his face. All the disgust and hatred she had for him visible all over, even the shape of her mouth had changed as she bit her own teeth. But that wasn't what had frightened Junpyo, it was the darkness that had taken over her eyes. There was something, something sinister hidden underneath it all. But even that was a distraction from the little light he could see in the middle of the darkness, screaming for attention.

She had thought he wasn't fast enough as she tried to move by his left side and get to the boy but she had failed as her body was grabbed. This time not only had he wrapped both his arms around her but lifted her up which was a mistake as she used her left leg to kick him.

" Please stop" His words were ignored as she kept fighting not to free herself from his grip so she could get away but to get to the boys he wanted to end.

" Jandi" His pleading voice didn't seem like it was even reaching her as he noticed her eyes were still focused on the boy. Another kick at his knee Junpyo had taken along with her left hand that came to hit him which he had avoided. Letting her go wasn't an option as he used all his energy to start pulling her back. Lucky for him the door was opened and Yijeong had come out to be frozen by the door. The first thing his eyes landed on was Junpyo and the girl he was holding. Even when the boy and the two teachers he called had come out the door behind him, his eyes were glued to the two. His shocked mind decided to just observe what Junpyo was doing. A side of his friend he had never seen, he was too focused on that as he watched Junpyo start pulling the girl in his arms.

The moment the others had joined them, he had felt her body in his arms ease up as they watched the teachers get to the boys. Her body he started dragging away, she had let him do so as her eyes stayed on the boy she wasn't able to punish enough for what he had said. Until she was pulled into the building and the door closed behind them, her eyes stayed on the boy. And the second he was out of her view, her attention was brought to her body that has been screaming for her attention about how it was held and who was holding it. The tight grip his arms had around her, his chest she was held against, all of it was processed now.

"Please calm down.'' The worry in his voice was not close to the amount his eyes were filled in as he lowered his face to get a full view of her. Her hands threw his away from around her; all her energy was used to free herself. Her enraged eyes weren't hiding anything as she said everything that needed to be said without even uttering a word.

" Don't" her commanding voice silenced him before he even tried saying anything else. The step she took back to create a gap between them, she needed it to calm the voice telling her to punish him as well. Her hands begging to smash him against the wall, only one thing had made her incapable of doing so and it was his eyes and the way they were looking at her.

" This is all your fault" No amount of beating him would have done what her words had caused as she turned around and started walking away; leaving the boy she had crushed with a sentence standing in the empty hallway.

Her quick steps, there were no emotions left in her body to even feel any pain as she forced her right leg begging for mercy to be quick with her steps. She needs to get away. She needs to leave this place before her demons were sent back to their cage and she was left with the aftermath. All the pain that will come rushing in once the darkness leaves, she knows herself enough to get away from this place. Her steps up the stairs, she had bitten her tongue to silence her knee that was sending signals up and down her leg. The electrifying feeling piercing thought her thigh she had forced it to hurt even more as she took stronger steps. It was punishment for her self control she had lost. She had almost made it to the end of the year and now she had caused an a serious mess which could get her expelled.

" What the fuck"

" What happened to her?"

" She looks like a demon"

The sounds around her were ignored, she had only noticed how none of them were even bothering her. They were all walking out of her way as they stood and watched her. Finally, it had settled for all, to be scared of the girl covered in blood walking across the hallway. The elevator she used to get to her floor. The students on the fourth floor were even more shocked to even say anything as they had also parted the hallway to let her pass. Their disgusted eyes zoomed in on her, the rage leaving her body was leaving her more vulnerable to be hurt by the way she was being looked at, like she wasn't even human. Her hatred for herself she would project onto the way she was being looked at, she had to bite her tongue to taste her own blood to silence every other emotion. Physical pain was all she wanted to feel. It was an easier emotion to manage than anything else.

Her class she walked into, all her classmates had chosen to stand by the other side as they watched her. The girls hiding behind the desks and the boys, one would expect her to be happy they were this scared of her but no. What she could see on all of them was pure disgust and hatred for her. All her stuff she threw in her bag, she was almost out of the classroom when her history teacher came screaming.

" FOLLOW ME NOW" he had screamed at her after dissmin all the other students. The ones from the next class peeking through the window, all were sent to their class as the teacher left with Jandi. Everybody ordered to stay in their class, the loud sound system had warned for no student to be found in the hallway. A direct order from the director, all students had followed as they chose to do all the gossiping through the school chat groups. The girl all were talking about, her backpack in her right hand she had followed him to the director office, which she was in minutes earlier. The only difference this time was how many teachers were in the room and the anger on all their faces.

Her right leg bleeding down to leaving a mark on the carpet, only one of the secretaries had noticed as Jandi was forced to stand while all were taking turns screaming at her.

" I told you we should have kicked her back then. She doesn't belong at this school and look what we have now."

" Those boys are going to sue."

' What are we going to do if they do?" The homeroom teacher of the boys throwing his gown on the desk had been the one screaming.

Both her hands holding her bag, Jandi had moved it to cover her leg as she couldn't ignore the pain anymore and had to stand on just her left leg. She hated them all. She hated them all and didn't care what they thought about her but even then none of her teachers not even bothering to ask her what happened or if she was okay. It was bothering her heart which was trying to deal with the aftermath of the demons that had left it wounded. The dark voices still lurking around have switched as they started whispering at how nobody gives a damn about her. Not a single person in this building cares. She had seen the look on the student's faces and now the teachers, to believe her assumption to be true. Nobody cares and all would feel better if she was gone.

" His mother is going to kill us"

" She was threatening to sue all of us even last time," the parents they were talking about, it was obvious none of them were ready for the lady that had walked in.

" Mrs Cho, all had jumped up as they noticed the mother of one of the boys who had arrived before they even called for parents. Her son had already informed her and she lived too close for her arrival to be too shocking.

