Inprotectus

Unprotected

(Part 1)

What a world to live in; where the sick slip through the cracks and the healthy get thrown into mental hospitals.

But, can there be anyone sane if the ones that taught them were crazy?

If a teacher with no remorse gets hold of a child, what will happen to the child when they're older? Will they turn into another teacher like the one they had? Or will they develop their own unhealthy way of coping with the pain of memory?

But why would that teacher exist in the first place? Why would anyone enjoy someone else's pain? The pain of suffering, confusion, anguish, and fear. Why would their blood boil at the sight of someone cowering away? Terrified, shaking in a corner with their eyes wide, looking straight at the monster in front of them. Why would anyone like to be a monster?

For power. That's the mortal answer. Controlling someone else is the ultimate challenge. Power... the most terrifying drug someone near you could crave.

The most inhuman thing is not to kill someone else, but to have no remorse about the thought of doing it beforehand. To have no empathy, no emotion, that's the mark of a true monster. Self-centered and vane, the monster sees itself as God playing with people like dolls.

And the most terrifying aspect of a monster is not their lack of humanity, but how seamless they fit in a crowd.

Disclaimer:

These chapters contain topics, language, and detailed descriptions of a sensitive nature.

Rewind two hours:

4:40 pm

The officer left. What Evans needed was ready. And he pulled his chair from his desk to place it beside the bed. Sighing in earnest, he sat down.

Tick... Tock...

The subtle sound in the apartment enveloped him. Whether it be the sound of a clock or the strings of a gentle violin, even the sound of a pen on paper, it was all calming to him.

Yes, soft, gentle, constant sounds calm his body.

But the need for something loud was always there; something that will make him want to seek silence. Excitement flared at specific loud noises and then eased when a soft one would take its place. Balance was always like that; two sides of the same coin. He needs that balance, to feel whole, to feel at peace. Two sides of the same coin to be in balance every day.

If he uses a dark-colored tie, the next day it'll be a bright color. If he ties the shoelaces of his right foot in the morning, he'll untie the left one first at night. If he drinks coffee in the morning, he'll drink tea at night. If he heard classical music at an important dinner, he'll hear dubstep in his car on the way back to his house. If, at the gym, he swam and then did lifts, the next day it'll be the contrary. If he read one night before going to sleep, he'll watch television the next day. If he ate red meat, the next day it'll be white meat. If he had his hair brushed back all day, he'll have it down all night.

Even in the most subtle of things, he upholds his philosophy. But that was never enough for him, never, since he was a child.

He knows how to play the violin, and also the electric guitar. He knows how to cook which is essential to a household and also how to paint, which is not. He knows chemistry and literature. He knows how to sew clothes, which was considered a women's job, and knows how to build houses, which is considered a male's. He knows interior design, which is considered women's and knows business, which is considered male's. He knows how to build electronics, and things made out of wood.

But still, back then when he was first starting to develop this art, he grew frustrated, feeling that, though he learned the opposite of a subject, there was still a sourness in his mouth that couldn't be sweetened in any class. In his late teens, he had a girlfriend, a sweet and smart girl that he thought would give him what he needed. And she did, though not in the way he thought she would.

He realized the problem, the root of his frustration, the moment he broke character and lashed out at her. The sight of her fear, of her tears, of her trembling, it eased away the tension on his neck. A warmth spread from his stomach thru his body and he found himself laughing fit to burst. And he saw her crumbling at the sight of him, saw how his true self drew out of her a sight he never thought he'd lacked to see; this was the answer to all his problems.

He hadn't put his philosophy to use on people. He was kind all the time. So, he began.

If he showed liking for the history teacher, he showed hatred for the chemistry teacher. If he talked to his mother one day, he'll ignore her the next and talk to his father instead. If he had one male friend, he had one female friend. If he greeted someone he knew, he'd ignore the second person who walked by. If he helped someone pick something up, he'd help gravity tumble something else down.

He tried again once uni started, but its enjoyment darkened as the days went by and soon he found himself frustrated once more. The circle of people he knew had been cut in the middle with some having his kindness and others his wrath. And yet, no matter how much he saw them cry, he was still not satisfied.

A thought appeared in his violent mind one afternoon as he saw his best friends laughing with one another. The three of them were at the palace, drinking tea and eating fruitcakes, and the sight of it all was so clean and perfect that he wondered for the first time why he had never tried to venture into a dirty and poor-looking residence. Then he thought further on it, finding himself thinking that maybe he should look for someone who was the polar opposite of his current, immaculate, smart, and rich best friends. And he did it.

Finding himself a somewhat friendly illiterate criminal hadn't been that easy. But, once he did, he sat on his old couch in his dilapidated "house" and quite desperately told him all about his need for balance and the lack of it over the past few months. He hadn't exactly hoped this man would be of any more use but, to his surprise, he gave him more than momentary peace, he gave him eternal balance.

