125 Infiltration 12

Zero pulled out a small pendant and the youth's eyes widened, "My mother's!"

Zero gave it to him. Tears formed in the youth's eyes as he hugged the pendant, "It's the last thing I got from my mum. You found it for me? Thanks Zero!"

The youth's expression was very happy but Zero balled his fists and swallowed. Lia knew what went through his head, his wonderful reputation, he had to destroy it himself now.

But it was better to own up and still have time to work on himself, instead of living this kind of lie, this double life. It was tiring for Zero too.

"I…." Zero started but choked on his own words, his knuckles turned white. He really didn't want to do it but he had to. Zero looked the youth in the eyes and finally choked out, "I'm …. I'm sorry, I stole it…"

The youths' face dropped quickly and a harsh silence took over the atmosphere.

"You what?" enraged the youth jumped up, "You knew how important this is to me! You knew and yet you-"

The youth was ready to jump at Zero but just in time, Lia managed to stop him.

"Please remain calm, I understand your anger but violence isn't an option. Listen to what Zero has to say," Lia gently pushed the youth back onto the sofa. She sat next to him, making sure he won't harm Zero.

"I know…. I also know what I did wrong and I know apologising won't make it disappear but I'm here to apologise. I shouldn't have done that and I promise I won't ever do it again! So, I hope once you can forgive me, we can be friends again."

Lia was a bit surprised how Zero referred to the youth as his friend, did he actually view anyone as a friend or was this another act?

Lia gave him the benefit of doubt as Zero really looked like he was reflecting with tears forming in his eyes.

"Leave, I don't want to see you," the youth was angry enough to burst but he tried to be calm and gritted his teeth.

Zero didn't say anything and walked out on his own. Lia remained and talked with the youth a bit more before she also headed out and was barely able to catch Zero sniffing and quickly wiping his tears away.

Lia waited a second before approaching him, "To the next one," pretending she didn't witness his actions. Wordless Zero followed her.

And so one after another one, Zero's heart and mind had to take all the anger, disappointment, resentment and abuse thrown at him. At one point Lia thought about stopping because it was indeed too cruel on his mental health but Zero showed no signs of wanting to stop.

With that, the once angel was slandered, shamed and ignored by the students. Rumours flew around quickly. Zero was by far the most hated student now.

Lia was aware that there could've been other ways to resolve this issue that could, maybe, be less hard on Zero but she also had to consider her own goal.

The upside was that even while the students kept their distance from Zero, they left him in peace. Nothing as severe as bullying happened to Zero.

When Zero wasn't attending his classes, he spent almost all of his time with Lia, assisting her. Sorting out documents, preparing the sessions with other students and any other petty work.

Despite his abrasive and cold attitude towards Lia, she couldn't help but feel he was secretly glad to do this.

"Zero, you have to sort the documents after the date not alphabetical."

"Leave me alone! Just do it yourself!" Zero scoffed annoyed but his hands still flew over the documents to sort them in the right order.

Zero wasn't wearing the white robe anymore that made him look divine, instead he settled for a shirt and shorts, emphasising his brattiness.

"Erm," a knock to the door appeared, a girl hesitating stood at the door, "Teacher Kim, am I too early?"

"Oh no, you're perfectly on time. Zero's the one who's slacking," Lia waved the girl in to take a seat while Zero glared at Lia.

The girl stared at Zero and it was clear she knew of the rumours. Lia sighed, "Zero, aren't you greeting a fellow student?"

Lia pushed Zero towards the girl. She shifted a bit on the chair but smiled when Zero said, "Hello."

"Hi," Zero didn't seem that bad as she thought he would be, "I'm from B1."

"I'm…B3."

"I know!" the girl lightly giggled and Zero fumbled on the spot not knowing what to do.

"Great, hope you'll become friends!" Lia said and Zero stormed out of the room. Lia turned to the girl, "He's-"

"Not a bad person, is what teacher Kim wants to say, right? I can see it," the girl giggled again.

Outside, Zero stomped to the dorm to bury himself in his room. He didn't care about all the stares but Lia- She- She!

Why was she like this? Why didn't she just give up on him? He didn't understand at all. At least the work she forced him to do, stopped making him feel miserable. He had something to do that mattered before that he only tried to be as pleasing as possible in other's eyes with no real purpose.

It has been another week since Zero had to do all of the paperwork and petty work Lia nonstop assigned him. At one point he really thought that she was just blackmailing him but then again she had nothing to blackmail him because she forced him to lay everything bare.

Everything except for his hidden nasty face only Lia knew of. Yet she still continued to keep him by her side, exploiting him or not, he was actually a bit glad.

He buried his face in his pillow and surpressed a small smile. Despite knowing his true nature, she didn't give up on him. She didn't end up abandoning him nor wanted nothing to do with him. No one has bothered to get to know him past his thorny side and truly care for him.

And he was thankful that Lia still endured being around him, even if the reason for it was somewhat questionable. However, it still didn't change the fact that Lia was unbearably annoying in his eyes.

A while later. Knock. Knock.

Zero groaned and got off the bed. He opened the door and closed it again. Only for Lia's foot to stop him.

"You should treat your teacher with respect."

"I see no teacher here, only an annoying hag."

Lia's eyes twitched. Who was he calling a hag? Lia was perfectly young.

"Your mission to put me in a bad mood's accomplished, you can leave now," Zero stuck his face in a sofa pillow this time.

"You still have work to do."

"You're just using me because you lazy hag don't want to do it yourself!"

Lia had the incredible urge to kick him out of the window.

"I-"

"Stop making excuses! As if you care!"

"I care about you," Lia's words echoed and bounced from the walls to penetrate Zero's head. Unknowingly to Lia who viewed him as throwing a tantrum, Zero's lips actually rose, but he still continued to coldly say, "You're just lying to make me feel better."

"Take it as you want," Lia sighed and thought no matter how she couldn't change his mind.

Contrary to her expectations, Zero shot up, "So you were lying!"

His angry eyes also had a hint of sadness.

"I wasn't but there's no point arguing with a stubborn brat like you.

Zero's lips opened and closed before he let out a 'hmpf' and stormed out of his room.