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"Noah, what are you doing here meddling in my business?" The leader of the group who often bullied Yogesh, glared at him with clear annoyance.
Noah let out a soft chuckle, twirling the basketball in his hand. "Meddling in your business? Seriously, David. I'm the school president. You threw a basketball at someone in front of my eyes… do you know the consequences of that action?" He stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Yunah, his eyes locking with David's as he held the ball in his hand.
"And what can you do other than complain to the principal? Go ahead, complain all you want…" David replied folding his hand, being fearless. Coming from a wealthy family, he had no concern about punishment as his father's influence always shielded him.
"David…" one of his friends whispered nervously, tugging at his sleeve. "Do you even know who you're talking to right now?"
"Who?" David frowned, confused by his friend's sudden change in tone, but his eyes remained fixed on Noah.
Before his friend could even explain to him, Yunah stepped forward, her anger flaring.
"So you really have no fear, kiddo? Let's see if you can still say those words in front of the principal. Let's go, Yogesh." She grabbed her younger brother's hand and cast one last sharp glare at David. She then turned towards Noah, who was already staring at her and muttered, "Thanks for your help, student…"
Noah opened his mouth to respond, but Yunah stormed away in anger, before he could say a word. He stood there, eyes fixed on her retreating back until she disappeared from sight. A soft smile curved on his lips.
"I guess she didn't memorized my name earlier…" His grip tighten around the basketball "well that's fine, now that I've found you again, I have all the time in the world to make you remember it."
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At Principal's Office
Yunah knocked firmly before entering with Yogesh.
Behind the desk, the middle-aged principal was still on a call. The moment he saw them, his brows knitted in irritation. He ended the call with a sharp sigh, as if they had disturbed him.
"Good afternoon, sir," Yunah greeted politely.
The principal didn't bother offering them seats. He leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Miss, what brings you here? And you, Yogesh… you're one of our bright students. I heard you ran away from the hostel yesterday."
Yogesh stiffened, as his hands were trembling. Yunah immediately squeezed his hand and whispered, "It's okay. I'm here."
Then she raised her chin, speaking firmly. "Sir, my brother didn't just ran away. He was forced to. He's being bullied, both in the hostel and here in school. I want strict action taken. Bullying isn't a prank, it's violence."
The principal leaned back, lips curling into a dismissive smile. "Miss, you must have been mistaken. Our institution has strict rules. We don't allow bullying. These children you accuse? They come from prestigious families. They wouldn't lower themselves to such behavior. Perhaps… they were just playing."
"Playing?" Yunah's temper spiked. "Sir, the boy who bullies my brother threw a basketball at me just outside your building. He admitted everything. If you don't believe me, check the CCTV footage."
The principal smirked. "Very well. But if the footage shows nothing, you will apologize for slandering a student of this school. Understand?"
Yunah's jaw tightened, but her eyes didn't waver. "Fine. Show me."
The principal's gaze flickered, just for a second. Then he cleared his throat. "And what was the boy's name?"
"David," Yunah answered coldly.
The principal made a quick call to the discipline committee president. "Summon David to the discipline comittee, now."
Slipping on his blazer, he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Yunah to catch: "Ungrateful people. Instead of being thankful, they complain about the hand that feeds them…"
Yunah's knuckles whitened as she clenched her fists, but she swallowed her anger for Yogesh's sake.
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Meanwhile, in the library, Noah leaned back in his chair, watching everything unfold on his laptop screen. The hacked CCTV feed showed not only the office but the smugness on the principal's face.
His lips curved into a dangerous smile.
"He dared insult her…" Noah's eyes darkened. He snapped the laptop shut and stood, his aura sharp and suffocating. The girl he was searching for eight years, who saved his life, who is the reason for his existence, has just been insulted right infront of his eyes.
Noah almost lost control on himself but he steadied himself thinking about Yunah. He exhaled slowly, then walked out with silent determination, heading straight for the discipline committee.
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At Discipline Committee.
The room was heavy with tension. The principal sat at the center like a judge, flanked by the discipline committee president, vice president, and both boys' homeroom teachers.
On one side lounged David and his gang, smirking as if it were all a joke. On the other, Yogesh sat stiffly beside Yunah, his fingers trembling until she clasped his hand.
The principal's gaze sharpened on Yogesh. "Tell me, did David and his friends bully you?"
Yogesh swallowed, fear choking his voice. But Yunah's gentle squeeze steadied him.
"Don't be afraid," she whispered. "Tell the truth. I'm here."
Encouraged, Yogesh lifted his chin. "Yes… they bully me every day. They make me run errands, call me their servant. If I refuse, they hit me. Not just me, other scholarship students too. Everyone knows, but no one dares speak because… we're poor."
David shot up from his seat, feigning outrage. "That's a lie! We were just joking around. Right, guys?" His friends bobbed their heads like puppets.
The principal leaned back, smug. "Miss Yunah, you claim David admitted to this and even threw a basketball at you. Yet I checked the CCTV myself. There is no such evidence. Do you still insist?"
Yunah's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then show me the footage. Let me see it with my own eyes."
The principal stiffened. "Are you questioning me? Perhaps you've forgotten. Your brother studies here on a scholarship funded by David's father. Instead of gratitude, you choose to slander his son?"
Yunah's laugh was bitter, cutting. "Gratitude? My brother earned his place here with his talent. Don't mistake charity for power. Unlike you, Principal, who only earned his seat by licking the shoes of the rich."
The principal's face darkened. "You dare....!" He slammed the desk, calling for security. But no one came.
"Don't bother," Yunah said icily, standing. "We'll leave." She pulled Yogesh to his feet.
Just then, the doors swung open. A tall figure entered, his steps slow, deliberate as his footsteps echoed in the discipline committee's hall.
"Noah…" the committee president breathed.
