But i wasn't a liar (ongoing)

Part 13

Part 13

**School Courtyard - Last Goodbye** 
Hyunjin stood frozen at the school gates, his knuckles white around the straps of his backpack. America wasn't home, but Korea was hell—the place that had devoured Felix whole. The brick walls blurred before him as he committed this last image to memory. 

A familiar mocking voice cut through his thoughts. 

"Well if it isn't Sam!" Tommy swaggered closer, grinning. "What's with the face? You look like a—" 

"Not today," Hyunjin warned, stepping forward until their chests nearly touched. "Walk away." 

Tommy's laugh was all teeth. "Aw, is our Korean prince feeling sick?" 

Hyunjin turned to leave, but Tommy's next words hooked into his ribs: 

"Using Emma like some pawn...classy. Though not as low as getting your 'friend' disappeared." Tommy tsked. "What kind of idiot trusts you anyway?" 

Hyunjin whirled around so fast his backpack hit the ground. "Don't you dare—" The slap echoed across the quad, splitting Tommy's lip. 

Blood bloomed on Tommy's chin, but he only laughed harder. "Stronger than I thought! Too bad your precious Felix was too stupid to see you're poison." 

Something in Hyunjin snapped. 

His vision tunneled to crimson as he tackled Tommy to the pavement. Fists cracked against bone—once, twice—as students screamed. Someone tried pulling him off, but Hyunjin was wildfire given form. 

"My friend," he growled between blows, "is an angel." Blood sprayed with each word. "You don't get to say his name!" 

Emma's hands gripped his shoulders. "Hyunjin, stop!" 

He flung her off with a snarl. "Don't touch me!" 

By the time teachers intervened, Tommy's face was a ruined mask. As they hauled him away on a stretcher, the crowd murmured: 

"He started it..." 
"Tommy deserved it..." 

Hyunjin stood panting, Felix's name still burning on his tongue like a prayer.

The concrete steps still vibrated with the echoes of violence as Emma finally broke the silence. 

"I never knew you could fight like that," she said, trying to sound light. Her fingers picked at a loose thread on her skirt. 

Hyunjin stared at the bloodstains on his knuckles. "I'm leaving America." 

Emma's breath hitched. The world seemed to tilt. "W-what?" Her forced smile crumbled. "But...why? What about school?" 

"Doesn't matter." He stood abruptly. "I'll finish in Korea. Goodbye, Emma." 

That word—*goodbye*—sent the first tear rolling down her cheek before she could stop it. 

Hyunjin hesitated, then added softer, "Thank you. For everything." As he turned to leave, Emma lurched forward. 

"Hyunjin!" 

He paused. 

"Are we..." Her voice cracked. "Are we friends?" 

Hyunjin froze. Friends? He wasn't sure he remembered what that word meant anymore. "...Yes." 

Emma's arms were around him before he could react—her citrus shampoo, the warmth of her cheek against his shoulder. His body locked up, hands hovering awkwardly before gently pushing her away.