Binding 13

"Wait here, okay?" Joh

"No, no," I strangled out, mortified. "I'll clean it."

"No, you won't," he argued. "It's okay. Just wait here for me and I'll be right back."

The moment I heard his footsteps retreating, I scrambled to my feet, grabbed my schoolbag, and bolted into the nearest bathroom on this wing of the school.

Hurrying inside, I went straight to the sink, unzipped the front pocket of my schoolbag and retrieved the travel-sized toothbrush and paste I religiously carried around with me.

I was an anxious person and my anxiety made me sick.

It happened in the most inappropriate and inconvenient places, usually at school, like today, so I was always prepared.

Trembling from head to toe, and with tears burning my eyes, I quickly brushed my teeth, gagging when the brush poked the back of my throat.

When I was finished cleaning my mouth, I rinsed off the toothbrush and tucked it back inside the small zip lock bag with the paste before packing it back into my schoolbag.

You're okay, I mentally coaxed as I washed my hands and splashed water on my face, everything is going to be okay.

I knew I wasn’t, though.

No matter how much I tried to lie to myself, nothing was okay about my life.

Sniffling, I strapped my school bag to my back, pushed open one of the toilet cubicle doors and grabbed a bottle of disinfectant tucked away behind the cistern.

Walking back to the sink, I pulled a couple dozen paper towels out of the dispenser and headed back to the crime scene.

But it was gone.

Erased by the caretaker wandering back down the hall with a mop and bucket trailing after him.

"I told you to wait for me," a familiar voice came from close by.

Swinging around, I found Joh

"I had to brush my teeth," I blurted out, sniffling.

He arched a brow. "At school?"

"It happens a lot," I strangled out.

He frowned, watching me with those intense blue eyes. "Are you feeling better now?"

I nodded, mortified. "I'm okay."

"Good." Pushing off the lockers, Joh

Reeling, I watched as he opened the girls' bathroom door and tossed the disinfectant and paper towels back inside.

"I'm taking you home now," he said as he slid my schoolbag off my shoulders and slung it over his left shoulder.

My eyes widened. "No, no, you don’t have –"

"I'm taking you home," he repeated, blue eyes locked on mine. "Let's go."

"Why?" I croaked out.

Joh

"Why are you helping me?"

He stared at me for the longest moment before exhaling a heavy sigh. "Because I want to."

"You do?"

He nodded. "Do you have a coat?"

"A coat?" I croaked out, feeling helpless as I stared up at this beautiful boy.

"Yeah, it's hammering down with rain outside."

"I, uh –" I pressed my hand to my forehead, striving to gather my thoughts. "It's on the coat hook," I finally managed to say. "In the science building."

With wide eyes, I watched as Joh

"Come on," he said in a coaxing tone as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tucked me into his side, and led me out of school. "I'll take care of you."