Save me from harm

Chapter 2

The following day, Jihyo wakes up feeling more confident than before. She would tell Professor Minatozaki about her bully.

The day started at 9 am. She would try to find her at the university before that.

While driving to school, she’s having second thoughts. How could she help? Especially after one talk. They wouldn’t stop the bullying.

She parks the car in the parking lot. She keeps sitting in her car. She didn’t know how to start the conversation.

Soon there is no more time to meet her. She has to do it after the day is over. She had to prepare for it.

She’s the last one to get to the classroom. One of Jennie’s friends wasn’t there, so she must have been ill. They had no time to bully since Professor Minatozaki had arrived.

The class goes as usual. This time, there would be no teamwork, but the subject was the same.

Jihyo’s morning went too fast between taking notes and what to say to Professor Minatozaki.

As soon as the professor is gone, Jennie and her friends get to her. The other friend's name is Irene. Her hair was short and black. She wasn’t as loud as the other two.

“You didn’t answer my question yesterday. Are you deaf?” Jennie is saying.

Jihyo knew this was the time to defend herself, but she didn’t want a conflict.

“Maybe she got something to hide.” Irene giggles like a little girl.

“No one would look at her. At least someone as hot as Professor Minatozaki” Jennie laughs.

She was the one who thought she could get anyone she wanted. Jihyo wished she could tell her that to her face.

She wanted to leave, but they would start to push her, so she didn’t.

Jennie hadn’t changed at all after high school. She was still annoying and acted like a child, Jihyo had at least moved on.

She decides to tell Professor Minatozaki about this after the day is over. They move away when the class continues.

The day is finally over. Jihyo is the last of the students to leave. She takes her bag and looks around to make sure she’s alone. She gets in front of the desk.

Professor Minatozaki is sitting by her desk, looking at her mobile. She looks up at her and puts her phone on the desk.

“I need to talk to you about something.” Jihyo starts the conversation.

“Sure, is it something about the course?”

“No, it’s a personal problem.” Jihyo answered.

“Okay, we can get to my office.” Sana says and gets up with her mobile in her left hand.

Jihyo follows her. They walk up the stairs to the second floor. The hall was quiet.

“So, what do you think about the course so far?” Sana asks, looking down at her while they walk down the hall.

“Very interesting.” Jihyo's reply.

“Good.” She stops by a door where her name is on the door, and she unlocks it with a key. “Here we are.” She lets her in first.

Jihyo steps inside the middle-sized room. It had a window and a dark brown desk with two chairs on each side. She sits down in front of it and puts her bag on the floor beside the chair.

Sana sits down behind the desk. There is a black laptop and some books in a pile. She puts her mobile on it.

“So, what did you want to say?” Sana asked.

“I get straight to the point. When I said everything is fine, it wasn’t true.”

“I thought so. I usually see when something isn’t. Continue.” She leans with elbows on the desk with her fingers crossed.

“I was bullied since 9th grade. To make it short. One of my classmates is one of the bullies, and I guess she doesn’t remember me. I thought I didn’t have to suffer from the same problem again. If she keeps doing it, I don’t think I can continue with the course.” Jihyo says.

“I’m sorry to hear that. We can’t have that kind of behaviour like that here. Maybe I could talk to this person. Just tell me her name, and I get in touch.”

“No, I don’t want that. It can get worse.”

“

Have you confronted her about the bullying?” Sana asked.

“That’s the problem. I know I should, but it isn’t easy. I try to pick up the courage, but I can’t.” Jihyo looks down at her hands.

“I can understand that. Have you talked to someone about this? About the bullying, I mean.”

“Maybe with my parents. I moved from a small town I grew up in and moved on. I didn’t think I had to meet my bully again.” She looks at her.

“Maybe it’s a sign to put things right. I know it’s hard, but wouldn’t it make it easier if you just told her off.”

“I feel such a coward. I hate it. I’m an adult, and it shouldn’t hold me back.” Jihyo looks back at her hands again.

“I’ll help you. Next time tell her what you feel. Don’t think, just let it out.”

“No, I don’t think I can.” Jihyo shakes her head.

“I know it’s painful for you. But you don’t want this to affect your studies.”

“No, no, you can’t help me.” Jihyo takes her bag and gets to the door.

Sana stands up quickly and gets to her. She sees a tear on her cheek. “Please, let me help. You can’t do this by yourself.” She dries her cheek with her thumb.

Jihyo looks up, and she felt a rush inside her. Her brown eyes hypnotised her, and she realized she was falling for her.

She probably didn’t feel the same. Her wife was a very lucky lady.

Sana steps away from her.

“Alright then.” Jihyo says and smiles a little.

“

Good. So when you get here tomorrow and see your bully, don’t just take it. No one should treat you like that. Stand up for yourself. Can you do that?”

“I’ll try. I’m tired of her treating me like that.”

“That’s the spirit.” She smiles and gets back to her desk.

“Thank you, Professor Minatozaki.” She smiles back.

“Just call me Sana.”

“Okay. Thank you for understanding.” She says and opens the door.

“No, problem.”

With a smile on her face, she drives home. She never expected things would turn the way they did. She felt relieved, but at the same time, she was worried.

What if she couldn’t defend herself from her bullies? The other concern for her was the growing feelings for Professor Minatozaki. She didn’t want to, but she was quickly smitten with the woman who wanted to save her from harm.