It was already dark by the time Gyu left the class. The sky had turned a heavy grey, and the winter chill seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt. He stayed late to make up for all the days he'd missed.
Kaven was still playing on the ground, so he didn't ask him to walk together.
He plugged in his earphones but didn't play anything. It was a habit he'd developed. It gave him a small bubble of time and privacy away from the noise of the outside world.
Gripping the straps of his bag, he hurried along.
Just a few minutes into the walk he sensed footsteps approaching from behind. He turned... just some school students heading home.
'This area must have a lot of kids,' he thought, shrugging as he walked on. The streetlights were going on and off, which kept him on alert mode.
Then a pungent smell hit his nose. His heart gave a thud. The odor was too familiar and coming from the alley that led to his house. The path ahead was swallowed in darkness, and the fog didn't help.
He gathered the little courage he had and stepped into the alley.
But the trailing feeling grew stronger and uneasiness crawled up his spine.
Right in front of him it looked like a black void with no end. Has his path always felt this eerie?
The smell tortured his senses. He pinched his nose and kept walking until he bumped into someone and fell. And then the voice came, familiar and haunting, "Found you… Beomgyu."
"Up," a heavy shout cut through and Gyu jolted up on his seat.
"Sleeping in class? Out to the corridor."
The teacher's voice hammered into his mind.
He blinked. He was still in class. The day hasn't ended yet.
"A nightmare," he whispered, wiping his face. He was flushed red.
"Didn't you hear me?"
Gyu glanced at the board, then at the teacher. The same question was still being discussed. he hadn't slept long, just a few minutes.
"I didn't miss anything sir, it was just for four or five minutes I drifted and for that i apologize but I'm at the same question."
"Talking back, huh... Get out."
"Why should I?" he asked politely.
Anger crept across the teacher's face.
Terry gulped. So did Kaven.
"Why him, of all students?" they muttered.
"Oh, Is this what your parents taught you?"
"Calling a student out like this, is that what you're here for?" Gyu shot back.
"No…" The teacher faltered. "But I don't want students who don't pay attention in class."
At that point, Gyu had no comeback.
"Isn't it your responsibility to teach every single student?"
"Besides, it's not like I wasn't paying attention. I was tired and fell asleep for a few minutes."
"Call your parents."
Garam's head snapped up. His friends already knew he couldn't risk the whole class finding out.
"I won't."
"Then stand outside."
"I won't do that either."
"Fine. Then solve this problem on the board, and I'll consider letting it go."
Gyu looked at the paper.
"No way. We haven't even reached that chapter yet." a student whispered.
"That's why I don't like that teacher," Erik muttered. "He judges way too much."
"Thank goodness it wasn't us," one girl whispered.
"Looks like I'll get to see my crush out." Epek fake-cried.
"Dramatic," Erik, her friend rolled her eyes.
Meanwhile Gyu bit his lips which stirred other whisperers.
"Cute!"
"Fangirling at a time like this, are we?"
"I can't help it… he just looks so cute when he is about to get detention"
Gyu stared at the question in confusion.
Seriously? It was from the next chapter,
Trigonometry.
He sighed. He hated Trigonometry.
'Guess I'll walk myself out,' he muttered under his breath as he stood up.
"Why not go to the board and apologize properly, or solve the question? If not, don't show up for my class, there's no need for learners like you," the teacher said coldly.
"He's exaggerating again." someone whispered.
"He always picks a target for his outbursts," another student murmured.
"Now… start." The teacher handed him the marker.
Gyu looked at all the students, then at the board and he walked.