Barely anyone paid attention to what Clara was saying. Heck, the girl didn't even know half of the stuff she was saying either. They were all in too much of a daze as what just happened to care about grades right now.
Why did Justin suddenly leave like that? Why was he so angry? Because of Ichigo? Did it involve the rumor? …Or something else?
Ichigo sighed as he entered his private office.
It was passing period, which meant he had a little over ten minutes to straighten out his thoughts before going to his next class.
He walked over to his desk and dropped into his chair in exhaustion.
Justin's behavior this morning was totally uncalled for. Heck, Ichigo didn't even know why that bastard was so fucking pissed. He knew that kid didn't like him much, but to leave class like that after cursing at him like some gangster, seemed a bit extreme.
Ichigo shook his head. "I shouldn't let it bother me," he murmured to himself before reaching for his bento box. Lunch had already passed but he so busy with planning his materials that he never got the chance to eat. He was hoping to eat something now. As he opened the lid of his bento, all negative thoughts that had been plaguing his mind that day disappeared when he peered at his lunch. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
On top of the rice, Angel had arranged the green beans into one of her horrific Chappy drawing with the words 'ganbatte' written below it. Still, it was kind of cute.
"Stupid midget," Ichigo snickered.
Just then, the door to his office swung open with so much intensity that Ichigo was barely able to close his lunch on time. He turned around and glared. "What the fuck, Andrew?! Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
Andrew walked in and crossed his arms. "Etiquettes aren't important right now. But what is, is the rumor that's going around school."
Ichigo stared at his friend, confused. "What rumor?"
Andrew sighed. "About you living without someone."
"Not that again," Ichigo scoffed, as he leaned back against his chair and rubbed his temples. "I already heard enough of that from my students and I don't need anymore shit from you."
"Sorry but you're getting one," Andrew pushed up his glasses, "Especially since it involves a student."
Ichigo fell off his chair. "W-WHAT?!"
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said you've been hearing this all day?"
Ichigo stood up and steadied himself against his desk. "Yeah, but my students said it was just some random girl or a fellow teacher from this school, but never a student."
"Well, rumors can go out of hand," he said, thinking back to the stupid rumor of him being gay, which was TOTALLY untrue.
Ichigo looked away, trying to control the sweat rolling down his forehead. He sat back into his chair and tried to act nonchalant. "So, um, if that's what you want to talk about then, ahem, you have nothing to worry about. I'm not involved with anyone."
Andrew looked at his friend, eyeing him from head to toe. "You're lying."
Ichigo almost fell again. "W-what? Why the hell would you say that?"
"Because one, you stuttering; and two, you're sweating bullets."
Shit, Ichigo cursed in his head. "I'm just constipated, that's all."
Andrew frowned. "Anyways, whether that's true or not, be careful. This school doesn't give a single chance to anyone if these scandalous rumors turned out to be true. Noel is the only exception, but if you started a relationship while teaching a student, then you're in trouble."
"Don't worry," Ichigo gulped, "I'm not involved with a student, let alone with another teacher or some other random girl."
Andrew nodded. "And it better stay that way, or else." Having said what he wanted to say, Andrew was about to make his way out the door when his friend stopped him.
"Wait, Fernandez," Ichigo called out, "Just out of curiosity, what might happen if, hypothetically, a student and a teacher did get themselves involved in a relationship?"
Andrew slowly turned around with a scrutinizing look. He took in a deep breath, signaling the start of the long 'I-know-more-than-you' lectures Andrew gave to almost everyone. "Why are you asking such an obvious question? The teacher would definitely get fired and the student expelled. Worse, the teacher could get arrested for having a relationship with a minor and the student could be sent to juvenile court if she was the one who instigated the relationship. Not to mention this could disgrace her family and she can never escape the image of having been 'touched' by a teacher. It would make her seem easy, in turn making her an easy target for other perverts out there. Furthermore, she won't be able to get into other schools, so would end up with no education passed high school. She'd end up working at a burger house or, if her parents kick her out for such a disgrace, could work in the streets."
Ichigo gulped. Not merely because of the massive information he got in less than thirty seconds, but because it sounded like Andrew knew something, and was thus warning him with everything he said. "I-I see. Thanks for telling me," Ichigo nodded, avoiding eye contact with his friend.
