"Please don't tell them," she pleaded but she sounded like she's threatening.

"I won't if you tell my why you punched him first? Are you going around fighting people?" Nurse Kim Eunkyung crossed her arms. "Is that why you come in here all bruised? Is that why you kept fainting? Wow. What a nice life you're living!"

Sitting on the clinic bed, Nabi rolled her eyes. She had enough of this woman's nagging. It won't treat any of her wounds and she was so sure that this nurse won't start treating it until she's done pestering her. Her right leg still hurt whenever she tried to move.

"Ahjumma." Nabi was so done with her. "Working with my mother before doesn't give you the right to nag at me. I called you because the police had your business card. That's the only option I had. Stop. Acting. Special."

Nabi stood up and grabbed her dark blue backpack. Before storming out the door, she grabbed a few medical masks and a pack of band-aid from the nurse's desk and stuffed it into the pocket of her striped black and white long coat. As she walked out, she put the mask on.

"Ya! Nabi! Yoon Nabi! Ya!"

The door opened wide and her eyes did too when she almost bumped into Shui. Her eyebrow raised, creasing her forehead. The wound on her forehead stung. Unconsciously, she slightly bowed her head before dashing out of the building. She was not in the mood for socializing.

That large purple bruise around her right eye, which she saw on the glass door reflection, would definitely raise some questions. So she took out a pair of tinted sunglasses from her backpack and put it on before running again.

Her legs gave up after passing the Administration building just beside the Student Center. Slowly, she walked towards the Jahayeon Pond just across the road, eyeing on the empty benches.

There were a few people hanging out around the pond. The fountain danced on the virescent waters. Trees swayed along with the chilly breeze. Because of autumn, the used-to-be green foliage now turned red and yellow. She took a deep breath, enjoying the splendid view.

She sat on one of the empty benches, her back facing the pond. The susurrus sound of splashing water helped Nabi clear her mind. From where she was facing, she could see the sky turning pink. A nice view was all she needed right now. A strong gust of wind sailed past her, decreasing the temperature that Nabi unconsciously started inhaling through her mouth. When another gust of wind darted across, she coughed, placing her fist over her mouth. Her eyes wandered on the red bruise on her knuckles when she hit those good-for-nothing men. She remembered she still had wounds that needed tending.

"Those motherfucking bastards," she cursed under her breath. "I can't go to class looking like this." She took out the band-aids that she took from the clinic and placed it over her wounds that weren't covered by the mask. Her eyes glanced at her watch which said 6:18. It was now time for class.

"Miss Yoon, your sunglasses." Her Chemistry professor gestured her to take off her glasses.

"I have sore eyes," She answered, not even considering taking it off. "Do you want to have them, too?"

The professor shrugged, convinced by her lie. People who act all goody-goody always went around saying that lying is bad. But sometimes-- most of the time-- lying could come in a form of convenience. If Nabi didn't lie about her sore eyes, the professor would just keep on bombarding her with questions that she would never intend to answer. Sometimes, the truth could be so annoying.

She started jotting down notes when the professor started the lecture. She was so absorbed in the lecture that time flew fast. The four-hour lecture ended in what seemed like just a few minutes. She packed her things up and when she was about to leave, her classmate that she recalled to be Song Hui Yin called her.

The petite but tall girl flipped her long black hair as she packed her things up, enjoying her sweet time. Nabi almost rolled her eyes but gave out an annoyed sigh instead. You should've packed your things up before calling me. She almost wanted to get that thought across. But she preferred to just keep silent.

"Sorry." She might have read Nabi's intense glare that she apologized for wasting her time.

Nabi raised both of her eyebrows, gesturing her to just tell her what she wanted to say or that she'll leave.

"About... the... paper..." Nabi felt so suffocated hearing her speak in such slow motion that she couldn't help but cut her off.

"I gave you my email right? Just email me." She didn't even wait for the turtle girl to respond. She walked swiftly, escaping the lecture room.

Even though the bus stop was a long walk from here, she always preferred to walk instead of riding the bus that would take her to the gate. This enormous university has buses roaming around for the students to get to classes faster and easier. But the long walk made her think. She always loved thinking. Other would say that thinking drives them insane, but for Nabi, thinking kept her sane. It was the only thing she had freedom of.

Slowly, her tiny legs strode the paved sidewalk, hand inside her coat pockets. That kick did a number on her right leg that she couldn't avoid limping. A lot of people passed by her, taking a few glances at her before whispering something to their companion. The few that were alone just looked at her their eyebrows always crossed.