" WAS IT HER?" her eyes sent to Jandi she had asked. The answer she didn't get from any of the teachers, she was quick as she sent her bag flying to land against Jandi's head

" Who do you think you are to even touch my boy" her loud scream she was quick to get to Jandi's side and grab her hair to start dragging her left and right.

" You filthy little animal. You shouldn't even breathe the same air as my son"

" How dare you" the slaps Jandi was getting, she had stood there accepting it all.

" Mrs Cho please come down" The director and teachers tried to calm the mother down, but none had bothered to cover Jandi who was receiving the beating.

" You should be kissing his feet for what we do for you."

" Mrs Cho please" It was taking three men to pull the mother away from Jandi. Some of Jandi's hair had pulled, and the mother was cursing even as she was being taken away from the girl who was even trying to protect herself.

" I want her parents here"

" I want them sued for what she did to my boy."

" Mrs Cho, please come down. '' The teachers holding the mother and sending her to the sofa were still begging.

" She doesn't have parents" the director, not even sure how he is going to get himself out of this, started heading to his desk.

" Of course, she doesn't, '' the mother sitting down continued.

" Who would raise such an animal? You let my son be treated like this by somebody you picked up from the street"

" It wasn't enough you make us pay for their schooling now they think they can touch our kids"

"Your parents must be disgusted looking at how you turned out. They are turning in their graves and looking at you." The most painful moment of the day wasn't when she was humiliated by what was thrown at her, or when she kicked, or even when her hair was pulled out seconds ago but what was just said. Her twitching fingers were losing all their power to even hold the bag in her hand as her whole being processed what was just said.

" Mrs Cho please" the director stepped in when even he thought she was crossing a line.

The girl that wasn't even moving, nobody in the room was even looking at her as their eyes from the mother were sent to the door that was kicked open. His eyes from the startled teachers to who he was looking for, Junpyo wasn't remotely concerned by how all the teachers had stood up when they saw him. His chest moving up and down to keep up with his lungs that were asking for more air as he ran here, his eyes had found what had instantly helped calm his heart. Standing by the corner, her head bowed down and completely frozen to the point she didn't even look like she was breathing.

"Ju '' The director couldn't even get his name out as all watched him walk to her side, grab her left arm and start dragging her away. The boy none of the teachers would ever even raise their voice to, their baffled eyes had just watched as he took her away from the office.

Her mind stuck on what was said about her parents, she wasn't even aware of her body that was being pulled away or who was taking her away. Her right leg begging for even a tiny bit of her attention was turning numb as it was being dragged away. The torment eating her from the inside, her sanity she needed to keep was her priority as she was fighting it to be silenced. The soreness that took over every corner of her body; her hands had started shaking to only be noticed by the one holding them.

His hand holding her wrist, it had taken him until they were in the elevator for Junpyo to notice it was shaking. The grip he loosened he had chosen to not even turn back to look at her. He can't look at her. It was enough to think about all that happened today, let alone look at her. His right hand slowly sliding down from her wrist, softly grabbed her trembling hand. Her small fingers in his grip, and her scraped but still soft plam was held against his firm. The electrifying sensation that started at his hand she was holding was only adding to the aching that was scratching at his anger-filled self he was trying to calm down by focusing his eyes on the floor number going down. He needs to take her away. That was all that occupied his mind as he led the way out of the elevator and towards the building exit that will lead to the VIP parking lot. Her hands in his, it was so easy to note how she wasn't even trying to fight him as she followed behind.

The building they exited, they were welcomed by the strong wind that had attacked their bodies. Junpyo, turning around worried about if she was cold, had found all her hair to fly away to expose her lowered face. The redness that had covered it matched the gloomy air surrounding her. Her eyes that weren't looking up, maybe it was his own illusion that made him feel the tears she was fighting back. The second long look, that was how long he could look at her and even that was enough to worsen the aching feeling. His arms he wanted to wrap around her to hide her away even from the wind, it stung even looking at how small she looked while following him.

His right hand pulling his key, he unlocked the car that was parked at VIP 3. Her bag he took away from her was thrown to the back seat and he opened the passenger side. Holding the door open he stood watching her standing where he left her. She hadn't even taken a step after he let go of her, she had just stood there like a zombie.

" Please" was all he used to ask for her permission before he grabbed her left arm he just let go of and started pulling her to the car. Her shoulder he gently pushed, she had not objected as she sat down. The door he closed behind, he had questioned if she was even alive for a split second. The car he would rush out of the parking lot, the closest exit out of the school was chosen as he decided to drive breaking every speed limit and traffic law.

The frozen person sitting beside him, he couldn't help but glance her way every other minute. His eyes scanning her hair he wanted to brush away so he could see her face; even if it pained him to do so, that was all he wanted to do as he kept glancing at her messy hair covering her whole face. What she was thinking about, he would give anything to know what she was thinking about as she just sat there letting him of all people take her away. Something was wrong. His brain busily trying to process what he witnessed, he wasn't ready for her soft voice that disturb his thoughts.

" Stop the car" her faint voice had whispered as Junpyo turned her way.

" Please stop the car, '' she asked again and with his eyes on the road, Junpyo pressed the emergency signal as he took the right turn and pulled to the side of the park they were crossing. Her shaking hands, his eyes watched as her fingers fought to open the door and she jumped out.

" Are you okay?" quickly opening his door, he got out and started walking to her side.

" What is going on?" his eyes focused on her legs taking slow steps away from the car, he asked

" Please say something " following behind, he wasn't sure what to do or even say. All he knew was he had to do whatever to make it all stop.

" Don't follow me" that was all she said to stop him before he got to her.

