NXT 2 U [Minsung AU]

-11- Side effects

~POV Jisung~

Hearing my question, Lee Felix blinked, slightly confused. He explained to me that, as 3rd year student's representative, he had come to see how the detention was going. But strangely, he didn't exchange a single word with Minho, who was the only 3rd year student involved. Then, satisfied with my explanations, he leaved without saying a word.

I couldn't say exactly why, but the scene had been quite disturbing. I had felt a muted but real tension between him and my neighbor, as if both had strived to pretend the other didn't exist. I wanted to ask Minho about it, but before I could say anything, the headmaster left the detention room, asking me to follow him to return the smartphone to its owner and take care of the papers.

Probably to punish me for my audacity, he had demanded I give him a full report of the whole affair before I went home. At 6 p.m. on the dot, finally, I dropped it on his desk, feeling an enormous weight being lifted from my shoulders. Mr. Hyun had mellowed a bit and I was hoping our relationship wasn't too marred by what had happened today, even if deep down I didn't care.

Indeed, I didn't regret what I had done. So, I sighed with relief as I left the building. Part of me was amused to think Mr. Shin and the two culprit students were still stuck here for a while. In the end, my only disappointment was I couldn't speak with Minho before he left.

I didn't have time to make sure he was all right and despite myself, this missed act was weighing on my heart. Putting my satchel on the floor, I stretched, my eyes closed, trying to chase away my dark thoughts, when a faint sound of footsteps coming towards me caught my attention. 

Immediately I turned around, while my breath suddenly stop.

"Minho?" I was so surprised to see him I remained motionless, eyes and mouth wide open. "Why are you still here?"

As an answer, he looked away and walked towards the highschool gate. 

Hn... Of course. Did I expect things to be simpler now? Whatever happened, he was still that boy I met last night. Always distant, indecipherable. Close, yet so far away. I didn't have requisite instructions to crack that huge wall he constantly kept between him and the rest of the world. But despite everything, I was relieved to see him.

Without saying a word, we took the path to our building.

At the end of the day, the air was slightly cold. Autumn was in full swing and winter was fast approaching. I watched dead leaves fall to the ground, wondering if this long silence between us would last forever, when we arrived in front of a long staircase. As we walked down, people's conversations came to me like a buzzing sound. A part of me, stupid, was quite jealous of these strangers who spoke normally to each other, while I, an adult, what's more a teacher, had such a hard time starting a simple conversation with him.

Minho walked next to me, head down. His lips corner was still a little red, reminding the blow he had received. He seemed so exhausted it worried me.

Things were back to normal now, but how many situations like this had he experienced before? Had my today action really changed anything for him? Was it enough or just a drop in the ocean? What was his daily life really like? Was it only violence, both at home and school? Suddenly, the binder in my satchel seemed heavier. What was I going to find in it? Even more violence and pain?

When I saw him bite his lips nervously, I suddenly felt anxious. In an instant, all the stress I had accumulated during the day fell on me like a lead weight. I felt my stomach twisting again. My hands had become sweaty and trembling. Then, I felt my vision blur.

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❣

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