Slowly, she walked forward. The autumn night was so cold that she wanted to just stand still and embrace it. As soon as that thought crossed her mind, her feet stopped walking. She let the coldness wrap around her, envelope her.

After what seemed like an eternity, she finally reached the bus stop. She glanced at her watch that read 11:07. The bus route that she always took would arrive by 11:35. Waiting seats were already full of people so that meant she had no choice but to wait, standing, for twenty-eight minutes.

Because of her sunglasses, everything looked darker than it usually was. But Nabi was so used to using it that she no longer found it hard adjusting to the sight. Her legs started to give out that she thought maybe walking wasn't such a good idea.

A bus stopped in front but, of course, it wasn't the route she had to take. Her eyes drifted to the passengers unloading from the bus. Among the crowd, a familiar boy stepped down from the bus. Nomura Shui. She recalled his name. For a second, she thought their eyes met but she shrugged that thought away. Looking away, she stared at nothingness.

"I'm glad you're okay." Nabi snapped away from her thoughts to find Nomura Shui standing next to her. Hearing that, she felt her whole body warm up suddenly that it made her uncomfortable. Realized that she was staring at him, she looked away.

"Isn't it too dark to wear sunglasses?" He spoke again after a prolonged silence. Nabi looked at him, removing her sunglasses for a bit. Shock was apparent on his face. Next was worry.

"Oh. I'm sorry." He scratched the back of his head. "It's just that... I didn't see you at school for two days. I was worried."

Nabi held her breath as she remembered the sound of broken soju bottles, fists and palms hitting skin, and shouts and screams that would have probably muffled her hearing. Her eyes drifted on the large wrinkled band-aid on her right palm. Under it was the aftermath of her hand landing on the glass shards. The air was so cold so she warmed her hands inside her coat pockets.

Both of them were deep in thought that none of them spoke. She wondered what he was thinking about. Nabi contemplated on what happened earlier. Should I tell him? Nabi asked herself, glancing at him for a second. Nomura Shui placed his hand inside the pockets of his olive green bomber jacket. He probably eavesdropped on the conversation in the clinic. Maybe he was thinking about that.

If I tell him what happened, would he view it differently?

She took a deep breath. "I got into a fight." She spoke as if it wasn't that big of a deal. Well, from what she always went through every day, it wasn't a big deal.

"You sho--"

"I started it," she admitted. "I punched that bastard right in the face."

She studied his expression if it was alright for her to continue. But she preferred silence so she let it drown them both.

"Why?" he asked, his voice warm in the middle of a cold November night.

Nabi smirked. "They called me beautiful. Pieces of shit."

"If I called you that, would you punch me too?"

Nabi unconsciously gulped, shifting her gaze from here to there. She didn't know what to make from that. But she was curious, very, for no one had said she's beautiful and meant it. Only those catcalling bastards said that to her. They gave the word 'beautiful' a negative connotation.

"Why?" Nabi asked, curiosity burning inside her.

"Because you are strong." His warm voiced echoed inside her head, finding its way to her heart.

Struggling to find words to say, Nabi chose to say nothing. She couldn't believe his words but it was clear that he meant it. After years of observing people, she would know fairly well if he just said it to flatter her or if he really did think that way. The way he spoke sounded like the latter.

"Strong as I will ever be," he added, muttering the words as if he didn't want Nabi to hear.

But Nabi heard it. Just like her, Shui also has his own troubles. Life is like that. Life would never like one to be happy. Even though she's curious what he went through that he thought that way about her, she preferred to just act like she didn't hear it. Sometimes, Nabi would mutter thoughts she didn't want anyone to hear. Maybe, just maybe, it's like that for him, too.

"Your bus is here," Nomura Shui informed, his long arms stretched out, gesturing to the incoming bus.

They both watched the bus stop just before the pedestrian crossing. Passengers unloaded and went on with their separate businesses. Nabi gave one last glance to Shui before hurrying off, limping a bit, to ride it. The seats were already full so she had no choice but to stand, facing at Shui's direction.

Before the bus started to bolt, Nabi gave Shui one shy smile. It was the first for so long. What he said gave Nabi another ounce of courage to survive another night. She didn't see it but she hoped that he also smiled in return.

//

I was looking for an editor, forgetting that I have a friend who majored in English Lit. I'm so glad he agreed to work on this with me.

This chapter is dedicated to LevittDawn! You're an amazing person! And I'm really looking forward to Calder's happiness! I'll be waiting for your update!

Rie