Chapter 22 Dickson’s Interrogation
Dickson strolled leisurely through the school pathway, his hands stuffed into his pockets, his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. The morning sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and the occasional gust of wind sent dry leaves tumbling across the ground. The usual sounds of students chattering, lockers slamming, and footsteps echoing off the hallways filled the air. It was just another school morning—until he heard his name being called from behind.
"Dickson!"
He stopped mid-step, his brows furrowing slightly before he turned around. As soon as his eyes landed on Liam, they widened in shock. His mouth fell open slightly, and without thinking, the words tumbled from his lips.
"What the hell were you doing overnight? You look like you just wrestled a bear in your sleep!"
Liam, standing a few feet away, visibly stiffened. He shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck as he let out a forced cough. "Uh..." His voice came out hoarse, and he cleared his throat awkwardly before quickly changing the subject. "How are you doing?" he asked, pretending as if Dickson hadn’t just called him out.
Dickson let out a short snort, shaking his head as he resumed walking, forcing Liam to keep up beside him. "Nice deflection, dumbass," he muttered. "I’m fine, but you..." He side-eyed Liam, taking in the dark circles under his eyes and the slight limp in his step. "You look like you barely survived the night."
Liam huffed but didn’t respond to the remark. He figured if he ignored it, the topic would die out.
However, Dickson wasn’t finished. A knowing smirk tugged at his lips as he said, "You’re as ungrateful as ever, though."
Liam’s brows furrowed. He turned to Dickson with a puzzled expression. "What?"
Dickson clicked his tongue. "My dad carried your sorry ass for free last night, and you didn’t even say thank you."
At that, Liam blinked. He took a second to process the words before nodding slightly. "Right... Your dad did carry me last night," he admitted, though his voice sounded distant, as if his mind had wandered somewhere else. His lips parted as if to say more, but then his brows suddenly snapped together, and his entire demeanor shifted.