Save Me//Haruto FF//

Chapter Two

"Jihoon, take Haruto to the infirmary". Doyoung demanded. Junkyu helped lift Haruto onto Jihoon's back. Both Jihoon and Junkyu helped carry Haruto to the infirmary. Junkyu looked on worriedly as his best friend was still unconscious, his head lolling off of Jihoon's shoulder. A trickle of blood ran down Haruto's face.

Junkyu wondered what had happened to his friend. First he comes in late stumbling around and then passes out. And not to mention how banged up he looks. "What happened to you Haruto?" Jihoon asks glancing towards his unconscious friend.

They both barge into the infirmary not bothering to knock on the door. A woman dressed in a white lab coat opens the door. She glances at the two before seeing the boy struggle to hold him up. "Set him on the bed. What happened to him?" She demands observing the state that he was in. Jihoon carefully set Haruto down onto the bed before covering him up with the blanket.

"We aren't sure. Haruto came into class late this morning then a few minutes later he passed out. He seems to be hurt rather badly". Jihoon explains. The nurse nods before examining his injuries. "You may leave now. If you want on your free period, you can come visit him". Both of them nod before stealing one last glimpse at Haruto before leaving. Both of them left with heavy hearts wondering what had happened.

. . .

When Haruto came to the very first thing he noticed was the throbbing pain in his head. It was alerting him that he was now awake. Confused Haruto had wondered how he got here. Last thing he remembered was sitting in his chair. As he touched his head he could feel the bandage on his forehead. He rubbed his head trying to lesson the pain, but it was of no use. The throbbing pain was only intensifying.

Haruto looks around seeing the sun filtering through the white curtains causing his head to hurt worse. Any kind of light made his head hurt more. He groaned before turning over and faced the divider. His ribs protested against the movement. Tears stared to build in his eyes as the pain was becoming too much to bear. Biting down on his lip he concentrated on what had happened.

The more he tried to recall what happened, the more Haruto's head would pound. Haruto groaned as everything seemed to be fuzzy. Nothing had come to mind other than the voice who sent chills down his spine.

"Tell them you fell down the stairs". The voice whispered. It was at that moment when Haruto realized who had done this to him. He remembers them bullying Ara and him going to protect her. "Shin Taehyun". His heart began to pound as his hands began to visibly shake. Haruto feared that he would be coming back for him. After all he was the school's bully.

His thoughts were interrupted when he could hear the sound of the divider curtains opening. Fearing that it was Taehyun, Haruto put his arms out in front of himself protectivly. Standing before him was the school's nurse. Relief came over her to see him awake. Slowly, Haruto put his arms down realizing she wasn't going to hurt him.

"Good you're awake. How are you feeling?" She asked. Haruto winced as her voice was too loud. Everything seemed to be either too loud or too bright. It made his head hurt worse.

"Honestly, I hurt everywhere and my head is killing me. How long have I been out for?" Haruto asked curiously. To him it had felt like hours. The nurse jotted down notes before replying. "You have a concussion and some minor scrapes and bruises. But otherwise fine. But I recommend going to the hospital for further treatment. Your father should be here soon to take you. And as for your last question, you were out for ten minutes".

Haruto was shocked for how long he was out for. To him it had only felt like seconds. "Do I have to go to the hospital? Can't I just take it easy?" To be honest Haruto didn't want to miss school. His perfect attendance record would be broken now.

"Yes, you have to go. I am not equipped for giving you further treatment. If there is something more serious going on then they have a better chance of discovering it. Do you remember how you got injured? Your friends didn't seem to know what happened".

Haruto fiddled with the blanket feeling his breathing pick up. His heart rate picked up at an uncomfortable rate. The nurse looks on worriedly at the boys behavior. "It's okay take your time to remember". As she was about to put a comforting hand on his shoulder, Haruto shrugs her hand away scooting himself towards the headboard. Retracting her hand away, she tried to calm him down.

Clearly Haruto was terrified of physical contact. "I'm sorry I did not mean to frighten you, Haruto. But answer this question honestly. Can you recall how you got hurt?" She asked more calmly.

Haruto could feel his heartbeat beating inside his ears as he became more nervous.

Lie. Just lie that you fell down the stairs. Lie". Haruto thought to himself. He went to open his mouth but quickly closed it. The nurse was waiting patiently so she could write down the answer.

"I. . .I tripped and fell down the stairs". He closed his eyes as the memory of what actually happened flashed in his mind.

Before the nurse could respond there was a knock at the door. "Excuse me for a moment. I will be right back". The nurse went and got up to answer the door. She closed the curtains for more privacy.

As Haruto was about to close his eyes, when the curtains were flung wide open causing him to squint. His head throbbed as the light shone right into his eyes. A silhouette of a female figure bloomed in his vision. Upon realizing who it was, Haruto felt bad for her seeing him like this. The first he noticed was the tears in her school sweatshirt and the red mark on her cheek.

"Are you okay Ara? You aren't hurt too bad are you?" Haruto asked genuinely worried for her wellbeing. His eyes kept wandering around searching for any other injuries. Ara shook her head before taking a seat on the other bed.

"Thanks to you, Haruto that I am okay. I only have a few bruises. I wanted to formally apologize to you since you got hurt because of me". She apologized her smile not quite reaching her eyes. Haruto looks down feeling his cheeks heat up. "No, need to thank me. I am just glad that you aren't hurt worse. Have you told the principal about this?" He asked concerned. He knew something had been off with her for a while now. But didn't know until just a bit ago.

Ara looked down fiddling with the carton of milk in her hands. "No, nobody knows except you. Since Shin Taehyun is the most popular kid in school, no one would believe a word I say. I am just a nobody in this school who fades into the background. It's his words against mine. And I don't intend for anyone to find out. Not even you Haruto can tell a single soul. Anyway, I came to apologize and to give this as a thank you present. I hope you like strawberry flavored milk". Ara stood up from the bed and handed over the carton of milk, plus a folded up piece of paper.

"You aren't just a nobody Ara. You are someone to me. You aren't invisible to me. Don't let what Taehyun says get to you. He isn't worth it. If he bothers you again come to me or ask for help. You don't need to burden this alone". Haruto spoke the truth.

Ara let a tired smile creep across her lips. "Thanks Haruto".

He watched as her small figure disappear behind the curtains. Haruto looked down at the pink liquid before a small smile formed on his lips. He didn't like strawberry milk, but he was thirsty nonetheless. He poked the straw through the foil before taking a sip. It was bitter tasting at first, but the sweetness of it started to kick in. Haruto set down the cup of milk on the nightstand.

Haruto leaned back against the headboard before opening the letter that Ara gave him.