The next few days at school were already hell for Ayan. But with Akk avoiding him ever since the incident in the school storeroom, school was almost unbearable.
Ayan was hurt because he didn't know why Akk was acting like this. He had tried to talk to him at every opportunity, but the taller boy continued to ignore him.
It was like a stab in his heart because after everything they had been through together, Ayan had thought they were on good terms. Ayan trusted Akk and never thought Akk would let him down so badly when he needed him.
Ayan was walking through the corridors when he noticed the hateful looks from the other students. The rumors about him had finally spread throughout the school. In most cases they were about how he had bought his way to school with money. But Ayan already heard about these rumours since his arrival.
However, now new rumors were spreading that he was flirting with male teachers and seducing them to get better grades, destroying Ayan's entire reputation and leaving him devastated. And Ayan couldn't do anything about it except pretend it didn't hurt or trigger him.
Everyone knew about the mysterious new transfer student and made up their own story about him. But all together they tried everything to let Ayan know that he was not welcome here. Even the teachers seemed suspicious of his sudden transfer.
He also heard the students talking behind his back, not even trying to hide their hatred towards him. They really didn't care that Ayan could hear them, even liked seeing his sad face, although Ayan never really showed that he was hurt by the rumours.
Ayan was sure that this was just the beginning before they would actually start bullying him. Ayan didn't know how he was going to get through the next few months until his graduation. He felt so misunderstood and it was really isolating, having no one believe him. It was everybody against Ayan. Not even Akk was on his side, probably believing the rumours about him. Ayan was on his own in this cruel world.
Some nights, Ayan even considered just giving up and leaving it all behind. He was so lonely and felt like no one was there for him. Everything was repeating itself. Nothing had changed.
But then Ayan remembered why he was actually here. After his uncle's death, he swore to himself to destroy this damn school to the ground until there was nothing left, and eventually get his revenge. After that nothing mattered anymore.
Ayan arrived at the school gate, when he suddenly saw Akk patrolling the schoolyard alone and he didn't seem to notice Ayan at the moment. This was his chance. Excited, Ayan sneaked up to him from behind.
"Hello, Mr. School Prefect." Ayan greeted him mischievously, startling Akk. "I would have never thought that the guy who knocked down two officers would be a prefect at his school." Akk rolled his eyes.
"What do you want, Ayan?" Akk asked him annoyed and wanted to leave. But Ayan stood in his way.
"So you do know me?" Ayan acted surprised and took another step towards him. They were now facing each other. "Well, did you forget that you promised Ms. Sani to show me around the school?" Akk didn't respond. He, of course, didn't forget it but he still ignored Ayan.
"Do you know how hard it was for me to find any classroom without getting lost in this damn huge building?" It was true indeed. Ayan always came late for class because he didn't know his way around school and their classmates refused to help him.
"Ayan, I'm busy right now. I don't have time for your nonsense." Akk tried to push him away but Ayan didn't give up so easily.
"What nonsense? It's your job as school prefect to help new students get to know the school better...Or should I tell Ms. Sani that you refuse to help me? Wait...actually, the school principle would be such a better choice, I guess."
Akk was shocked to hear Ayan threatening him like that. He couldn't risk losing his position as school prefect. Akk had no choice but to do as Ayan wanted.
And he also kind of felt sorry for Ayan after hearing the rumors about him. And although he never believed them, he couldn't defend Ayan as people would become suspicious of them.
Akk then started showing Ayan around, trying his best to keep his distance and not to enjoy Ayan's presence too much. But failed when Ayan started teasing him. Akk's absence didn't seem to hurt him after all. They ended up joking and laughing together like they did when Ayan had lived with Akk.
It was as if nothing had changed. At that moment they were still the two boys enjoying each other's company and playing around.
-
Ayan even went to his apartment with Akk. When they got to his door, Akk suddenly realised the mistake he had just made. He allowed Ayan to get too close to him. Akk could slap himself. He should never have agreed to take him through the school. But it was too late now. Ayan probably thought everything was fine between them again.
Akk couldn't let Ayan get caught up in his mess. The school was already dangerous and Ayan would surely screw everything up for him if he found out about his secret. And if Ayan got hurt maybe because of him, Akk didn't know if he could ever forgive himself. Akk tried to protect Ayan from himself, knowing that things would not go well for them together sooner or later.
"Akk?" Ayan called out to him, slightly worried. He had noticed that Akk hadn't spoken for a while and was afraid that he was ignoring him again. "What are you thinking about?"
"Ayan, please stop." Akk just said, sounding exhausted. Ayan looked at him, confused by the sudden change in tone in his voice. He could sense that this conversation would not end well.
"Stop acting like we're friends! Because we are not! It's better to part ways now, before either of us gets hurt." Akk could see Ayan's expression change from concern to pure shock, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard, and Akk believed that he could even hear his heart shatter into pieces.
"Akk...w-what are you talking about? I thought you would feel the connection between us as w-"
"What connection?" Akk lied again. He, of course had felt that special connection between them but he couldn't admit that. "You probably imagined that."
"T-Then why did you help me in the first place? Stop lying, Akk!" Ayan screamed, trying to hold back his tears back. It broke Akk's heart to see Ayan hurt like that. And it was all because of him. Something that Akk actually never wanted to happen. He hated himself so much.
"Because I felt bad for you. But now I regret it. I should've just let you get beaten up and arrested. That's what you fucking deserve!" Akk walked towards Ayan but stopped when he saw the shorter boy visibly flinch and raise his hands in front of his face as if Akk was about to hit him.
"I thought we were friends..." Ayan whispered and looked up at Akk to look him directly in the eyes. Akk could see his frightened face and the tears he was trying so hard to hold back.
"Friends? Who would wanna be friends with a fucking whore? You're disgusting me." Akk immediately regretted saying that. But it was now too late. He could see how much his words hurt Ayan. But he still didn't stop. It was like he had no longer any control over himself. As if a demon had taken hold of him. It wasn't Akk who was doing these horrible things to Ayan.
"A whore who fucks around with teachers to get get into a fancy scho-"
Whaaam!!!
Ayan slapped Akk's face, causing Akk's nose to bleed. Ayan couldn't hold back his tears any longer as they streamed down his face. Akk was grateful for the slap and wished that Ayan would just beat him up before he said anything more hurtful.
"Don't you fucking dare say that! You don't know anything about me and what I've been through!" Ayan cried and took a step back to protect himself. Akk wanted so badly to comfort Ayan, but he couldn't move.
"Exactly! I don't even know you! All I know is that I don't want to end up like the teachers you had fooled around with. You're pathetic." That was the last thing Akk screamed before slamming his door on Ayan, leaving Ayan crying behind.
As soon as he closed the door behind him, Akk's legs gave out immediately and he just broke down on the floor. He didn't even try to hold back his tears and just let all his feelings out. Akk's whole body was shaking violently and he couldn't breathe properly. Everything hurt. Not physically but mentally.
Akk hated himself so much for what he had done to Ayan. If he could just take back everything he said. He wanted nothing more than to just go up to him and tell him how sorry he was. But he couldn't. It was already too late. Ayan was gone.
Akk's heart was beating so fast he felt like he was going to die at any moment. He just wanted everything to stop for a moment. And then he passed out.