"If you want true balance, you also need it "inside", don't you think? Haven't you realized that all those things, the shoelaces, the drums and violin, they're all outside things? Like... I d'know man, I'm just saying. Smiling at someone and grimacing at the next is not gonna cut it for you, you've already said it. So, the only thing I can think of is... if you do good, you must do bad, don't you? That's the other side of that coin. If you love, you must hate. If you heal, you must break. If you build, you must steal. If you save... you must kill. See what I'm saying? If you're planning to be a nice teacher with a pretty wife and a beautiful house, that'll need a lot of bad shit to contrast it, don't you think? If you're gonna be an angel, you gotta be a devil as well."

The thought of this friend still makes him grin to this day. He was the one who gave him the answer and then became the first kill of his long, happy life.

But frustration could be found even in heaven, it seemed. Because, though he was a god, he was forced to portray a kind character at all times, even when he'd had enough of it. He would have to be kind at work and at home, be kind when he was busy and when he was free, and be kind in front of people he knew and strangers that could make things difficult if rubbed the wrong way. He would have to be kind for so long that the need for violence would simply buttle up inside him until he was finally able to take it out on someone who was on the wrong sidewalk at the wrong time of night, and even then it was a struggle to find a loner he could vent out on because he wouldn't simply do it on anyone who passed by, it had to be a specific person, opposite of what he had too much of that week. But the problem was just that; since he was constantly surrounded by adults at work, he would have to find a student, and there were barely any students -even at the age of uni- who would go alone for a stroll at night.

Until, once again, his missing piece presented itself to him without him having to do much effort, almost as if he attracted that which he needed simply by thinking of it.

He'd been in his car, neck tensed and shoulders stiff as he strangled the steering wheel. The radio was off and the windows up, barely any sound could be heard on the inside of the car as he drove. It was Friday and it had been a wonderful week full of victories and celebrations yet all he could think about was that he hadn't felt true balance in too long and some of his coworkers at the law firm had noticed. He'd been terribly angry long before his kid's school called him for a meeting about his child, only to tell him once he arrived that he rarely does any of the homework and if he could please try to help him get back on his feet. As he drove to his house to leave his silent kid and go back to work, his mind wondered about the possibilities that might've led the little creature to misbehave and all he could come up with were... all good things.

There it was, the problem. His kid had far too many good things in life. A toy room, friends' birthday parties, sweets, soft blankets, kisses, and hugs from his mother; all the things his kid wanted, he had, just like Yungsoo's kids. But he wasn't Yungsoo, was he? So his kid couldn't be like his. His kid had to be in balance, to know peace and pain alike so he could respect both and grow perfect and strong just like his father. The problem was... this situation was too convenient for him as well as his child. He was a small kid, a male student with dark hair, and his wife (which had been glued to his hip the past week) was a tall, grown woman, a professional in his field with blond hair. Therefore, if he vents out on him, he will finally sleep well at night while his kid will go to bed thinking about what he did wrong, learning from it.

It had all been so perfectly easy that he started to laugh right there in the silent car, breaking character because he didn't have to be always kind to his child anymore. He could be free. And he made sure everyone in the house knew about it so they wouldn't do anything either to help him or stop him.

After that night, coming out of his kid's room with a smile on his face, he felt whole again. Now he had that constant balance that he needed daily. Every day, when he came back from work, he would visit him to vent out, not always to leave him bruises, but simply to be with a student instead of a grown-up. They would sometimes watch movies, sometimes paint together, he would sometimes read him a book, and sometimes... not.

Much like how he was with Jungkook. But also... not.

4:50 pm

Alexander pursed his lips and looked down. The figure laying on his bed was too still to be asleep. For ten minutes, he's been pretending, wasting away precious time; choosing to wait until Alexander's patience would wear off, it seemed.

He took a deep breath and sighed.

The last time he had his wife in bed, he'd taken her blouse off gently.

- If you don't open your eyes, I'll rip your shirt. -

Jungkook's eyes snapped open, his breathing stopping as he looked fixedly at the ceiling. Alexander grinned, finding it funny.

- Finally, - He sighed and crossed one knee over the other. - Now that you're properly awake, how about we get some things straight from the start before changing locations to the dining table? - He waited. And his grin faded a little when Jungkook didn't answer. - First things first: Manners. -

- Yes. - Jungkook whispered breathlessly.

Alexander took in a deep breath, his body temperature rising at the amount of power he possessed over this particular boy.

Forcing answers out of people, the opposite of coaxing answers out of people; Alexander could feel some tension easing on his neck as the rain outside slowly grew.

- That'll be good enough for now. After all, it's been seven years. - He saw the corners of Jungkook's lips pull down and he smiled. Mind games, soft tones before the shouting, gentleness before the harshness; coins, coins. - With that settled, I hope it'll be enough for our talk. Come. -

He stood up elegantly and pushed his chair back into place. Jugnkook sat up, dragging his legs off the bed and swaying for a moment before catching the back of his head as if it hurt terribly.

