A Tutor For My Bully

Chapter 15: Kael Protects Her... In His Own Way

Kael's POV

I stood rooted to the spot long after Milky disappeared into the hallway. Why did she ignore me? She normally answered whenever I called her name, even if it was just a timid "Yes, Kael?" But today... nothing. I clicked my tongue and shoved my hands into my pockets.

"Tch... Whatever."

I turned around, pretending it did not bother me.

It bothered me.

I walked over to the bench where she had been sitting moments ago and dropped onto it with a sigh. The place still felt... warm.

For some stupid reasons, I found myself staring at the empty seat beside me. Did I do something?

No.

I couldn't remember. Yesterday's tutoring session went fine. I didn't order her around much. I even... thanked her.

My brows furrowed.

Was thanking someone supposed to make them avoid you?

“Ohhh” I exclaimed. That was when it downed on me, the photograph

Girls were weird,I smirked. so that is what all this is all about.

Milky was even weirder.

"Kael!"

Adrienne's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He dropped onto the bench beside me with two bottles of sports drink, tossing one into my lap. "You've been spacing out a lot lately."

"I haven't."

"You literally have."

"I was thinking."

Adrienne smirked. "About hockey?"

"No."

"Math?"

"...No."

His grin widened.

"Ohhh... a girl." I almost choked on my drink.

"What?"

"You've got that face."

"What face?"

"The face people make when they're thinking about someone."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Adrienne laughed. "You've been disappearing after school too."

"I have tutoring."

"With who?"

I immediately looked away.

"No one you'd know."

"Hmm." He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I don't like that answer."

"You don't have to." Adrienne shrugged. "Fine. Keep your secrets." Thankfully, he dropped the topic. Or at least I thought he did. "So..."

"What now?"

"Is it the girl from my birthday party?" I nearly crushed the plastic bottle in my hand. "What girl?"

"The one with the glasses."

"...Milky?"

"So you remember her name."

"I remember everyone's names."

"Liar."

"I do."

"You don't even know the goalkeeper's surname."

"...That's different."Adrienne burst into laughter.

"You're hilarious."

"I'm leaving."

I stood up before he could ask another question. "You run away whenever I mention her."

"I run away because you're annoying."

"Sure."

I walked off without looking back. There was no way I was letting Adrienne find out Milky was tutoring me. He'd never let me hear the end of it.

•••••

Lunch break arrived faster than I expected.

The cafeteria buzzed with voices, trays clattering against tables. As usual, everyone gathered around mine. Some hockey guys. A few classmates. Jenny kept glancing over but wisely stayed away.

Good.

I wasn't in the mood. I took a bite of my burger before someone called out loudly.

"Hey! Isn't that your nerd?"

I frowned.

"My what?"

The guy pointed toward the food counter. Milky stood there quietly, waiting for her lunch. She clutched her tray with both hands while another girl accidentally bumped into her. Her drink spilled onto her uniform.

"Oh my God," the girl laughed.

"My bad."

It wasn't an apology.

It was a mockery. The girls around her laughed too. Milky quickly grabbed tissues.

"It's okay..."

She smiled that same small, apologetic smile. That stupid smile again. Why was she apologizing? She wasn't even the one at fault. The laughter grew louder. One of the girls snatched her glasses right off her face.

"Oops."

Another tossed them to someone else. "Catch!"

They started passing the glasses around like a toy. Milky stood helplessly.

"Please..."

Her voice was barely audible. "Give them back. "Someone laughed. "Aww... the blind mouse can't see." Another mimicked her. "Please... give them back.' The table around me laughed too. I slowly put my burger down. Something inside me snapped. Without saying a word, I stood.

"Kael?" one of the guys called.

I ignored him.

Every step toward them made the laughter die down. The girl holding Milky's glasses smiled.

"Oh... Kael." She probably thought I'd join in. Instead...

"Give them back."

She blinked. "What?"

"I said..."

My voice dropped.

"...give them back." Nobody moved. I looked directly at the girl. "You've got three seconds."

Her smile disappeared.

"I-I was just joking."

"So was I." She hurriedly handed the glasses back to Milky.

Milky took them carefully with both hands.

"T-Thank you..."

I didn't answer. Instead, I looked around at everyone watching. "Find someone else to entertain yourselves with."

Silence.

Complete silence.

I clicked my tongue.

"Wasting my lunch break over something this pathetic."

I turned toward Milky.

"You." She looked up immediately.

"Y-Yes?"

"If you're going to wear glasses, at least stop letting people steal them." She blinked.

"I..."

"They're expensive."

"...Okay."

"And stop saying 'please' to idiots."

"...Okay."

"You're annoying."

"...Sorry."

"There you go again." A few people chuckled nervously. To everyone else...

It looked like I was bullying her. Exactly how I wanted it. No one would suspect I had actually stepped in to help her. I shoved my hands into my pockets.

"Move."

She quickly stepped aside. I walked past her without another word. Behind me, the entire cafeteria stayed unusually quiet. Nobody dared touch Milky again. Not while I was around. I hid the tiny smile threatening to appear on my face.

Good.

That's how it should be. As I reached the cafeteria doors…

I heard Linda's voice from somewhere behind me. "So that's how you're playing this game now, Kael Blackwood..."

I paused for half a second.

Then I kept walking.

Something told me...

Linda wasn't going to let this go.