Andrew stood there, eyeing the orange head with a look that was sending out a message he could only hope was reaching Ichigo . You better remember this, Walker, or else you'll end up ruining her. "Is that all you wanted to know?"
Ichigo nodded, rubbing his face with one hand. "Yeah, thanks for the info."
Andrew shrugged. "Well, it was a hypothetical question after all."
Ichigo stiffened at the tone of Andrew's voice. He didn't even look up as he left his office, closing the door behind him to leave Ichigo alone again in his room.
He stood there for awhile, chanting in his head everything Andrew just told him.
The student expelled.
Juvenile court.
Disgrace.
'Touched.'
Easy target.
No education.
Burger house…
…Streets.
Ichigo slumped over in his chair, cradling his head with hands propped up by the elbow on top of his desk. He stiffened when one of his arms touched the bento box next to him. He carefully opened his eyes and stared at the object that, only a few minutes ago, was the object of his momentary happiness.
After staring at his untouched lunch for a few more seconds, he pulled out his cell phone. He immediately texted Angel "Meet me in my office, now," before flipping his phone shut.
He stayed very still, eyes closed as he strained his ears to hear the familiar light footsteps that belonged to a certain midget. In a few minutes, the door opened and closed after someone came in.
"You called me, Ichigo? Passing period is almost over."
The said man stiffened upon hearing his name escaping her lips with such sweetness. He groaned as he thought about everything that's been happening that day.
Angel walked over to his side, and peered at his face from the side. "What's bothering you?" she asked with her cute pout, "Is it about Justin? Or the rumor?"
Upon hearing 'rumor' from her, Ichigo quickly stood up and took in a deep breath.
He had to do this.
There was a reason why Andrew warned him, and Ichigo never doubted his friend for a single second since they met.
He knew…Andrew knew everything and was giving him a chance to end everything before it became too dangerous.
"Angel…"
"Yeah?" she looked up at him.
"This can't work…"
Angel frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Ichigo sighed. "We should stop all this."
"Ichigo," she lifted a brow at him, "You're not making any sense."
But he kept his eyes away from her, knowing full well how her violet eyes have the ability to make him fall to her will, whatever it may be. "Leave," he simply said.
Angel stared at him before scoffing. "What? Why should I? You're the one who called me here—"
"I meant leave my apartment," he interrupted, his cold gaze looking straight into her violet eyes that widened at his words. "I want you gone by the time I get home. I'm sure Lucy will take you in so go there."
"What?" Angel asked but he only turned around, slamming his hands on top of his desk. She was in a daze for a few seconds before mustering enough strength to step closer to him. She placed a shaking hand on his arm. "W-What are you talking about? I…Is something wrong?"
Ichigo squeezed his eyes shut as his hands clenched into fists. "Don't question me. Just leave."
"Ichigo—"
"Stop stalling and go!" he yelled, squeezing his eyes tightly that veins were popping out from the sides.
Angel was slightly taken aback by his sudden outburst. She couldn't understand what was happening. Weren't things getting better between them? Sure they never really said anything about their overall relationship, but from the way things were going, shouldn't it be obvious? Her grip tightened. "Ichigo, I don't understand—" Angel's words got cut off when Ichigo violently yanked his arm out of her grip.
Ichigo turned around with his tense back to her. "I can't take this anymore…I'm tired of what's happening between us. Besides," he paused before speaking again with more venom in his voice then when he had talked to Justin. "It's not like there anything going on between us."
Angel felt her heart shriveling up into a tight ball.
"Just leave…Bushū," he growled, his hands rolling up to tight fists next to his sides.
Angel didn't know why. Why was her vision suddenly blurry? What were these wet things falling from her eyes? She couldn't understand what was happening around her and why her throat clenched shut. So she did the only thing she could think of. Without another word Angel turned and ran out of his office.
Once he heard the door shut closed, Ichigo gritted his teeth as he slammed his two fists on top of his table again, directing all his anger at the innocent desk. As the desk shook, he heard something falling over and dropping on the floor with a plunk and a klank.He looked over to see the lunch Angel had made for him that morning, all over the floor. The good food and the sweet—but ugly—drawing of Chappy now completely ruined. "…Fuck," he groaned.