Alexander pursed his lips, knowing very well he hadn't hit his head.

- I said come. -

At once, he jumped to his feet and Alexander felt more satisfied. However, that was only before Jungkook tried to run to the bathroom.

In that one instant when he saw Jungkook's wide eyes looking into the small room, Alexander felt his whole body tensing up, his lips curling in a grimace. And before Jungkook could take the second step, he had already caught him by the forearm.

He heard him gasping as his head snapped to look at him with wide, terrified eyes. He could feel him shaking like a dog in his grasp, feel his other hand grasping him to let go. And he felt such a strong desire to smash him against something, to hit him, to give him a hard blow with anything just to vent out his anger... But then he remembered that he had to do this strategically. How unfortunate to have to be careful even now; how frustrating.

This had been one of the reasons why he had left the boy. He made him want to be particularly violent.

Slowly, he pulled him closer by the arm; so slowly, he could feel him tensing up hard enough to tremble. He pulled his arm upwards so Jungkook would have to get up on his toes, and, right when he saw a tear falling, he whispered close to his face,

- Minus one point. -

Jungkook's mouth trembled as it opened in a silent little scream, his eyes looking straight into his and seeing far beyond the blue of his irises.

Alexander grinned at last.

- Remember our games, eh? - Two more tears fell from Jungkook's eyes and the intimacy of their closeness made him smile wider. - Right now, we're playing "Hear and Do". If I tell you to do something, you do it. Are we clear? - He waited for one second, but Jungkook didn't even nod. Alexander shook him by the arm violently and shouted with greeted teeth. - Answer me! -

- Yes! - His voice was high-pitched, his lips trembling so hard it was nearly a sob.

- Good. - Alexander whispered gently, nodding at last, smiling again at the sound of his terror. - I guess you forgot the signals for the different games we have. No problem, I'll teach them all to you again. You should be grateful I'm being this nice to you. Say that you're grateful. -

- I'm grateful... -

- Good. You should be. Now... - Harshly, he let go of his forearm, making Jungkook yerk forward. But Alexander took hold of his chin to make him look up before that too he let go off to say, - Come. - for what he wanted to be the last time. And then turned around to walk straight to the kitchen.

If Jungkook goes ahead and locks himself up in the bathroom or tries to hide beneath the bed, there will be punishment, and he knows it fully well.

Alexander gave a silent chuckle as he took the white cup he had prepared, sitting in his microwave, before going straight to the table. Everything about this was so fun for him, even getting mad had its benefits. The more he scared him, the more mistakes Jungkook would make, and, the fewer points he had, the worse the punishment. Alexander was reaping the benefits of both Jungkook's triumph and errors.

Having classes with him was like entering a gambling din. The house always wins.

He sat at the head of the table, giving his back to the windows, and placed the cup on the seat by his left before looking up. As he expected, Jungkook was dragging his feet, head down, nearly touching his chest, hands in fists against his sides. But he arrived at the table and moved his chair back to sit on it obediently.

Alexander took in a deep breath and smiled down at Jungkook's cup before looking back up at him.

- Go ahead. -

Slowly, Jungkook's wide eyes looked up until they met his. Jungkook's breathing was heavy in his chest, his eyes and cheeks were red, and he had looked up at him in such fear. But still... a fear that made him submissive.

Alexander sighed with a smile.

- Do you remember the name of this game? -

- ..."Funny Cups"... -

- Exactly. - He smiled. - The contents of that cup don't matter, what matters is what you'll do once you've drunk. This is the most exciting game, isn't it? I remember clearly how you would ask me to play this particular game with you; above all others. But you hardly ever won. - Alexander gave a low chuckle. - When was the last time we played this? Oh yes, I remember. The exact one, I believe, you forgot everything about. Dear, dear. That's what happens when you hit your head a bit too hard, isn't it? - He asked as he laughed.

Seeing one of Jungkook's shaking hands slide closer to the cup, it almost looked like he was forcing himself to take it; but, at the same time, restraining himself from doing it.

What he just said was true, all of it. Whenever Alexander would give him the chance to choose a game, he always chose this one. He knew why Jungkook preferred this game. He knew Jungkook preferred to drug himself with whatever was in that cup so he would either forget afterward or feel no physical pain throughout. And that was such a funny thing to taunt him about.

One thing Alexander knew and was sure Jungkook didn't, however, was that the repetitiveness of giving him these funny cups since he was six and then hurting him in any way while his undeveloped brain was in that funny state has quite surely left "brian scars" on him. So it was more than possible that Jungkook's brain had been damaged in some way, making it hard for him to remember just how funny these cups actually made him behave. But he still didn't know that for certain. He was no psychiatrist or doctor.

Either way, it only made things more exciting for him.

- Would you like me to help you? - Alexander offered with a smile.