As he was asked, he stopped walking as she continued taking her slow steps away from him. Her back turned towards him, and every step her wounded body was taking away from him felt like a tiny stab. What he was expected to do in such a situation, he didn't have a clue as he just watched her walk away. Her right leg she was dragging, his eyes were forced to look up to follow the hands she had brought to her face, which she covered with both. Her shoulder he could see moving up and down, she had thought she was enough distance away from him to let the emotions she wasn't able to contain take over.

If asked for the moment she started breaking his heart, this would be the scene he would point to. In the middle of the trees, surrounded by nothing but the cold wind and dark clouds. Uselessly standing behind her witnessing her pain-filled tiny body tremble and fight to stand while her cries were muzzled by her shaking hands and by biting her tongue.

The tiny rain drops that started taping at his shoulder hadn't been able to get his attention from the trees he had chosen to look at. He couldn't even look at her as he stood his own anxiety warning about what he was feeling. Before those small drops turned to the heavy rain, she had turned around to return to the car they would get into. The silence between them the loudest it had ever been; they drove through the heavy rain, which stopped attacking his car when he drove into his penthouse building. His private floor they parked the car in; she followed him without any question.

Welcome home: The elevator opened up. The few minutes of silence in the car and letting her emotions out had helped Jandi calm down to finally notice where they were and who she was with. The steps she took to the lobby, she saw him place her bag down by the wall. Standing with her head held down, she was startled as he was brought to her view when he kneeled down to help her with her shoes.

" Let me," his raspy voice, he was quick to hold onto and unzip her boots before she even objected to it. Still in a daze of her own emotions, she had lifted her left leg to help him remove her shoes. Her right leg sending pain signals when it was tasked with holding her whole weight, it was too much for her to hide as she leaned forward. Her right hand landing on his shoulder; she used him for support. Switching from her left foot to her right, why was he taking longer with her right leg? She had to lean down to notice what his eyes were looking at. Finally coming face to face with her wound, Junpyo needed a second to take in the injury he was looking at. His pain-filled eyes raised up and found hers as they asked her how on earth she was walking around with this injury.

" It doesn't hurt, '' she whispered as he carefully removed her boots. Her knee slowly bent, and she had swallowed the pain, but her hand at his shoulder had squeezed him, letting him know. Her feet gently placed back on the floor; his shoes were slipped off and thrown to the side as he rose up.

"huh" her startled body, both her hands were sent to hold him as he lifted her up. One hand holding her knees, the other her back, he had swiftly picked her up. Her instant reaction, her hands were sent to hold him across his shoulder while her alarmed eyes kept their gaze on his face.

" I can walk"

" I know" his eyes looking down at her; he was dealing with too many foreign emotions all at once not to be disturbed by how she was looking at him. Her hands holding him for dear life, he could feel how uncomfortable she was while in his arms. How light she was, he didn't know why, even noticing that was paining him as he moved her body closer to his chest. His eyes sent to where he was walking, Jandi did the same as her eyes went to the wall-to-wall window and the rain that was pouring. Even in the state she was in, she knew to avoid thinking about the arms carrying her or the body she was held against. The living room they left behind, she was a bit worried when they walked into the bedroom. Again, she hadn't said anything, but her body that had moved was the only signal he needed to know. The neatly prepared bed, her eyes had scanned the bedroom she had seen a few times before she slowly brought them back to him. He wasn't looking at her, but she was wrong about how he didn't need to look at her to feel her gaze or what she could be thinking about.

" The bathroom is there '' his voice lowered since she was close; she hadn't even questioned how he knew what she was thinking about as she just continued staring at him. His behavior she couldn't make sense of, her eyes were pointed to his lips she had hurt and the bruise by the corner. Why was he doing any of this? She asked the first question which would be silenced when he brought his eyes to her attention.

The intense gaze they were exchanging, he would have assumed it was only him who could feel it but her hand holding his shoulders reacting to it had convinced him she could feel it just as much. As always, he was the one to know what staring into those eyes of hers could lead him to want to do, especially when she was in his arms and in his safest hiding place. His eyes sent to the bathroom he walked into, and he started lowering her to the covered chair-height toilet she would sit on. Her legs he gently placed down; he had stood up to head to the cabinets by the corner. Her right leg she started was adjusting to stop the pain, her eyes had looked up when he started taking his jacket off. The jacket he threw on the floor, his eyes were focused on the lower cabinet he opened while he used the rubber band in his hand to tie all his hair away. The white she didn't often see him wear, Jandi's eyes had stayed on him longer than necessary. The white t-shirt and black jeans he had on, she scanned him up and down before sending her eyes down to her wound. Rather than all the things he was pulling from the cabinet and bringing to her side, she tried busying her self with analyzing the bathroom that was bigger than her bedroom combined with Ctrls.

She scanned all the first aid kit items he had placed by her feet when she saw him leave the bathroom. With all the tools she could as a weapon, she didn't even question why she wasn't choosing one she could use if he did anything to her. Her eyes that had moved to the open cabinet were zooming on the row of pill bottles. The two by the edge were the only ones she could read. The sleeping and antidepressant pills, her eyes were lowered before looking at the others when he walked back in. The folded cloth she saw him place by the sink; she had lowered her body when he walked beside her to pull the towels from the cabinet next to her. Her eyes moved to the right and found the bathtub. Why as he doing this here? she questioned as she watched him collect everything he indeed.

The gloves she saw grab and place by his side; she wasn't ready as she watched him sit down on the floor, by her feet.

" What are you doing?" her legs she tried moving; she wasn't even used to him being in her personal space, let alone sitting on the floor next to her. She shifted her body away from him. He sighed as he grabbed her right leg which he started turning his way.

" Stop" her hands pushing his shoulder, her eyes were honest about how uncomfortable she felt about having him sit on the floor, holding her leg.

" Can you please trust me for once? '' his pleading eyes, their eyes had cut the back and forth fighting short as he slowly started pulling her legs back to his side.

