Chapter 15

LEVI'S POV

The moment the three left the hall, slowly, I inched towards Adalee.

Scratching my nape as I moved a little more closer to her, I asked, "Are you... are you okay?" My voice was breaking the silence.

She tilted her head as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Her eyes and nose were red, probably because of crying, and I felt guilty for a second.

"I'm... I'm okay," she mumbled, sniffing and rubbing her nose.

I slid my hand inside my pocket, fishing for my handkerchief. I said, "Here."

Offering her my handkerchief was a little help for her nose.

Stretching her arm, she took it and started blowing her nose. Seeing her, a smile suddenly wanted to appear on my face. I just bit my lower lip to stop myself and said, "Stop crying already. I didn't bring any extra handkerchief for your nose."

Blowing her nose hard for the last time, she forced a smile. "I'm s-sorry. I messed up... with your handkerchief already," she said.

I smirked as I sat in front of her. Facing her again too close like this was what I always wanted. Who wouldn't want to look and stare at their crushes, right?

I slid my hand again to fish for my phone and earphones. I browsed the music application to find a song that I recently added on my playlist.

"Here," I said as I placed the ear piece in her ear and the other one to me.

"Are we... are we going to listen to your b-binaural beats?"

I chuckled and said, "You still remember that? Well, no. I guess you'll like this one since this is a Korean song."

"R-really?"

"Um," I mumbled as a yes.

I pressed the play button and we started to listen to it.

There was a broken heart

Trapped in the past

It stayed like that and stopped in the end

I can feel your warmth

My name is on your lips

I finally found my color, things are getting clear

My emptiness

Is getting filled with you

I'm not lonely anymore

What comforts me

What wraps around me when I'm in pain

Is all you, it's you, it's you

I'm thankful every day

What makes me smile again

What makes me happy day by day

Is all you, it's you, it's you

"This is Because It's You by ASTRO, right?" she asked. I just nodded as an answer.

"This is r-really good," she added.

All I did was to stare at her until the song ended. She was enjoying the music while I was enjoying to watch her.

"It's good," she said as she removed the ear piece from her ear.

"It's Caius' favorite song. He asked me to listen to it since the lyrics is pretty good."

"Right."

"He asked me to listen to it again... with the person..." I paused. With the person I like. Those words just couldn't come out from my mouth. I still couldn't say it.

"Levi?"

"Oh," I whispered as I came back to my senses. "Anyway, do you feel good already? Even a little?"

A bright smile appeared on her face, then she said, "Y-yes. T-thanks, Levi."

The corners of my lips just rose upon hearing my name being uttered by her. I kept my phone with the earphones inside my pocket and said, "Blow your nose as long as you want, then stop crying. Don't cry over what happened. I won't punish you. Caius doesn't want it as well. Let me handle those students and stop crying, okay? I want to see your face turn red, not because of crying, but because you're feeling excited and happy," I said. Hesitant at first, but I managed to wipe her tears from her cheek.

"I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to d-do it," she stuttered.

"I know," I said as I placed my elbows on my knees, chin on my hands. I just stared at her eyes that seemed sparkling because of her tears. "I won't ask how it happened until you calm down. Just forget about it... for now."

"Thank y-you, L-Levi," she said and sniffed. "I'll r-return your h-hankie tommorow."

"Um," I mumbled and nodded. "Make sure that it's a hundred percent clean."

She barely chuckled and said, "As y-you wish. Sure."

I stood up as I placed both of my hands inside my pocket. "I'm sorry, Adalee," I whispered. She looked at me with a trace of confusion in her face. "I feel guilty for not protecting you from the students who mocked against you. I shouldn't let it happen."

"Ah," she smiled. "It's okay. It's my fault anyway."

I heaved a deep sigh as I sat beside her. "Do you still remember when I told you that you're annoying?"

She looked at me, then smiled again. It was a pretty smile that made my heart weak. Oh, come on!

"Of course. It was also the first time that you approached me in a very different way," she answered.

"Very different way?" I smirked. "Yeah, I guess."

"Um... are you... annoyed?" she asked. "Are you annoyed of me because of what happened to Caius?"

A prank suddenly popped on my mind. "Yes, I'm annoyed. Do you have anything to do about it?" I said, faking an angry voice.

Her face crumpled upon hearing it. She said, "I'm... I'm really s-sorry." I just gently tapped her shoulder and leaned back against the seat.

"I'm just kidding, but I feel bad about it." I heard multiple sigh from her, and I could tell that she's really upset about it.

"I feel bad for Caius, but do you know what makes me angrier?" I asked, but she just shook her head.

"I'm annoyed," I looked at her, "because you just let others cussed against you. I'm annoyed because you let them belittle you. I'm annoyed because you can't even protect yourself. I'm annoyed," I said and looked away, "because I hate to see you cry, and I hate myself more when I can't protect you."

I glanced at her again, and she looked surprised. Would this be the right time to confess my feelings for her?

"Levi..."

"Adalee," I mumbled, "I like—"

"Levi!"

I shut my eyes out of disappointment when a girl suddenly called out my name. She was standing at the entrance of the hall, crying. My eyes just grew bigger only to learn that it was Seoyeon.