Iridiscence (Lookism fanfiction)

16. Studying at the library

We had a class test coming up, so Daniel, Jiho and I were at the library for a bit of studying.

Daniel left after sometime, I had a few more problems I needed to work on so, I stayed back.
Jiho also decided he would leave a while later.

Jiho and I haven't been alone together before, I was naturally a little anxious, but since we were studying it wasn't as awkward as I'd expected.

"Do you know the answer to today's homework?", he suddenly asked me.

"I did them, I can't be sure they're right though," I replied.

"That's okay, can you show them to me?"

"Okay, I'll explain what I understood..."

"Ohh, I was hoping you'd just show me the answers, you know "

"I'm sorry, but don't you wanna know how to solve them? I mean, that's the purpose of assigning homework right?"

"I'll just learn them later.
These questions are not for the test anyway.
We should focus on the test coming up than other portions right?"

"That may be true, but I think if you just see how this is done now, then study these later, then you would understand better...
It won't take long; these are quite simple"

"You are quite studious, aren't you?"

"Well, I'm not crazy about studying, but I guess learning is fun. It is definitely important at this stage of our life, so whether or not we like to, we should..."

"Well, can't argue to that"

"So, shall I explain this?"

"Fine"

.

.

.

"See, you've got it on your own 😃"

I was happy to see that he managed to solve the questions in the end. It took some time, but he did it nevertheless.

"Alright, let's call it a day.
I'll get going then", I said, returning the reference book I borrowed to the librarian and packing up my stuff.

"Umm... do you... do you want to go get some snacks?
It's on me, I want to thank you for the help today", Jiho proposed.

I had some time on my hands, and I wasn't against the idea of snacks, I thought it should be alright.

____________________

"G-hole, what are you doing around here?
And why are you with a girl?"
We were stopped by a few of whom I recognised as seniors.

“Oh hey, I was… out with my… friend…” Jiho said, fidgeting with his hands.

“To be hanging out with a loser like you, she must be a loser too”

‘How rude!’

“G-hole, do you have any money on you? We have to pay someone but we’re short on cash”

“Only about 45 dollars”

“That’ll do, thank you. Now, we’re not stealing from you or anything ok?

We’re only borrowing it.” They grabbed the money from him and walked away.

“Jiho, why did you give away your money like that?
How will you go home now?” I asked.

He was clearly and obviously not happy about what happened.

“They’ll take it anyway, no point resisting.
And my home isn’t very far from here, I’ll just walk” He answered.

“Do they do this often? Taking away your money that is…
And do they really return it?”

“Nah. But what am I to do?
Guys like us, at the bottom of the food chain has no other way but to submit to those above us…”

The expression he had on his face was depressing.

What do they get out of snatching away other people’s mone-

Wait a minute!
They said they have to “pay” someone right?!
Could it be-

Sorry for the small chapter.

This chapter was initially way too long, so I split it into several parts...
I'll post the next part real soon!