A Tutor For My Bully

Chapter 29: Something Doesn't Feel Right

Kael's POV

Something about Justin bothered me, I couldn't explain it. Maybe it was the way he always appeared whenever Milky was around, hmm trying to always show up. Maybe it was the way he looked at her.

Or maybe it was because Milky smiled whenever he was around, somehow I hated that last part.

I sat on the edge of the bench, staring at my phone.

I had known him since the first game.

Justin Carter.

Hockey player.

Transferred to Underwich Academy recently.

Good grades.

No disciplinary records.

Nothing suspicious.

I tossed my phone onto the bed.

"Perfect." Too perfect, Nobody was that clean.

I picked up my phone again and searched for his name, but I couldn't find anything.

I sighed. Why was I even doing this? Justin wasn't my problem, Milky wasn't my problem either, so I thought.

She was my tutor.

That's it.

I repeated those words in my head until they started sounding like a lie.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Milky.

Milky: Are we having tutoring today?

I stared at the message.

I typed.

Kael: Obviously.

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

Milky: Okay

I smiled before I could stop myself.

Then another message came.

Milky: Can I ask you something?

Kael: What?

Milky: Do you dislike Justin?

I froze.

Why would she ask me that?

Kael: No.

I deleted it.

Typed again.

Kael: I don't care about him.

I stared at the message.

That sounded better.

Or so I thought.

Her reply came.

Milky: Okay. See you later.

I locked my phone.

Something told me I had just lied to myself.

>>>>>>>

Akira's POV

I didn't know why I had asked Kael that question. Maybe I wanted to know what he thought about Justin. Or maybe I wanted to know what Kael thought about me spending time with him, The second thought made me uncomfortable.

Why should I care? Kael was my bully, my employer's son. My student at that.

And somehow, recently, he had become someone I couldn't understand. I packed my books into my bag.

"Akira!"

I turned, Justin stood by the classroom door.

"Hey." He smiled.

"Ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"Our plans." I blinked.

"What plans?"

"You forgot?"

"Oh!" I laughed.

"The weekend." He nodded.

"You said you'd think about it."

"I did."

"And?" I hesitated.

"Okay." His smile widened.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Great." He stepped aside.

"Come on." We walked down the hallway together.

"So where are we going?"

"I have a place in mind."

"Where?"

"Secret." I laughed.

"Why?"

"Because I want to surprise you." I shook my head. "You're strange."

"Maybe." We continued walking.

I didn't notice the pair of eyes watching us from the other end of the hallway.

Kael. His hands were shoved into his pockets, His expression was unreadable. Adrienne stood beside him. "You know..." Kael didn't respond. "You've been staring at them for a while."

"I wasn't." Adrienne laughed.

"Sure." Kael finally turned away.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

"Practice."

"We don't have practice for another hour."

"Then we'll practice early." Adrienne stared after him. "You're definitely jealous." Kael stopped.

"I am not jealous."

"You didn't even let me finish."

"I know what you were going to say." Adrienne laughed.

"Then why are you so defensive?" Kael glared at him.

"Because you're annoying."

"Whatever you say, Romeo." Kael walked away.

But his eyes remained fixed on Justin until he disappeared around the corner.

*********

SATURDAY

Akira's POV

I stood in front of my mirror, staring at myself. I had changed clothes four times already. This was ridiculous, It wasn't a date. It was just hanging out. With a friend.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself. I settled on a simple white blouse and jeans, nothing too fancy. I grabbed the small purse my mother had bought me last Christmas.

Then I heard a knock. I rushed downstairs. My mother was in the kitchen.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going out with a friend." She looked surprised.

"A friend?"

I nodded. "Camila?"

"No."

"Who then?" I hesitated.

"Justin." She smiled.

"That's nice."

"Mum..."

"What?"

"Nothing." She laughed. "Just be careful please."

"I will." I walked outside. Justin was waiting near the gate. When he saw me, his expression changed.

"You look beautiful." I immediately looked down.

"Thank you."

"Ready?".I nodded.

"Yes." He opened the car door for me, and I got in.

As we drove away, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching, so I turned around.

Nothing. I looked through the window, still nothing. "Are you okay?" Justin asked.

"Yeah."

"You look nervous."

"I'm not used to going out like this."

"You'll get used to it." He smiled.

"I promise."

>>>>>>

Kael's POV

I stood by my bedroom window, I had no idea why I was looking outside. Then I saw it.

Justin's car. Milky was inside.

My stomach tightened. Where were they going? I picked up my phone.

I almost called her, Then stopped. What would I even say?

"Where are you going?"

Why would I care?

I threw my phone onto the bed. Five seconds later, I picked it up again. I opened our chat.

Typed.

Deleted.

Typed again.

Deleted.

"Pathetic."

I tossed the phone aside. I wasn't jealous.

I wasn't. I just didn't trust Justin.

That was all.

>>>>>>

Justin's POV

The car slowed as we approached the café. Akira looked outside. "This place is beautiful."

"I knew you'd like it." She smiled.

When we got out, I watched her carefully. She looked happy. Exactly what I wanted.

We sat at a table near the window. She ordered hot chocolate. I ordered coffee. "So..." she said.

"So?"

"Why did you invite me out?" I leaned back.

"Because I like spending time with you." Her cheeks turned pink. "I like spending time with you too." Perfect.

I smiled.

"You know, there's something I've always wondered."

"What?"

"Why do you let Kael treat you that way?" Her smile disappeared. "What way?"

"He insults you."

"He doesn't always."

"He makes you run errands."

"It's complicated."

"He threatens you." I frowned.

"Doesn't that bother you?" She looked down.

"Sometimes."

"Then why do you stay?"

"I… I."

"That's all?" She didn't answer.

I leaned closer.

"Akira..." She looked at me.

"You deserve better." Those words landed exactly where I wanted them to. She swallowed. "I know Kael can be difficult."

"That's an understatement." She smiled faintly.

"But he's changing."

"Maybe." I paused. "Or maybe he's only changing because he doesn't want you to leave." She looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." I smiled.

"Forget I said anything." But I knew she wouldn't.

>>>>>>>>

Akira's POV

On our way home, Justin's words kept replaying in my mind.

You deserve better. I knew that.

Didn't I? Kael had hurt me countless times. Yet lately… He had also changed.

He had been kinder.

He had trusted me.

He had even started letting me into his world.

Maybe Justin was wrong. Or maybe...

I was simply too attached to the version of Kael I wanted him to become. I sighed.

When I got home, I found a message waiting on my phone.

Kael: Did you have fun?

I stared at it.

How did he know?

I typed.

Akira: Yes.

His reply came almost instantly.

Kael: Good.

I smiled slightly. Then another message appeared. Kael: Stay away from Justin. My smile disappeared. I stared at my phone screen with my mouth wide open.

Akira: Why?

There was a long pause.

Then—

Kael: Because I said so.

I rolled my eyes.

Of course.

Kael was back to being Kael.

But somewhere across town, Justin sat alone in his room, staring at a photograph. A photograph of Kael. He ran his thumb across the picture. "Almost there." Then he opened another photograph. This one was of Akira, His smile faded. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." He placed both photographs side by side.

Kael.

Akira.

Then he whispered—

"One of you is going to get hurt."

And he already knew exactly which one he wanted it to be.