Gracie glared at Manl and his gang with her arms akimbo.
Her chest heaving up and down with burning rage.
She couldn't stand to see Manl and his gang being so complacent and bullying those weaker than them.
This actually wasn't her first time going against them, but most of the time, she couldn't do anything in the end. Even when she reported them to the teachers, nothing happened to them after the fact. No punishment. Nothing.
At most a warning, which is completely ignored.
'How unfair!' Gracie thought with a frown.
Along with the increasing dissatisfaction and suffocating feeling in her chest, her glare intensified.
Originally, she had been walking to class after the bell rang.
The hall gradually emptied out and Gracie was the only one hurrying to her classroom.
While passing by the stairwell, she heard unusual thumping sounds and muffled groans.
She went to check it out only to find Manl and them bullying a student.
"What are you doing?!" Gracie immediately burst into the scene and started arguing with Manl in a loud voice.
"Che! It's you again. Why don't you mind your own business?" Manl was startled and then immediately retorted.
"This is my business! I heard it with my ears and I saw it with my eyes. It's my business now, too!"
"What a joke! If I pooped and peed, is it any of your business?"
Hearing this, Manl's friends laughed and uttered indecent jokes alongside his words.
Gracie's eyes twitched from the stress she felt, her expression twisted. "Disgusting! Watch your mouth! If I didn't know, I would've thought you ate the poop you dumped!"
"You…!" Manl turned red.
"You, you what? Got nothing to say now? Humph!" Gracie rolled her eyes with a smug laugh.
Manl gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Don't think that just because you're a girl I won't hit you!" Manl growled. He was so mad. Ever since Gracie entered S High School, they would be interrupted every so often by her when they were targeting someone. If they didn't have a rule to not bully girls, Manl would've made her one of their punching bags long ago.
Manl clenched his hands and pulled his arm back. He swung his arm and punched Gracie as his friends cheered him on.
Gracie was not scared in the face of the sudden attack. Instead, she calmly faced the incoming attack and dodged. With a spin, she kicked out her leg and hit Manl who crossed his arms in front of his chest to block.
Her strength wasn't great compared to Manl, but Manl was still forced to take two steps back.
Manl quickly regained his balance and punched her again. Gracie avoided the blow and kicked out again. She didn't use her fists because she knew that with her puny strength, only kicking would do some damage to the other party.
They exchanged blows for a few rounds. Sweat broke out on their bodies from the strenuous actions.
Minutes later, they both stopped attacking each other at the same time.
Since this wasn't the first time Gracie confronted them about their actions, it's also naturally not the first time that they've exchanged blows.
Although Gracie didn't have enough strength to deal damage, she did have enough stamina and flexibility to fight against Manl. And with their numerous fights with each other, they both understand the way the other fought.
Gracie wasn't in a hurry to attack him. Since they started fighting, the other bullies stopped hitting and kicking the boy on the ground and turned their attention to the fight. Part of Gracie's goal was achieved so she started to conserve her strength. Manl also put down his arms.
"Gracie, we both know that you can protect this kid for a moment but not forever. Nobody cares about what we do. Not the teachers and certainly not our parents. You're just wasting your time. Might as well get to class, goody two-shoes," Manl mocked Gracie as he stared her down with cold eyes.
However, Gracie remained undaunted.
If she was this easy to scare off, she would have never interfered in the first place.
"Save your breath. Don't think that you can always get away with this. Someday, you'll regret it."
"Regret? Regret what? That I didn't beat you up every time I saw you for messing up my fun?"
Gracie narrowed her eyes in displeasure. However, she didn't move. If she knew she could win, she would not hesitate at all to take these jerks down. But after all, she knows it in her heart that she can't beat Manl, especially when she's greatly outnumbered.
She stamped her foot in frustration. She wasn't willing to back down. Does she have to give in again like the previous times?
Yes, she brought a moment of respite for the boy, but what she wanted was more than just this.
In their stalemate, they didn't notice the presence of someone approaching them.
Because the other's steps were silent, not even Manl's friends noticed someone coming. Well, they were also occupied with watching the fun of Manl and Gracie as well as occasionally hitting and jeering at the bruised boy on the floor.
