Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Hunter really didn't go to school. He even deliberately hatched a plan to get back at Miller. Still in his sleepwear and dishevelled hair, Hunter paced back and forth in front of his bed.

"What do you think will deter him? He hasn't even knelt down and apologized for the previous mistake. This kid really sucks." Hunter clenched his right fist and clapped it against his left palm.

He stopped in the middle of the room and glanced down at the study and Miller's bed on the level. Hunter had an idea and climbed up the spiral staircase.

"Very stupid!" he grumbled. "Whatever I will do, he deserves. I don't have to feel guilty about what I'm about to do. As long as he doesn't apologize and kneel before me."

With anger overflowing, Hunter began messing up Miller's bed. He pulled all the bed sheets, bed covers, pillows and bolsters to scatter. Not satisfied just being there, Hunter also rummaged through the books on Miller's study table.

Bruh!

Something fell off Miller's study table. Hunter turned while he was on Miller's bed and stomped on it.

"What's that?"

Hunter got out of bed and picked up a wooden photo frame that had fallen on its face. He inspected the picture frame and breathed a sigh of relief when the glass didn't shatter.

Hunter's eyes suddenly widened when he saw the photo in his hand.

***

Early in the morning, before the sun even came up, Jonea had already left the dormitory. She didn't want to meet Hunter and spoil her mood after waking up.

Someone opened the art room door and made a long creaking sound. Jonea stretched lazily and blinked. The morning sun from the open door was shining on her face.

"You sleep here? All night?" asked Axel.

"Um…." Jonea stretched again. "It's so cold in here."

"Are you in uniform? Did you really not come home yesterday after school?" Axel sounded worried.

Jonea sat cross-legged on the table. Her hair was sticking out all over the place. She rubbed her eyes.

"No! I wake up very early. Because I'm still sleepy, I came here to lie down for a while. I suddenly fell asleep."

"You look exhausted. What really happened?"

"What's the time now?" she asked. She was worried that she would be late for class.

"Oh, take it easy. It's still too early to go to class. I… came early to finish my project."

Jonea was fully awake now. She saw Axel busy preparing his painting tools.

"Tomorrow... do you have time?" asked Axel.

"I'm going to visit the house. What is it?"

Axel was embarrassed to say that. "I have an exhibition tomorrow. Would you like to come? Even if you don't have an event with your girlfriend."

"You're going to do an exhibition? Wow, how cool! Is it a solo exhibition?"

Axel shook his head and turned his back on Jonea. He returned to his focus on his painting equipment.

"I'm not that good yet. This is a combined exhibition of the work of several artists. And I got the chance to submit some of my best work." He turned to Jonea with a big smile.

"Wow, you're still cool!" praised Jonea sincerely. "Where is the place? I'll try to stop by."

Axel smiled with satisfaction and handed Jonea two invitations.

"You can bring your girlfriend or whoever you want. Sorry, this is all I can do as thanks."

"Forget it!" Jonea turned gloomy all of a sudden. "I think yesterday is over. You have also given me too many gifts."

The brush in Axel's hand hangs down. "Is what I heard this morning true?"

Jonea looked down. She nodded weakly.

"I didn't even think he would move into my room. This is really a very well-deserved punishment for me. Even though I didn't do anything wrong. Do you know? Living under the same roof as your enemy is endless suffering. On the other hand, I also have to stay alert for 24 hours. I don't know his plans with me after this."

"This is all my fault," said Axel, gripping his brush tightly. "I'd better go see Hunter and apologize to him. Maybe this problem will be solved. He won't bother you anymore."

Jonea laughed and shook her head. She took the invitation from Axel's hand and patted the youth on the shoulder before leaving.

"Finish your painting! I won't bother you. Let the painting be a surprise at the exhibition later. Bye!"

Axel watched Miller leave the art room.

When the girl crossed the threshold and closed it, Axel's smile suddenly disappeared and turned into a cold face filled with malice.

***

Hunter was still pacing in his room. Occasionally he glanced towards the door. For a whole day, he waited.

"Why is he taking so long?" muttered Hunter, biting his thumbnail. "He should be back from class by now. Why hasn't he come back yet? He should see the punishment he got. Seeing his upset and angry reaction would have been amusing."

