A Tutor For My Bully

Chapter 13: The Photograph

Akira's POV

The words refused to leave my mind."Thanks."

I rolled onto my side, burying my face into my pillow.Did Kael really thank me? I had replayed that moment countless times since yesterday. It still sounded strange in my head.

Kael Blackwood...

The same Kael who usually said things like "You're slow," or "Don't waste my time," had actually thanked me. A faint smile tugged at my lips before I quickly shook my head. "What am I smiling for?" I muttered to myself. He was still the same bully. One little "thank you" wouldn't magically erase everything he had done to me.

Still...

It felt nice.

Very nice.

Monday morning arrived sooner than I wanted. As usual, I adjusted my oversized glasses before stepping into Underwich Academy. The hallways buzzed with conversations. Students hurried from one classroom to another while others gathered around their lockers. I quietly walked past them, hoping today would be peaceful.

No such luck.

"Morning, Milky."

I froze.

That voice...

I slowly turned around.

Kael leaned lazily against the lockers with one hand tucked into his pocket. His hockey bag rested beside him.

"Good... morning," I answered cautiously.

He glanced around the hallway before lowering his voice.

"Come to my place after school." I blinked.

"Today's your turn?"

He nodded once.

"Don't be late."

Before I could answer, a group of hockey players walked toward him. Kael immediately straightened. His expression turned cold again.

"What are you staring at, Milky?" he said loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. "I wasn't staring."

"Then get lost."

A few students laughed. I lowered my head and quietly walked away. My chest tightened a little. Why did I expect anything different? He was still Kael.

Still my bully.

Classes went on as usual. By lunchtime, I escaped to the library. The familiar scent of books instantly calmed me.I wandered through the shelves until I found a romance novel I hadn't read before.

Just as I opened it—

"Akira!"

Camila's cheerful voice echoed through the aisle.

I looked up.

She smiled as she walked over. "I knew I'd find you here."

"You were looking for me?"

"Yeah."

She sat across from me.

"You disappeared after Adrienne's party."

"Oh..."

"I wanted to ask if you got home safely."

"I did."

Camila smiled in relief.

"Good."

She hesitated before leaning forward.

"Can I ask you something?"

I nodded.

"Are you and Kael... friends now?"

My eyes widened.

"No!"

She giggled.

"You answered too quickly."

"We're not friends."

"Really?"

"Really."

She studied my face for a few seconds before shrugging.

"Okay."

Thankfully, she didn't ask anything else. Because I honestly didn't know what to call whatever was going on between Kael and me. School ended in the afternoon.

I made my way toward Kael's house with my backpack hanging over one shoulder. Gerald greeted me warmly at the gate.

"Good afternoon, Miss."

"Good afternoon, sir."

He smiled knowingly before opening the gate.

"You can go in." I thanked him and walked toward the front door. Before I could knock, the door swung open.

Kael stood there.

"You took three minutes longer than yesterday."

I blinked.

"You timed me?"

"No."

"You just said—"

"I guessed."

I sighed.

"You're impossible."

A tiny smile appeared on his lips. "I know."

That smile...

He smiled more these days. It was strange.

But somehow...

It suited him.

Two hours passed quickly.

We finished solving the last mathematics problem. Kael dropped his pen. "I finally get matrices."

"I told you that you would."

He stretched lazily before standing.

"I'm hungry."

"You always are."

"I play hockey."

"And?"

"I need food."

I laughed softly.

"Fine."

He stared at me.

"What?"

"You laughed."

"So?"

"You don't laugh around other people."

"I do."

"No, you don't."

I opened my mouth to argue. Then closed it again. Maybe...

He was right.

As I packed my books, something slipped from between the pages. A photograph fluttered onto the floor. I gasped.

"My picture!" Before I could bend down, Kael picked it up. It was one of the photo booth pictures from Adrienne's party. The first one.

The only normal picture we had taken together.

Kael looked at it quietly.

Then...

He chuckled.

"You look terrified."

"I wasn't terrified."

"You were."

"The flash surprised me."

"It surprised both of us."

He stared at the photograph a little longer.

Without realizing it, I found myself smiling too.

"We looked funny," I admitted.

"A little."

"I still like it."

"So do I."

The words escaped his mouth so naturally that neither of us spoke for a moment. Kael blinked.

Almost as if he hadn't meant to say it aloud.

He cleared his throat and handed the picture back to me. "You should keep it somewhere safe."

"I will." I carefully placed it inside my notebook.

"What about yours?" I asked.

He reached into his wallet. Tucked neatly behind one of the card slots...

...was the matching photograph.

"I kept mine too."

For some reason...

Seeing that made my heart beat just a little faster. Neither of us spoke. The silence wasn't awkward.

It was...

Comfortable.

"I should get going," I finally said.

"Yeah." I slung my backpack over my shoulder and walked toward the door. Just as I reached it—

"Milky." I turned around.

"What?"

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"...Thanks." There it was again.

That word.

I smiled before I could stop myself.

"You're welcome."

His ears turned slightly red. He looked away immediately.

"Go home."

"I am."

"And don't lose that picture."

"I won't."

"I mean it."

"I won't," I repeated with a laugh. As I stepped outside, I held my notebook tightly against my chest. I didn't know why...

But somehow...

That tiny photograph had become more precious than any picture I had ever taken. I smiled all the way to the gate. I never noticed the figure standing across the street.

Watching everything.

Watching me leave Kael Blackwood's house.

The figure slowly lowered their phone after taking a picture.

A satisfied smile spread across their face.

"...Interesting.”