Jungkook looked up in alarm and, quite suddenly, took his cup with both hands and chugged the contents in three swallows. Shaking violently, he lowered the cup again, and Alexander smiled.

- That's it. Good. -

Jungkook started crying again, looking so little as he did so, and Alexander looked at him intently, leaning forwards and propping his chin over his fist, his elbow resting on the table.

- You've changed a lot since we last met. But also... not. - His voice was thoughtful and low as he looked him up and down. - Yungsoo told me you got sick the week I stopped going. That he could hear you crying into your pillow, see you green and unfocused, and that you assaulted five of your classmates single-handedly. He even told me your friend Leo had reached out to him all worried because you looked absolutely brokenhearted and refused to speak on the matter. You... contradict yourself so much that it confuses even me. -

He leaned back slowly, placing both hands over his lap, and continued to speak.

- Maybe I could understand why you would stop talking about me to your family or how you would act as if nothing was said whenever I was mentioned, but still, I can't possibly comprehend why the same kid that acted terrified most of the time would be "brokenhearted" when I left for good, and then that this same brokenhearted kid would act as if I didn't exist only to look terrified the next time I saw you. But anyway, that's not the point. The point is that you can't treat me like I'm not there, Jungkook. You can't act like I'm just another teacher. I don't like it. We have history, do we not? I practically raised you. I made you. -

"So I must break you"...

5:00 pm

Jungkook looked up at him with his head still down and those eyes... oh, those eyes were chilling to the bone.

Alexander smiled, a pleasant feeling growing in his gut.

- Look at you, all angry and strong. I remember how your little fists felt whenever you "tried" to fight me off. And yet, you've broken a lot of noses, haven't you? You even hit Oliver today, poor bloke. But, me? Huh... You would hardly ever fight. You would obey me. It was hard to make you act that way with anybody else, but still... so obedient. - He lost a breath. - You would sometimes make me wonder if you were actually enjoying it. Don't glare at me; there were days you would try to hide away, yes, but there were also days when you were patiently waiting for me with your homework ready in your hands. You would confuse me so much, making me think... things I've never thought... -

Last night's dream came back to him and he nearly shuddered. Then he saw Jungkook's breathing getting much heavier and each blink taking him longer.

Nearly there...

- Do you remember the last day we saw each other? - He asked seriously, half hoping he did and half hoping he didn't just to see what would happen next. But Jungkook frowned, thinking very, very hard, and ended up shaking his head. Alexander let out a laugh. - I knew it, you forgot everything about that day. No wonder you never said anything. - He laughed more as he watched Jungkook slamming down a hand to support himself on the table, his breathing getting quicker. - I've had my suspicions for years and years, but I think this just confirms it. - He said, delightfully. - That's how you were able to do everything I told you without complaint and forgetting it later. It's as if you had amnesia but not quite because you're still able to remember it when you get triggered by my closeness, which just makes it even better. -

He placed both feet on the floor and slid to the edge of his seat, wearing a manic smile as Jungkook's eyes widened in alarm, looking around this way and that, panting heavily, digging his nails into the wood.

Now... the game can begin.

- Ha ha... Do you know why it makes it even better, Jungkook? - His voice was high and slow, just watching the boy's adrenaline go berserk after the funny cup. - It makes it better... because the fact that I'm the trigger for your memories means that, as long as I'm not beside you, your brain will refuse to remember anything... so you can't tell anyone. - He laughed in earnest, a booming laugh that startled Jungkook.

He watched and laughed as Jungkook jumped and fell out of his chair, rapidly sliding himself backward with his hands and feet until the back of his head collided with the edge of his wooden coffee table.

Alexander had given him the same mix he gave him that last time. Just to take things where they left off.

Jungkook turned around in alarm, backing away from the table, not even acknowledging the hard hit he just received. Perfect, he can barely feel pain. Alexander stood up without a rush and took his time taking off his suit jacket while Jungkook tried to stand and simply tumbled sideways, falling heavily on the coffee table, hitting the side of his head against the edge on the other side. His eyes looked wildly around and he heaved for breath, turning this way and that over the table while his hands tried to rip the neck of his own shirt. But even as his mouth opened and closed, no word left him.

The smile hadn't left his face throughout the whole show and he now rolled the sleeves of his shirt. An intrusive thought came to him about how much he didn't want to have to give Jungkook one of his shirts if he ended up ripping his own, but the moment Jungkook fell sideways onto the floor and tried to stand up again, all thoughts scattered thru laughter.

Jungkook's legs failed for a second time and he tumbled forwards, falling on the arm of the couch to then slide and fall sideways against the floor. If he keeps on doing this, the majority of the bruises will be because he fell. But still, he tried to stand once more.

Alexander had taken a step towards him to begin playing when all of a sudden... Jungkook's head stopped turning and his widened eyes focused on the door.

The smile disappeared from his face at the same time that Jungkook, with his legs still numb, tried desperately to run on all fours directly to the shut door.

