Sylvian could never picture himself at school to see that guy again, but having a science exam proved he would have to. The second he walked through the door his eyes instantly met the face he didn't want to look at again: Akiel.
After what felt like hours of dull reviews, it was finally break time. Without hesitation, he turned and marched toward Akiel - he wanted to clear the air before anything got more ridiculous. When he reached him, he noticed that Akiel had a group of students surrounding him. He watched Akiel scroll through his phone, and the way Akiel's smile spread across his face deep down unsettled Sylvian; it was the expression of a wolf waiting for its prey to walk straight into its jaws.
They both moved to a hallway on the second floor. This stairway was comfortably removed from the crowd of students on the lower floor. Akiel was the first to speak.
"So, you're saying that this is just a big misunderstanding?" He said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Sylvian nodded.
Akiel only smiled wider. "You were the only person to have seen those scars. Why in the world would you tell anyone? Are you trying to destroy my reputation? Are you jealous of me, Sylvian? Is that what this is? You want to take me down a peg?"
Sylvian was paralyzed, he had not seen that declaration coming at all.
"Wha-what are you saying? I am not trying to ruin anything! I don't even get in other people's business! I never told anybody about the scars and to be very honest, I don't care about the scars! It could have even been one of your trusted close people that told! But don't for one second think it is me. Why would I be jealous of some shallow rat that only cares about reputation and titles?"
The remark accomplished its purpose. Akiel's expression darkened. The next moment, he crashed Sylvian into the wall, and a moment later his fist was hanging over the boy's head, ready to punch. The fight had begun just that fast. Each of the boys were able to land some punches and by now both boys were already bruising.
Akiel was able to spit out through clenched teeth, "If you don't stop this, I will take everything I recorded, your stupid little secret, and make sure to post everything on every single one of our accounts at school. Just a click of the button, Sylvian. Just one button."
Sylvian sat there frozen, his blood froze in his veins. He could not move himself to speak. He just kept thinking that he wanted to beg, and he hated himself for it. Hated that he got into a fight with someone, and his whole life revolved around a misunderstanding. He hated being on the end of Akiel's stupid little games.
With unexpected spontaneity, he pushed Akiel away, yelling, the sound echoing down the hall of silence:
"This is what I want! And I never even wanted anything to do with you, Akiel! Why do you have to throw the past in my face? To embarrass me? To prove I was worthless? I hate you. Just—leave me alone already!"
Sylvian turned and walked off without a second glance.
Akiel was still leaning against the wall, hand against his own lip soaked with blood. It was the briefest glance of not a decipherable expression to have on his face. But slowly, unexpectedly—he grinned.