As I stepped outside, the door closed behind me with a faint creak.
I had barely taken two steps when I saw Aoi and Seojun waiting for me outside. Aoi had her arms crossed and an unmistakably impatient expression.
—So? Why did you take so long?
—I'm sorry— I replied.
Aoi didn't press further. She clicked her tongue and turned on her heel.
—Then let's go. It's time to see the idiots who've been messing with you— Aoi said as she grabbed Seojun by the shoulder.
Seojun tensed up.
—T-they're nearby, at a pool hall, close to the school.
I said nothing more, simply nodded, and we started walking.
The pool hall was poorly lit, with yellowish lights and the smell of old smoke. From outside, laughter and the sharp clacks of balls colliding could already be heard. As soon as we entered, I immediately noticed that every table was occupied.
At the center table, four guys looked up at the same time.
—Oh, Seojun!— one of them said with a twisted smile.
—Look who decided to show up.
Another leaned on his cue and bent forward.
—What took you so long, Seojun? And who are these people?
Their gazes dug into us, loaded with an unpleasant confidence, as if they were looking down on us while sizing us up.
Seojun opened his mouth, but no sound came out, and his hands were shaking.
Aoi stepped forward.
—Listen carefully, you worthless pieces of shit. Stop messing with Seojun, unless you want things to end badly— she said loudly.
The pool hall fell silent for a second.
Then the four of them looked at each other… and burst out laughing.
—Did you hear that? She thinks she can come in here and give us orders— one of them said, wiping a tear from his eye.
One of them stepped far too close to Aoi.
—You're pretty cute… but it looks like you have no idea where you've walked into.
As he said that, the other guys in the pool hall stopped playing and, one by one, began to approach, forming a circle around us.
—Hey, Seojun, did you lose your mind?
He leaned toward him with a cruel smile.
—Kneel down and beg. Then maybe we'll let you keep living like a stray dog.
Seojun lowered his head and, in an automatic motion, started to bend his knees.
—No— I said, gripping his shoulder before he touched the ground.
I lifted my gaze and looked at all of them.
—We didn't come here to fight. We're just asking you to stop. That's all.
A low murmur spread through the room.
From the back of the place, a deep voice boomed over the noise.
—If you didn't come to fight…
From the shadows emerged a tall student with broad shoulders and a muscular build.
Each step landed heavily, his presence crushing the atmosphere, as if the air itself grew thicker around him.
—Then you came here to get beaten.