Chapter 3

I breathed in... I should be used to this by now but it didn’t make the pain sting any less. In the distance, I heard the break bell ring and gathered my stuff ready to leave. As I made my way back to the class, the stairs were all crowded and the halls were packed. I squeezed my way through until I found my locker and changed books. I also applied some ointment to my bruised lip. It stung. I slammed my locker- well, something had to feel the pain- and started walking towards my class. I sat on my place and no less than three minutes after, the teacher started his class. I took out my notebook and started scribbling on it. I considered myself a sticky learner... meaning that everything I saw stuck to me. This made it easier to learn my subjects at school. The teacher kept on babbling about a project we had to do as groups of 4 which would be graded out of a full 100%. I lowered my head towards the table. What an ***. I heard the class go quiet.

“Mr. Min, could you repeat what you said?” The teacher questioned... What? What did I do now? I was confused...

“How sir?” I asked.

“Repeat what you previously said. Since you had the guts to speak out loud, you might as well have the guts to repeat it once again!” This was one of the teachers that didn’t give a crap about my background... he just did what was right and I kind of respected him for that. He stared at me for a moment, daring me to repeat what I had just said but I was both internally and externally conflicted. What did I do now? What did I say?

“ I don’t understand, sir.” I answered politely.

“Who did you call an arse?” He responds sharply. Oh... that. I smile sheepishly, kind of taken aback at my words. Oh welp I think I said that out loud.

“It wasn’t meant towards you, Mr Bruce. I was thinking out loud... sorry.” I respond calmly.

“Well, since it wasn’t intentional...” I hear the class shuffle around- waiting for him to say the words everyone, including me, hated- but he didn’t say those words, instead he finished off by saying, “you will have one week of duties in my home room. Make sure you report every afternoon. I won’t waste my time to find you.” I sighed as the class shifted back to him. He continued his lessons and I dived back into the subject at hand.

After class was over, I headed to Mr Bruce’s home room and much to my disgust, there Brandon was. His attention shifted over to me as his face mocked disbelief. I could be the bad kid too.

“Min.” He said. I ignored him as I started to clean the board.

“No- absolutely no talking!” Mr Bruce screamed as he eyed both of us. Thank you.

We were almost finishing when I felt someone walking towards me. So, I did the most logical thing anyone would do... I shoved the chair in front of me as I stretched the row out. The screech of the chair burst the silence as a quick ‘tumph’ followed. I looked up just in time to see Brandon falling over the bucket of water and breaking it into two. It took all within me to not start laughing at his state- sprawled on the floor, suit wet, and bucket pieces all around him. I started mad laughing, sucking all the air there was before I felt the dust go into my nostrils and it started flaring. My chuckles soon turned into loud coughs as I kneeled on fours on the floor. Knocking my chest hardly as if trying to get whatever was stuck somewhere out. Somewhere in the middle of my coughing fit, I felt my body become drenched with some apple scented water. Disgusting. I looked up to see Brandon looking at me with his eyes crinkled in such a state that captivated you. His lips curved upwards, giving some space to show his pearly teeth. I smiled at the sight. I covered my demeanor by getting up and swatting my butt from dirt. “Why’d you through me with that filthy water? Are you mad? If you want me to help you, the least you could do is be nice to me..” I comment as I see him shift his face the other side. He grabbed the bucket, well what was left of it, and walked out of the room. I simply finished what was left and locked the class. Making sure every appliance was off before making my way home.

I reached the doorknob when the front door opened to reveal my parent inside. I was taken aback by their presence and smiled as I composed myself.

“Hi mom... dad. You guys came early? How was your day?” I started as I entered the house and closed the door behind me. I took off my bag from my back and held it in my hands, hoping that I didn’t have to explain the apple scented stench on me.

“It was fine, your mom and I thought that it would be fine to come back early in order for us to have some family time. You fancy going to La Lovouire? I heard their signature dish is the best thing to calm your mind and ease you after a work filled day.” My father commented. My mother smiled in agreement. I nodded in response, it was times like this that I lived for- I loved and cherished. They barely had time, meaning that whatever they could give me, I would take.