- Minus two points. - Alexander said darkly as he marched towards him.

Just as fast as the laughter had come, the anger flared up.

Jungkook slid and fell but never stopped struggling until he reached the door. Hurriedly, looking back to watch him getting nearer, he got on his knees to reach up the knob and turned it... to find it locked. Frantically, he tried again, and again, and again, always looking back to watch him a step nearer and nearer and nearer; he was even trying to turn it as all the light on his face was obscured by Alexander's shadow. Shaking, he began to cry, unable to speak, and Alexander stopped right in front of him, looking down upon him with so much hatred, so much desire to inflict pain upon him, that Jungkook's hand on the doorknob lost its grip with all the shaking.

5:10 pm

Just then, in the silence and their close proximity to the door, they heard the unmistakable sound of the elevator arriving at that floor. And Alexander frowned, because he was dead sure all the teachers were sent to their apartments, and no one lived in the apartment next to his.

Thunderous, angry steps approached his door and he saw the exact same moment where utter lucidity came to Jungkook as his eyes widened with hope and he turned, ready to smash his fists against the door and shout.

But Alexander was quicker. He fell to his knees, pushed Jungkook's arms down, holding them against his stomach with one hand, and closed his mouth shut with the other, pressing him tight against him and standing up, walking rapidly backward away from the door just as someone knocked furiously three times. It would've been so easy to simply take Jungkook to the closet and pretend he wasn't there as he opened the door, but the motherfucker had to speak.

- ¡Alexander, open up! -

It was Taehyung.

And Jungkook screamed against the palm of his hand.

- ¡JUNGKOOK! -

He had recognized his voice.

Alexander is going to kill him.

Greeting his teeth and growling, he forcefully yanked Jungkook towards the bathroom while the other tried to break down the door. An intrusive thought came, telling him to throw Jungkook out the window, but he shut it down; if the toy died, there'll be no game. So he pushed a screaming Jungkook into the bathroom and then threw him with deliberate force into the closet, making him fall painfully as he closed the door with him inside, locking it. Then he walked out of the bathroom and closed that one too, locking it as well. Then, he turned to head over to the door Taehyung was throwing himself against and forced himself to control his expression and all his incredible, absolute, and burning desire to simply grab a knife and be done with this.

It took him a couple of tries, but in the end, he managed to keep himself from going over to the knives only because it would be far too messy to kill someone so obviously. Then, unlocking the door, he yanked it open and, the second Taehyung tried to push past him, he pushed him back with enough force to satisfy himself, making him stumble and fall to the ground.

Taehyung stood up again. However, Alexander walked out of his apartment, closed his door behind him, and ended all new attempts at getting through.

- You're gonna let him go or I'll–

- You'll what? - Alexander frowned at him, swallowing down a little smile, and trying not to show just how fast his heart was beating in his chest.

Taehyung gritted his teeth and balled his hands into such tight fists that his knuckles were white.

- I heard him screaming, Evans. -

He was positively fuming with rage. Both of them were.

- And you assumed I was doing something to him, didn't you? - He fought back, letting some of his anger show.

And Taehyung lost it.

He screamed, baring his teeth, and raised his fist to hit him squarely in the jaw.

That movement was quite careless of him, Alexander mused. In that swift second, he knew at one glance that, although he possessed the power, he had none of the skill. And also... who does he think he is?

Alexander raised his own hand and caught the blow in his palm, using all the strength in his arm, shoulder, back, and hips to keep himself in place, absorbing the vibrations of the punch and dissolving it as he gripped Taehyung's fist in a vice-like grip. He greeted his teeth at the utter fury of not being able to return the gesture and instead caught the other fist that had been aiming at his stomach.

Now with him in his hold, he shook his head and sighed. He wanted to tell him just how insignificant he was before him, he wanted to show him how much he didn't know, however, the plan was greater than his momentary wishes, and this plan had solidified itself once he walked out of that door. So he will follow it and hope it won't take long.

- Let me inform you, before you throw yourself against my door again, that you'll sooner break your arm than to break in. And, one more thing... - He took one step back, bending one knee as though Taehyung was too strong for him. - Yungsoo will never believe your lies. -

Taehyung frowned, seeming momentarily stunned. And Alexander took advantage of his shock to throw Taehyung's fists to one side and bolt towards the other, running straight to the stairs to his left, at the far corner of the hall.

As he jumped down two to three stairs at a time, he could hear Taehyung behind him, trying to catch up to stop him. But even if he suspected what Alexander planned on doing, his suspicions will never be confirmed. After all, the door had been closed when he heard Jungkook screaming, so only Alexander knew the truth of what happened inside. And he will never tell it.

Trying desperately to keep his smile at bay, he ran and ran until he finally arrived at the first floor. Then he sprinted up the hall towards the elevators and turned left towards the black doors.

- Evans! - Taehyung screamed in one last attempt.