Back to the present moment.
Ian watched the show play out in front of him with gentle and indifferent eyes.
He was about to turn around and walk back to his classroom when he suddenly got a glimpse of the face of the teenager lying weakly on the ground covered in wounds.
Ian paused.
Something flashed past in his eyes.
'Ho?' Ian mused to himself. 'This is interesting…'
Ian decided to continue watching for a little longer.
On the other side, Manl was starting to feel bored.
Looking at Gracie, an amusing idea hit him. He suddenly smiled and waved to his friends.
The evil glint in his eyes was obvious, and the others understood what he wanted them to do in a heartbeat. They, too, smiled.
The gang of teenagers with a malicious air grabbed the boy on the floor and lifted him up. They brought him in front of Gracie in three or four steps.
The boy did not struggle, whether it was because he was too weak or that he had given up was not clear.
His head hung down and his bangs covered his expression. No one knew what he was thinking.
And Manl and his gang didn't care what he was thinking either.
They treated him like a toy—if they were bored, they would play with him.
They treated him like a sandbag—if they were unhappy, they would beat him up.
It was whimsical, it was cruel.
Nobody can save him.
Nobody cared enough to save him.
Gracie wasn't strong enough to save him.
He couldn't save himself.
He could only subject himself to this hell until he graduates.
The bullies held him upright, two of them holding onto his arms so that he wouldn't move or fall down.
Manl walked up and punched the boy in the guts.
The boy groaned.
"You!" Gracie shouted, outraged.
Once again, Gracie felt a sense of frustration arising from her heart. She watched this injustice, this cruelty, but was powerless to do anything.
She didn't have the background to suppress Manl and his gang.
She didn't have the strength to defeat them.
She could only watch as they continued to laugh evilly and beat the boy up with undeserved malice.
Her fists clenched tightly; her nails nearly piercing into her skin.
It wasn't that she cared for the boy. She merely could not stand the sight of their disgusting, self-satisfying actions.
Whenever she encounters such things, it always brings her back to that time in the past.
To that freeing laughter as the knife went in and never came out. To the heart that stopped beating. To the pure and satisfied smile on a bloodied face.
Her breath hitched.
Fear appeared in her eyes as she helplessly watched Manl repeatedly punching, torturing, the boy in front of her.
Did she only make things worse?
She wanted to help. Wanted to help so much.
She was afraid that that tragedy would happen again.
Is she only intensifying the other's pain?
Tormented by her thoughts and the memories of the past, Gracie stood frozen in place. Her legs felt as heavy as boulders. Her fists unclenched from a lack of strength and will. Her body and mind felt numb.
Her heart raced abnormally fast. Her pulse speeding up alongside her heartbeat. Her eyes began to glaze over and slacken. A taut string seemed to have been pulled even tighter.
In slow motion, Gracie watched as Manl pulled back his arm and swung his fist into the boy's stomach. Reaching his limit, the boy coughed out a mouthful of blood. That blood stained her vision red and the string inside her snapped. Her eyes rolled over.
'Someone, save him…' Gracie thought before she blacked out and collapsed onto the floor.
Gracie suddenly passing out stunned Manl and his gang.
They never expected her to pass out all of a sudden.
Now they didn't know what to do.
Should they continue to beat up the boy in their hands?
But it feels a bit meaningless to do that now. Their anger towards Ian redirected to Gracie who interfered in their business again and again, but now that she passed out, they won't be able to see her reactions even if they continue their beating. So what's the point? They feel no pleasure from doing it, so why should they continue?
But if they don't continue to beat up the boy, they feel as though they're giving in to Gracie just because she fainted. They don't want her to have her way.
They were in a dilemma.
If Gracie knew, she would think it ridiculous.
Seeing that the show was over and that the actors involved were confused as to how to act next, Ian decided to step in and direct them on what to do next.
He was in a good mood after all, so he doesn't mind lending a helping hand.
It will take him no effort.
"Hello, again," Ian said as he stepped out from the shadows.
