Chapter 3 - Remorse

"What happened?" The headmaster asked seriously. While looking at the two top scores in the exams.

'What the heck happened that they are both here?' the headmaster thought and had problems not to shake his head.

"He fought with someone. Look at his hand. He has ripped skin on the knuckles, and he probably broke his thumb," the teacher Chan said and forcefully took Yitian's hand and showed it to all.

The headmaster looked at Chao's ripped corner of his mouth and questioningly raised his brow. Chao shook his head as in 'we did nothing' and stayed quiet. But the headmaster was not satisfied with this.

"Did you fight with him?" He gestured towards Chao.

Yitian was not good. He was afraid that they would call his mother. He was afraid because he heard what they were saying when he was behind the door. That guy looked like he was some young master. He was so screwed. Today was the worst day ever.

"No, he did not fight with me…" Chao said, and there was obvious relief on Yitian's face, "he punched me," Chao added, and Yitian knew he was fucked. Even though he punched him, that jerk didn't have to tell them.

"I didn't even fight back." Chao hit his face again with an imaginary slap. This fucker just ratted him out.

"Why did you punch him?" The headmaster looked shocked.

"Because I couldn't help myself. He was too cocky. He deserved it," Yitian said and finally showed some emotions.

Chao was so fascinated with him. Because it appeared that Yitian had some character beneath his destroyed and broken personality. He looked once more at his nemesis.

He was a bit startled by the familiarity the guy had at the rooftop. But somehow. He was interested. Yitian was broken beyond repair. But why not try to repair him?

Chao was sitting there while the headmaster was giving Wang Yitian a lecture and was burning alive by his gaze. Yitian had such a murderous aura around him that Chao got excited.

It had been a long time since he felt alive and challenged by something else than games. He remembered all the scars and bruises the little guy had and looked out from the window. He thought just for a few seconds, and then he talked to the headmaster.

"Uncle headmaster. I have to admit something. I may not have hurt him physically, but I provoked him. I hurt him psychologically. And I deserved the punch." Everyone was staring at Chao. First to wake up was the headmaster, who started to lecture Chao.

"I have no other choice than to temporary suspend you. Both. We strictly prohibit fighting in our school and you know it. Even though you are top scorers and this is your last year. I need to follow the procedures. You will be given notice for parents and next week you will stay at home. I'm very disappointed that it's you two, just before your graduation ceremony. You may both go." The headmaster gestured to them to go away, and they went.

Chao looked pitifully at the little guy. He did not think the consequences would be this bad. He could only imagine what the mother of that little guy would do to him. It made him feel remorse.

"Can I help you somehow? I'm sorry. I forgot about the repercussions for you." Chao reached out with his hand to handshake. But Yitian had different plans. He shoved it away and strode the hall down to the medical office.

Chao didn't expect that. He thought that this guy would accept his handshake. He appeared subtle and calm. Not an active volcano. He followed him to the medical office. The doctor did not know Chao or Yitian at all.

"Why do you have so many bruises? Do you do some sport?" The doctor asked curiously.

"Something like that," the little boy said and showed his hand. The doctor wanted to know more, but the boy was pretty distant, so he left it like that. It wasn't his problem.

Chao was puzzled by this behavior.

Why did nobody care about him? The little boy was cute, interesting. Why did they let him suffer like this? He did not deserve it. He came closer and when he heard an annoyed sound from the boy, he chuckled in his thoughts.

"I'm Jin Chao. You are Wang Yitian, right? I will call you Yitian then. Sorry for before. I really regret it." He tried once again. With no success. Up there on the rooftop, he wasn't interested in some random guy.

Everyone wanted to be friends with him and use him for money or early access to the game. But this Wang Yitian was obviously different. And Chao liked it. He found him fresh.

"Get the hell away from me. I'm not myself when you are near. I don't want to be like my mother," Yitian said, near crying when the doctor left them there.

And Chao understood why he was so shocked before by his anger outburst. He thought he was following the footsteps of his parents. He came a bit closer to him. Not knowing why he had the urge to calm him. But Yitian did not want it.

He jumped down from the examination table and ran away. He just shouted back words that hurt Chao a lot: "Leave me alone! I never want to see you again!"

***

"I don't want to see you again!" His childhood friend shouted this at him.

"You are a killer! She died because of you!" That wasn't true. Or was it? He wasn't a killer!

***

"Chao, honey, run!" Someone screamed. Bang! Hotness. Pain. So much pain! Sorrow.

***

Chao woke up because of the nightmare he had. He sat up quickly. Breathing heavily. Sweat rolled down his temples. His memories were haunting him. After the words, he heard from Yitian. He had no choice.

He pulled his knees against his torso and swung back and forth, calming himself down. Tears were rolling down his cheeks and he couldn't help it. It was back. His past was there to haunt him.