Edric then looked at Neir and Tira. "Hurry inside, the bell's about to ring," he said while crossing his arms.
However, Neir didn't answer. With one pull, she dragged Tira's hand and immediately ran inside.
"Huh? Huh?! Neir?! Why the rush?!" Tira exclaimed in panic, her body nearly flying like a sack of flour being dragged mercilessly. "Slow down! I still want to live!"
After the two of them headed to class, Edric looked at Reynard with a disbelieving expression. "I didn't mishear, did I? You just greeted the kids?"
Reynard only glanced at him briefly. "So?"
Edric stared at him intently. "Usually you just stand there with a stiff smile. I'm starting to suspect, what if this isn't you, but your secret twin?"
Reynard sighed, too lazy to respond.
Edric then smirked, leaning in a little. "But seriously, you should cover your face. It's a pity for those who get a heart attack because of your handsomeness."
Reynard remained flat. "With what?"
Edric thought for a moment, then grinned widely. "A sarung? A sack? Or… a mop cloth?"
Reynard looked at him briefly, then answered casually, "Why not just a wall?"
Edric laughed. "If I use a wall, I'd be the one having to build it first."
Reynard sighed again, already used to his friend's jokes.
Edric then shrugged. "Well, but honestly, I'm surprised. With a face like that, why are you still single? Don't tell me… you prefer men?"
Reynard gave him a sharp look. "In that case, you should be more careful."
Edric immediately stepped back with a panicked expression. "Hey, don't joke like that! I'm normal, you know?! I'm just too busy waiting for the right girl."
Reynard smirked slightly. "Oh? You mean waiting like a rock by the roadside?"
Edric sighed, then folded his arms. "Well, waiting requires patience. But if it takes too long, people might mistake me for a statue."
Reynard smiled faintly, then closed his eyes briefly. "You know, maybe someone will come to you."
Edric raised his eyebrows, interested. "Oh? What do you mean?"
Reynard opened his eyes and glanced at Edric. "Someone like Alarisse, perhaps?"
Edric immediately choked on air. "Huh?! Why did you have to mention her?!"
Reynard just shrugged. "Of all the girls you know, she's the one you watch the most."
Edric looked at him with an indignant expression. "Hey, don't make wild assumptions! I'm a free man, you know?"
Reynard remained calm. "Yeah, yeah. Keep denying."
Edric rubbed his face in frustration. "You're really annoying, you know? Support me for once, will you?"
Reynard gave a small smile. "I'm just being realistic."
Edric let out a long sigh. "Forget it. Come on, let's close the gate before people think we're actually working."
Reynard glanced at him. "Aren't we actually not working?"
Edric chuckled, then patted Reynard's back. "Exactly! That's the good thing about being a volunteer—hardly any work, but we still get paid."
Reynard gave him a flat look. "If you're still getting paid, that's not called a volunteer."
Edric pretended to be shocked. "So… I've been working for free all this time?!"
Reynard sighed softly. "Where did you think the money was coming from?"
Edric thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Well… there's aid funding, right?"
Reynard gave a slight nod. "If it exists. Don't get your hopes up too much."
Edric let out a long breath. "Life is hard…"
They closed the school gate while continuing to banter lightly.
---
During the lesson, Neir truly couldn't concentrate. Noises she had never heard before—the roar of motor vehicles, car horns, even footsteps in the hallway—kept disturbing her. Every second, her left ear picked up strange and chaotic things, while her left eye showed scenes that were completely unfamiliar to her.
On the other side, Dani tried to go about his day. He was now getting ready for work, trying to ride his motorcycle as usual. However, for Neir, the experience was like torture. Every vibration of the motorcycle engine, every sound of the exhaust, and every flash of light on the streets felt like they were piercing into her head.
She was restless. Extremely restless. Even when Alarisse explained the material slowly, Neir still couldn't focus. Her eyes trembled, her hands clenched on the desk.
"HAHA! Look at that! She probably wet her pants!"
Laughter erupted throughout the class as Jaron, a 17-year-old student, shamelessly threw out the taunt. Neir froze. Her ears rang.
Tira, sitting next to her, immediately turned sharply. "Jaron, are you crazy?! Why would you say something like that?!"
But Tira's voice was drowned in the wave of class laughter. Neir looked down, her hands trembling. Her eyes began to grow hot, and before she could hold it back, tears streamed down her cheeks.
Jaron laughed even louder. "See, I told you! That kid really wet herself! Look at her chair, it's probably soaked!"
The laughter grew louder, and that was more than enough for Neir. With a trembling body, she stood up, then ran out of the class.
"Neir!" Tira immediately stood, wanting to chase her, but Neir was already too far away.