" I won't hurt you" he had added in the most convincing way as his eyes that hadn't left her delivered the promise of what he had said. His shoulder her hands left, she brought them to her cardigan. Her left leg he raised up slowly, her body had reacted when his cold hand had touched her skin when he took her socks off. Placing her left feet down, he had done the same with her right; the only difference was how gentle he was with her right leg.

The unease from what he was doing, her eyes were scanning everything he was doing as she watched him put the gloves on before grabbing the scissors he had brought. The lack of any injury on her left leg, his attention was on her right leg which he raised up and softly landed her foot on his right thigh. The bottom of her right foot on his jeans, she wasn't sure why she felt so uncomfortable with her foot being on top of him. His right hand holding the scissors; he started at the bottom as he started cutting the legging wet from her own blood. The side stitching he was following he had cut all the way up, slowing down as he got to her knees. Slowing, he continued cutting until her right hand stopped him when he got to the middle of her thighs. Their eyes exchanging a look, he understood her limits to turn the scissors to the side and cut the leggings across the end of her skirts. The fabric of the leggings he slowly removed away from her leg, the dark blood stain across her leg was finally exposed. Focusing all his energy on just helping her, he knew that was the most productive thing to do right now. He can't afford to think about why and how she got this injury.

" Can you" he had asked as he rose up and moved to the bathtub that was next to them. On his knees, he had only sent this hand to one of the many handheld shower heads he brought to the edge as he turned the warm water on. Although puzzled by what she was watching, she had followed his lead as she let him help her place her leg in the bathtub. The second her knee was raised up it had stung enough to get a sound out of her.

" Sorry" his apology, he had moved closer to the tub as he submerged her feet in the warm water. The handheld shower head he brought to her leg, he had reached to the monitor and adjusted the pressure to be as mild as it could be. The shower head placed by her knee, he was beyond careful as he adjusted it to the right angle. All the blood washing down to the tub, Jandi's eyes were on him and only him. That was until her body was ordered to shut down rather than process what was happening. With the small amount of body wash he placed in his right hand, her arms were sent to cross and wrap around her body the second his gloved right hand started gently washing her leg. The soft skin of hers, the tingle from it, wasn't a result of the warm water or the eucalyptus body wash but the hand touching it. Her blinking eyes trying to find a target to focus her energy on, were forced to return to him when his hand tenderly moved from her shin to her calf. A new twitch was sent through her body that had already turned numb. His attentive eyes focused on her leg, he hadn't caught how she was looking at him as he took his time washing her leg. The first time he was doing such a thing, it would take hours after the incident for Junpyo to relaize it. The water turned off, he pulled one of the towels which he used to dry her leg. Except the wound her leg was dried and her foot was placed back on his thigh. This time he had used the towel as a buffer between them.

" Here" the alcohol wipes he brought to her side, he had given her some to clean her hands. While he gently cleaned around her wound, she had done the same with both her hands. Finally noticing all the scarps on her palm, she knew even her hands needed bandages but she could survive without them. Her hand she tried covering with her sleeves, now was when she noticed all the blood and mud across her uniform. Not only that, the eggs and flour were still as she realized she just needed to wait until she got home and wash up to get all of this off. The yellow stain marks on her uniform shirt reminded her of what happened with her and Eun, she was quick to remember why they were being treated like that. Her hands sent into her cardigan sleeves, and her eyes landed on Jun Pyo, who was carefully cleaning around her injury. His focused eyes, just watching him tenderly clean her leg while stinging on the floor, had allowed her to let her lips say whatever they wanted.

" Do you know what they did to Eun?" her eyes from his face were sent to his hands which paused what they were doing.

" I know," he responded as he returned to what he was doing.

" She didn't do anything to them," her eyes sent away from him, she found the cabinets to be a better place to focus her attention on.

" She was already traumatized i doubt she would ever return"

" Maybe that is best for her," his low whisper, Junpyo was beyond careful with the words he was choosing.

" What's best for her is to be humiliated and bullied to the point she doesn't come back?" she had asked as she noticed the boxes behind his medicine bottles.

" You know I don't mean that."

" I don't know what you mean." her eyes slowly turned his way. With the hint of anger he sensed, Junpyo chose to keep his answer to himself as he returned his attention back to her leg. The alcohol wipes he was using to clean around, he was getting closer and closer to the wound and needed to focus on just doing this for today.

" Maybe it's best for me if I let them beat me until I can't come back too." she had chosen to force him to talk as she watched the way he not only stopped his cleaning but the annoyed look on his face. But still, he had chosen silence.

" They are going to expel me anyway, I don't "

" Nobody is expelling you. '' His quick response was startling for Jandi as she leaned back.

" Nobody is going to do anything to you," the authority in his voice, she wasn't ready for either that or the warm air he breathed at her wound.

" Don't move '' her legs he held still; he had continued blowing at it to balance the sting of the alcohol he was using to clean the wound. The soft breath of air landing against her injury was slowly spread across her whole body had been ordered not to react to anything but had failed again. His whole attention on her knee, the focused gaze of his eyes, had poked at something odd as she watched him lean even closer and blow at her wound. The warm air sending the tiny electric currents across her skin, and all her senses were ordered to heighten as she finally breathed in his smell when he brought his body closer to her to get to the top of her knee. His perfume she was used to, the smell of the body wash he had just used was she took note of before his head was brought closer to her and it became his shampoo. Her intrusive thought of what would happen if she ever touched his hair or ever dared to brush it as he does all the time, she pushed her fidgeting fingers into her sleeves. Her eyes trying to avoid staring at his hair, shifted to finding something interesting to look at around the bathroom.

Her blinking that had increased; she crossed her arms to hide some of her body's movements every time he blew on the wound he was carefully cleaning.

" Don't you have painkillers?" Her lips, known to be silent when nervous, have changed their habit of saying whatever she thought about.

