Fallen Lightbringers' Return

Chapter 45: Apology

Lee Dojin and the group arrived on the last floor. Dong Jowoon hadn't said anything on the way. Maybe he was embarrassed being corrected by a student, but it did help that they were generally quiet, so the curator did not come to reprimand them. In the first place, this floor was mostly reserved for paintings, and they are most often enjoyed in silence, where thoughts could form the best.

Passing by the last painting, they met with another group. Maybe it was out of sheer coincidence, or maybe someone greater had everything planned, but this would be, Lee Dojin supposed, the catalyst to today's story, ultimately ending with someone's death.

Oh Sanbaek stood in the middle, chatting with the other students when his eyes fell on Lee Dojin. For some reason, he did not hide or run away. Instead, he simply smiled.

Not only Dojin, but even Jyejin was also confused. She had never seen him react like that. For a second, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her, and maybe this wasn't the guy who had made Lee Dojin's life hell for the past few years. But then again, she would never forget such a vile human's face. Her eyebrows tightened from cold anger, but she did not let it out, as there were two teachers next to her.

Oh Sanbaek jogged towards the group. He still held an innocent smile, as if they were sharing an amusing secret. "Yo, Dojin, you guys are done too," he asked then gave the teachers a light bow. "What a coincidence so were we."

"Is there any reason for you to be here," Jyejin asked with a calm but firm voice.

"I'm part of this excursion too, you know? Isn't it natural for me to wait for the teachers?"

"It would be natural for you to fuck off."

"Hey now." Oh Sanbaek raised his hands. "Aren't we all part of the same school? Why are you so stand-offish."

Dong Jowoon immediately backed him up, none the wiser. "He is correct. You are all the same age, so why don't you play well? Let's try to all get along, okay?"

"As if," Kim Jyejin said, feeling her fuse quickly running short. "I'd rather die than be associated with him. Actually, why not. Let's talk this out. Do you know what this guy has done? He" Her words trailed off as she felt Lee Dojin's hand on her shoulder. He shook his head, telling her to calm downand so she did, but on her own terms.

"Jyejin, you are out of line," Dong Jowoon shouted, though he quickly got chastised by a nearby museum staff member. He continued, more silent, "Our school represents harmony and elegance, your behavior leaves a stain on our school's reputation."

"Oh, so my behavior is bad huh?" She asked sarcastically, placing emphasis on the 'my'. "Fine, I don't care."

Baek Ji-ah did not really understand why Jyejin suddenly turned hysterical, but she was a lot more sensible to not censure her. "Jyejin, is something wrong?"

"Actually," Sanbaek chimed in, "Maybe it's better for me to explain." He turned to Dojin, then, to everyone's surprise, bowed down. "But first of all, I'm sorry." There was some expectation for him to straighten up and explain, but he never did.

For the most part, Lee Dojin was simply confused. "For what?"

"Well, I've been thinking, and I realized that I may have not been on my best behavior the last few years. The way I treated you was inexcusable," Sanbaek said, mincing over his words. Evidently, he had found it hard to express himself. "I've had time to reflect after being unable to attend classes. So, uh, all I can say is that I deeply apologize for the actions in my past."

Lee Dojin and the group looked at the boy in a cast in confusion. Though they all had different reasons for such a reaction. From everyone present, ironically, Lee Dojin probably cared the least. "Sure, whatever," he brushed him off by shrugging his shoulders.

Oh Sanbaek felt a vein pop on his forehead, but he immediately retracted any ill-will. "So does that mean there is no bad blood between us?"

"You can shove your apology into your ass," Kim Jyejin spoke, no she hissed, "What's this, all these years you've been a living hell, and now you think these things don't matter after some quick words of friendship. Is this a redemption arc or something. You aren't like Kim Heeson who can feel deep remorse for his actions, and even if, the bridge has long been burned."

"Kim Jyejin," Sanbaek muttered with a weak voice. He appeared to shrink back, though his actual thoughts were an enigma.