Alexander had to stifle a laugh as he slammed his hand against the door and yanked it open, running out and catching his breath as if he needed it.

He looked around wildly until his eyes landed on an officer far to the right and ran to get him.

- Help! - He shouted and the officer ran towards him. Just then, he heard the black glass doors opening again and he glanced back to see Taehyung, just to point at him. - ¡He tried to attack me! -

The officer saw who he was pointing toward and stepped in front of Alexander to put one hand up and the other against his weapon at the waist.

- Sir, I'm going to need you to stand down. - He commanded Taehyung.

Alexander took out his phone in a rush and searched Yungsoo's phone number.

Taehyung was out of breath and still stunned by how things had progressed. But then he saw how the corner of Alexander's mouth twitched upwards the exact second that he knew Yungsoo had picked up the call and regained his breath enough to shout,

- ¡He's hurting a student in his apartment! I heard them screaming! -

Perfect.

- ¿¡How dare you accuse me of something like that!? -

- I need backup in the doors to the Professors' living area. I repeat. I need back up in the doors to the Professors' living area. -

Right after he was sure Yungsoo got the message, he stopped the call and pocketed his phone again.

This was just the kind of chaos that Alexander was so adept in and in which Taehyung, obviously, had no clue how to maneuver around. This was but a child, keeping themselves ignorant of how to fight just because they believe honesty will win in their favor. Weak people like him are so fun to win against because Alexander can see exactly how his hopes are crushed into dust; hopes of how being kind and good and honest will bring him happiness when in reality it just keeps him weak and ignorant. He was nothing against Alexander; his honesty was nothing against a liar like him.

Foolishly, Taehyung persisted, jogging to get in front of the officer.

- I'm telling the truth, sir. This particular student is terrified of this man and has shown it before whenever he was around and now I hear him screaming from the other side of his door. I'm not lying. - He said frantically, all while the officer kept a hand up to keep him a respectable distance away while holding the radio to his ear.

Alexander walked right up to him, standing behind the officer to keep him as a human shield and a witness.

- I can't believe you seriously tried to punch me without knowing the whole truth. I knew you were young but, blimey, you're acting like a child who only believes his best friend's word. -

Taehyung bared his teeth at him, looking like he wanted to rip him to pieces just as Alexander could see around four to five men running up the corridor from the library.

- I only need to know what happened to your child to not trust a word you say. - He spat at him.

Alexander felt his neck tensing up with the need, the desire to make him bleed at the mouth from daring talking to him like that; like he was anywhere better than him when he was nothing in comparison; like his child's death had been his fault– how could it have been his fault when it was suicide? And just why would he have killed his child when his death was not beneficial to him? He was being accused of something he never did, it was outrageous!

- Gentlemen, please. - The officer said as he pocketed his radio and raised up both hands to their chest level.

5:20 pm

Then, the other officers arrived behind Taehyung.

- What's the situation here? - The taller one said in a deep voice and Taehyung whirled around.

- Alex! - Yungsoo shouted as he got nearer from the corridor to his right and Alexander turned.

- What the... - Taehyung was utterly perplexed once more.

It was time for him to realize that he does not have the upper ground, not now, not ever.

- What happened here? What was he yelling about? - Yungsoo asked, a bit out of breath as he stood next to him and looked from Taehyung to the other officer and back.

Alexander sighed.

- Jungkook. - He explained. And Yungsoo understood at once.

Taehyung moved officers out of the way until he got to Yungsoo, persistent once more.

- Yungsoo. Your child. I heard him–

- I know, I'm sorry, I really should've warned you beforehand. - Yungsoo gave him an apologetic smile that just made Taehyung widen his eyes in shock.

- Warn me about what? That he would take him to his apartment and make him scream? Just what is happening there? He sounded terrified, Yungsoo. I want him out of there! -

Yungsoo merely shook his head while Alexander sighed deeply again

- It was obvious he would scream like that, Kim. - Alexander folded his arms over his chest again and shook his head at him. - He screamed after you yelled at me to open the door. He recognized your voice and sought to get away by making you believe I was doing something horrible to him. -

He spoke matter of factly, so much so that some of the officers surrounding them nodded along, agreeing that it was possible even though they didn't even know the full story. However, Taehyung still shook his head at him, slowly and repetitively.

- I don't believe a word you say. - He said, faintly.

- Look, Taehyung... - Yungsoo took a step forward but then looked around them for a moment. - Could you give us a second, please? This is all a big misunderstanding. -

The officers then moved away from them, some giving orders to others to leave back to their places. But there was one that stayed where he stood a little longer than necessary.

It was the same guy that came with the Chief Inspector, a tall and strong soldier with his hair all shaved; Alexander recalled that he was called Raphael and he looked directly at him with a slight frown between his eyebrows that suggested he didn't believe him also. But then, another one tapped his elbow and he winced as if slapped, snapping out of his concentration and walking off with the others to stand in a group some paces away.