Manl and his friends jumped. They were startled by the sudden appearance of an unexpected sound and the unexpected figure.
Manl was about to lose his temper at the person, but then he saw clearly who it was who came.
His eyes widened.
And not just him, the other bullies were shocked as well. They didn't think that on the first day back to school, they would bump into him again.
They never want to see him again!
They regret messing with him.
He was someone above their station; he was someone they should have never targeted in the first place.
Manl didn't know why Ian appeared here.
'Don't tell me. Was he also here to save this wimp?' Manl wondered with suspicion as he glanced at the silent boy still being held up by his friends.
He was proven to be correct the next moment.
Ian elegantly stepped forward bringing a cool breeze with him, lightly saying, "Let him go."
Manl furrowed his eyebrows. 'Why are there so many people speaking up for this wimp today?' Frustrated, he stopped thinking. 'Whatever, no need to think more. I can't mess with this vicious guy.'
"Are you saying that you won't let him go by keeping silent?"
Manl was snapped out of his thoughts by a gentle voice.
In his eyes, Manl saw Ian slowly walking towards him and his gang. Lifting his legs wrapped in the school uniform pants, the other person soundlessly and elegantly moved forward.
Manl subconsciously trembled with fear. The closer Ian got to him, the harsher the tremors, as if his body was recalling the feeling of being beaten half to death.
Manl and his gang involuntarily stepped back time and time again.
Subconsciously, none of them wanted to be near Ian.
—They didn't dare to be close to him.
Understanding the reason behind their actions, Ian smiled.
He found this situation to be entertaining.
Ian lifted his eyelids and stared them in the eyes.
His light purple eyes did not glow at this time. He was not using his powers.
"Are you?"
Even then, Manl and his friends felt a heavy pressure pressing down on them, making it hard for them to breathe. They suddenly had the urge to get out of here. To run away as fast as they can and never appear before Ian again.
They didn't fear Ian just because of his powerful background, unlike the other students, they feared Ian because they couldn't beat him. They had a mysterious feeling that arose in their souls, telling them that no matter what they do or who they become, they can never go against Ian.
All the bullies shook their heads simultaneously in answer to Ian's question.
Ian took another step forward.
Manl shook and suddenly turned to look at the male student in their grasp. He said, nearly yelling at his fellow bullies, "Let him go! Let him go already! Do you still want your hands?!"
The bullies, who were yelled at, loosened their hands instantly. They were the lucky ones whose arms didn't get broken by Ian last time, and they certainly didn't want that luck to run out.
The student collapsed to the floor without the support.
Ian merely watched as all this happened.
Manl looked back at Ian with a flattering, ugly smile on his face. "Look, student representative, we've let him go. Let us off this time, please? We'll never mess with him again! I promise! Right, guys?!" Manl glared at the teenagers behind him.
They hurriedly nodded their heads, echoing Manl's words. Their eyes cautiously watched Ian for his every move. If he makes the slightest unusual movement, they would dart!
Ian continued to smile, his expression unchanging. "I hope you keep your promise. Why don't you guys leave? You have no use being here. Go back to class."
His voice was light, even gentle, to the eardrums. But when it came into the ears of Manl and them, it sounded like the voice of the devil.
They breathed a sigh of relief and quickly scurried away.
What a change it was from their previous arrogant appearance in front of Ian behind the school building.
Now the back of the stairwell entertained only two guests.
Ian.
And the bullies' victim.
The frantic sounds of the bullies' footsteps gradually faded into silence.
Ian walked up to the other party.
Looking down at the other person, Ian had no intention of squatting down to meet the other's eyes.
High and above others, Ian never needed to stoop below his level. It was only ever others that needed to work hard to stand by his side.
"Look up," Ian commanded.
As though pulled by a mysterious power, the disheveled student with bruises all over his skin looked up.
A pair of midnight blue eyes peeked out under the messy, side-swept bangs flashing with midnight blue streaks of hair running among countless aqua-colored hair.
A pair of cracked glasses lay next to the student.
Ian finally got a clear look at his face.
'It really is him,' Ian thought to himself.
The student, Geo, also finally had a good look at the face of the one who saved him.