Corruptions Are Best Exposed In The Autumn!

Chapter 20 - That One High School Blunder

[5 Years Ago]

My eyes darted around the empty school hallway. On one side featured a plethora of doors which led to individual classrooms, while the other side was filled with blue and green lockers.

"Hey Kai, do you think I can talk to you for a second?"

Mila popped up in front of me as I closed my locker.

"What is it?"

"Um..." She glanced away, scratching her neck. "N-Nevermind. Anyways, are you excited for the field trip?"

"Hmph," I scoffed. "Of course, but my father always takes me to Dosa in the summers anyway."

"I-I see." Mila replied. "I'm sure you're excited."

The two of us were finally departing school together; having dated for six months by this point, not a day passed by where we weren't seen together, walking in and out of school or even throughout the hallways. Everyone around the school knew us as the "Polar World Couple" - two people from opposite worlds who somehow ended up together.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied. "Anyways, let's head home."

"Uh, okay."

Mila came from a family not from the highest of societies - but the poorest. Her family barely scraped by on a daily basis while living in a small bungalow on the outskirts of town; her father operated a food stand, while her mother worked at a local flower shop.

"Be careful," I added. "You don't want that chest pain or fatigue to return. You were discharged from the hospital only a few days ago."

"Right..."

I grabbed Mila's hand and led her to the exit. "Let's go!'

"Ugh, that hurts, Kai! Slow down!"

Like every other day, I would order a taxi with my father's money to help Mila travel home, despite her reluctance.

"Don't worry, I can take the bus this time! No need to go out of your way and-"

"You're kidding right?" I scowled. "Who knows what can happen with your health! Don't worry, the taxi should be arriving shortly."

Once I sent Mila off and arrived home myself, my father was already waiting at the front door. Our mansion took up an entire neighborhood - its size made it appear like a government building. Its white walls were long and stretched from one block to another, while it featured four separate floors with each serving a different purpose. One maid tended to every different floor, and a pair of security guards could be found scouring the entrance to our large driveaway, which was almost the size of a soccer field.

"Long day, Kai?" He asked while smoking a cigarette and sitting casually on the porch. A pair of fountains and lion statues sat in front our grand entrance.

"Yeah, school trip is tomorrow."

"Sounds fun! Is Mila doing alright?"

"Yeah, she won't tell me what health problems she's dealing with, though. It's a whole mystery to me."

"Well, just do your best to make her happy," he grinned, smiling through the stick in his mouth.

"Well of course, no need to tell me!" I ran past him into the mansion. I had to get packing for tomorrow's field trip.

The next morning flew by smoothly - I picked Mila up at her house in my taxi, and we both arrived at the train station to meet our other classmates. The field trip to Dosa required a three hour train ride, and sadly the seats were picked at random, so I had to sit separately from her for a short while.