Chapter Three

When Friday finally came I was happy that the next day was a weekend because the week had been hell on me. The tutoring sessions was getting longer and longer, and it was affecting my nightly routine. It also didn't help that father had started calling me after school.

For the last few days, I would make it home around nine or ten and after I showered and ate dinner it would already be midnight. When I finally laid down I wouldn't even find sleep until an hour or two later. Each morning I would wake up feeling drowsy, and more cranky than I usually am. I hid my drowsiness well, but I'm sure that anyone that looked at me closely could see the bags under my eyes.

I sat at my desk taking notes even though all I wanted to do was sleep. I would only write down the very important things, and even then it was a lot. It didn't help that I had to add all the suggestions the teacher made. Literature might have been my best subject but it was easily the most annoying in terms of taking notes.

Throughout the class, I would occasionally stop and glance around the room. Every time I would do this I would catch Yaling staring at me. When our eyes would meet she would immediately look away, and all I could do was sigh. I would've thought that me ignoring her would get her off my back, but I was wrong.

I did my best to dodge her, and when she did catch me I would ignore her. I could see that this made her upset and I didn't feel the least bit bad. This was the nicest option I could've come up with, and it was barely working. At this point, I would have to tell her directly to leave me alone. Troublesome.

---

When class finally came to an end students poured out of the classroom in a hurry. When I finished packing up my things the classroom was empty. I let out a sigh and closed my eyes.

"Why couldn't it be this quiet all day?"

I sighed and got up from my desk and left. There were students still lingering in the halls talking about nothing. Before every weekend they did this and even though I had seen it a lot; I still didn't understand. I was more surprised at the fact that the faculty had very little objection to this.

At my old school, everyone had to be off the campus before a certain time, but here you could stay as long as you needed to. It was strange, to say the least, but also interesting. This school was a lot different from my last one for the simple fact that no one knew my father and I intend to keep it that way.

If they knew of him it would only cause problems because of his reputation. I wouldn't say that my father doesn't deserve his money, but he has what many call dirty money. He made a lot of enemies acquiring it, and even more in keeping it.

His work is the reason our relationship is how it is, and it's also a reason why mom left. I try not to dwell on that fact too often. I wish we were still a family.

When I made it to room 205 and entered, it was empty. This wasn't too shocking. After Ba Wei was on time for one day, he began to come late. I didn't ask why I just immediately started the lessons. He didn't say much and neither did I. It had become our routine.

I walked over to the table and sat down. I didn't bother pulling my things out this time because most likely he would arrive in ten minutes. I laid my head down and let out a sigh. I sat there in silence waiting for him.

Thirty minutes passed and I still sat in that room alone. I was annoyed at this point, and for the first time since we met. I was angry at him. If he wasn't going to come today he could've told me yesterday so I didn't waste my time.

I picked up and my bag and left the room. As I walked through the halls it was quiet, and it only made me more annoyed. I wasted so much time by coming here. I could've been at home by now if I had immediately left.

With how annoyed I was, it probably wouldn't just go away. Most likely I would go to bed and wake up annoyed. It was a curse for me. All of my emotions are curses.

Just when I was about to leave the building I heard yelling coming from one of the halls. It wasn't too loud but wasn't too quiet either. I stopped walking and just listened.

"THE HELL YOU WILL," someone yelled! The voice was unfamiliar, but the voice that followed after wasn't.

"I don't have time for this."

Without thinking I started following the voices and just when I turned the corner I watched as a fist connected with Ba Wei's face. He stumbled backward and the three boys that stood around him immediately started to beat him all at once.

"HEY," I said as I dropped my bag. I started to run over, but before I could get to them they were already gone. I stopped in front of Ba Wei and looked around to make sure it was clear.

After making sure the coast was clear I looked down at the guy that lay against the wall. His face was slightly bruised and his lip was busted.

"Hey, are you alright?" He didn't answer. I reached out my hand and nudged him a few times. He stirred a bit, but still didn't wake up. How can he be this big and not even put up a fight? He had to be an idiot. I nudged him a few more time but he still didn't move. In the end, I would either have to forcefully wake him up and call him a cab or carry him all the way home.

The cab was the easiest one, but it also involved awkward interactions. In the end, carrying him home would have to do. I leaned down and pulled on one of his arms. He was as heavy as he looked. I put one of his arms around my shoulder and slowly stood up.

My knees were shaking as I lifted him. I was not a weak person, but my body could barley even hold half of his weight. Putting him on my back would lead to both of us on the ground. One arm would have to do. I nudged his arm, and this time his eyes opened.

"Hey, if I'm gonna help you, you're gonna have to help me."

Those brown eyes shot to mine before whispering, "en."

When I began walking he indeed did also. His balance was a bit off so I would have to push up against him to keep him up straight. As we walked back towards the exit of the building I very carefully picked up my bag on the way.

"Where is your house?" My voice was strained as I asked the question. Although he was walking, he still had a large portion of his weight pressing against me.

"Why?"

"You need to go home," I said as we started walking down the sidewalk to the school gates.

"Don't want to go home," he mumbled.

