Jin POV
The next day…
Soo and I stood next to each other across Mr. An's table as we watch him read Kwan's letter. You are wondering how I found the letter? Of course, I did. After going through my old notes yesterday, I later found it inside one. “Who wrote this?” Mr. An asked in his cold voice and I cringed. He was the only man all students were clearly afraid of, when you saw him approaching from the right side direction, you take the left side direction.
No matter how courageous you can be, I bet you'll shiver with fear once you came across this man. He's very strict and so mean.
He always finds fault in everything one does.
Even as I am now, I pray this issue doesn't bounce back on me afterwards.
“She's…our classmate, Sir” I stuttered, staring at my feet. “Go call the head prefect” He ordered.
“Yes sir” Soo said and rushed out at once.
“Some students will never listen, and I won't stop discipling them till they listen” I listened to him as he soliloquies.
Shortly, I heard, “Here I am, sir” I turned to my back and saw Ji ho, the head prefect.
“Good” The principal said and stood up.
“There would be an urgent assembly shortly, make sure you disseminate the information now” He instructed in his ice voice.
“Alright, sir” Ji ho said with a bow.
“Now go back to your classes”
We bowed and walked out of his office.
“What do you think Mr. An is up to?” Soo asked as we walked towards our class.
“I don't know” I shrugged.
“But it's certain he's going to punish Kwan” I smirked as we walk into the class.
It's break period, so it was only few students in the class, including Kwan herself and her best friend-Audrey.
“Everyone” I said aloud as I stood in front of the class, and they all turned to me, with a keen attention.
Well, except for Audrey and Kwan.
They didn't bother turning to me, as they kept talking nonstop.
“The principal said there would be an urgent assembly shortly” I began. “He further said someone has to be dealt with severally in our midst here” I continued.
Kwan and Audrey turned to my direction at once, and I shot them a lopsided smirk.
I took my eyes away from them. “So, you guys should get prepared” I told the whole class and walked up to my seat.
“You guys are evil” Ryan said through clenched teeth behind us- immediately Soo and I sat down on our seats.
I rolled my eyes and turned to her furiously.
“Stay out of my shit, Ryan” I warned her sternly.
Audrey POV
Kwan and I watched as crazy Blondie and her friend returned to their seats. Kwan turned to me and gulped nervously.
“Is it what I am thinking?” Her voice wavered.
“Just calm down, Kwan”
“She might just be joking…”
“Grade 11” We both glanced up to saw the Head prefect. “The principal has called for everyone's attention on the assembly ground” He announced and walked out immediately.
“Audrey” Tears were already in her eyes and I felt pity for her immediately.
I watched as students hurried out of the class. I sighed deeply and slowly rose to my feet before I made Kwan stood up with my hands on her shoulders.
“Let's go, Kwan” I urged her.
I've heard a lot about the principal, and they were definitely not nice things.
We were all assembled as we were told to do. Some teachers were standing across us, holding a look I couldn't understand, especially the women. The principal walked out from nowhere and Kwan hand shook with fear in my hold, I held her tightly. “Be calm, Kwan” I told her silently.
“Good day everyone” He greeted with a non-smiling face.
What am I even saying?
I've never seen him smile before.
“Good day sir” We chorused, but my voice and Kwan's voice came lowly.
I preferred not to believe what Kwan and I are thinking. No, I didn't want to.
“I want to believe Grade 9 and 10 are also here” He said, stretching his tortoise neck forward.
“Yes sir” They chorused.
“Good”
“a Few of you here are new students and might not have heard about this rule” He begins.
“I disapprove any form of loving, writing a letter to each other and all sorts of nonsense in this school”
Kwan and I exchanged a glance.
“If you're going to indulge in any unreasonable stuff among yourselves, then it should be outside the school premises and I mustn't find out about it” He snorted, and I could feel my heart beating very fast now.
“But despite my serious warnings, some students still turned deaf ears to it” He said in a more cold voice. And Kwan was now shaking, obviously.
“It's no problem, someone is going to serve as a scape goat here today”
"Kwan Bak” He called.
Kwan turned to me, frightened. “Step out” He ordered. She slowly withdrew her hand from mine and walked out.
“Come stand right here!” The principal shouts and most students moved backward in fear.
“You're Kwan Bak?” He asked her as she stood next to him. Kwan just nodded, staring at the floor.
“Now take this, and read it to everyone's ear” He stretched out the letter to her and Kwan looked at him with fear.
“I'm sorry, sir” Her voice shakes.” Just collect this and do as I say” Kwan collected it, she met my gaze before turning to the letter.
'Hi, Seo Yun, you might say I'm a coward for sending a letter instead of approaching you. Well, I agree, because I've never in my life felt like this towards any guy except you, Seo Yun.
I just hope you read my letter.
Sent with love, Kwan.'
Kwan stutters as she read, tears rolling down her cheeks, and I couldn't help my tears too.
She finished reading the letter and a loud gasped escaped everyone's mouth.
“What punishment do you deserve for going against my rule, Kwan?” The principal asked her, but she just wept profusely, not glancing up.
“Get me my cane!” The principal turned to the head prefect and ordered him. My eyes protruded.
What?
He's going to flog her?
Murmured fill the air from every angle, but I just stared at Kwan, feeling completely powerless.
“Keep quiet!” The principal yelled as the head prefect stretched his so-called cane forward to him.
“This is your punishment, Kwan”
“I'm giving you ten strokes of cane, and you're going to make sure you clean the basketball court immediately the trainee leave the place every day, repeatedly for the next ten days” He announced, and I felt my heart thud as another gasped came from the students.
This is wickedness! I thought angrily.
“Now, turn your back” The principal said.
Kwan did as she was told to do, and the next thing I heard was the sound of the cane.
She cried, and I just let my tears too flow freely from my eyes. I shut my eyes as I couldn't watch the scene again.
“The letter has been long, Sir” I defended with a cracked voice, but the principal didn't even turn to me as he continued with the flogging. I turned to the students at my back as I let my eyes search for the witch; our eyes met, and she winks as she sneered at me.
She's really going to regret this, I promise.
I bite my inner cheek, fuming inwardly.
My eyes landed on Duffer, he was staring at me with a sympathy look. I looked away immediately.
No!
I don't need anyone's sympathy now.
The person I cared most about in the class was being tortured, all in the name of love.