"Urgh!"
Kai groaned, eyes fluttering open.
The ceiling above greeted him with silent indifference. He shifted to his side, and instantly—
"Fuck, it still hurts," he muttered, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through his ribs and lower back like a nasty reminder of what he'd just survived.
He lay there for a few more minutes, breathing slow and shallow, letting the ache dull just enough.
Then—
With a grunt, he sat up and swung his legs off the bed and stood up, rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck with a few muted pops.
His body protested with every movement, but it was the kind of pain he could live with.
Slowly, he made his way to the bathroom.
The cold water hit his face like a slap, clearing the last haze from his mind.
He splashed more onto his arms, then ran his fingers through his hair to straighten it out.
After washing off the grime and sweat from earlier, he dried himself quickly and changed into a fresh, spare academy uniform from his wardrobe.
