A Tutor For My Bully

Chapter 28: The Boy Who Was Too Kind

Akira's POV

I kept staring at the notebook Justin gave me before slowly running my fingers over its smooth cover. I still couldn't believe he had bought it for me, I hardly believed it and somehow I thought it was a dream.

I pinched myself so I could wake up from this dream that seemed unbelievable, but it wasn't. I smiled, It wasn't an expensive gift. It was just a simple notebook, but somehow, it meant more to me than anything expensive ever could.

Maybe because he remembered.

Most people didn't.

"You're smiling." I quickly looked up.

Camila was standing beside my desk, staring at me with a suspicious grin. "I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not." She pulled out the chair beside me.

"You've been staring at that notebook for five minutes."

"I just like it."

"You like the notebook..." She paused dramatically. "...or the person who gave it to you?"

My face heated instantly.

"Camila!"

She burst out laughing.

"What? I'm asking a very reasonable question."

"Justin is just being nice."

"Of course."

"He is."

"I didn't say he wasn't." She leaned closer.

"But you've been smiling all morning." I lowered my gaze. "I can't help it." She nudged my shoulder.

"You deserve nice people around you, Akira." Those words made me pause, and somehow they lit up my mood even more.

Maybe she was right.

For so long, I'd convinced myself that being treated badly was something I simply had to endure.

Kael bullied me, Linda insulted me, people laughed at me because of my glasses, my clothes,my hair that looks messy sometimes,and my quiet nature.

I'd gotten used to it.

Maybe I'm too used to it.

But Justin didn't treat me that way. He made me feel normal, and I liked that feeling.

"He's asked me to hang out this weekend," I admitted quietly. Camila's eyes widened.

"Justin?" She asked with a warm smile.

I nodded. "What did you say?"

"I told him I'd think about it."

"Girl!" She grabbed my hands. "You have to go!"

I laughed. "I don't even know where we'd go."

"Anywhere! The mall, a park, a café..."

"I've never really gone anywhere like that." Camila's expression softened.

"Then maybe it's time you did."

I smiled. Maybe, just maybe.

>>>>>>>>

Kael's POV

I didn't understand why I kept looking toward the classroom door. Milky should have been here already, our tutoring session was supposed to start ten minutes ago.

Ten minutes. I'd never cared about waiting before.

Yet somehow, every minute felt longer. I checked the time again. Where was she?

I picked up my phone.

Put it down.

Picked it up again. Then finally tossed it onto the table. "You're waiting for someone."

I looked up.

Adrienne stood at the door. "No, I'm not."

He laughed. "You've checked the time about four times."

"I have things to do."

"Sure." He walked inside. "So, where's Milky?"

My expression changed slightly. "How do you know she's supposed to be here?"

"You two are always together lately."

"We aren't always together." Adrienne raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" I ignored him.

"She's probably coming." He smiled.

"You're worried."

"I'm not."

"You're definitely worried."

"Adrienne."

"Fine." He raised his hands.

"I'll shut up." A few seconds passed, then the door opened. Milky walked in.

Her hair was slightly messy, and she held a notebook against her chest. She smiled when she saw me.

"Sorry I'm late." I stared at her.

"Why?" She blinked.

"Why what?"

"Why are you late?"

"I was talking to Justin." My jaw tightened.

"Justin?"

"Yeah." She sat down.

"He wanted to ask me something."

"What?" She opened her notebook.

"About the weekend."

"What about the weekend?"

"He asked me to hang out with him." I stared at her. For some reason, I suddenly didn't want to hear the rest. "You agreed?"

"I said I'd think about it."

"Don't go." She looked at me.

"Why?"I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Why? Because I didn't trust Justin.

That was the answer.

But it sounded stupid even inside my own head.

"Because..." I searched for something.

"...you have tutoring." She frowned.

"On Saturday?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"Since now." She rolled her eyes.

"You can't just invent tutoring sessions."

"I can."

"No, you can't." I leaned back.

"Watch me." She shook her head. "You're impossible." I almost smiled. There she was.

My Milky.

Then I noticed the notebook in her hands.

"Where did you get that?" I asked pretending I haven't seen it before.

She looked down.

"Justin gave it to me." I didn't say anything.

"He remembered that I like writing."

"Good for him." My voice sounded colder than I intended. Milky looked at me carefully.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I always look like this." She smiled.

"That's true."

I looked away before she could see the smile threatening to appear on my face.

>>>>>>>>

Akira's POV

Our tutoring session went surprisingly well. Kael wasn't as focused as usual, though. He kept staring at the notebook. Eventually, I pushed it toward him. "Do you want to see it?"

"No."

"Then stop staring at it."

"I'm not staring."

"You are." He rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

I laughed quietly. He looked at me.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You laughed."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you're funny sometimes." He looked genuinely offended.

"I'm not funny."

"You are."

"Take that back."

"No."

He reached for the notebook. I quickly pulled it away.

"Hey!"

"Give it back."

"No." He leaned toward me.

"Milky."

"Kael."

"Give it."

"No." He tried to grab it. I moved away, laughing.

"Stop!"

"You started it."

"You are acting like a child."

"So are you." For a moment, we both stopped, our eyes met. His expression softened.

Mine probably did too. The room became strangely quiet, then he looked away.

"Let's continue." I nodded.

"Okay." Neither of us mentioned what had just happened.

>>>>>>>>

Justin's POV

I sat inside my car, watching the school building from across the road. My phone vibrated. A message from an unknown number.

How is it going? I smiled.

I typed back.

She's trusting me. Another message appeared.

And Kael? I looked toward the school.

I had seen the way he looked at Akira.

The irritation.

The jealousy.

The possessiveness he tried so hard to hide.

I smiled.

Exactly as planned.

I slipped the phone into my pocket.

Akira was beginning to trust me, That was good.

Because the more she trusted me… The easier it would be to use her. And the closer Kael got to her… The harder I could make him fall.

I started the engine.

"Let's see how far you're willing to go for her, Blackwood." I drove away.

Completely unaware that someone else had been watching me from the school gates.

Kael.

He had seen my car.

He didn't know who I was talking to, He didn't know what I was planning. But something inside him told him one thing, Justin wasn't as innocent as he looked.

And Kael had never ignored his instincts before.