Care for me (L. S.)

20

Thursday the 24th of September | Harry

"So class, can anyone summarize what we were talking about yesterday?" The teacher eyed the students expectedly.

"Well," he continued, "anybody have any ideas?" He looked around the classroom for a victim. "Nobody?" He remained really patient, which scared the hell out of Harry if he was being honest. It felt like the teacher was like a shark who was planning his attack.

"Mr. Malik? Do you have anything to add? Any thoughts to share?"

Zayn shrugged and rested his chin on the back of the chair. He was seated the wrong way, which was probably the reason why Mr. Johnson picked him out.

"Nothing at all? Because if you paid attention you would know what we discussed in the last lesson." He gave Zayn a piercing look.

It was the fifth period of the day, which meant everybody was or very annoyed or very exhausted or both. The sun was beaming through the window and a coincidental ray of light fell right on Mr. Johnson's bald head, which made it glimmer like a medieval shield. That, and the pineapple juice Harry drowned down during lunch were the only things that made sure he didn't fall asleep right there on his desk.

The day had been pretty boring so far because of his science-oriented morning. (Chemistry? Chemmystery more like! Physics was even worse. Harry didn't get it for one bit and he wanted to disappear because he had never been so bad at a class before but at the same time asking for help felt like admitting to himself that he was actually in need of help. Plus it felt weird asking people to help him when he had gotten so used to helping people. Maybe as a last resource, he promised himself.)

Mr. Johnson scratched over his hairless head and showed his teeth in a mean grin: "Too bad then Mr. Malik. Too bad–"

"Actually," Zayn interrupted, "I do have something to contribute, sir."

Harry flinched. Zayn's voice sounded chilly. Cold and angry. This was going to be good.

"Please. Enlighten us."

Zayn didn't lift his head up when he spoke; his chin remained resting on his arms, folded over the backseat of the chair.

"Well yesterday we spend the entire 50 minutes reading about why being emotionally manipulative is ok if you claim to love that person and want to keep them to yourself with the ridiculous excuse that you want to protect them – which I don't think anyone ever agreed with," he mumbled, still looking very disinterested.

"I can see where you are coming from but that statement is not exactly relevant, Mr. Ma–"

"I'm sorry," Zayn interrupted again, talking with a smooth, quiet voice that sounded anything but apologetic. "Did he or did he not mislead her the entire time? I mean he obviously knew what he was getting himself into when he started the dare. It's not like he didn't know. Plus he never told her the truth himself. She had to find out via that other girl. If he really loved her, he should've told her himself."

Zayn sighed, succeeding to look both annoyed with and indifferent to the story.

"And yeah he had problems and shīt but he has to realize that doesn't justify anything. He's a bad person regardless."

"So," Zayn sighed, tired after that explanation. "I think it's necessary to clarify that this is not a healthy relationship and not a normal view on love... whatsoever.".

The teacher looked at him as if he were a disobedient toddler. "You went very offensive there, Mr. Malik! Careful, people might start to think you actually care!" he warned, forcing his teeth together unnaturally, as if trying out smiling for the first time.