Winter Swan

Chapter 19: <Chapter 18>

The time she spent with Irina was a wonderful break from her bleak life. It was the first time Silje felt warmth from a classmate. She wondered if this could be a turning point in her school life.

But unfortunately, she was wrong. The bullying continued. In fact, it became worse. A new rumor stated that she was Kail’s next target, and her bandaged wrist seemed to be enough proof. Thinking that Kail hated her, kids became crueler to her.

“Something smells bad here.”

A couple of kids stuck pieces of gum on Silje’s pants and started to shout that she peed in her pants. They laughed at her and Silje tried to ignore them, but when she was about to sit down, a kid behind her pulled the chair back. Silje fell on the floor awkwardly and the kids started laughing at her again.

This was the worst.

Silje tried to stand up, but the kids quickly surrounded her and started throwing books at her. One of the kids threw a carton of milk from lunch and Silje was then covered in white liquid. The kids laughed loudly and even the normally calm Silje couldn’t take it anymore.

She yelled, “Stop it now! Just stop it!”

No matter how much she screamed, the kids wouldn’t stop. In fact, they started to make a game out of it and threw whatever they could find in the classroom.

“Gyyaaaa!”

Suddenly, a huge book was thrown at her and Silje cried out in pain. A picture frame was also thrown and one of the kids grabbed a garbage can and emptied it on Silje’s head.

As she heard their cruel laughter, Silje wondered, ‘Is this not enough? They torment me this much and yet they still can’t stop?’

With a bitter smile, Silje managed to stand up and limped to her seat. She touched her hair, which was wet with milk. She found her pencil case and was about to leave when the kids threw more things at her.

After getting hit by another large book, Silje screamed, “Stop it!”

And when the kids wouldn’t listen, she finally lost it.

She couldn’t take it anymore. If she didn’t do something, Silje realized that the kids would never stop.

Silje clenched her teeth and held something up from her pencil case. When they saw what it was, the kids hesitantly stepped back. The girls screamed in fear.

Silje was holding a pencil knife, which often she used to sharpen pencils. She panted and glared at her classmates.

“Just leave me alone! Please!”

Silje swung the knife at them. With her long hair wet with milk and her eyes reddened, Silje looked frightening. The bullies flinched as she screamed, “Try come and get me now! I will take you all!”

“Shut up, Silje!”

“You guys are the one who needs to shut up! You are all cowards, ganging up on one person like this.”

When the guys took another step back, she swung her knife even wider and yelled, “Come and get me!”

Suddenly, someone hit her head hard from behind. Silje lost her balance and fell to the floor. The kids around her started laughing again and a few boys yanked her hair.

In this desperate situation, genuine sadness filled Silje. She wondered, ‘Am I really alone in this world? Will I be alone forever? Will I never be allowed to have someone of my own?’

Why? At this moment, she really wanted to know the answer.

Was this her burden to carry for being an Asian? It wasn’t that she wanted or expected help from someone, but she couldn’t help but wonder.

Perhaps it was the recent conversation with Irina, but Silje began wishing for someone. A friend, a better and warmer life, and hope.

Only if one person would give her a helping hand — just one person who could care about her. Silje knew this was a stupid thought, but it wouldn’t leave her mind.

Just then! When Silje closed her eyes, she heard a loud sound.

When she opened her eyes, she saw two of the boys on the floor. It was dead silent in the room and all the kids stared in fear at Kail’s gang.

Still on the floor, Silje looked at the shocking scene with disbelief. Kail’s posse kicked the boys on the floor and chuckled. Kail looked at everyone with an annoyed expression.

When she saw the familiar dark hair and the black cashmere coat, Silje gasped. Kail now stared at her. Noticing that her hair was dripping with milk, his lips twisted into a cold smile. He murmured quietly, “Can you remain calm even now? Can you really tell me that you’re fine?”

Was he talking to her?

Silje blinked at Kail who had appeared all of a sudden.

Why was he helping her?

She still couldn’t believe that Kail was standing in front of her. His elegant and beautiful face was an odd contrast to his rough and barbaric behavior.

He appeared out of nowhere and was staring at her intently. His eyes told her that he would do anything she asked him to do. But in return, she would have to obey him.

Silje chewed her bloody lips.

Suddenly, he walked toward her and lowered himself to whisper to her ear.

“Now, tell me what you want.”

He was clearly enjoying this situation, like an executioner about to chop a prisoner’s head off.

“If you ask me to, I can get rid of everyone in this room. But in return, you need to give me something I want.”

The room was now fully controlled by the cruel king and his gang. The bullies looked pale with fear. Silje couldn’t believe what was happening as she was still in shock, so she slowly repeated his words.

“Give you what you want?”

When she asked in disbelief, Kail smiled sweetly. He looked satisfied, as if he knew he finally had her. His smile was disturbing.

Silje shivered and asked, “And what is it that you want? Tell me what you want first.”

Kail’s answer was simple.

“…You.”

And with that, he took her lips.

It was a kiss that showed his deep, animalistic desire for her.