my escape • study group x reader

chapter three • episode 1

"Look at you," Hyeon-wu smiled, "not a bad punch—" he was on the ground in a second and Ga-min's fists were all that remained in the spot he was once standing.

"What the actual fuck," I whispered, tightening my grip on Se-hyeon arm but straightened my posture so that I could see Ga-min more clearly.

Ga-min crouched down next to Hyeon-wu and started to shake him. "Hey, are you okay?"

I stepped out from behind Se-hyeon. "Don't wake him up you freak! Leave him there!"

Ga-min turned back to us. "You two shouldn't worry about anything anymore, just join my study group."

Se-hyeon stared for a long time before answering, "No."

"Is this guy even real?" I whispered so that only Se-hyeon and I could hear. "What the hell is his deal with this study group?"

"We won't join your study group," Se-hyeon said with no emotion in his words.

"Why not?" Ga-min asked, and I scoffed

"Be honest, you're not confident." Se-hyeon said, finally meeting Ga-min's eyes.

"What?" Ga-min asked.

"Isn't that why you put in the mask? You're afraid kids will pick on you." When Ga-min didn't respond to his words, Se-hyeon grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the scene.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked after a few minutes of silent walking. Se-hyeon just nodded slowly. "Are you sure you won't let me take a look—"

"I'm fine," he mumbled. "Did you grab my books from my desk?" I nodded and he held out his hand to take my bag. I handed it over to him wearily. "I'm going home." He shot me a final look and shoulder my backpack before stepping away and going the opposite direction as me. I watched him leave, guilt and concern building up in my chest as I lost sight of him. At least his father would be proud to see the bruises on Se-hyeon's face, ones that he hadn't put there himself.

***

For most people with a difficult home life, school is an escape. For me, I don't get a break. My classmates were almost as bad my brother and the head disciplinary department was almost equivalent to my parents. I was trapped in a never ending loop of blood and bruises. And today, due to the unforeseen circumstances of my best friend being borderline kidnapped and almost killed, I was late getting home. My house was an hour walk from school so my mom had given me exactly one hour and fifteen minutes to get home as soon as the final bell rang, today I was fifteen minutes late with bruised jaw. Whenever I walked through the front door my father was standing there, arms crossed and foot tapping the hardwood floors.

"Where've you been?" No "hello", no "how was school", just immediate accusation.

"Se-hyeon needed my help with—" I sharp pain shot through ear and I was dragged to the ground my mother who had apparently beside me with my plastic green box in her left hand while her right was occupied twisting my ear. I tried not to whimper or let her know that she was hurting me.

"Didn't I tell you to stop hanging out with boys? I can't afford another baby in this house and—"

"He's just a friend—" she twisted my ear farther and groaned bending down so that my forehead was pressed against the floors. "I'm sorry."

The pain in my ear was relieved suddenly when my mother released her grip in order the throw the green box she held directly at my head. I winced when it collided with the side of my face but didn't move from my pleading position even after hearing the metallic insides of the both scatter across the floor. "How many times am I going to have to find those blades before you learn to hide them better? If I can find them, the social workers sure as hell can. I don't give a shit what you do in your free time but keep it to yourself."

I nodded slightly. "I'm sorry."

"Go to your room with no dinner and make sure to clean up when you're done coping." With that, I heard her walk away. After a few seconds I looked up to meet my father's gaze, held it for a few seconds, and became scooping my razor blades back into the box along with the few bandaids i'd had stashed with them.

As soon as I entered my room, the tears came. This was a typical routine of mine, crying. I wondered if it was what made my skin clear. I hadn't had much silence or shed many tears before my phone started to buzz on the floor next to where I sat. I picked it up and read Se-hyeon's name, debating if I should send him to voicemail or pick up and listen to him vent to me about his father for the next fifteen minutes to keep me from my own thoughts or if I should pick take out my blades like my mother had expected. I wasn't sure I could do both so I silenced my phone and tossed in into my desk drawer.

Tomorrow would be better.