~POV Jisung~

Hearing my question, Lee Felix blinked, slightly confused. He explained to me that, as 3rd year student's representative, he had come to see how the detention was going. But strangely, he didn't exchange a single word with Minho, who was the only 3rd year student involved. Then, satisfied with my explanations, he leaved without saying a word.

I couldn't say exactly why, but the scene had been quite disturbing. I had felt a muted but real tension between him and my neighbor, as if both had strived to pretend the other didn't exist. I wanted to ask Minho about it, but before I could say anything, the headmaster left the detention room, asking me to follow him to return the smartphone to its owner and take care of the papers.

Probably to punish me for my audacity, he had demanded I give him a full report of the whole affair before I went home. At 6 p.m. on the dot, finally, I dropped it on his desk, feeling an enormous weight being lifted from my shoulders. Mr. Hyun had mellowed a bit and I was hoping our relationship wasn't too marred by what had happened today, even if deep down I didn't care.

Indeed, I didn't regret what I had done. So, I sighed with relief as I left the building. Part of me was amused to think Mr. Shin and the two culprit students were still stuck here for a while. In the end, my only disappointment was I couldn't speak with Minho before he left.

I didn't have time to make sure he was all right and despite myself, this missed act was weighing on my heart. Putting my satchel on the floor, I stretched, my eyes closed, trying to chase away my dark thoughts, when a faint sound of footsteps coming towards me caught my attention. 

Immediately I turned around, while my breath suddenly stop.

"Minho?" I was so surprised to see him I remained motionless, eyes and mouth wide open. "Why are you still here?"

As an answer, he looked away and walked towards the highschool gate. 

Hn... Of course. Did I expect things to be simpler now? Whatever happened, he was still that boy I met last night. Always distant, indecipherable. Close, yet so far away. I didn't have requisite instructions to crack that huge wall he constantly kept between him and the rest of the world. But despite everything, I was relieved to see him.

Without saying a word, we took the path to our building.

At the end of the day, the air was slightly cold. Autumn was in full swing and winter was fast approaching. I watched dead leaves fall to the ground, wondering if this long silence between us would last forever, when we arrived in front of a long staircase. As we walked down, people's conversations came to me like a buzzing sound. A part of me, stupid, was quite jealous of these strangers who spoke normally to each other, while I, an adult, what's more a teacher, had such a hard time starting a simple conversation with him.

Minho walked next to me, head down. His lips corner was still a little red, reminding the blow he had received. He seemed so exhausted it worried me.

Things were back to normal now, but how many situations like this had he experienced before? Had my today action really changed anything for him? Was it enough or just a drop in the ocean? What was his daily life really like? Was it only violence, both at home and school? Suddenly, the binder in my satchel seemed heavier. What was I going to find in it? Even more violence and pain?

When I saw him bite his lips nervously, I suddenly felt anxious. In an instant, all the stress I had accumulated during the day fell on me like a lead weight. I felt my stomach twisting again. My hands had become sweaty and trembling. Then, I felt my vision blur.

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~POV Minho~

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"Why was I still here?"

Stupid squirrel...

Maybe because at home, it was hell.

Maybe because I wasn't an ungrateful person.

Maybe because I had to thank you... just that.

We were walking towards our building. Strangely, the squirrel hadn't said a single word since we had left the highschool. Maybe he was waiting for me to speak first. After all, I was the one who owed him.

However, I hadn't had to thank anyone for a long time and despite myself, it made me nervous. I was searching for my words, when he suddenly staggered. By reflex, he leaned on the stairs railing to avoid falling, while I put a hand on his back to help him stand up, realizing he was shaking slightly.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes... Don't worry." He reassured me by raising his eyes to me, his warm gaze almost making me dizzy. "Sometimes, I get cramps from stress..."

Despite his smile, I swallowed my saliva with difficulty.

Stress? Had he gotten sick because of this?! Was he a complete fool or what?! If he worried like that for every student, he would leave this highschool on a stretcher! 

"Thanks for your help..."

Idiot...

Stupid squirrel...

Now, it was him who thanked me? Were we walking on our heads?!

He pissed me off... 

He pissed me off so much...

"Don't thank me while I haven't done it yet."

I had been cold and unpleasant, but he had asked for it. I was almost afraid to let go of him, so much so I had the impression his little legs could no longer carry him. He had played hero but now his own body was making him pay for it, and not knowing why he had doing it was driving me crazy. The squirrel was small and smelled like peach. I had a cute face and cute chubby cheeks. A person like that didn't belong in this kind of trouble.

Yet, he was smiling at me as if nothing had happened. His smile seemed even sweeter than usual. As he was catching his breath and colors, I felt my heart getting more and more compressed in my chest. Then, not being able to take it anymore, my hand still in his back, fearing he would fall, I lowered my head before saying, finally.

"Thank you... Mr. Han."

