It's A Fine Line

7: Another Cast

My cast was finally off and I was grateful. I could finally walk freely and shower without having to keep my one foot out of the water.

The sessions with Jungkook became easier to handle because the boy was finally listening to me. He didn't always do the work I gave him. But atleast his attention was sometimes directed towards me. But a new problem arose. The boy sucked at math. He truly was awful at it. Mrs Kang wasn't exaggerating when she said he needed help. He didn't only need help from me. He needed some major help from God.

Now that I was his tutor I decided I would make sure he passed Math comfortably. I guess his problem was he didn't have confidence when answering questions and the doubt caused him to make stupid mistakes.

In the last two sessions Jungkook seemed a bit distant. Not that we were close in any way, ever. But after spending time with him I noticed a few habits of his.

Like he would run a hand through his hair when he was nervous or uncomfortable. His nose would twitch when he got frustrated. He would stick his tongue out when he was really concentrating and his ears would go red if he got embarrassed.

He never spoke much during the lessons but he would make snarky remarks when I spoke or would make strange noises when he got frustrated. However, in the last two lessons he remained completely silent throughout. The most I got out from him was a nod. Even when I hit him with my pencil he said nothing.

The strangest part is that at school he continued being mean to me. He was actually meaner. Although, now everyone was a victim to his rude behaviour, not only me. He'd been in fights before at school but this time around it was almost as if every minute he faught with someone. Instead of the fists he used for his male counter parts, he used his words on me. Which somehow hurt more.  I'd been called ugly and unwanted before but Jungkook had a way of saying things. A way that made me believe he meant every word he said. But I managed to convince myself that he didn't know me well enough for me to take any of his statements seriously.

It was the end of the day and I was walking outside the school gates. Most students were crossing the road to get to the popular hangout spot, Ikigai, a Japanese restaurant which was was famous for its karaoke bar during the week and it's live music during the weekends.

I noticed Jungkook walking too with his headphones on, like always. He wore a blank expression as he started slowly crossing the road absent mindedly.

A car approached him fast but he didn't see it. Neither did he hear it because of the music that was currently distracting his hearing.

The car clearly wasn't going to brake and even it did, it would be too late by then.

I wanted to panic but I didn't have time to. I ran as fast as I could towards Jungkook, dropping my bag in the process, shouting his name and telling him to move out the way. A couple of the other students also noticed the car and yelled his name.

He didn't hear me, or anybody else for that matter, and so I did the only thing I could when I reached him. I pushed him out the way.

I saved Jungkook but didn't have time to save myself. As soon as I pushed him, the car hit me with so much force I went hurtling backwards. I landed on the tar and heard a cracking sound. My only hope was that it wasn't my skull. I heard someone calling my name but, because of the pain I felt and energy I lacked, I was unable to respond.

As I slipped into an unconcious state many thoughts flew around in my mind.
I wondered why Jungkook walked so slowly.
I wondered why he crossed the road with his headphones on. Everyone knew that was dangerous.
I wondered if I was actually going to die.
I wondered if my parents would come for my funeral.
I wondered if I wanted to live anymore.
But most of all I wondered why I willingly put Jungkook's life before mine.