Escorting a Friend Home

"Offend? How would I know?" He asked as he looked away. The Jiang Chen of today was different from the shy little boy that bought her ice cream yesterday, this made Zhao Xing think he was quite interesting, having so many secrets.

"Tch, yesterday, you so badly wanted to be friends with me, today it's another story." Zhao Xing pretended to be pissed. She really wanted to know what was going on, because whatever those kids from Amber High School were doing had to stop, bullying such a sweet, defenseless boy, and even hitting him, this was against her principles!

Jiang Chen glanced at Zhao Xing, feeling a little depressed, ha had indeed wanted to become friends with her, but who would have thought those bullies from Amber High School found him. And now this happened.

There was a bit of silence. Jiang Chen recalled what happened this morning on his way to school, it turned out that one of the bullies lived just next door to Zhao Xing's house, so they had spotted him the day before and came to find him the day after at the school gates. After they hit him, they refused him from going home so he had no choice but to enter the school gates with the aide of the crowd the teachers and guardians didn't notice him so he secretly made his way to the rooftop, planning to stay there until after school, hoping that the bullies would go away after not seeing him for awhile.

He felt bad, he felt humiliated, he didn't want her to see him like this. If he could he would just disappear.

"It's ok if you don't tell me what happened. Today I'll be sticking with you."

Ah? Jiang Chen gaped at her.

"What? I can't? I'm your friend, if your friend doesn't stick with you what else would they do?" she asked a matter-of-factly.

How could Jiang Chen not know what she was trying to do? "You can't." he responded sharply.

"Just because you said I can't doesn't mean I won't. Yesterday you were a gentleman following me back home, today, I'll be a gentlewoman and follow you home as well."

"...."

"Well, before all that, we have to send you to the infirmary." She got up and tried to help him up as well. but the later refused, making Zhao Xing the more irritated. "Jiang Chen, you get up or I'll make your injuries worse than they already are." She shouted, frightening poor Jiang Chen, who quickly got up, hurting himself in the process, making him hiss in pain.

"Serves you right, see how badly hurt you are and you still have the nerves to say you don't want to go to the infirmary, why don't you just stay here and have yourself killed." Zhao Xing was busy scolding, as she supported him, helping him down the stairs.

They went to the infirmary.

"What happened to you?" The nurse asked.

"I fell..." Jiang Chen quickly answered before Zhao Xing could say a word.

The nurse glanced at Zhao Xing, she knew this girl really well. She then turned to Jiang Chen, "Are you sure?"

"We were fighting, then I pushed him, who would have thought he'd fall from the stairs?" Zhao Xing lied so swiftly it made Jiang Chen shiver. There wasn't even a slight fluctuation on her expression.

The nurse on the other hand was speechless. "Zh...Zhao Xing..." This girl beat people and even had the face to confess so straightforwardly.

"Zhao Xing, you know it's wrong to hit people." She said with a stern face,"You, not only did you hit people, you even send them to the infirmary after doing so! See if I don't get you punished for this."

Seeing things escalating before his eyes, Jiang Chen couldn't keep quiet anymore and quickly spoke out. "Nurse Xiang, I started the fight, I said something bad to classmate Zhao, that's why she got mad."

Zhao Xing turned to him and frowned, but the later looked at her with pleading eyes.

Nurse Xiang didn't want to hear more, "then both of you will be punished for this."

"Nurse Xiang, it was my fault, I looked for trouble over something so minor, there's no need to punish him." Zhao Xing said looking resolute.

But how could Jiang Chen let her take the blame, "Nurse Xiang, it's not right to insult others, I should be punished, classmate Zhao Xing was only hurt that's why she hit me."

Seeing the both of them defend each other like this, Nurse Xiang didn't know what to say. In the end she refused to pursue the matter, and proceeded to treating Jiang Chen's injuries.

"Say, this boy, how did you let a girl hit you this badly?" The nurse said as she helped him clean his wounds.

Jiang Chen could see Zhao Xing from behind the bedside screen, who sat down at the nurse table looking around as if bored, the sight made him smile.

"What are you smiling at? Does it not hurt enough?" Nurse Xiang said annoyedly. Jiang Chen quickly shook his head.

Today he made huge discovery; Zhao Xing was a big sister! (female who protects others, or who others hold in high esteem)

The two decided they'd miss class together.

After school was over, both Jiang Chen and Zhao Xing waited for while for the crowd of students to disperse before they want home.

"Zhao Xing, you don't have to do this, I...I don't even live that close." Jiang Chen was a bit anxious, it was just the two of them, plus he was wounded, if they met the gang of bullies things wouldn't go well.

They had already went past the school gates, but Zhao Xing was determined to escort him back home. "It's alright." She turned to him. the shy little Jiang Chen of yesterday was back.

They had walked for some time, after not seeing any of the bullies Jiang Chen felt a bit secure. Then turned to Zhao Xing once more, "Zhao Xing you really don't have to."

"I know right." She said with a smile, making Jiang Chen sigh in relief, "But I want to, what to do?"

He stared at her with a silly expression Zhao Xing laughed at. "Just be a good boy, alright? We'll soon be home."

Her words made Jiang Chen blush. After that he didn't dare speak again. What could he do? She was so good at silencing people, he was sure no one could bully her.

The sun was no longer at its peak, two of them walked silently side by side, the trees shielding them from the remains of the sun's rays. The school environment wasn't that noisy but occasionally a few vehicles passed by, some pedestrians walking around going about their various businesses. The birds did chirp and one could hear the sound of the soft breeze if they concentrated enough.

Jiang Chen realized something; the world wasn't peaceful, but the heart could be.

Today he experienced so many things, he got beaten, he skipped class for the first time this year, a classmate forc-helped him to the infirmary, he lied to the nurse, and his teacher and now his classmate was taking him home.

Considering that the said classmate was Zhao Xing, doing all this he didn't know whether to be happy about it or not.

But all that didn't matter, at least at this moment it didn't.

Throughout their walk to the bus stop, he kept stealing glances at the clueless Zhao Xing who seemed to always be absentminded. He didn't want her to follow him, for her safety as well as his self esteem, but he also wanted her to come, that way they could spend time together like this.

It didn't take long for the bus to arrive, and soon they were standing in front of an apartment building.

"It's here..."

"Um, then I'll see you tomorrow, those punks didn't show themselves today, let's see about tomorrow."

'Hopefully they don't show up tomorrow or ever again.' But he still nodded at Zhao Xing.

"Thank you..." He mumbled.

Zhao Xing nudged him, "Why so courteous? I'm off see you tomorrow, and do head straight home." She said as she walked away.

"Zhao Xing!"

"Classmate Jiang, bye." With that she went her way, whatever Jiang Chen wanted to say Zhao Xing would never know.

The sun had set and she knew she had to go home do her all the necessary things before she gets transported to the other world. Today again was spent without looking for clues. She began to contemplate whether to skip class tomorrow and go look for the doctor instead.

........................

Author: Zhao Xing, Jiang Chen admires you a lot, he thinks you're so cool and no one can bully you.

Zhao Xing: Of course, why won't people admire me, I'm so cool, who can bully me? No one, no one. I'm the boss around here.

Author: .....