For a few seconds, I stared at the ground. Looking him in the face was beyond my strength, but feeling his hand on my arm, I raised my head immediately. Just as quickly, he moved his hand away with regret, before smiling at me again.

"I could tell you I did this because I'm your class homeroom teacher..." He said by laughing softly. "...or because we're neighbors. But I did it mostly because I hate injustice. Inside me, I had the feeling you were telling the truth..."

"Why?"

Why did you think I was innocent, when everything and everyone was accusing me?

Why did you defend me?

Why?!

"I don't know..." He chewed his lips, obviously embarrassed. "I don't think I have the answer. It was intuition... maybe I saw it in your eyes... or in your voice... Either way, I'm glad I could help..."

Not help... Save.

"You didn't have to get sick for that."

"I'm not sick. Everything's fine."

I was angry.

I was so angry at him for being like that...

Exasperated by his attitude, I looked up at the sky before walking down the stairs again, leaving him alone behind. Immediately, feeling much better, he caught up with me, a falsely outraged pout on his angel face.

"Don't leave like that!"

"Why? Everything's fine, isn't it?"

Instantly he frowned, as if he wanted to shout at me. It gave him a rather funny look, like a kid about to have a fit, but who was holding back not to be deprived of pocket money. Walking next to me in silence, he suddenly kicked a rock before whispering.

"I don't want to play the teacher outside of highschool, but... why did those two boys attacked you like that?"

Damn it... That's all I needed now...

With a sigh, I shrugged my shoulders, pretending to be indifferent, hoping my neighbor wouldn't ask me more questions.

"Who knows what motivates such idiots."

Unfortunately. I had a better chance teaching samba to a baboon...

"But... what were you doing in that deserted corridor at lunchtime? I mean... students aren't supposed to be upstairs during that break..."

"I had lunch and was just waiting for classes to resume."

"Why weren't you outside like the others?"

"To each his own." I declared harsly, his interrogation seriously starting to annoy me.

But it was like that. Mule-heads couldn't stop. And that stupid squirrel was a damn mule-head who didn't know limits not to cross. As I quicken my pace, he outdistanced me and stopped, forcing me to face him.

"Don't take it badly... I'm just worried about you... You could more easily avoid this kind of trap if you weren't isolated from the others... Don't you think?"

"I think it's none of your business." I retaliated, my patience having reached its limit.

He was worried?

He thought I was going to believe that?!

Now, worked up, I wanted to put an end to this ridiculous and unbearable conversation. However, even though he could see I was losing patience, the squirrel refused to let go. He looked at me like he did last night, with that so-called preoccupied gaze, pursed lips, like it really bothered him this had happened to me. 

What did he think? That things could change in a snap of the fingers? That the solution was simple, right in front of my eyes, but I had always been too silly to see it?

"Don't get angry..." He murmured, his voice slightly broken. "I just want to..."

Fuck it... 

What the hell do you want, Han Jisung?!

You want to change my life course?! You think you can do something about it?! You think I can swallow that?! Did I look that dumb to you?!

You silly squirrel...

"Stop it!" I screamed, out of me. "You helped me, that's a thing! But that doesn't give you the right to tell me what I should do! I don't care if we're neighbors! I don't care what you think, you and all the teachers in this damn highschool! Then, stop pretending like that!"

Damn it... I never thought I'd explode like this, but he had pushed his luck too far. I'd had my fill of reproof for the day. So, hearing him blaming me in turn made me want to vomit. But since he was the most insufferable squirrel in humanity history, he refused to admit defeat.

"Don't be so stubborn! I'm just saying being alone isn't..."

But I couldn't take it anymore.

I couldn't...

"SHUT UP!" I screamed as I stared him straight in the eyes, ignoring the pain appearing on his face. "If you're afraid to get into trouble again trying to get out of his shit that black sheep that I am, don't worry! I'm not asking you for anything! Just pretend I don't exist! Do what everyone else does, Mr. Han! No need to play the good guy with me! No need to lie like that! Anyway, you'll soon get sick of me! So, leave me alone right now and everything will be better! I don't need your pity or your false concern! I don't need a fucking hypocrite like you!"

I was so angry and confuse I spoke without any restraint, unpacking everything I had on my heart, watching his eyes lost little by little their glow full of hope and sweetness. Then, my words gave way to silence, punctuated by my jerky breath, cars humming and indignant murmurings of passers-by who walked faster not to cross my gaze. But I didn't care. I was used to it.

So, turning my eyes away from his face, which had suddenly become so pale and sad, I walked away. 

It was over. I didn't want to see him anymore, him and his angel's face which made me feel like I had sinned by leaving him like that.

He had gone too far and now, me too...

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Hello little sweets! I hope you enjoyed this new chapter! Give me your opinion if possible ! <3 Thank you very much for your support ! Kisses ! :D