They sat at the bus station waiting.
An awkward silence filled the space and no one dared to disrupt it. It was funny how he never noticed it before, there were clear signs that Dohyun was being bullied, the flinching and the avoidance. 'I'm pretty sure he thought I was suspicious because of those ass holes'. Ethan now understood how the boy felt, if he was in that same position he'd feel uncomfortable too. He should have paid closer attention to Dohyun and maybe he would have saved him much earlier. But it was better late than never, atleast he did something about.
He felt really horrible about the way he viewed Dohyun. He approached him only as a way of survival and that made him feel guilty. He had just been a nuisance, an inconsiderate person to him. He should have known better than to act like that, Dohyun was probably uncomfortable. ' I'm sure he found me annoying ,sigh I should probably stop bothering him'.
Dohyun glanced at the sulking boy seated next to him, he had thought the boy was strange and now even stranger. He didn't really have lots of friends because everyone found him annoying. He remembered all his friends leaving him for cooler friends calling him annoying and too much to be around and that had ruined his self confidence. He thought life would turn around after he transfered schools but life just go worse because instead of being abandoned, he was bullied and beaten almost everyday, he couldn't tell anyone about it because he was worried no one would believe him because he didn't have any friends, and he simply didn't want his family to worry about him. He had planned on enduring it until he finished school but now it seemed that that wasn't necessary any more because someone came along and stood up for him. At first he was uncomfortable with the boy's presence, one of the bullies had even beaten him badly after noticing that the boy was getting close to him.
They had threatened him to stay away from him. And he honestly tried his best but the boy was so persistent with getting to know him that he found it strange. What if this was all a plan from the bullies, what if the boy was also a bully but never just showed up and enjoyed the money from the side lines?. He was taken aback to see the boy defending him from his friends, he had thought they were playing a game with him but that wasn't the case when he had seen them engage in a fight. It wasn't a fair fight and the boy was getting beaten up in the process. He was confused, what did he want? why did he help him? wasn't he a bully aswell?.
He honestly didn't know what to think of the boy anymore, he now knew that he was innocent but what if it was all justan act? He had to thank him for stepping in and defending him, But couldn't bring himself to say the words.
Ethan's Phone rang breaking their thoughts
''Yah?....oh something like that....hmm....ah no worries I can go back on my own.....haaa.....fine you have a point, I'm at the bus station near school....okay bye''
''Was that your family?" Dohyun asked
''No just the driver, I think our home room teacher notified our families about what happened'' He sighed and glanced at Dohyun ''I hope you won't be in any kind of trouble because of me... If you need I can come with you and be your witness''
''No that's fine…they'll probably just fuss over me'' Dohyun replied.
And once again silence fell. Dohyun shifted in his seat before adding ''But...If they do give me any problems I'll let you know ''
''Oh, okay'' he smiled.
After some time the bus finally arrived and Dohyun stood up and waved ethan goodbye before going into the bus, he sat by the window and looked outside, noticing ethan walking over to a fancy car and getting in before it drove away. He had noticed that that car had parked there thirty minutes ago. 'Ah, did he.....'
Ethan arrived home and didn't find anyone, it was given as his uncle was at work and his cousin's still at school.He went up to his room and got changed and lay on his bed. He had long since come to terms with his reality and wouldn't let himself fall again, he didn't forget his plans even though he continued living, acting as if everyday were normal though he sometimes couldn't suppress his anger when faced with the demons that ruined his life and it made him nauseous. Atleast he succeeded in keeping alittle distance from them. He had to tread carefully so as not to alert the enemy, afterall he only had a month.
A month.
A month to his aunts death, a month to his downfall.
He had to stay strong so as not to lose himself and fall.
Back at school, the bell rang and people started packing. One of the bullies was about to leave when some boys blocked his way.
''Urgh!, the fuck's wrong with you guys'' he tried to push them but they just grabbed them, pulling them towards class G. They threw him inside and closed the doors standing guard there. He looked around and found himself with his other friends who were now beaten black and blue all staring at him with accusatory eyes.
''What the–'' but before he could finish he felt hands on his shoulder forcing him to kneel and a hand grabbed his face
''Who do you think you are to touch what's mine?" Dan asked
''Do you have any idea what you've done?" He laughed
''I-I dont know what your talking about'' the boy answered honestly, he was terrified.
Dan just stared at him blankly then he signaled his people to take care of him
''...what's mine can only be hurt by me''