Inside the class, Alarisse looked at Jaron with a sharp gaze. She wasn't one to get angry easily, but this time her limit had been crossed.
"You think this is funny, Jaron?" Her voice was cold, piercing like a knife.
Jaron was still laughing, but it subsided a little when he saw their homeroom teacher's expression. "Well, yeah, she ran off. Must be ashamed because—"
SLAM!
Alarisse slapped the desk hard, silencing the entire class.
"Get out." Her voice was firm and undeniable.
Jaron frowned. "Huh?"
"Get out of the class. Now."
Jaron gave a stiff laugh. "Hey, come on, it was just a joke."
"If you don't want to leave, I'll drag you to the principal's office myself," said Alarisse in a deadly tone. "And you can explain yourself why I should give you a suspension."
Jaron fell silent, then grumbled before finally standing up and walking out. As he passed Alarisse, the woman gave him a sharp look.
"Your mouth is too big for a brain that small, Jaron. Don't make me truly make you regret it."
Jaron swallowed, then left.
---
Meanwhile, outside, Neir kept running aimlessly. Her breath was ragged, her tears wouldn't stop flowing. The empty hallways only made the sound of her crying louder.
Dani, who was in the stockroom at work at that time, heard everything. From Neir's ragged breaths to her increasingly deep sobs.
"Hey, kid… Hey, where are you going? Hey, can you hear me?!"
Neir just cried even harder.
Sob… sob…!
Neir finally arrived behind the school, near the large tree. She curled up there, crying silently.
Dani took a deep breath. He was also angry hearing how that kid treated Neir.
"Okay, Neir… okay. This is too much. I can't stand that whatever-his-name-is either. We need to discuss this problem."
Neir was still crying, but this time she heard Dani more clearly.
"I know this sucks. I know you hate it."
Neir bit her lip, then whispered between her sobs. "I… I don't like this… I hate all of this…"
"I know. That's why we have to think of something."
Dani was silent for a moment. Then, something crossed his mind.
"Mr. Gharrick."
Neir fell silent. Her sobs began to subside.
"Mr. Gharrick might know something. Maybe he can help you."
Neir slowly raised her head. Her tears were still flowing, but this time her mind began to focus.
Dani felt the same. He didn't know why, but he had a strong hunch—Mr. Gharrick held the key to all of this.
---
Tira finally found Neir.
She ran to the back of the school, her breath ragged. Under the large tree with sprawling roots, there Neir was curled up, her knees pulled to her chest.
Neir's eyes were swollen. Her crying had grown much softer, but traces of tears still streamed down her cheeks. She looked so small under the shadow of the giant tree.
Tira approached her slowly. "Neir..."
Neir lifted her head slightly, then hurriedly wiped her face. "Tira... I'm sorry."
Tira was silent for a moment. Sorry?
"Why are you apologizing?" she asked softly.
Neir looked down. "I'm troubling you..."
Tira's heart ached. Neir was humiliated, Neir was cornered, and now she was the one feeling guilty?
Tira sighed, trying to contain the anger still boiling in her chest. She crouched in front of Neir, looking at the girl gently. "Neir, you're not troubling anyone. It's that person who went too far. Jaron has been punished to clean the bathrooms, and I'm sure he regrets it now."
Neir remained silent. But at least, her empty gaze was gradually recovering.
Dani, who heard everything, also felt relieved. He was still angry with Jaron, but more than that, he could feel how pressured Neir was.
"Neir," Dani finally said, his voice calmer.
Neir flinched slightly. "Dani..."
"You don't have to bear everything alone."
Neir tightened her hands on her knees. She bit her lip, then whispered, "…I hate this."
Dani closed his eyes briefly. "I know."
Silence. But for the first time, the silence didn't feel suffocating.
Tira patted Neir's shoulder gently. "Let's go back to class."
Neir hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
However, as soon as they arrived, Alarisse was waiting in front of the classroom door. The teacher's gaze was full of understanding.
"Neir, you can go home early if you want," she said softly. "It's okay for today."
Neir actually wanted to say that she wanted to stay in class. But before she could open her mouth, Dani's voice interjected.
"Take it. We can go to Mr. Gharrick's house earlier."
Before Neir could answer, a louder voice was heard.
"Dani! Who are you talking to, huh?"
Dani flinched. Mr. Rudi stood in front of the store, looking at him suspiciously.
Dani quickly raised his phone. "I'm on a call, Mr. Rudi!"
Mr. Rudi snorted, then went into the store. Dani sighed in relief.
"Go ahead," he said to Neir. "Just agree."
Neir hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
Tira brought Neir's bag and smiled. "You apologize too much, Neir. Just focus on relaxing for now, okay?"
Neir nodded slowly. She then turned toward the school gate, walking away without anyone stopping her.
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