But i wasn't a liar (ongoing)

Part 11

Part 11

Emma's breath caught when she saw the glint of the knife in Tommy's hand. Her pulse roared in her ears as she stepped out from behind the wall, phone held high.

"Tommy, stop!" Her voice shook but carried. "I've called the police! They're on their way!"

Tommy whirled around, face twisting in rage. "You—! Always interfering!"

Emma stood her ground, though her knees trembled. "Why are you doing this to Sam?"

A slow, cruel smile spread across Tommy's face. "Since you're so curious... why don't you join our game?" He nodded to his friends.

Three boys lunged forward, their hands clamping onto Emma's shoulders like vices.

"Let me go!" She thrashed, but their grip only tightened.

Tommy stalked closer, tilting her chin up with the flat of his knife. "You know... you're actually pretty." His breath reeked of mint and malice.

"D-don't touch me!" Emma jerked her face away.

From the ground, Hyunjin stirred weakly. "E...Emma...?"

Her eyes widened—he'd never called her by name before.

Tommy's knife tapped against her cheek. "What happened to that big mouth of yours?"

The wail of sirens cut through the night.

Tommy's smirk vanished. "This isn't over," he spat, shoving Emma aside. "Remember that."

He and his friends scattered like roaches, but not fast enough—the police lights caught two of them as they fled.

Emma collapsed to Hyunjin's side,. "Sam—Hyunjin—can you hear me?"

The sirens grew louder, but all she could focus on was the blood trickling from his lip.

"Sam! Are you okay? Oh no—your face!"

Hyunjin winced as he pushed himself up. "Why did you come?"

"I saw you with Tommy... I got worried and followed you." Her fingers twitched, resisting the urge to touch him. "I knew he'd try something."

Hyunjin stared at her, blood trickling from his split lip. "Why, Emma?"

*How could she explain?* Three years of stolen glances, of memorizing the curve of his frown—all trapped behind her teeth. The words burned her throat, but all she managed was: "I told you... I was worried."

Nearby, officers shoved Tommy's friends into police cars. "File a complaint," one urged Hyunjin. He shook his head.

The pale streetlights cast long shadows as they sat on the cold bench. Emma clutched the antiseptic wipes in her trembling hands, watching blood trickle down Hyunjin's temple.

"Does it hurt badly?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hyunjin stiffened when she reached forward. "Thank you," he muttered, turning his face away.

Emma's breath caught. Thank you. Two simple words that made her heart flutter wildly. Just days ago he'd snapped at her to leave him alone, and now...

She studied his profile - the stubborn set of his jaw, the way his dark lashes cast shadows on his bruised cheek. "Let me help," she pleaded. "Is it because you don't like being touched...or because it's me?"

Hyunjin stood abruptly, wincing as he put weight on his injured leg. "I said thank you." His voice was rough but not unkind. "I can take care of it. We should go."