Chained Heart (EXO Xiumin)

Chain 3

Yeri's POV

"Can I sit here?" He asked.

What? I tilt my head a little, sure that I hadn't heard correctly. I look around and notice that there are still some empty seats available in the lounge.

I see a couple of football players sitting at the back looking at me and my aspect, laughing. I look behind Minseok's shoulder and I feel tears pricking my eyes after understanding that him, too, is taking part of the torture, sitting next to me is part of the game.

Before I can muster the courage to say no, he puts a lot of books on the table and lets himself fall on the seat beside me.

I immediately hurried and moved myself as fast as I could away from him. He doesn't notice it, or maybe simply decides not to comment about it.

"Hey, you are Yeri, aren't you? Park Ye Ri? I don't know if you remember me, I'm Minseok. Kim Minseok? We went to elementary school together?" He finishes with a question and I can only look at him like an idiot, like my mother when she has taken too many pills for the cold.

This is a new tactic, one I haven't tried before. I looked around one more time to see who else might be involved in this, but just then the bell rings and the teacher gets up from his desk and demands for our attention, or so he tries.

For my part, I can't concentrate at all in what he says, something in my left is forcing all my attention.

I'm on guard even more than usual. My emotions are on edge, because although I do not know Minseok now, I knew him when he was younger.

I have always admired his goodness, even more when any shred of kindness in my house had disappeared and it had spread around my school.

But apparently the time has changed something more than just his size and appearance, his nature has changed as well and he has quickly taken part in the game 'torturing Yeri'

Every time he moves I jump involuntarily. I feel his eyes on me, but I refuse to be baited. I keep my eyes on the open notebook in front of me, blank, despite the teacher's lecture.

He's telling us about the tools we need for the class. I can't concentrate enough to plan how to get all those impossible items. For the only thing I raise my head for is to look at the clock. As soon as the bell rings, I'm ready.

I jump out of my seat, picking up my books from the edge of the desk. Thanks to divine intervention, I do not fall. I run out of the room, not worrying about who I hit on my way out, I struggle to keep my feet under me while I'm beaten and pushed.

I have to fight until after I passed the area in which the buses are parked, even if my house is five miles away from school I qualify to travel on them. I quickly discovered that the bus was just a change of scenery in the pursuit, one with no hope of scape for five miles.

This is why it is worth walking. Moreover, the added advantage in walking is that it takes more time, which keeps me away from home for a little longer.

Today I walk quickly, at least until I am out of the school boundaries, beyond where most children must walk muffled. Some cars pass with the windows down, students hurl insults at my outfit, but I ignore them.

I still can't believe he is a part of it. I'm not sure as to why this is bothering me so much. There's people that ignore me, of course. I would have preferred him to be one of them, but I honestly think I hoped he used to be the same person he used to be all those years ago.

I worry about it all the way home, and apparently this leads my abdomen to harden, as always, and my attention is directed to wonder about the reality of what's coming with Minseok.