" You have a cabinet filled with pills" She directed his eyes to the cabinet she was looking at.

" I do" The cleaning he had finished, he examined his work before he started cleaning all the used alcohol wipes, napkins, and everything else in the trash can. Even his gloves were thrown away. As he stood up, Jandi leaned down to examine the damage done to her knee, which was now fully visible. She had seen way worse, but this was enough for her to stop by the doctor later. The cream she saw next to the first aid kit by her feet, she knew Junpyo was coming back to finish what he was doing. The bathroom he left her in, she had leaned to the bathtub to grab the hand held shower that was hanging by the edge and started using the water to clean the tub. Still in disbelief that this was happening, she shook her head when she was reminded of how he really had washed her leg. The warm water cleaning the white tub back to its squeaky clean state was left by the edges her ever so quick mind went through her 19 years of existence to conclude how this was the only man to had ever washed her legs. Apart from her parents, nobody had ever helped wash her hand let alone her leg.

Her scary realization was disturbed when he walked back into the bathroom with a glass of water and bottled water, which both were placed by the cabinet next to her for easy reach. From the water, her eyes followed him to the large cabinet and the row that had all his medicine.

" You take all that medication?" another slip of what she was thinking. She hide her annoyance at herself by sending her hands to brush her hair away from her face.

" No" He grabbed the two painkillers.

" This one works faster and is a larger dose."

" This takes its time but works for longer." he held both up so she could read where he was pointing to support his claim.

" This'' she pointed at the one that worked longer. She was thinking about her pain when she had to walk home; she needed a pill that would work for hours. The cap he opened he had brought it to her palm as he shook it to let only one pill land on her palm which he was examining. Her sleeves he carefully watched, he noticed the flour and egg mix that was stuck to her uniform as well. He has seen the pictures from what Eun's classmates have done to both. It was shared int the school chat group people kept adding him to.

" I got a bottled one in case you didn't trust." she finally got her answer to why he had bought a glass of water and a bottled one. The painkillers he placed back in the cabinet, he had stolen a glance at her when she grabbed the glass of water. The fresh water was helping with her self regulation more than swallowing the tiny pill.

" This is good for your hands. '' He handed her one of the creams she would start applying to her palm. The hint of the mint flavor in what she was applying to her hands, her eyes were on him putting another set of gloves before he sat back down by her feet. He knew what he was doing very well, as the alcohol he had used was given time to dry before he applied any remedy and wrapped it all up. Still not comfortable with the positioning at all, she blamed it on having him that close to her bare leg, but that wasn't the sole reason. Her little flinch when his hands touched her leg; he glanced up to make sure she was okay before proceeding to use his left hand to hold her knee still while he used his right to apply the cream. The water she kept sipping, what had her attention was the gentle way his two fingers applied the antibacterial cream he was applying to her wound. Even the doctor wasn't this gentle and he had helped her with serious wounds.

" You didn't answer my question?" her unease about what she was witnessing; she decided to make him the uncomfortable one by returning to the topic.

" I have a lot of issues. '' His answer hadn't helped as she thought it would, as it had only left her uneasy and even more puzzled.

" Like?"

" Are you really curious?" his eyes that glanced her way were searching if she would tell the truth; she had chosen to ignore his question altogether.

" I am just trying to have a conversation."

" I would prefer if it isn't about me" his eyes returning back to what he was doing would be brought back to her when she responded to his request not to be the subject of their conversation.

" Should we talk about me instead?" she asked.

" I don't mind. Maybe we can talk about how I got that." She knew she could make him uncomfortable with that.

" Do you know why?" she asked, crossing her arms and sitting back against the wall behind her. His lack of response, she watched him in silence waiting for him to say something. The cream cap he placed on, he took off his gloves he threw to the trash. The sterilized gauze roll he pulled to his side, the first to be applied to the knee was the big bandage he peeled and carefully placed.

" Aren't you curious?" she pushed as she watched him slightly lift her leg up once he started wrapping her knee with the gauze roll.

" I am more curious about the dark place you go to when you fight" his eyes that stayed on what he was doing had missed the look on her face.

" You weren't you."

" There was something that took over you. Even your eyes were different." what he had witnessed he hadn't fully processed yet, he didn't know how to explain what her body he was holding back felt like in his embrace let alone what his eyes had seen.

" You speak as though you know me" she smirked while sending her eyes to the cabinet. She knew she needed to shut this conversation before he started poking at the wound that was as deep enough to reach her soul.

" I might not know you but that wasn't you" Her dismissive smirk was wiped away quickly.

" Were you scared I would attack you again?" she knew to change the topic before he became more curious about something she didn't even like thinking about by herself let alone to talk to somebody else about it.

" No" the tape he picked up, he cut the piece he would use to wrap the gauze so it wouldn't unwrap.

" I was more scared of what it was doing to you" his hands finishing what they were doing, his eyes were finally brought to her. Sitting down on the floor, the way he was looking up at her was new and she didn't like it. She didn't like any of it. Not the way he was looking at her. Not the way he has been touching her. Not the way he speaking to her. But most of all she hated how he had been the one to see her lose control of the pain she keeps caged. What happened at that park, was what she resented him for witnessing, not what he had held her from doing to the boy. She would accept him seeing that side of her, but her cries she doesn't let anybody witness, it was a sin for him to have seen that. She had hoped, even prayed that he would forget about that and focus on what happened at school and she had celebrated earlier as she assumed he was more concerned about that.

" That is anger. I was fed up with all their bullying."
" That wasn't anger"

" I have seen you angry. That wasn't anger" his eyes hadn't even been on her face for that long before they started inspecting it for any injury.

" When have you seen me angry? '' The unease about what has been going on for the last few minutes, what his eyes were doing wasn't helping as she pulled her sleeves to fully cover her fingers where her anxiety was first triggered.