Alexander didn't like the way that guy had stared at him. There had been too much recognition in the worry of his eyes and he didn't like to think that the guy Jungkook used to fight with knew something he didn't want him to know.

He'll have to ask Jungkook about that.

- Taehyung. - Yungsoo began in a very calm voice. - I didn't have time to tell you because it was too sudden but Alexander and I have decided that what's best for Jungkook at the moment is to go back to have some private lessons with him to–

- No! - Taehyung jumped in at once and Alexander grunted, rolling his eyes. - Don't you know just how utterly terrified Jungkook is of him? Do you have any idea what he does to him during those "lessons"? -

- Enough, Taehyung. - Yungsoo raised a palm, his voice not as calm as before. - You have no idea what you're suggesting and I advise you to calm down now. Alexander has known Jungkook since he was born and has been his mentor for the majority of his life so I do know what happens in those lessons and I find it very disrespectful that you think I wouldn't know if someone was hurting my youngest child, especially someone I've known for the majority of my life. I can see that you still believe the worst of him, I've known it since the beginning and I think I know why. Those... rumors about what happened to his child. Taehyung, they're false. I have not even the faintest idea why those disgusting rumors would appear in the first place and I hope that when I tell you that they're not true that you will believe me because I wouldn't want our new friendship to be interrupted by something as immature as believing a rumor instead of the truth. - He took a moment to breathe after talking so fast without a pause and Alexander could see it now...

Taehyung's eyes were losing their fire. His jaw was losing its tightness. His fists were losing their strength.

Finally, he was losing hope.

- So... - His voice was faint, nearly a whisper; his eyes were void of emotion. - ...you said he screamed... why? -

Yungsoo let out a deep breath of relief and went back to talking as calmly as before.

- Because Jungkook likes to cause trouble, Taehyung. I've told you before. He likes to draw attention to himself. This first week of classes was even worse than before. But he wasn't like that when Alexander had a good grasp on him. It wasn't my idea today, truly, but he volunteered so I accepted. I didn't know I wouldn't have time to inform you because then the Chief Inspector arrived telling me there were criminals hiding here and Lily-Anne came with two men dragging Jungkook because he assaulted Oliver–

- What? - Taehyung blinked and frowned, still talking in whispers.

- See what I'm telling you? - Yungsoo nodded. - Oliver O'Connor, one of the most harmless men I know, having to lay in the hospital wing because my child attacked him? Can you not understand just how out of control Jungkook truly is? That's why I was so afraid you would get too close to him; that could've been you. The screaming was a last attempt because he knows he has you believing the worst of Alexander, so just don't pay any more attention to anything you might hear. He always tried to kick the walls or punch the doors, but that's just tantrums, really. Let Alexander take care of it. And no more fighting. -

He took one last deep breath before waving for one of the officers to come to him. In the meantime, Taehyung's eyes lowered to the floor, looking trapped.

Alexander tilted his head a little to the side, watching and taking it all in, every emotion he displayed. It had always been interesting how he was able to recognize the emotions on other people's faces but never in himself. With him, it was always difficult. He could only try to put the best name to what he was feeling in his body. But with other people, it was easy. So easy that he delighted in the sight of heightened emotions, most of all if it made them question everything they thought they knew.

But then, his brow twitched, and the delight ebbed away.

Although Taehyung was looking at the floor like a trapped man who didn't know what to do, his eyes were slowly blazing up. His eyebrows were slowly tensing up. His jaw was slowly tightening. He hadn't tightened his fists, hadn't looked up from his defeated posture, but Alexander knew something was growing inside him, and he wasn't pleased at all to see it. Taehyung's hope hadn't died as he wanted it to.

Alexander took a deep, tight breath. Just how many times and in how many ways will he have to humiliate him?

- Alex. - Yungsoo turned from talking to the officer to address him so he had to look away from Taehyung to respond. - He couldn't have gone out while you're here, could he? -

He forced down a grin.

- No, he couldn't. -

- Yes, he could. -

5:30 pm

His wish to grin dropped as fast as his head turned to look at him. Taehyung looked up with defiance that got his insides roaring with anger before his eyes turned to Yungsoo.

- Evans simply closed the door when he walked out, he didn't lock it. If Jungkook really was in the perfect physical condition you think he was when he got in, he would've been able to flee the moment he realized, or at least he would've been kicking the door when Evans walked out, but there was absolutely nothing. -

- Taehyung, please. - Yungsoo was getting exasperated again.

But right before his open mouth could talk and talk like only he knew how to do, Taehyung took a step forward to stand right in front of him.

- Hear me out, Yungsoo. - Taehyung spoke low, tilting his chin down. And the officer that had been talking to Yungsoo slowly backed away and left. - In all you said, you talked about how you didn't want our friendship to be ruined because I believed someone else instead of you. But what if I tell you that I don't want our friendship to be ruined because you believed someone else instead of me? -

Yungsoo squinted, tilting his head; neither he nor Alexander had seen that coming.