Dong Joowon stepped forward, as he predictably did. "Jyejin, you shouldn't speak to a classmate like that," he said. "The boy has come earnestly to bow his head and ask for forgiveness. I'm unsure of what your little squabble is about and who is wrong or right, but I understand how you feel"

"Oh, can you?" The girl was quick to shoot back. During these times, it was easy to tell she wasn't the silent princess everyone made her out to be. "Can you imagine how it feels to be mocked, ridiculed, and humiliated every day? To have no friends because some fucker decided that you had to be the clown? To be scared every time you walk on school grounds? To feel dread and anger 8 hours a day, with no one to lean to? Can you?"

The teacher was left speechless by Jyejin's rapid questions. His face slowly turned red, as he switched from confusion to embarrassment to anger. "You've gone officially too far with this! I'll have a word with your homeroom teacher about it, and send an official notice to your parents. I don't care what your story is; disrespecting a teacher is disallowed."

"Bah, see if I care." She stuck her tongue out in defiance. "You adults are all the same. Justice is blind because it doesn't give a shit."

Oh Sanbaek, seeing the happenings, began to secretly snicker. But he promptly swallowed it down as he saw Lee Dojin's sight upon him. His face quickly turned blue. "So, are we cool?"

Dojin did not answer. He only let out dry laughter, before walking away.

...

"Need help standing?"

Ah Yeurong looked up. She did not recognize the face. It was a boy, her age, with long black hair and a square face. He didn't give the impression f someone worth remembering. "No."

"Wait, I think you are misunderstanding something," the boy said. "We go to the same school. I'm not just some creep."

"Oh, my bad. There are quite a lot of people not part of my class here today. I didn't have time to remember them all." And she had other things to worry about.

"No, it's fine I get it." The boy laughed. "Well, I see you are alone, and you don't look so great, so do you want me to bring you to the teacher?"

"Actually I'm with friends. They are watching over me," she said, but as she turned around, they were nowhere to be seen. Ah Yeurong sighed. "Fine let's go."

And so they did. But not for long. Passing a few artworks, the boy brought her to a group of people she had never seen. Well, except for Il Chunghoo, and some of his friends in his class, but they never associated as she thought them as no-good. Some other people, she supposed, she had seen at school grounds. A feeling of unrest welled up inside her, but she laughed it away. They were all students. What's the worst that could happen?

That question was answered fast.

"Hey, where are we going?" She asked as they headed in a different direction than the meeting point. She was quite sure as she had mapped the route in her head, gearing she may get ill and had to bounce. "That's not where we are supposed to meet."

"We aren't going there," Il Chunghoo said. The whole group did not react, as if they were in tacit agreement. They passed a room without any exhibitions. It was quiet here, with no curator or museum specialist.

"The hell?" She chuckled. "Then where?"

"Sivilla High, have you heard of that place?"

"Never. Why would I want to go there?"

Il Chungoo clicked his tongue. "Why are you asking so many questions? Just follow us."

"Alright this is too weird for me," she said and stopped walking. "I changed my mind, I'll go the long route. You guys have fun with whatever you are doing." She was about to turn around but a guy grabbed her wrist. Her face sank. "What are you doing?"

"Why don't you just follow for now?"

"Piss off," she said and yanked her hand away. But two more boys grabbed her shoulders. "What the hell? This is seriously creepy. Il Chunghoo, is this some kind of sick joke?" But no one showed any reaction. Soon, irrational panic grew within her, and she thrashed around, trying to free herself. The guys quickly held her mouth to prevent her screams from leaking. She bit the hand from one of them.

"Ouch!"

"Hold that bitch down, and stop her from squirming!"

"Why's she so strong, her nails hurt like hell."

A small scuffle started breaking out, generating more noise. "Good thing my father taught me self-defense, you pieces of shits." In the end, Il Chunghoo stepped forward. He looked at the glowering Ah Yeurong and punched her in the face. Her head flung back, and she fell to the ground. The room returned to silence.

Ah Yeurong remained on the ground. After a few seconds, she lifted her head, her eyes had become as dark as the night. Blood spurted from her lips, but she showed no signs of pain, "What the fuck are you doing?" She said in a calm but cold voice.

Il Chunghoo grinned. He grabbed her head and said, "I guess you could call it a kidnapping."