" You're always angry when you're around me"

" I wonder why?" She had the perfect response.

The third time she had found a reason to blame him since they entered the bathroom, he chose to swallow whatever it had brought as he sent his hands to grab some of the clean alcohol wipes.

" What are you doing?" her quick lean back, she asked when his right hand came for her face.

" You have stuff on your face," was all he said, hoping not to freak her out about all the blood. His body he brought closer she couldn't help but be startled by how even when he was kneeling in front of her, he was taller than her body sitting down.

" I can do it myself"

" Your hand has the cream" was his response as he pushed her hands away.

" Can you" his right hand had pointed at her hair which she used both her hands to push behind her ear. Her hair, which needed a good wash, was moved away from her face.

Her sparkling eyes that were the highlight of her face, the amazing light in the bathroom was aiding to shine them even brighter as he moved closer to her face she tilted up to make it easier for him. Why she had to cross her arms and wait for the first touch as though it was a terrifying act was questionable. Her little twitch when the cold wipe landed on her forehead first; everything that was happening in this space was questionable. How was she allowing him to do this?" her mind was busy answering that question while Junpyo was trying to stay calm from achieving what he had been wanting to do for a while.

Her soft skin his right hand had been wanting to touch, he was finally granted access, but what he had hoped he would feel when it finally happened, this was way worse. Cleaning blood and mud off her face, there was no positive feeling attached to it as he slowly moved his right hand to her left side. The bouncy cheeks of hers were easy to clean as he made his way to her adorable nose, then the right side of her face. The freckles across her face slowly becoming visible, his eyes had made the mistake of looking at her eyes that were carefully watching him. His thought, sometimes it was scary how it seemed like she could even read his subconscious thoughts considering how deep her eyes pierce through him. Her long lashes, he was noticing for the first time, there was no hiding how mesmerized he was by her eyes as even his fingers hand stopped moving the wipe. The truth his eyes weren't hiding, he had lowered his gates as he couldn't help but let her witness what she was doing to him. Not even a hint of her rejection he could handle, his whole body was being warned about the power she was gaining over him to have him on his knees like this already. Thanks to his eyes, out of all things, what she was reminded of was what he had said by the pool.

" You're insanely beautiful," that soft but raspy voice of his, his words paled in comparison to the admiration she was being forced to witness from his captivated eyes staring at her up close.

The boldest red fag waved for her, her eyes were quickly ordered to close as she even moved her face slightly to the right, to avoid directly facing him. She had thought closing her eyes would help but it hadn't done much when her whole body could feel his gaze. Her fidgeting fingers were worse as she placed them into a fist, the tension that was unusually off center today, every corner of her face his eyes landed on was starting to warm up. His daring eyes she left to do whatever they wanted and hadn't failed to take as many mental pictures as he could of her face in his hand. Her closed eyes, leaving him to admire her face all he wanted, he had just done that. His right hand that started cleaning her face again, his fingers hadn't followed where his eyes were looking until he started cleaning the only place left, her chin. His hand had stopped again when he reached her lips which had become the center of his attention. The corner of her lips his thumb was close to, his hand reacted on its own as it brushed against her bottom lip. Just that touch had awoken something in him; something alarming enough to force him to leave her side

Her eyes rapidly opened up were reacting to his thumb she felt.

" Can you finish the rest?" he placed the wipe on her lap.

" I have to get something. '' His eyes avoided her, even his face was moved away from her view as he stood up and left the bathroom. Bipolarism being one of the things she had started assuming he had, she didn't think much of his sudden action as she tried standing up. The cabinet by her right, which she used to support her left leg, was doing most of the work as she stood up. Her right leg she would drag, the sink at the other side was her goal once she decided to just wash her face. Whatever the hand cream was she could apply it again. The grand sink she was standing in front of, even the mirrors had gotten her attention as she took note of all the light surrounding it to make sure the face reflected was what one would look like under natural light.

The reflection looking back at her was embarrassed to see. The messy hair of hers that was still covered by what was thrown at her, she started adjusting her hair first. The warm water she got from the faucet was enough to push all her hair back before she tied it all up. The line of fancy bottles on the open cabinet by the side of the mirror, the one that had the words facewash in English, was picked as she used it to wash not just her face but some of her neck that was still covered by the egg. Her whole body asked for the same type of treatment, and she couldn't wait until she got home to take a warm shower. Her eyes turning to the bath, she stared at it for a while before she decided maybe it might be better to go to a bathhouse. A bathhouse would be the perfect thing for her body to relax in but being around other people wasn't something she enjoyed. If she had a bathtub in her house, let alone take long baths to finish her day that might be where she might even sleep. Maybe in her next life, she could afford to have one in her ideal house she also daydreams about.

" huh" a deep sigh and she returned her eyes back to the reflection. Her dirty uniform she started brushing. She tried cleaning and adjusting it as much as she could. The right legging cut into a short, and the alcohol wipe she pulled was used to at least clean her skirt. Her uniform that was washed yesterday now needs to be cleaned again and that's where her frustration was until she noticed a pair of legs by the door and she looked up.

" Your phone was ringing" her backpack he was holding he held it up to her side.

" Oh" the wipe thrown to the trash can, she grabbed her bag. Her phone she started looking for, and she glanced up to notice him standing by the door drinking whatever was in the bottle he held.

"It's Jihoo" her reaction once she saw the number, even her bag was dropped to the floor as she kept her eyes on the phone that had 3 missed calls and two texts from the same person.

" I'll be in the living room. '' Junpyo hadn't looked back as he left the bathroom. Busy finishing reading the texts and decided to just call, Jandi hadn't even seen him leave.

" Hey" her cheerful tone was the last thing he heard before he threw the bottle he closed on the sofa and sent both his hands to his hair he freed.

