Silent and lonely world (Dark clouds before sunny weather - Book 1)

Chapter 7

Wei Wuxian had sent A-Yuan away with a forced smile and once his son was out of the house again, he turned back to Mo Xuanyu. He was still trying to process what he was seeing. He had thought the boy had perhaps been bullied at school from how nervous and even scared he looked all the time. But from the sheer extend of the injuries he could see, and he only took his jacket off, he was sure that he would find more under his clothes, it did not look like a normal case of bullying at all.

No, if this had happened at school – and repeatedly at that for the bruises seemed to be in all stages of healing – someone would have noticed. This only left one option and he was not happy about it. The boy must have been abused outside of school grounds, most probably at home or in some club if he was actually going to one. Then again, the second option seemed not really apply in this case, the parents would have surely noticed the extend of the abuse right away and requested the club advisors to intervene or pulled out their son out of that club altogether.

That only left one possibility: the boy's parents must have been either aware of what was going on and chose to turn a blind eye to it or they were the abusers. Either way, Wei Wuxian's heart hurt for his student. Having gone through his fair share of hardships while growing up, he could understand, at least to some extent, Mo Xuanyu's pain and fear.

For his behaviour was now obvious; how the boy would not take part in any physical activities and was wearing his winter jacket all year round to hide his injuries. How uncomfortable he was while talking to him, a teacher, about his parents and the situation at home, probably being afraid that he would reveal too much. How he would try to not stand out in class and not attract any attention to himself, how he would be jumpy and easily startled by loud or sudden noises and all movements in his direction.

Now that Wei Wuxian knew however, he had to help the boy. Even if the other would probably refuse any and all help and support offered, much like himself when he had been his age. He would have to contact the school and police as well, the boy would need medical attention and counselling as well. Wei Wuxian wondered if he had any other relatives he could stay with; it would not be ideal to send him to an institution at this point.

He was just about to call the school to ask for more information about the boy's family and his study records when Mo Xuanyu stirred and slowly opened his eyes. Wei Wuxian drew himself back a bit, giving the boy more space so he would not feel crowded or threatened. Mo Xuanyu blinked a few times, visibly disoriented. Wei Wuxian did not want to frighten him so he stayed quiet and waited to be noticed.

When it finally happened, the boy had a violent reaction and Wei Wuxian cringed a bit, he should have probably let his student know about his presence sooner after all.

Once Mo Xuanyu's eyes focused, he looked around, fear apparent in them. He was visibly confused. Then he grabbed the jacket that Wei Wuxian had laid down on the couch next to him and quickly put it back on, his hands trembling all the while. He put his hand around himself and took a few deep breaths. Only then did he look up and saw that Wei Wuxian had been watching him the whole time.

The boy startled, badly, and backed away until he hit the back of the couch. Wei Wuxian made sure to be smiling and not let any of his worries and pain show on his face. He needed the boy finally understoand that he was still in his house and that he was welcomed.

After a while, Mo Xuanyu stuttered out, his voice small and still very much frightened: "Teacher? What happened?"

Wei Wuxian replied cheerfully, although he just wanted to start asking his own questions. He knew better however, he himself would have just closed off completely whenever someone questioned his odd behaviour or seemed to had started suspecting anything about his own abuse. So he took an example of himself, not completely sure if he was doing this right, he would need to ask a social worker at school for help as well.

"Mo Xuanyu, everything is fine. You have just fainted from the heat." He picked up the glass of lemonade from the table and offered it to the boy: "Here, drink something. You will feel better afterwards."

The boy was looking at him with badly hidden suspicion but he took the glass and drank until there was nothing left. It seemed that he was at least starting to calm down now, so Wei Wuxian's approach must not have been all that bad. The only thing was that he would have to get Mo Xuanyu tell him about his situation eventually. And soon at that, if his suspicion was correct and it was the boy's family who had caused those injuries, he could not let him go back home. He would just take him straight to the school's nurse to have him checked for further injuries.

"Do you want another glass?" he asked when Mo Xuanyu seemed to be holding the empty glass nervously, as if not knowing what to do with it.

The boy immediately shook his head and the lowered it. They were not getting anywhere like this. Wei Wuxian wold have liked to press for answers but he still hesitated, he need Mo Xuanyu to be a lot calmer for this. So he asked instead, still offering a reassuring and welcoming smile: "What do you want then? You can tell me."

Wei Wuxian's heart started hurting all over again when the boy whispered, still not looking at him: "I want to go home."

It was clear that he was afraid to do so if the stronger and stronger tremors of his hands were anything to go by. Wei Wuxian remembered his young self doing just the same at one point. He had been so afraid of anyone finding out how he had been treated at home that he would rather go face another beating then to have anyone help him. He could understand, especially if the boy was not only abused physically but also mentally, being told that if anyone was to find out, they would be disgusted or would abandon him and he would be all alone, for example.

Even though Wei Wuxian could understand where the boy was coming from, he could not in clear conscience let him go home, not when he could already picture what would be waiting for him there. He was going by his own experience and perhaps he was wrong, but he was afraid for the boy's safety.

"Do you?" he asked just to make sure, but he already knew the answer before Mo Xuanyu even nodded his head.

On the spur of the moment another question escaped his mouth: "Do you parents know you are here?"

He had not meant to ask this, and certainly not in this way. Now it sounded like he was suspecting the boy for going against his parents and his behaviour could be interpreted in a way that he was threatening Mo Xuanyu that he would tell his parents and thus have him punished as a result. Sure enough, the boy must have picked up exactly what he had feared.

Mo Xuanyu shook his head slowly and his breath hitched, in a way that suggested that he was trying to hold in a sob. Wei Wuxian wanted to scold himself for his thoughtless question. Now it would be even harder to get the boy to trust him and confide in him. He should not have tried to do this alone, he was not the right person, not when his own memories were influencing him and he was projecting himself onto the boy. He should call the school now and have the counsellor come to his house. Yes, that would be a good course of actions, hopefully not everything was lost yet.

Before he could do that however, the boy said something he would not have ever thought possible. He himself would have surely not said anything like this, not to a stranger like himself.

"My uncle and aunt are not home right now. They do not know I am here. Please, do not tell them I disobeyed, teacher."

The end of the boy's sentence warmed his heart a bit. It seemed like not everything was lost after all. The boy trusted him for he was his teacher and he had never been more grateful for his decision to become one.