Chapter 51
I stepped out of the swimming pool area, the cool evening air wrapping around me like a damp blanket. I shivered, hugging myself tightly, and quickened my pace toward the school building. Something felt off, and the silence seemed to swallow me whole. As I entered the building, the eerie quietness hit me like a ton of bricks. The hallways, usually bustling with students, were deserted. My instincts kicked in, and I glanced at my phone. 9:05 PM glared back at me, and panic set in. Curfew was at 9 PM sharp, and I'd completely forgotten.
"Seriously, Sarah?" I muttered to myself, my eyes scanning the empty corridors. I knew the consequences wouldn't be light. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
Just as I was wondering what to do, I heard footsteps echoing through the hallway, a male teacher came into view, holding a cane-like object that looked like a disciplinary tool. He was methodically checking everywhere, his eyes scanning the shadows.
My heart skipped a beat as I frantically looked around for a place to hide, but there was nowhere to go. Before I could react, a strong hand grasped my arm, and I was pulled into the nearby storage room. I stumbled, my back hitting the wall as a tall figure loomed over me, his presence suffocating.
As the figure's face came into view, my eyes widened in shock. It was Hyun Min..I let out a small scream, unable to believe my eyes. "What are you doing here...?" I whispered, but he just pressed a finger to his lips, silencing me.
But it was too late. My scream had alerted the teacher and I heard his footsteps stop right outside the storage room door. The doorknob creaked, and I held my breath, the teacher's voice came through the door, "Who's in there?" he demanded.
The door creaked open, and the teacher's eyes scanned the storage room. Hyun Min and I were hiding behind a pile of boxes, our bodies pressed together in the cramped space. I held my breath, praying that the teacher wouldn't come any closer.
As the teacher peered into the room, his gaze seemed to pass right over us. "Must have been my imagination," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. He didn't venture further into the room, instead turning around and exiting the storage room.
Only when the door closed behind him did I finally release the breath I'd been holding. I let out a quiet sigh of relief, my heart still racing from the close call.
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I turned to Hyun Min, my eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't understand," I said, my voice low. "You were in the pool, and now you're here. Are you a ghost or something?" I raised an eyebrow, expecting some kind of explanation.
Hyun Min's expression remained calm, but a hint of amusement danced in his eyes. "Shouldn't you be thanking me?" he said, his tone dismissive.
I turned to leave, but Hyun Min's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. "Don't you think there will be more teachers out there?" he asked, his grip tightening as he pulled me back."what if you get caught?.. Can you handle it?"
"Come to think of it," I said, my voice rising a bit."all this is your fault. If only you hadn't held me back and also controlled that stupid mouth of yours, I wouldn't be in this situation."
Hyun Min's eyes sparkled and he raised an eyebrow. "Are you blaming me for your misfortune?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
Hyun Min's piercing gaze met mine, his eyes gleaming with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. "I wasn't the one who asked you to come into the pool," he said, his tone laced with a casual nonchalance. "Besides, I know the ins and outs of this place like the back of my hand. I can walk out of here without anyone batting an eyelid."
I raised an eyebrow "Oh, yeah, because your father owns the school, right?" I said, my tone infused with a hint of sarcasm and a dash of curiosity.
Hyun Min's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded me with a mixture of surprise and intrigue, as if marveling at how I knew.
I held his gaze, my eyes unwavering. "So, how do you plan on helping me get to my hostel room without getting caught?" I asked, my voice firm and expectant, demanding a solution to our predicament
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I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare as Hyun Min pulled me through the deserted corridors. The shadows cast by the dimly lit hallways seemed to stretch and twist around us, like skeletal fingers grasping for our ankles. I shivered, despite the warmth of Hyun Min's hand wrapped around mine.
We darted behind pillars, our footsteps muffled and hid,our breathing synchronized as we waited for the coast to be clear. At one particularly busy intersection, we had to duck behind a row of lockers, the metal doors clanking softly as we squeezed into the narrow space.
I rolled my eyes heavenward as Hyun Min pulled me into the hiding spot, my gaze meeting his in a flash of irritation. "I'm so glad I'm stuck with you," I muttered, my voice laced with sarcasm, the words barely audible over the sound of our ragged breathing.
Hyun Min's response was a wry glance, his face curling into a frown. "I can't believe I'm doing this," he said, his tone low and husky, the words infused with a sense of reluctant humor.
I couldn't help but respond, my voice dripping with mockery. "Well, thank you," I said, my eyes flashing with irritation, my gaze never leaving his face. "I'm thrilled to be a burden."
Hyun Min's gaze locked onto mine, his expression serious, his eyes narrowing slightly as he regarded me with a piercing intensity. "Where the hell is your room?" he asked, his voice low and urgent, the words punctuated by the sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway.
I hesitated, my eyes darting around the locker-lined corridor, before I nodded curtly. "It's just down that hallway," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But we'll have to be quick. I don't want to get caught."