" Huh," the deep breath he let out. His right hand was sent to find his cigarette in his pants pocket. There was nothing but his wallet. Eleven his phone wasn't there. His jacket he threw by the elevator, he changed his destination to that. At least his cigarette was in his jacket pocket. The first inhale was all he needed as he decided to stand by the window of the living room and wait. The rain still pouring down had at least slowed down. The nicotine he was breathing in without a gap, wasn't helping with any of the internal turmoil that had shaken him up. It was only something to do for his hands.

"Can you drop me by school?" her voice brought his attention to the other side.

" Jihoo is going to pick me up from there and take me home" she added the explanation he didn't ask for. He could have guessed it. Her right leg she was lightly stepping on, she had used the wall next to her as she started heading to the wide lobby leading to the elevator. Junpyo, keeping his eyes on her right knee that seemed to be hurting her everytime she stepped on it, was surprised by what her eyes that turned his way would demand. Her face turned back, she glanced at the cigarette in his left hand then back at his eyes before she turned to what she was doing. And that was all it took. The cigarette was squashed on the ashtray at the corner of the glass table in the middle of the soft set.

Her right leg she was preparing to bend to reach for her boot, she was genuinely startled by how quickly he had gotten to her side as he walked past her to bring her boots to her side.

" I can do it by myself" she protested as she tried to grab her shoes but her off balance had almost landed her on the floor if she hadn't sent both hands to grab the wall behind her.

" I know you can." he responded as he moved the shoes behind him and took a step back. Her back she rested against the wall, their eyes had finished their argument and she was forced to accept he wasn't going to let her do it. His body brought back to her, somehow it was even more bothersome now as he got down on his right knee. Her eyes looking for a distraction were sent to the shelf in front. The family pictures were the perfect distraction.

" Right" he whispered and she lifted her right leg up slowly. The sting from her knee wasn't where the tingling feeling was coming from but from her foot, his hand had held as he helped her put her socks back on. Past the thin fabric of her black socks, it was still odd to have her feet in his hands before he guided it to the boots he zipped up.

" Left" her right leg she couldn't use to support all her weight, even the wall wasn't enough as she lost her stance and her right hand was sent to hold his shoulder. Her uninjured left leg, this one had twitched just from the cold touch that had sent a signal all the way up to her baffled mind was frozen, unsure of what to make of this. Lucky for her she had all the time as they got left the penthouse and were back in the car he would drive in silence.

Her logical mind that needed answers, she had glanced at his right hand steering the wheel as it came up with the right excuse. The amount of girls she had seen him with, it was accepted as a perfect excuse for why he didn't even hesitate to even wash her leg, let alone help her with her shoes. Forget hesitation, it seemed so natural for him to do so. But then again of course he would do it with such ease considering how many women he undresses on a regular basis. Acting all helpful and nice, probably how he gets them too. He probably had done the same thing to so many women in the same bathroom. The assumptions she was making, she had forgotten how she was staring at him until he turned her way. Her focus shifted out the window and the rain that had stopped, she accepted her assumption as the perfect excuse why this boy would ever wash her leg with no hesitation.

After fifteen minutes of silence, she knew they were close to the school once he entered the park he used as a shortcut.

" What are you going to do about them?" breaking the silence she asked.

" What do you want me to do?"

" Kill them"

" I thought you already did that." They shared a small smile at his response. Her eyes sent to the tall trees, she was enjoying gazing at the street that had gotten a nice wash from the rain until he asked the question again.

" What do you want me to do?" he was serious this time.

" Are you really asking me about what you should do about your soldiers?" her arms crossed all her attention was turned back to him.

" They are not" he stopped himself as she for once noticed the hint of frustration on his face.

" I don't mind being expelled or not graduating for what I did." Her eyes turned to the window she wanted to make sure this wasn't about her. It was bigger.

" But what they do is beyond bullying."

" If you really are who you claim to be, there should be no reason anybody gets treated like that in that school" her daring eyes, only they had turned his way.

" You own that school" Her eyes returned to the road she chose to use her words to deliver the message she wanted him to get. No amount of beating she can administer could amount to what he can do with just a few words. It sucks to know all the work she does is nothing compared to what he can accomplish with little effort but even then she had to suck her pride and see if being nice to him would convince him to do something.

" I really don't understand why you act like you don't have the power to end all of this" Her eyes glanced back at him to make sure he was listening.

" If you really cared, you would have done something about it by now" his smirk at her response got her attention.

" You think I don't care about you?" the speed of the car decreased, he had made the right choice not to speed up on a slippery road when he was like this.

" It doesn't matter if you care about me" She was beyond quick to dismiss him.

" I don't need you." the truth he wasn't ready for had stung.

" I need you to care about everybody else. If you are honestly as nice as you pretend to be, then you should care about the ones who can't fight back." Her sharp eyes were making it worse as they stayed zoomed on him. His full attention she had, she had trusted the friendship they shook hands on to feel confident in what she was saying and how it would be received.

"I don't know what type of person you are but I know you are too smart to know the power you have. There is a reason you chose to be a silent bystander."

" From where I'm standing it seems like it's because you don't honestly care about any of us"

" Do you really believe that?" his hands squeezing the steering wheel, he asked.

" I don't have a reason not to" Her fingers twitched at the lie she told. she had to silence her thoughts from the list of things he had done she was aware of. The wrongs he has been trying to amend, it was easier to assume he wasn't genuine.

" Telling you I care is not enough" He asked an important question she didn't have a quick answer for. The change in his eyes; the downhearted look in them was too doleful to ignore.

" Why would you care about me?" her soft voice turning to a whisper she asked. Her crossed arms and her fingers were sent to fight with the sleeves of her cardigan as she challenged her eyes to not retreat no matter how big the red flags she received were.

huh/huh - their synchronized breathing counting each second that was passing by, they sat in the soundlessness their eyes requested. The words his lips were itching to speak, the only thing holding back was her eyes warning him how he would become the fourth person she would break to pieces today if he dared to be vulnerable. The pinch at his left side, the affection he couldn't keep caged behind his ribs was as clear as it could be as he was forced to realize this was the first time holding back words was hurting as much. All the lines he had crossed to get here, it was already starting to hurt.

