Nodus Tollens|| Haowoongbin

2

Xie waved at Zhanghao smiling and looked away from the window as the driver began to drive.
She rested her head backwards and closed her eyes sighing.

She opened her eyes when she felt the car stop.
The driver got out and opened the door for her.
She bit her insides, sighing once more as she swung her bag over her shoulder, getting out of the car.

She stood in front of her class door, counting the seconds that passed by as she stood there. She hissed and looked at her thumb only to find the sides bleeding from her unconsciously picking on them.

She gritted her teeth and opened the door. The noise in her class quickly died down as her classmates turned and looked at her.

Her head fell low as she gripped the straps of her bag, walking towards her seat. She could feel their eyes on her. She bit her lip, counting time as she took out her books.

"Stop looking at me.." She muttered silently.

-

Xie fisted her hands under her table as her classmates continued to laugh. The teacher looked at them in confusion. "Is something funny?"

"Teacher, You said we should bring our parents tomorrow" One of them said and the Teacher nodded in confusion.

"Yes? Is something wrong?"

Xie's head fell lower as her fists clenched tighter.
She could feel the goosebumps form on her arms as shivers ran through her spine.

"Xie doesn't have a complete family"
Xie's eyes closed upon hearing her classmate say.

The teacher looked over to her and saw her looking down. She turned her head back to the rest.
"Ah I must have slipped my tongue. That was for the next class, I just wanted to tell you all to submit your assignments on time"

Xie's head was still held low as the teacher spoke. It was as if her words were blurred out. She heard the door close and looked from the side to see that her teacher had gone.

She looked back down, grabbing her pen with her shaking hand and gulping as she looked back to her book. She flinched slightly when she saw a hand placed on her desk.

"Come on, Don't tell me you're sad about us laughing" Xie heard and didn't look up as she could already recognize who it was just from the hand.

"I mean, it's not our fault your father doesn't love you—

"My Father loves me" Xie immediately interrupted her classmate saying. She gritted her teeth when she heard Xie interrupt her. She immediately gripped her hair, pulling her head backwards.

"Wah, Guys you wouldn't believe what just happened. This bastard just said her father loves her" Chaeun said and her friends came over.

"Really? Then tell us Xie, where is he? Is he behind you? Let me see" Another of classmate mocked, moving Xie's shoulder. Xie gritted her teeth as she felt her eyes sting.

"I said what I said. My father loves me. My parents do. Y-You're just being jealous" She said and Chaeun scoffed out loud.

"Jealous? Of you? Why would I be jealous of someone who fantasies about having a father. Your father is imaginary, talk more about dad. Might as well say he's invisible"

Xie gritted her teeth and yanked away Chaeun's hand. "Leave me alone" She said, wiping her tears as she glared at her.

Chaeun scoffed and folded her arms.
"Fine. I won't" She said and a low smirk appeared on her face. "But they will.." She said and moved to the side as her friends stood before Xie.

-

"You're not hungry baby?" Zhanghao asked, looking up at Xie who stood up in the stairs, leaning on the wall.

Xie just nodded and slowly turned around as she walked up the stairs. Zhanghao stood, looking at the empty stairs. He sighed and turned around, going back into the dining room.

-

"Xie?" Zhanghao called quietly when he saw Xie covered up on her bed. "Are you doing okay sweetheart? Zhanghao asked and received no reply.

He turned to leave as he thought she was sleeping.
He paused when he heard low sniffles. He quickly turned around, walking into her room.

"Xie? Baby? What's wrong?" Zhanghao worriedly asked as he sat on her bed, taking the covers off her.

His heart broke seeing her tear stained face.
"Xie.." He muttered as Xie slowly sat up.

"D-Daddy.."She called and immediately hugged Zhanghao, crying against his shoulders. Zhanghao quickly hugged her back, his hand rubbing her back.

"What is it baby?" He worriedly asked as Xie cried against him. Xie shook her head, hugging Zhanghao tighter as she cried. "L-Let's stay like this"

Zhanghao had so many questions to ask but he respected her request, hugging her and muttering sweet nothings to her.

"Please...tell Dad to come back...I can't hold on any longer daddy"