A Tutor For My Bully

Chapter 23: The Gift

Akira's POV

I couldn't move, the note trembled in my hand as I stared at the empty street. The figure was gone.

It had happened so quickly that I couldn't even tell if it was a boy or a girl, only the silence remained.

The chocolate bar rested inside the little gift box, untouched. A cold shiver crawled down my spine.

Who would leave something like this outside my house? And... How did they know where I lived? My fingers tightened around the note. "Since you wouldn't accept it at school... I thought I'd try again." It sounded harmless, polite, even.

But somehow… It frightened me more than the anonymous warning, someone had followed me home, someone knew where I lived.

"Akira?"

My mother's voice drifted from inside the house.

"Sweetie, are you alright?" I hurriedly folded the note and shoved it into the pocket of my cardigan before she stepped outside, she looked at me with concern. "What are you doing standing there?" "I... I was just throwing out the trash." She smiled tiredly. "You've been outside for quite a while." "I got distracted." Her eyes fell on the small gift box in my hand. "What's that?"

"Oh..."

I forced a smile. "I think someone dropped it by mistake." "You should leave it outside then."

"I will." She nodded and walked back inside. I waited until she disappeared before letting out the breath I had been holding.

No. I couldn't tell Mom, She already worked herself to exhaustion every day, the last thing she needed was another reason to worry. I glanced at the gift one last time, then I quietly carried it into my room.

*********

Sleep refused to come, every tiny sound outside made me sit upright.

A dog barking, a passing motorcycle, branches scraping against the window, everything sounded suspicious.

Around midnight, I finally drifted into a restless sleep. Only to wake up from a nightmare.

Someone was chasing me through the school hallways, no matter how fast I ran… The footsteps behind me never stopped. I jolted awake, breathing hard.

The digital clock beside my bed read 3:17 a.m. I hugged my knees to my chest. "It's just a dream..." I whispered the words several times before my heartbeat finally slowed.

>>>>>>>

The next morning, I looked exhausted, dark circles lingered beneath my eyes. "You look terrible," Camila said the moment she saw me.

"Thanks," I replied calmly. "I wasn't trying to be rude."

"I know." She linked her arm with mine as we walked toward class. "Did you stay up reading another novel?"

"I wish." She frowned. "Then what happened?"

I hesitated. Should I tell her? The warning. The chocolate. The note. The figure outside my house. "...Nothing." Camila stopped walking.

"You've been saying 'nothing' a lot lately."

"I just didn't sleep well," I lied. She stared at me for a few seconds before sighing. "If you ever need someone to talk to..." She squeezed my hand gently. "I'm here." A warm feeling settled inside my chest. "I know."

"And don't forget."

"What?"

"You still owe me pictures from the photo booth." I couldn't help laughing. "I haven't forgotten."

"Good." "There were only four copies."

"You better frame one." "I don't even have a frame." "We'll buy one someday." The conversation lightened my mood, if only a little.

---

Mathematics passed quickly, English followed.

Then lunch arrived.

I sat alone beneath the maple tree while Camila went to borrow a book from the library. I had barely opened my lunchbox when someone stopped in front of me.

Justin.

"Mind if I sit?" My stomach tightened.

"I'd rather you didn't." He smiled, "You're honest."

"I don't like lying."

"I noticed." He remained standing. "I hope you liked the chocolate." The color drained from my face. "You..." "You received it."

"How do you know where I live?" Instead of answering, he asked, "Did you like it?"

"I don't accept gifts from strangers." "I'm not a stranger anymore," he replied.

"You are."

For the first time, his smile faded. "I only wanted to be nice." "People don't leave gifts outside other people's houses."

He looked genuinely surprised. "I..."

Before he could finish… A chair scraped loudly against the ground nearby.

Kael.

He dropped his tray onto the table with more force than necessary. "Milky," he called out with an angered voice. I looked up. "When did you get here?" "Just… just now," I stammered. His gaze shifted from me to Justin, then back to me.

"Come." "Huh?" "We have something to discuss."

"We do?" I was confused. "We do now."

Justin folded his arms. "She's eating."

Kael looked at him coldly, "I wasn't talking to you," he snapped.

"I know." Justin smiled again. "But she can answer for herself." The two boys stared at each other. Neither looked willing to back down, my heart pounded. People around the cafeteria had started watching us, whispers spread from table to table. "Isn't that Kael Blackwood?"

"Who's the Coronels guy?" "Why are they arguing over Akira?"

Heat rushed to my face. This was exactly the kind of attention I hated.

Kael suddenly looked at me. His voice softened just enough that only I could hear.

"Please." I blinked in surprise.

Did… Did Kael just say please? Without another word, I quietly stood. Justin stepped aside, but his eyes never left Kael.

As Kael and I walked away, I could still feel Justin watching us, the feeling made my skin crawl. Something told me… This wasn't over, not even close.