I didn't know what to say. If he didn't want to go home; Where did he want to go? I couldn't bring him back to my place because he would find out my status.

"Lean against the pole right there until I call a cab." To my surprise, he listened to me. I didn't know what to do, but I called a cab. I was about to ask for his address again, but when I turned back around the eyes that were once open were closed again. I stared at his calm face before I unconsciously reached out to touch it. Before I could, I pulled my hand back puzzled. What was I about to do? Confused, I put my hand in my pockets and quietly waited for the cab.

The cab arrived about thirty minutes later, and Ba Wei was still asleep. I opened the door and put my things down. I walked back over to Ba Wei and put an around my shoulder. Immediately as I pulled him off the pole most of his weight crashed down on me. Although my knees were shaking I still got him to and in the cab. I got in after and to say I was tired was an understatement.

"Where to," the cabbie asked?

I didn't hesitate to give him my address. I didn't care what Ba Wei would say, or how he would react. I was too tired to care, and all I wanted was to be home. I looked over at the still unconscious boy beside me. He was even handsome when sleeping. His face appeared much softer. I wonder why he always put on that hard exterior when he can't even protect himself in a fight. How backward.

---

When the cab arrived at my house it was about midnight. Getting Ba Wei out of the cab was as troublesome as getting him in it. I struggled for at least two minutes before I had to ask the cabbie for help. He was kind enough to put him on my back.

"Thank you," I said out of breath.

"No problem." He smiled and got back in his cab and drove away.

I slowly started walking towards my apartment, and for the first time, I was grateful that it was the first one on the third floor. I would normally take the elevator, but it would be faster and easier on my knees to just take the stairs.

I made my way to the stairs, and slowly but surely climbed them. Before long I made it to my front door. I slid Ba Wei off my back and leaned him on the wall. It honestly surprised me that he still hadn't woken up. How deep of sleep was he in? If it were me, I would've woke up when someone touched me.

I unlocked my door and pushed it open. I threw my bag inside and grabbed his arm. I pulled him into my body and dragged him inside to the couch. I walked and closed my door before I bent down and put my hands on my knees and took a deep breath. He was as heavy as he looked, but I expected at least a little breathing room.

"What the hell do you eat," I said aloud as I wiped the little sweat from my forehead. I walked over to the door and took off my shoes. I walked over to Ba Wei and did the same to him. After sitting his shoes down I turned to look at him. Although he seemed to be sleeping peacefully, I had to try waking him up.

I walked into my bedroom and looked through my bedside table until I found the smelling salt. It's better if I don't explain why I have this. I walked back to him and squatted down and put it close to his nose. Nothing. He didn't move an inch. How can he be immune to smelling salt? I stood up and put my hands on my hips.

"I guess I'll just clean your wounds if you won't wake up."

I walked into the bathroom and picked up alcohol and cotton balls. I walked over to the couch and took a seat beside him. His head was leaning in my direction already so I just squeezed a little alcohol onto one of the cotton balls. Carefully I dabbed it on his busted lip. It wasn't too bad, but it definitely would be something that would be noticed on his face. I looked down and applied more alcohol. When I looked back up dark eyes met mine.

"What are you doing," he asked?

I moved my eyes away from his and answered.

"I'm cleaning your wound on your lip." He sat up slowly, and even though I wasn't looking at him, I could feel his eyes still on me.

"Where am I?"

"You're at my house?"

"Why did you bring me here?"

I looked up at him, "I didn't know your address and it was late so I didn't have a choice." He was silent and just looked around for a minute before his eyes focused back on me.

"Could you tell me what happened."

"I only saw the end, but you were discussing something with a group of guys. They jumped you."

"Shit," he said under his breath.

"You passed out, so I tried to wake you. You woke up, but you fell back asleep before I could get your address so in the end I just brought you here." I held up the cotton ball, and he nodded. I went back to treating his lip, and the room fell into silence.

"Why didn't you just leave me there?"

"What," I asked as my hand stopped?

"Why didn't you just leave me there. It's not like I'm your responsibility."

He was right. Why did I even inject myself into that situation? I could've left him in that hallway, and been home on time. So why did I not?

"I don't know," I said truthfully. "All done."

I was about to get up, but a hand stopped me. I looked over at Ba Wei confused.

"Yes?"

"Thanks," he said as he let go of me.

"You're welcome."

I put the alcohol back where I got it from, and when I walked back out I was surprised to see Ba Wei putting his shoes on.

"Where are you going?"

"Home." His voice was cold and his normal appearance had returned.

"It's midnight, just stay here." As those words left my mouth even I was surprised. What did I just say? I had never said those words even to my father. I hated people, so why did I offer that. It's too late to take it back now. Ba Wei was silent for a minute before he spoke again.

"It's okay. I can find my way home." There was a change in his voice when he said the last word. I didn't care whether he went, but somehow I think he didn't want to go.

"Just stay here," I said again. It wouldn't hurt to have some company right?

He stared at me with his normal cold eyes, but there was something different to them. He shifted his eyes to the floor and began taking off his shoes.

"Alright."