The principal's anger melted into nervous politeness. "N-Noah, what brings you.....?"
Noah's smirk was sharp, dangerous. He walked straight to Yunah's side, slipping his hands into his pockets.
"I came as a witness," he said casually. "I saw David bullying Yogesh. I saw him throw that basketball at her. Do you want me to repeat it to the board?"
The principal paled, words dying in his throat.
David slammed the desk. "You bastard! I told you to stay out of this!" He marched up until he stood nose-to-nose with Noah.
But Noah didn't flinch. His voice dropped, cold and commanding. "Apologize to Yogesh. And to his sister."
David jabbed a finger into his chest. "Who the hell do you think you are...??"
The principal's phone rang shrilly, cutting through the tension. He snatched it up. "H-Hello, sir.....yes, yes, he's here…" His face drained of blood. With trembling hands, he passed the phone to David.
"Dad?" David's tone softened with relief. But the furious roar from the other side made the whole room fall silent.
"You useless brat! Do you want to ruin me? From this moment, you'll do whatever Noah says. Defy him, and I'll cut you off and throw you out. Don't drag my company down with your stupidity!"
The line went dead.
David's face turned ashen. The smirks of his gang disappeared.
The principal forced a laugh, his tone suddenly oily. "Boys make mistakes at this age. Let's… forgive and move on, shall we?"
Yunah scoffed. "Are you a man or a chameleon? You change your colors every second."
Noah chuckled under his breath, but his eyes never left her.
David lowered his head, fists clenched. "S… sorry."
Yunah crossed her arms. "That didn't sound sincere. Keep your apology. Just give me my brother's transfer certificate."
"Miss, please!" the principal nearly begged. "I'll personally ensure Yogesh's safety. Don't take him away."
Yogesh tugged at her sleeve, hesitating. "Di… it's only six more months till graduation. I'll be fine." His gaze flickered toward Noah, silently acknowledging that he doesn't want him to transfer school. And Yogesh knew very clearly that no one dares to defy Noah.
Reluctantly, Yunah let out a breath. "Fine. But if anything happens again, Principal… it's your head on the line."
"Yes-yes, of course."
"Let's go...." Yunah held onto Yogesh's hand and dragged him out from their.
After she left with Yogesh, Noah lingered just long enough to glance at the trembling principal. His smirk widened.
"You almost lost your job today. Be grateful he chose to stay."
Then he followed them out, his presence still suffocating in the room he left behind.
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Outside The Comittee.
Yunah was waiting just beyond the committee room when Noah finally stepped out. He looked as if the whole thing had been nothing more than a game. Hands in his pockets, he had that mischievous smile never leaving his face.
Her eyes narrowed. "It was all your doing, wasn't it?"
He tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Hm? What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. Everything changed the moment you walked in. Even David's father suddenly called. What's your motive? Rich kids don't help for free."
For a moment, Noah just studied her, eyes gleaming as if amused by her suspicion. Then he let out a small laugh. "You've got it wrong, di. I just wanted to help Yogesh. He's my friend."
Before Yunah could answer, he slipped an arm casually around Yogesh's shoulders. "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will touch him. You can trust me. I'm the school president, after all."
Yogesh stiffened under the unexpected gesture, glancing at his sister.
Yunah exhaled slowly, her guard easing just a little. "Fine. Thank you… for what you did in there, kid. I'll count on you. Please look after my brother."
"My name's Noah," he corrected softly, eyes glinting. "Not kid."
Yunah snorted, folding her arms. "Aiyoo, kids these days. No matter what you say, you're still just a kid." Her teasing only earned her another grin from him.
She checked the time and straightened. "Anyway, it's late. Let me treat you to dinner. It's the least I can do after everything."
Noah's face lit up with boyish excitement. "Really? I'd love to."
Yunah chuckled at his reaction. "Why do you look like you've never had dinner in your life?" She shook her head and started walking toward the exit. "But first, we'll pick up Yogesh's things from the hostel. He's coming with me tonight. I won't let him stay there anymore."
Noah nodded obediently, though his smile lingered, unreadable.
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An Hour Later...
The three of them left the hostel after an unexpectedly smooth process. Yogesh's bags were packed, paperwork signed, and the warden, strangely polite. He even offered to help carry luggage. Yunah found it suspicious but chose not to question it.
Outside the gate, Noah carried all of Yogesh's bags without complaint, refusing to let Yunah touch even a single one. "What kind of brother would I be if I let you carry this?" he teased.
She rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips "yes-yes....well having two brother is pretty good too...." She said standing beside Noah.
Yunah tried booking a taxi, but the app blinked back the same message again and again: No vehicles available. She sighed in frustration. "All fully booked? At this hour?"
They stood there in the cool night air, the street unusually quiet. Yunah rubbed her arms against the chill, her eyes narrowing at her phone. "Guess we'll have to wait longer."
Beside her, Noah tilted his head slightly, as if amused. His phone buzzed quietly in his pocket, an unseen notification he ignored.
Breaking the silence, Yunah turned to him. "Where do you stay?"
"Pretty far," he answered smoothly, his tone carrying just the right trace of hesitation.
Her brows furrowed. "Do you stay alone?"
"Yes," he said, almost too casually.
Yunah studied him for a moment, then made her decision. "It's late already. If you want… you can stay with us tonight at my apartment. I haven't even treated you to the dinner yet."
For a brief second, Noah's eyes flickered, the mask slipping. Then he looked at her with a carefully crafted expression. Half surprise, half relief.
"Can I really?" he asked softly, as if he hadn't been waiting for this exact invitation.
Yunah nodded firmly. "Of course."
Noah smiled then, not the innocent grin he showed Yogesh, but something darker, more satisfied. Every small step tonight had led here. Even the mysteriously unavailable taxis.