Chapter 15 - Partners In Crime

Back to the Mershen Senior High, Teren turned and left Iesa who was confused.

'What does he mean that there are no gang wars?' Iesa then ran up to him to try and clear her confusion.

"What do you mean what you said?"

Teren mysteriously laughed to himself.

"I don't want to tell you since I don't want to be a braggart. You have to figure it out yourself."

Those were his last words before they entered the class. Once the door opened, Iesa had no more chance to asked anymore.

'Maybe he'll try to talk to me again later at break time.'

When she sat, her eyes widened.

'Wait! Why am I so calm about it?'

"Pst, Teren, what happened?" Lina didn't turn around but leaned back a little.

"Nothing, we were just questioned by some old man."

"What? What questions? What old man?"

"I don't know if this is confidential or not so... I don't think I should say it."

"Buu..." Lina pouted which Teren didn't see.

'The unnecessary tall guy beside me had yet to come back. Don't tell me my doggy killed that cocksucker the other day?'

When Iesa heard Lina's thought, she lightly gasped.

'How does she know!?'

'Like that would happen. Pfft-!' Lina then laughed to herself.

Iesa then sighed in relief before frowning.

'Wait, why am I feeling relieved?'

To try and distract herself, Iesa let her attention return to the class.

'Let's just figure out what happened while we were away.'

She then focused on her classmates' thoughts.

'Man, way to embarrass myself like that.'

'Lucky me that my partner is a bit smart.'

'This teacher is pretty fun. However, he's a little strict.'

Iesa then frowned, 'I don't understand what's happening.'

She looked at the blackboard and saw that there were some scribbles on it. She couldn't understand it at first until the young male teacher pointed at the two of them.

"You two, stand up."

Teren pointed at himself and the young teacher nodded.

He and Iesa then stood up.

"What's your name?" the teacher looked at Iesa.

"Iesa Hun, sir..."

"And you?" the teacher casually pointed at Teren.

Teren looked around and found something suspicious.

'Why are they all smiling? The atmosphere seemed awfully lax.'

"Teren Hark, sir."

"Oh, is that so, my name's Hanon and I'm your Humanity... wait..." the young teacher, Hanon frowned, "Did you just say your name is Teren Hark?"

"Yes, sir."

Teacher Hanon blinked a few times, seemingly frozen before he continued.

"O-oh... I thought I heard wrong. Okay, let me repeat myself, hello, Iesa and... Teren, my name's Hanon, your subject teacher on Humanity."

Although everyone just saw him pause, Iesa heard entirely different.

'The Devil Himself? What does that mean?'

She then focused on other thoughts in the hope to understand this.

'I wonder if the two will become a partner?'

'Will Sir Hanon let them introduce themselves?'

Iesa frowned, she got more confused.

But before Sir Hanon said anything, he looked at his wristwatch and said.

"Oops, I was about to let you two play some games your classmates did when you were gone but there's not enough time." Sir Hanon smiled.

Some students want to comment and joke but since it's Iesa Hun they were talking about, they restrained themselves.

"I know that you are excused by the principal. However, it would be unfair if your classmates did it and you wouldn't. So tomorrow, you will two will prepare twice as much since you have a longer time."

This made Iesa and Terren curious. However, the former already had some idea.

'Don't tell me this is about partners?... Well, I don't think it can be dangerous. It's not like I have to meet him in public.'

"Your classmates did two truths and one lie. I partnered them randomly. Once you're partnered, you have to think of three statements about you, two truths and one lie. Then in front of the class, you two will try and guess each other what is their lie in those three statements. I know that you should know each other by now but try to think of something that the others should not know. Do you two understand?"

Teren and Iesa looked at each other before the latter answered.

"Yes, sir." while Teren just nodded just as usual.

Afterward, the first subject finished and the second subject teacher came in. Unlike in Hanon's time, the others were just regular orientation.

Morning break time arrived and Teren came out again after declining Lina's invite as usual.

He turned around again to see Iesa following him.

'Did I tell her to follow me?' but not to embarrass Iesa, he bought her some snacks and ate at the table in the canteen.

"Umm... thanks..." Iesa looked at the snack Teren gave her.

Teren sat down and looked at her, "Do you have something to say?" while casually sipping on a carton box of juice.

"I'm just confused at what you said earlier." Iesa slightly leaned forward to tell him.

"Oh..."

Remembering earlier, Teren's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes evaded her.

"Sorry... I did something out of excitement."

"Excitement?"

Iesa: 'Is this guy really hard to understand or is it because I can't hear his thoughts.'

Teren then looked at Iesa and sighed.

"I guess you don't realize, huh..."

"About what?"

Teren then leaned to whisper in the noisy canteen.

"Since you lied at the detective's questioning, you covered for me. I just thought that you're now an accomplice. So..."

Iesa froze as she looked at Teren's embarrassed face.

"I just assumed that... umm, we are kind of partners in crime... literally."

'Partners in crime... accomplice... literally...'

Iesa's world turned and twisted.

'I... I covered up a criminal... so, therefore, I'm a criminal as well.' she then recalled her emotions back then, 'So that's why I'm relieved when they didn't find Teren out. Since I lied to the detective, if he's caught then there's a big chance that they're going to catch my lies as well... haha... ha.'

"Hello... Iesa?" Teren waved his hand in front of her.

When Iesa snapped out of her daze, Teren said to her.

"About what I said earlier, you can forget about it. But... if you really want to know just text it to me. I can't say it out loud, after all." Teren whispered as well.

With trembling hands, Iesa took out her phone and texted him right away.