" Because we are friends" in his miserable voice, he returned his broken eyes to the road. Jandi gave both of them a minute before she responded.

" Then do something about them." Her eyes slowly turned to the road, she had adjusted her seating to move her body slowly closer to the door on her right.

The car had taken only six more minutes before it got to school. The east gate she had told him to drop her off by, she had opened the door the second the car came to a complete halt. The cold wind welcomed her, she took a painful step to the back door to open it and grab her bag. Why Junpyo had left the car, she glanced this way as she saw him start walking across to her side.

" You can go. I will wait for him here" The back door she closed, she sent her back bag to her right shoulder.

" I can wait with you" his hands he sent to take off his jacket, it was an immediate reaction to watching her shiver to the cold wind.
" I don't think that is a good idea" his right hand paused from the zipper he was pulling down, and he looked up. One look at her eyes and he knew why his presence wasn't welcome. Jihoo. Who else would she care about?

" You should leave" sending her hands to her pocket, she added. The step she took away from the car, she chose to ignore his smirk and the way his hands had brushed his hair. The small circle she saw him walk around, she had intentionally avoided looking at him as she sent her eyes to the gate. The school logo on the wall, she got her reminder of their realities.

" Fine" his response was as though he had no choice in the matter. She was in charge and his job was to do whatever she said.

His smirk that would turn into a smile, she had to look up when she noticed how his legs stopped moving once he got to his car. Her eyes looking at him were then turned to whatever he was looking at, the car that was coming to park behind them. Her scared eyes turning back to him, Junpyo had sent both his hands to his pocket as he stared back at her. Now what? Written all over his face, he didn't seem concerned that Jihoo was here.

" Are you okay?' Jihoo jumped out of his car and ran to her side. His questioning eyes avoided her face to examine her legs.

" I am okay" the smile she gave him, her eyes couldn't help but glance up at Junpyo leaning against his car. His dark eyes solely focused on her.

" Did they do this?" Jihoo asked. The school chat groups he had read about, he had heard enough about what happened to know who she had fought with. His hands resting on her shoulder, his concern for what happened was too endearing.

" It isn't that bad" She gave him another small smile.

" Did you go to the nurse?" he asked as he leaned down to continue to examine her wound that was neatly wrapped.

" Are you hurt anywhere else? '' Jihoo continued asking. The lie she was ready to tell, her eyes were sent to the man behind Jihoo. Junpyo's sharp eyes daring her to lie, the itches across her palm were starting as she started scratching her hand.

" I am fine. I just want to go home" His shoulder she started pulling up; she tried using her smile to convince him.

" Here" his uniform jacket he quickly took off, it was placed on her shoulders before she agreed to accept it.

" Thank you" The jacket she adjusted, Jihoo had followed her eyes that were sent to his friend he hadn't even acknowledged was there.

" What are you doing here?" he asked not to get any response from Junpyo. Jihoo's eyes followed Junpyo's focus to turn back to Jandi next to him.

" Did you help her?" he asked, again looking back and forth between the two who weren't saying anything and just looking at each other.

" Yes," she answered.

" He got me here, '' she added, hoping Jihoo would assume it was from their building to this gate.

" Really?" Jihoo, sending his questioning eyes to his best friend, kept his eyes there until Junpyo shook his head to agree.

" Let's go" Her arm grabbing Jihoo, she tried taking a step but was stopped by Jihoo who walked to her right side. His shoulder leaned down, and she was asked to put her arms around his shoulder which she did with no objection. His left hand across her waist, Jihoo had held her close as he started leading the way to his car in the back.

The two holding each other, Junpyo had accepted today to be the worst in a while as he couldn't help but smile at all the type of emotions everything was getting out of him today. Watching her walk away from him he wasn't fond; now she was even held by somebody else. Jihoo's arm holding her by her waist wasn't enough; her right arm was across his shoulder, holding him even closer. The rollercoaster of emotions he had been processing since the day started was bookended by the smile he saw her give Jihoo, who was helping her with her seatbelt. His irritated eyes still glued to her, he had ignored Jihoo, who was walking to him, who had to glance back twice to make sure what had his friend's attention.

" What happened?" Jihoo asked as he ordered his eyes to examine every reaction of his friend.

" I don't know," Junpyo, eyes coming to his car, responded. He needs a smoke.

" They must have done something to her for her to beat them like that" his right hand brushing his hair; he wasn't answering the question Jihoo was asking about as his left started looking for his cigarette.

" Yijeong said you stopped the fight?" Jihoo's calm voice had finally brought Junpyo's eyes to him. His best friend he can't lie to, Junpyo, knew to be careful. Even more careful once he recognized how the way Jihoo was looking at him wasn't normal.

" She almost killed one of them." unzipping his jacket, Junpyo sighed as he pulled the cigarette box. His eyes, he can't seem to keep away from her, were sent to the car behind him. The way he looks at her, he can't mask, Jihoo was given the clue why Yijeong had called him to come back from wherever he was and get his girl. It wasn't to save her from the fight.

" What?" Junpyo asked as his eyes returned to Jihoo to find his friend's wary eyes questioning him.

" Thank you for breaking the fight and for bringing her here." The change in Jihoo's voice was intimidating.

"Thank you for helping my girlfriend" In the unnerving tone he had used, Jihoo was sending a message which was received along with all the things his eyes were saying. Nobody knew hi better than Junpyo who could understand what he was feeling with a single gaze.

" I got it from here" . Giving Junpyo one of his famous smiles, Jihoo had left his friend frozen as he turned and started heading to his car.