Hunter smiled, imagining Miller's fury at seeing his things in a mess.

The bedroom door opened. Jonea walked in casually as if no Hunter was there. The girl passed Hunter standing on the ground floor and dragged her bag to the top bunk. Jonea climbed the spiral staircase while unbuttoning her shirt one by one.

Hunter gave Miller an annoyed look. He already wanted to scream.

Jonea pretended not to see Hunter there.

Feeling ignored, Hunter still shouted. He sat on his own bed while occasionally glancing upwards. Hunter waited for Miller's reaction.

Up on the top bunk, Jonea just threw the bag. Her feet were caught in the items on her desk that had moved to the floor. Jonea looked at her messy bed. Jonea secretly clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

Jonea looked firmly down. At that moment, Hunter immediately looked away and pretended he was reading.

Jonea was furious, of course. But she knew her anger would only make Hunter happy. Jonea tried to ignore and pretend that nothing had happened.

Occasionally from his study table, Hunter glanced at the top bunk. Through the landing, Hunter could see Miller taking off his uniform. Hunter quickly looked away. He felt ashamed of himself for peeping like that.

"Isn't this childish?" Jonea said from above casually. "Isn't there another way to piss me off?"

"So you're not mad?" Hunter let slip and quickly covered his mouth. "Well! What do you mean!?" shouted Hunter fiercely. "You deserve it. You should have left here. Why are you still back in this room?"

Jonea ignored Hunter's grunts. Wearing only a baggy white T-shirt and knee-length pants, Jonea descended the spiral staircase and headed to the bathroom. She slammed the bathroom door even though it couldn't quite snap shut. The lock still needs to be fixed and has yet to be repaired.

With the bathroom door slightly ajar, Hunter could see Miller standing in front of the sink and washing his face.

At that moment, Hunter suddenly felt goosebumps. He felt the cold nape of his neck. Something was tickling all over his body. Hunter quickly shook his head and slapped himself across the face to bring himself to his senses.

'What is wrong with? Miller boy. Although he looks beautiful, he is still a man. And I'm still a normal guy. Damn, it!'

Bang!

Hunter punched the table, causing the books and writing utensils to vibrate.

"Why him, really? It's so noisy," Jonea grumbled when she was going to take a toothbrush and toothpaste. "I can't bathe freely here. The lock is broken, and there is Hunter. I have to find another place to wash my body."

Jonea looked at her personal belongings in the bathroom. Blank. Hunter had already moved it to the trash.

"Fuck!" Jonea lifted her head up to look up.

With the muscles of their body tensing, Hunter still pretended to read a book and sat at his study table. However, his ears were wide open. He was vigilantly listening to every movement of Jonea behind him.

Jonea came out of the bathroom and ran to her bed above. She was literally trying to ignore her messy room. Jonea came only to pick up a backpack and put some clothes in it.

'Is he going again? He wasn't angry and let his room fall apart like that? How dirty!' thought Hunter.

"Aren't you the one who made it messy? What do you care if I don't care about all this?" Jonea quipped as if she could hear Hunter's thoughts.

"Hey, Glasses!" said Hunter as he stood up. He couldn't take it anymore. "Don't you owe me an apology? You must kneel before me over the ice cream incident that stained my shoes."

Jonea got down the stairs by jumping. She stood straight before Hunter while slinging her bag over her shoulder.

Hunter was stunned and gulped. He noticed Miller's appearance, which, however, looked beautiful.

'Even though he only wore a black flannel shirt over his white T-shirt. But, why do you look like a cool tomboyish girl?'

Jonea rolled up her sleeves up to her elbows and left them unbuttoned. She wore knee-length shorts and sneakers.

"There is nothing for me to apologize to you for! Either way, you're the one who should be apologizing to me." Jonea stared straight into Hunter's eyes.

As she said that and stood before Hunter, Jonea's chest thumped violently. She was so scared and nervous that Hunter might kill her then and there. There were only two of them in the room. No one else will protect her.

Jonea quickly left there and left the room.

Hunter momentarily became nervous. "W-wait! He just wants to leave? Isn't he coming back? I will be alone in this room?"