'I've always taken it for granted that I know who is dangerous and who is not! I am so wrong!'

Iesa held her head in fear.

'Do I not only have to suffer these voices in my head but it cannot protect me from people like him!?'

At that moment, tears were coming out of her eyes.

The boy beside her noticed this.

'Ah... she's crying...'

Before he could spread it, the teacher came back to the room with a heavy expression.

The class immediately quietened down.

"Class. This is very important. Do any of you know where Nick was yesterday?"

'I knew it! It's about him!' Iesa internally exclaimed, 'Now, what should I do?'

"Teren, don't know you know it?" Lina turned around, oblivious to what really is happening, "The teacher seemed serious about it."

"I have no idea. We separated soon he followed me for a bit." Teren just shook his head.

'LIAR!!! Liar liar liar liar liar!!' Iesa silently growled at Teren.

Upon the teacher's question, no one answered. At that point, the teacher's eyes rolled towards Teren, expecting something.

But seeing the casual look on Teren, Teacher Jeran nodded.

"Okay, if no one knows then it's fine. I apologize but please behave again." before coming out.

"So, did he react?"

"Nothing. He seemed so calm about it. As if he didn't even know what happened to Nick." Sir Jerad shook his head.

"Hmm... usually, a person who just did a crime would behave suspiciously. They would be filled with guilt and remorse." one policeman explained while the other followed.

"Yes, from what Nick Mauren said, Teren Hark is like a psychopath. If this child has a mental disorder, that would explain his complete lack of reaction towards his own doing."

Sir Jerad nodded while sweating.

"However, please do not disclose to anyone nor pressure the suspect about this. Any person is considered innocent until proven guilty. If we accused him early on and found that he was another victim, that would ruin the child's life." the first policeman said.

The teacher and the principal nodded.

"Furthermore, we just found that Nick Mauren has a brother who is part of a gang. As you know, gang wars had been very evident these past months. So it is more likely that Nick Mauren is being threatened or is lying."

"Is that so? We... didn't know that." the principal looked at Teacher Jerad.

"It's very normal, Ma'am. That is why it is important to be strict. Nick Mauren could be just a normal student right now, however, he is now lying in bed because of these gang wars."

'They seemed to be really blaming it to the gangs...' Teacher Jerad thought, 'But I understand, I sometimes see that student pressure Teren. He must be putting the blame on Teren Hark because he thought this kid is an easy target.'

"Yes, officer, we will get stricter around here." the principal agreed.

"Then that's all, Ma'am and Sir. Thank you for the cooperation."

"Thank you for your service as well, officers."

Afterward, Teacher Jerad came into the class and acted as if nothing happened.

"Sorry for the interruptions, let's get back to class."

'Huh?' Iesa was shocked. Only after a moment did she remember she could just focus on the teacher's thoughts.

When it is lunchbreak, she already knew the gist of the story.

'Did he think this far!?' Iesa glanced at Teren and saw him giving her a meaningful look.

'It seemed that... I can't resist him.' she followed when Teren came out of the classroom.

Teren went to the canteen while Iesa went straight to the area where she will meet him in secret.

'I want to calm down first. While he is thinking straight, I am not.'

"If this continues, I will lose. And once I lose, I don't know what he will do to me..."

Not long after, Teren entered while holding a plastic bag and sat on the first step down.

Iesa looked up at him, from where she's standing, as if he's her mortal enemy.

"Are you calm now?"

"Yes..."

"Are you hungry?"

"..." Iesa frowned, 'What is he up to?'

"You didn't eat earlier and you didn't buy anything either. Here, I bought you a meal, my treat." Teren then took a bow from the plastic bag he was holding.

"Luckily for you, I have enough money in my wallet to buy you a deluxe meal."

"Deluxe... meal?"

Teren leaned forward and placed the box on the lower steps. In exact, in the middle of them.

"Oh, here's your phone. I couldn't open it so I didn't do anything to it."

He proceeded to put the phone down on top of the box.

Seeing that Iesa was not doing anything, Teren stood up.

"Wait, I'll go to the bathroom first." he then turned around and opened the doors further and looked at her, "If you don't eat... I will get angry."

Iesa gulped and saw Teren left.

After waiting for a few seconds, she immediately took her phone and open it.

"What is he planning?"

Meanwhile, outside, Teren took a peek. He didn't really go to the bathroom.

'I'll just wait her until the smell of food attracts her.'

But he didn't wait long. Since morning, Iesa had yet to eat anything as she overslept. After that, she was so anxious that she forgot to buy herself some snacks. She broke down and was mentally exhausted.

The delicious smell from the box attracted her so much that Iesa thought.

'He wouldn't put poison or anything in that, right?'

When Iesa took it, Teren came in.

Seeing her enemy, she became defensive again. But when she opened the box, her hunger got the best of her.

"Don't you want to sit down?" Teren began to eat too.

Instead of answering Teren's question, Iesa replied with a question, "What is your goal?"

Teren's eyes then wandered as he fidgeted.

"Umm... I thought, instead of threatening you, how about I bribe you?"

"Bribe?"