20. To the nurse

After Junseo managed to calm himself enough, he removed the rag and slowly sat up to inspect the wound on his upper stomach. He took a handkerchief from his trousers pocket and pressed the wound to stop blood flow. A painful hiss left his lips but that didn't stop him. He cleaned himself as much as he could by wiping the blood on his forehead and stomach, even though the wound on his head was pretty much visible. 

Stumbling to his feet he stood up after 15 minutes of making up his mind that he would not let Daejung get to him any longer. What he regretted the most was not recording today's incident.

The corridors were empty indicating that the lunch break had already ended. He wanted to go to the infirmary but didn't know the directions. Unlike last time Sehun wasn't here to guide him and the last time he just blindly followed behind him. With his injuries, he was sure he needed at least some first aid. The wound on his head was still bleeding and his cheeks were swollen, his stomach was now black and blue but that still couldn't compare with the pain he was feeling right below his chest. His rib area was throbbing in pain and burning at the same time.

He knew he looked like an utter mess and didn't want to return to his classroom. He felt exhausted, so much so that today's incident had yet to hit him. 

He strolled through the corridors hoping to either find the infirmary or someone who he could ask for directions. Just then a hand lightly gripped his shoulder making him flinch in surprise. He turned around and was met by a senior who had a friendly smile plastered on his face. 

"Lunch break ended ten minutes ago, so why aren't you in your class yet- Wait! Are you alright? You're bleeding so much...", he said worry lacing his tone as he inspected the younger's injuries while timidly holding his upper arm.

The student's grades were distinguished by the colour of their neckties from junior to senior as green, yellow, and red.

Junseo answered avoiding eye contact from the other student, "Ah... I'm fine sunbae-nim... I jus-just tripped over the stairs... But could you tell me where the infirmary is?"

"Let me take you there. But are you sure you can walk in that condition?"

"I can manage sunbae-nim", he smiled back keeping up his manners. 

While he followed along the senior as quietly as he could, the worn-out boy didn't notice the elder eyeing him from the corner of his eye. 

"Are you sure that you fell down some stairs and not something else?", asked the other in a more serious tone.

"That's right..."

He hummed in response and was now standing in front of the infirmary. Junseo thanked him and the other asked.

"It's alright. Tell me your name and class and I'll inform your teacher that you're in here."

"Oh no, it's alright. I'll return to class after getting treated. I can't possibly trouble you any more than what I've already done, sunbae-nim."

Even though the younger politely refused the senior insisted saying, "Nonsense! It's my duty as a student council representative."

The surprised male gave his name and class before the student council representative left. He had forgotten that there existed such a thing but what could he possibly expect even from the council when the homeroom teacher Mr Park and director Mr. Lee Jeong didn't blink an eye? He was sure that several students were more powerful than Daejung.

Putting those thoughts aside, he opened the door and saw the nurse scribbling in some documents. Upon hearing the door open the nurse looked up to see who it was. The middle-aged man fixed his glasses and said, "Oh, it's you. Did you get hurt again?"

"Ah... yes. Thank you for the last time, sir", said the student remembering that the nurse had taken care of him last time as well.

"It's alright. Take a seat here and tell me what happened", he guided the student to sit on one of the beds and took out his first aid. 

Four beds in the infirmary were separated by a thin white curtain.

"...I tripped down some stairs."

"Is that so?"

The nurse proceeded to first clean the wound on the forehead and then patched it up. He then handed an ice pack for his swollen cheek. After the treatment, Junseo was told that he could rest for a period or two. With that said the nurse left the infirmary. 

Junseo scrambled through the drawer and took out the first aid. He took the disinfectant, some cotton, ointment, and gauze and rushed to the washroom which was connected to the room to tend to the injury. 

He glanced at the mirror and saw a worn-out boy staring back at him. His eyes were still slightly red and puffy but less noticeable. His light brown hair was slightly messy since he cleaned himself up before leaving the storeroom. He took off his jacket and saw slightly red bruises on his wrists. Rolling up his sleeves he saw a big bruise shaped like a hand, then he remembered that it was Jaesungs. He checked his other wrist and found it in the same condition and decided to treat it later.

The young male proceeded to take off his shirt first and saw the injury for the first time. It was nearly 5 cm long and looked like some letters. Junseo cleaned the wound with some water and cotton and then looked back in the mirror. 

He read the letters, S-l-u-t.

He bit his lower lip and took in a shaky breath. Daejung took it too far... Just the thought of him now made the young boy tremble in fear. His breathing was unstable but he continued treating the injury. Junseo was calm. Much calmer than he should be. Was it because he just wasn't scared anymore or it still hadn't hit him?

After cleaning up he returned the first aid stuff from where he got it and lay on the furthest bed. He pulled the covers above his head. His mind ran through everything that happened and tears started flowing down his cheeks. Maybe it was because he was starting to get the situation he was in. 

What did he do to deserve this? Did he deserve it because he wanted to stand up for a boy who was getting cornered by four kids? Surely not.

He felt like a heaviness that he couldn't ever escape. It crushes down on him like it is a part of him; it's in his bones and blood.

With that Junseo broke into painful sobs until he felt the pain in his heart get better.