“I’ll go get ready.” I answered as I ran up the stairs to get changed. I washed up and changed into some denim jeans and white tshirt that I found rather comfortable. I hurried downstairs in fear of having let them wait for too long. I was just a selfish and needy dude, sorry. I smiled at them as they ushered me out and we both got in the car.

“We’ll ve meeting with the Jung’s,” my father stated as my eyes almost fell into its sockets and came out through my mouth.

“Wha-.” I begin just as my mom interrupts me on purpose. Rude.

“I know you aren’t on good terms with Brandon but it doesn’t mean that we aren’t in good terms with his family. You understand, right sweety?” My mother smiled at me and I couldn’t say no so I nodded back while mirroring her smile.

The car soon came to a halt as we arrived at the restaurant. I opened my door and stepped out of the vehicle just as another body collided with mines. I looked up, almost falling backwards at the proximity of our faces. Brandon. I took some steps back as our parents came out in sync and greeted each other. Both parents shared a laugh as they started talking and filling in each other on our private lives. I simply strutted behind, making sure that there was a safe distance between Brandon and me. I pushed my hands into my back pockets as my mind wondered over the course of the evenings. This was usual... going out for dinners with friends and bidding goodbye until another time was available. We entered the restaurant and proceeded to sit on a six seat table that had already been prepared before hand. The waitress came to take our order and after some long bickering on what to get, the waitress left. Mr and Mrs Jung started talking about Brandon’s mid term slip which surprised them at the B+ he had gotten due to him being and A student. I chuckled. And here I was thinking how stupid he was when he scrunched his face during Biology. Guess I was wrong. Some people could be drug dealers and smart. Amazing. His parents smiled at each other in a way which reflected the same amount of love and- yeah well love- that my parents had for me. Brandon looked at me and I immediately gazed away as I concentrated on my phone. I just didn’t want to answer the question, or rather the request, he had asked for. I kept my eyes under the table as our parents continued chatting. He involved himself during some times.

“What are you thinking of?” Mrs Alyss asked.

“Is he staring at your socks, Brandon?” His father continues and I looked up just in time to see all of them laughing. I took the straw out of my lips as I answered truthfully.

“No- I, I was just thinking of some project we have to do.”

“Are you in Brandon’s group? I am pretty sure you guys would work good together!” Mrs Alyss goes on about how we work good together and how cute we were during our infant days. She also mentioned how we were like little twins, sitting ***** beside each other inside a baby pool. My cheeks blushed as I heard ‘naked’. I excused myself from the table just as the waitress came with our food.

As I started doing my business, I felt someone enter and place themselves right next to my stall. I deliberately looked up as in a way of saying, ‘bro there’s like so much stalls... f**k off’ but then it was Brandon and I just stared at him in confusion. I finished my business and headed to the wash basin when I felt sa hand grado my shoulders. I swerved, looking at his hand on my shoulder and disgustingly shrugging it off.

“At least wash your hands before you touch me..” I sort out as I finish scrubbing my hand and then start rinsing it.

“So, did you tell him?” Brandon asks.

“I’m not sure why I would do that... what do I get out of it?” I question, kind of thoughtful on whether or not it is worth to do.

“Well, I could give you cash and I can protect you from James’ punches. Ya know. You kind of seem flimsy and weak. I mean... look at that,” he says as he squeezes my arm gently and raises it up, “such a weak little soft arm. I could help you. But you’ve got to help me first. Deal?” He ends by looking straight into my eyes.

“Your parents don’t know, right? Well, let me think about it.” I don’t know what made me want to help him but deep down I knew that it was just in my nature. I was just too kind. I exited the bathroom and took my seat. I began eating as Brandon arrived. Both our parents continued talking about our lives and I noticed that every time the Jung’s would talk about their son, they looked proud. Too bad they didn’t know what sh*t he was in and I wasn’t ready to spill the bins either. I just smiled along with them as I threw Brandon an, ‘alright I’ll help you’ look. We finished eating, paid the bill and bid goodnight to everyone as we separated and went home. Now the brainstorm began as I started thinking of a way in which I could get the help of my father. I sighed as the music filled my ears. What a day.

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