Recess had ended, and all students turned their ways to their respective room, though gyu wanted to go differently but in a rush he only made it to the seat next to kaven, his original seat.
He barely registered the lessons. The words on the board blurred together, his thoughts circling back to Garam's grip on his hair, the cold sting of his words.
His fingers twitched against the desk. Even now, those words felt like an accusation, like a deliberate twist of the knife.
Surprisingly, Kaven didn't bother him for the rest of the day, which he was grateful for, he wasn't in the mood for his probing questions.
some looks were still thrown to him from the girls, who turned their heads away, blushing, whenever their eyes met him.
Normally, he wouldn't have paid attention, but after what Garam said… it unsettled him.
He closed his eyes.
A light tap on his shoulder startled him awake.
"Class ended" kaven said, standing in front of him with his bag slung over one of his shoulder.
Gyu blinked, realizing he had drifted off. He looked around; students were already packing up, and most of them already left the room.
"hmm" he muttered, standing up.
Kaven, though, seemed like he wanted to say more but he only pursed his lips and left the room without waiting for him.
As Gyu stepped into the hallway, his steps faltered. Just ahead, Garam was walking in the opposite direction. For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Garam didn't look angry. If anything, his expression was unreadable—almost indifferent. But there was something calculated in the way he held himself, something that made Gyu uneasy.
Then, just as quickly, Garam looked away and kept walking.
A normal interaction. Nothing outwardly hostile.
And yet, Gyu knew better.
This wasn't over.
---
Meanwhile...
Two men sat in a parked car outside the school gates, eyes scanning the crowd of students leaving the building.
"She should've come out by now," the man in the black hide suit muttered.
His companion checked his phone, flipping through photos. "Maybe she's still inside."
The first man exhaled sharply. "Or maybe you were wrong."
His partner stiffened. "So should we go?"
His eyes narrowed as he looked back at the school.
"No, We keep watching."
---
Gyu walked home alone, hands in his pockets, thoughts heavy.
There was a time when he would've looked over his shoulder and seen Garam walking a few steps behind him—keeping a protective distance.
A peaceful childhood memory of his.
Now, there was no one.
And somehow, that emptiness felt heavier than anything else.
Unaware of the darkening shadow looming to his side he scrolls through the map on his phone.
Again he felt the walking step behind him,
He stops in his track and looks back, but there's again no one.
He hesitantly walked over to the corner only to find a sleeping child.
He lightly tapped the child's cheek, hoping to wake him—but the boy didn't stir. Instead, he leaned further into Gyu, resting his head gently on his leg.
Something about the boy tugged at Gyu—a strange sense of familiarity. So he sat there for a while, waiting, hoping someone—anyone—would come looking for him.
No one did.
His own eyes began to droop.
Then, his phone buzzed.
"Did you reach the location?" a voice asked on the other end.
"No," he replied quietly. "I got stuck… couldn't go."
"What happened?"
"…Nothing."
Gyu let out a long, tired breath.
He looked down at the boy again, and for a second, paused—his eyes lingering on the child's face.
But he couldn't bring himself to leave him there. Not like that.
So, he picked him up and carried him home.
From afar, a figure who had been watching turned his feet and walked away—without a word.
---
A warm bed, soft cushions under his head, and the weight of a thick blanket over him—that's what greeted Ijueng as his eyes slowly opened.
His gaze fell on the figure sleeping beside the bed.
"eomma"
The word slipped from Ijueng's lips, soft and instinctive.
He reached out and rested his head on Gyu's hand—and drifted off again.
---
But Gyu's eyes were now open.
He turned to look at the boy.
And with a faint smile on his lips, he whispered,
"eomma?"