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"Why?" Zelia asked suddenly, causing the newcomer to look at her. He kneeled down by her side and hesitated whether to help her sit or just let her lay down on the ground, waiting for her to sit.

"What do you mean, why?" He asked back, and the girl rolled her eyes before slowly sitting down. The man just stared at her as if he wanted to help her.

"Why did you save me, Minho?"

"What do you want me to do? Watch those klunkheads until they're done?" he asked with a frown. Zelia's eyes narrowed even more at him.

"You are useless to talk to. You're just answering my questions with your questions. I hope you're happy that I look like klunk." Minho just shrugged his shoulders at what the girl said. Zelia stood up and felt pain in her body, which Minho immediately noticed. She was about to leave but suddenly the man spoke so she faced the young man.

"Where are you going?"

"Why are you asking me that? I just want to go back to the Glade and find Alby to tell him what happened today." The girl said and was about to leave but she was stopped again by what the man said.

"Don't."

"What did you say?"

"Don't tell Alby what happened." Zelia couldn't believe what she heard, so she looked Minho in the eyes.

"What do you want me to do? Just slim my mouth and forget as if nothing happened? Minho, something bad almost happened to me. Do you think I'll get over all that? Sorry to say this, but I'll just keep asking myself if I'll still be safe inside the Glade after what happened today." The girl said. The young man took a deep breath before he spoke.

"Zelia, there's a chance that you will be the one who will get the punishment because aside from them being klunkheads, you have wounds all over your face. They can tell Alby that you punched them first." Zelia laughed bitterly and brushed her hair past her shoulders.

"Wow, you know my name," the girl said sarcastically, so the man glared at her. She ignored it and continued what she had to say. "Who cares? That's why I'm going to Alby to explain my side. I'm ready for what punishment he will give to me."

"They've been here for over a year and you've only been here for a little over four months. So who do you think Alby is going to believe?" Because of what Minho said, Zelia became silent. She felt a pain in her heart. There was a part of her that thought he was right; it's possible that their leader would believe whatever the two had to say.

"You also know how long I've been here," the girl whispered.

"What did you say?" Zelia took a deep breath before straightening up and staring at Minho. Even though she was only up to his shoulders, the young woman did not fail to stare at the young man.

"Like I said, who cares? I'm not missing this chance to defend myself again. I won't force you if you want to help me," Zelia said and was about to leave, but Minho suddenly spoke to make her stop walking.

"Okay, what if you tell Alby everything after dinner?" The girl stared at the man again, unable to believe what he said.

"What? Do you really think I'm just a girl who needs protection from men? Why do you keep insisting on me to slim it? I just wanted to keep away myself from those creepy guys."

"I just wanted you to trust me on this," I know. It's not easy to convince her; she's too stubborn. Minho thought.

"Trust you?" Zelia scoffed. "Coming those words from you? Don't make me confused. First, you will find a way to avoid seeing and talking to me. Second, you made me look like all I care is wanting to be friends with you, that's all, nothing else. And now this? How can I protect myself from them if you're the one who's stopping me?"

Minho can feel the pain in her voice, but he can't see anything in her eyes that is full of anger and disappointment on him. But he can't back down, not on this two klunkheads game.

"You know what? Why am I listening to you? After all this time, you just now spoke to me not so sensibly." She added and was about to leave when the girl suddenly felt the man gently grab her arm. She didn't even know why Zelia didn't take her arm away from his hand.

I want to push his hand, but I don't know why I don't feel anything in his touch. I hate to admit it, but it's so gentle. Zelia thought about it, but she didn't face the young man anymore; she might not be able to stop herself from slapping him for what he was saying.

"Fine, I will answer why I avoid you, all your questions. Just please, don't say anything when you get back to the Glade. Trust me on this, really, just this once." Zelia didn't know why she felt sad in Minho's voice, but she just ignored it. She slowly removed the young man's hand from her arm.

"I hope I did the right thing by listening to you," she said and walked quickly to the Glade. Minho just took a deep breath and smiled briefly.

I hope my guess is right, whatever they told Alby.

-----

Zelia was so deep in thought that she didn't notice that she was about to jump when Kendrix suddenly grabbed her by both arms. She was already inside the Glade.

"Oh, shucks, Zel. How are you feeling? I mean, are you okay? What else did he do to you? Did he continue? How did you escape? We were going to follow you to Deadheads." The friend asked one question after another. The girl frowned and looked around, and her eyes almost widened when she saw the Gladers behind him. She was about to ask a question when suddenly. A man spoke; she couldn't see who it was.

"Minho is here!" It happened so quickly that Zelia just saw that Minho was now lying on the grass while some men helped beat him. The girl was about to run to where the young man was when Kendrix suddenly stopped her. Her friend looked at her in surprise.

"Where are you going?" he asked with confusion. Instead of answering her friend, Zelia looked around and met Stan and Jim's gaze not far from where they were. She saw it how they grinned.

You're the one who's klunkhead here, Minho. Now I know why you don't want me to say something. You know what will happen, and you just play along on their own game.

"That's enough!" Zelia looked at the person who shouted. She noticed that the men surrounding Minho had left, and now Zart forced the young man to sit in front of Alby.

"I can't believe you can do this," Alby said as he approached the man. The young man just looked at him.

"You're one of the Keepers here, but you're still hiding a bad plan behind us; you're disgusting. We trust you, but you just broke it," the leader added and shook his head.

"That's what I told him. We really tried to protect her, but Minho is one of the strongest here. Even though we're both helping to beat him, we still have to come back here to call for help. I just wish Minho didn't do anything else to Zelia," Zelia heard Stan say. She tightened her clenched fist so the girl could feel how her nails dug into her own palm.

Zelia wanted to speak, but the young man stared at her and secretly shook his head. I really hate this guy since day 1.

"Kendrix, take her to the Med-hut first. Clint, you take care of treating Zelia's wounds," Alby said. They were about to leave when the girl couldn't stop herself from speaking.

"What are you going to do to him?" Zelia still felt that Minho was staring at her, but the girl was looking straight at Alby.

"Banishing." Zelia didn't know how to react. She wanted to say more, but she felt how Minho looked at her. Even though she wanted to tell the truth, she felt that the young man would do something just so that no one would believe what she was going to say. She just took a deep breath and looked away from the leader. She heard Ben speak.

"Immediately? I mean, shouldn't there be a gathering first? And besides, you just said that Minho is one of the Keepers. Who will replace him immediately?" Ben said clearly in his voice that he didn't want to lose his friend.

"Rules are rules, Ben. Let's talk tomorrow about who will replace him." Ben wanted to speak more but chose not to argue with Alby. Zelia just shook her head and walked to the Med-hut first. Immediately following Clint and Kendrix.

"Take him to the Slammers first. We still have some time to prepare." The girl even heard what Alby said. They just walked silently to the hut. Zelia doesn't want to talk right now either.

Why did I really let myself be silent? It's my fault why Minho received the punishment. He didn't do anything wrong, but why? I just don't understand what's on his mind.