A Tutor For My Bully

Chapter 16: Linda Strikes Back

Akira's POV

The final bell echoed through the classroom, and students hurried out in groups, their laughter filling the hallway.I took my time packing my books, There was no reason to rush.Kael had hockey practice after school, which meant our tutoring session wouldn't start until later in the evening. For once, I had a little time to myself.

I slid my notebook into my backpack and adjusted my glasses.

"Akira."

The voice made me pause.

I looked up.

Linda stood by my desk with her arms folded, her perfectly styled hair resting over one shoulder. Two of her friends stood behind her, wearing identical smirks. My stomach tightened. "L-Linda..." She smiled. Not the friendly kind.

The dangerous kind. "I've been looking for you."

I forced a small smile.

"Do... do you need something?" She glanced around the classroom before looking back at me.

"Walk with me."

"I..."

"I wasn't asking." Her voice remained calm, but there was enough authority in it to make me obey. I followed her into one of the quieter hallways.

The chatter from the other students slowly faded until it was just the four of us.

Linda turned to face me.

For a moment, she said nothing. She simply looked me up and down as though she were judging every part of me.

"You've changed."

I blinked.

"I have?"

"You smile more now."

I didn't know how to answer.

"So?"

"So..." she stepped closer, "...who gave you the confidence?"

"I don't understand."

"No?"

She laughed softly.

"I've noticed you hanging around Kael a lot lately."

My heartbeat skipped.

"We're just..."

"What?" She tilted her head.

"Classmates?"

I stayed quiet.

"Friends?"

Still nothing.

Linda chuckled.

"Don't worry. I'm not asking because I'm jealous."

Somehow...

That made me even more nervous. "I'm asking because people are talking." My fingers tightened around the strap of my backpack.

"What... are they saying?"

"That you've forgotten who you are." Her words landed heavily. "I haven't."

"You have."

She circled around me slowly in a way that made it seem like she wanted to pounce on me. "You used to keep your head down."

She stopped beside me.

"Now you're attending hockey games."

Another step.

"Going to parties."

Another.

"Walking beside Kael Blackwood."

I lowered my gaze.

"I didn't ask for any of that."

"No."

Linda nodded.

"You didn't."

She leaned closer.

"But you're enjoying it." I wanted to deny it.

The truth was...

I did enjoy watching hockey now. I enjoyed tutoring Kael. I even looked forward to our conversations. Those thoughts made guilt creep into my chest. Linda noticed my silence.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The guilty face."

She smiled again.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about."

"I don't."

"You do." She folded her arms.

"Tell me something, Akira."

I looked at her.

"Do you really think people like us and people like you live in the same world?" Her question caught me off guard.

"I..."

"You don't belong with us." One of the girls behind her giggled. Linda continued.

"You've always been the quiet scholarship girl."

She glanced at my worn-out backpack.

"And that's okay." Her voice softened.

"But don't start believing you're suddenly one of us." My throat felt dry. "I never believed that."

"Good."

She smiled. "Because you're not."

Silence settled between us.

I stared at the floor.

Maybe...

Maybe she was right. I wasn't like them, I could never be. Not with my old clothes. Not with my glasses. Not with my mother's endless overtime shifts just to keep us afloat. Not with the way I still apologized for everything. Linda took one final step toward me.

"Know your place."

Those three words hurt more than any insult she had ever thrown at me.

She turned to leave before pausing.

"Oh..."

She looked over her shoulder. "One more thing." "If you embarrass Kael again..."

Her smile disappeared. "...I won't be this nice."

With that, she walked away.

Her friends followed, laughing quietly among themselves.

I remained where I was.

Unable to move.

Unable to think.

"Know your place..."

The words echoed inside my head. Had I really been embarrassing Kael?

He had taken me to a party.

He had helped me at the photo booth.

He had even come to my house.

Maybe...

Maybe people thought I was trying to get close to him. Maybe everyone was laughing behind my back. I wrapped my arms around myself as if I was in a cold place. For the first time in days...

I didn't want to go tutoring. By the time I reached Kael's house, the sun was beginning to set.

I stood outside his gate longer than usual.

Should I go home instead?

Before I could decide, the gate opened.

"There you are." Kael stood there in casual clothes, a hockey bag slung over one shoulder.

"You almost made me think you weren't coming."

"I..."

He frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"I said I'm fine."

"You also said that last time." He stared at me carefully.

His eyes narrowed.

"Did someone cry?" He asked sarcastically.

My hand instinctively brushed my cheek.

"No."

"Then why are your eyes red?"

"I was just tired."

"Akira."

He rarely called me by my name.

It made me look up.

"Who said something to you?"

"No one."

"Don't lie."

"I..."

He sighed. "I hate it when you do this."

"I'm sorry."

"There you go again." His voice wasn't angry this time.

If anything...

He sounded frustrated.

He ran a hand through his hair before muttering,

"I don't care what happened..." He looked straight at me. "...but if someone made you look like this..." His jaw tightened. "...they're going to regret it." I felt my heart skip. Before I could respond...

A notification buzzed from Kael's phone.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression darkened instantly. The message was from Linda.

Ask your little tutor if she remembers what I told her today.

Kael slowly lifted his eyes to mine.

"...Milky."

For the first time...

His voice carried something I had never heard before.

Anger.

Not at me.

At whoever had hurt me.