Angel didn't even give her friends a second glance when she reached her classroom. With a tear-stained face she ran inside and grabbed her school bag. Her friends were shocked to see her so stressed out but as they were asking her what was wrong she stormed out the classroom, forgetting there was still a few hours left of school.
The past month was flashing through her mind as she ran out into the streets. Tears streamed out of her eyes as she bumped against poles and total strangers, but she never stopped running.
"Hey! Watch where you're going bitch!"
"Miss you okay?"
"You knocked over my sculpture!"
People shouted after her but she kept running. She ran until her lungs started to constrict. She ran until her legs started to wobble. She ran until her uniform started to get damp with her sweat She ran until she was sure she was far away from school…and Ichigo.
She ran towards the apartment that was several blocks away from school. She ran up the stairs and yanked open the door to their place. Huffs of breath came from her mouth as she stepped in and looked around the apartment. She dropped her bag and her knees started to shake. Unconsciously she fell several steps back outside before her knees gave out completely under her. She crumbled to the ground outside the apartment and freely cried out all the tears that were piling out.
The first time they met.
The time when she moved into his apartment.
The vacation to the beach where she met his sweet family.
Their first kiss.
All the sweet talks he whispered into her ear.
The sweet ministrations.
Everything was playing in her head like a sad movie that she didn't want to see. Why was he suddenly telling her to leave after everything that happened between them?
He was using me, she thought to herself, He never cared about me! He never even said we were in a relationship in the first place! She screamed to stop the truth that was talking in her head.
Without realizing it, Angel started to sob out loud, not able to move from her position right outside the door of the apartment. The sun was setting behind her and the wind was picking up.
It looked about ready to rain.
For how long she was there, Angel didn't know. Her loud sobs have finally toned down to small whimpers but the tears refused to dry up. By now she was sitting with her back to the wall, knees bent up and her chin resting on top of it. Her swollen eyes eyed the open door, afraid of stepping inside in case her emotions got the best of her again. The apartment was filled with Ichigo's scent and if she took a huge whiff of it she might go crazy.
"Just leave…Bushū."
The way he ordered her to leave and the tone he used when he had said her surname. Those three words repeated over and over again in her ears. And the image of his eyes piercing into her soul, stabbing her breaking heart was making things worse.
Her heart…her poor bleeding heart.
"When did this happen?" she asked herself out loud, "When did I fall for that idiot?"
And now, all because of a stupid rumor he was ruining everything.
Taking one deep breath Angel pushed herself up on her wobbling legs as she looked inside the apartment again. It was now dark, and she could see almost nothing beyond the genkan, which was a good thing. If she saw anything more, she might break down again.
"I'll leave," she said into the wind, hoping it would carry the message to Ichigo, "I'll leave before the rumor consumes you and your stupid image."
Without another thought, she gently closed the door while taking one last look inside the dark apartment before it got closed off. Angel stood with her loose grip on the door knob. She bit her lower lip to stifle her cries as she forced her weak legs down away from the door and down the stairs.
She didn't know where to go especially since everything was still at the apartment. Maybe she could go to her friends' house…but that would mean she'd have to confess everything since they're the type to question her until they got answers.
But then where else could she go?
Angel's legs reached the end of the stairs and stopped as she faced the streets. Looking up she could see the rain clouds covering the moon. With a sigh she aimlessly started to wander with no clear destination. She left the vicinity of his apartment and made her way down the dark streets, the light from the moon covered by the thick clouds.
She never noticed the shadow looming behind her.
Ichigo clenched his shaking fists as he made his way down the street as the rain started to pour down. He was getting soaked through his clothes but that wasn't what was really bothering him. It was already late in the evening and Angel must be out of the house by now. He stayed behind at school for several more hours, hoping it was enough time for her to gather up whatever she needed and leave. But that didn't do anything to calm down his nerves.
Every muscle in his body was yelling at him to go after her and beg on his knees to stay with him. That he really didn't want her to leave and he needed her to be with him. That the stupid rumor and Andrew lecture got the best of him.