The latter took in a deep breath, unable to simply speak because to do so would look as if he was too desperate to make people believe the opposite of what Taehyung was saying which would in fact give Taehyung double the attention he had right now.

And to think that he was wasting time down here when the funny cup only lasted so long, he was enraged.

- What are you trying to say? - Yungsoo asked slowly.

Alexander could've kicked him for it.

- I'm telling you that the door is not locked, the shout didn't sound right, and Jungkook has expressed to me many times how frightened he is of Evans. So, if he really has not been harmed or restrained in any way, how is he not getting out? -

Alexander was a breath away from throwing caution to the wind and opening his mouth even if it wasn't the right time yet. But he breathed deeply, holding it in until it was the right time.

- Alexander. - Yungsoo turned to him a little. - It is off to ask you these questions when I believe you so. But this is for "court reasons" if you will, I'm sure you understand. - He apologized in advance, but Alexander was already mad. - How is he not getting out? - He asked without caring too much as if knowing the answer would be what he expected.

This was never part of the plan, to have his friend -who never doubted him before- ask him to clarify something instead of dismissing Taehyung like he was going to do was a shock indeed. But Alexander, though enraged that his plans were changed by someone else, didn't look the least bit shaken.

Taehyung wanted to fight for Jungkook's safety? He was twenty-one years too late. Experience will always win against will.

With an obvious purs of lips, Alexander looked pointedly at Taehyung with a stiff neck.

- You see what you've done now? - He saw Taehyung squinting a little, but he turned to look directly at Yungsoo with an apology in his eyes now and looked pointedly left to right before talking to him in an even lower voice. - I didn't want to tell you because I wanted to help you get the stress off of you, not to give you more. - He frowned, looking displeased as he shook his head in disappointment.

And Yungsoo's worry went straight through the roof.

- What nonsense are you spouting? -

- Taehyung!–... - Yungsoo held his breath and turned to him for a moment. - I heard and understood your point of view. Now we're hearing Alexander's point of view. Neither you nor I know what happened inside so let's hear it from the person who was inside. And I'm really worried because it wouldn't be the first time Jungkook hurts Alexander and, if he's hurt, it would be my responsibility, so let's hear him out as we heard you, and then we'll see what happens next. - Taking a deep breath, he turned back to look intently at Alexander. - Tell me, now. -

Alexander wanted to grin. But he took a deep breath and lowered his head, shaking it a bit as if he didn't want to do it before looking up again and answering.

- I won't give you any details but... - He sighed greatly. - He started overreacting when you left your office and I knew that he would only try to run away, maybe even hurt somebody, so I told the officer you left with us to make him unconscious by suffocation; you remember how we used to do that in uni? -

- Yeah. - Yungsoo shrugged. - Nothing too harmful; he would just be asleep. - He nodded, waiting for the rest. And then raised a hand to stop Taehyung from speaking with a stern look.

So, Alexander continued.

- Exactly. We took him to my apartment, I let him wake up on his own, tried to speak to him even though he wasn't really responding, and when I got to the part where we would start classes again, he reacted... strongly. So I had to lock him in the bathroom less he would hurt any of us or try to go to Taehyung. - Alexander frowned, shaking his head.

Yungsoo turned his head slightly to the side, squinting worriedly at him.

- I knew he wouldn't be thrilled but... well... with the way he reacted when you left seven years ago, I even thought–

- Yeah, me too. - Alexander shook his head, mirroring his confusion. - But he was running back, trying to hide, even shouting at me as if I'd done anything. It didn't even look like the tantrums he had when he was younger– in fact... this looked like the terror Taehyung was telling us about. But I have no idea why that would be. - He folded his arms over his chest, resting his elbow over the other so he would tap the side of his index against his lips in serious thought.

Yungsoo leaned back a bit, copying his pose, thinking hard. Then he turned his head at Taehyung who'd been looking at the pair of them with wide, frowning eyes.

- Could it be that he's trying to act like the victim he showed to Taehyung so the story would match? Wouldn't that be too much of a trouble? -

Taehyung took a step closer, closing the circle of three, folding his arms over his chest as well. Alexander was looking at him very, very closely. Any other teacher would've believed them by now but he still seemed determined to take Jungkook out of his hands. It made him wonder, was he really just a teacher who took a liking to the boy?

- No, it still doesn't make much sense. - Yungsoo continued with his own theory. - To act as though Alexander has done something dreadful when the pair of them are alone would be pointless. - He looked back at him. - He could've just tried to attack you without looking all scared. -

- And you hadn't done anything to deserve it? - Taehyung asked, raising his eyebrows faintly.

5:40 pm

________________________________________________________________________________

🌼Thank you for reading Chapter 73 <3<3<3

Your devoted writer,

Ela Shadow Rose 🥀

Go ahead with the next Chapter ->->->