**Sebastian's POV**
I'm walking alone down the school hallway. I'm heading to the back of the university, where the garden is. Aside from the empty classrooms, I also hang out there when I don't want anyone to see me.
There's a big mango tree there that I like to climb. The area is a bit far from the main campus. It was turned into a garden for now because the board hasn't decided what to do with it yet. Should it become a storage area or extra classrooms? The space is wide enough to fit two classrooms or even a small building.
On my way there, I heard laughter. I'm not usually nosy, but out of curiosity, I went to see where it was coming from.
I saw a group of guys with two girls. I couldn't see their faces because they were facing away from me. I didn't know who or what they were laughing at, but one thing I knew for sure—someone shouted my name. It was Jasmin.
So, she's the one they're laughing at.
Without realizing it, I walked toward them. I put my arm around one of the guys, and they all turned to me in shock.
"I heard my name while passing by," I said, looking at Jasmin, who was sitting on the ground.
Her head was bowed, her hair was messy, and her clothes were wet.
"Can I have one of those?" I asked, pointing to the cigarette stick one of the guys was holding.
He nodded, quickly pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, handed me one, and lit it for me.
I took a drag and blew the smoke into the face of the guy beside me.
"We heard she yelled at you, so we taught her a lesson for you," one of the girls said flirtatiously. She looked like a cheap escort with the outfit she was wearing, which was practically made of scraps of fabric.
I shifted my gaze to one of the guys standing beside Jasmin. I looked him over from head to toe... and my eyes stopped at his pants, which were slightly pulled down with the zipper undone. I turned my glare back to his smug face. Were they planning to...?
I stepped away from the guy I had my arm around and approached Jasmin. She stayed silent, her head still bowed.
"Stand up," I said, but she didn't move, as if she hadn't heard me.
"We're just playing," the guy said with a grin, placing a hand on Jasmin's head.
My blood boiled instantly. I clenched my fists. "Mind if I join you?"
"Su—"
I threw the cigarette into his face and punched him hard, sending him tumbling to the ground. I turned to his companions, who looked shocked by what I'd just done. They even stepped back when I shot them a glare.
I thought they were just going to bully her a little, but they had gone too far.
I crouched down, grabbed Jasmin's hand, and helped her stand. I left with her and took her to the garden where I was initially headed.
I didn't know what came over me to help her. I wasn't supposed to care about her. But my conscience hit me hard. I thought I didn't have one—turns out, I do!
When we got to the garden, I let go of her hand and faced her. She was still bowing her head.
"You're brave, but you didn't even fight back against them. You just let them do that to you."
She stayed silent, her head still lowered.
I hesitated for a moment before moving closer to her. Should I touch her or just leave her alone? But damn, my hand seemed to have a mind of its own.
I gently lifted her face. Anger surged through me again at the sight of what they'd done to her. I clenched my fists to hold back my rage.
Her cheek was red, and there was a cut on her lower lip.
I had her sit on the exposed roots of the tree and fixed her messy hair that was covering her face.
"Hey," I said softly, brushing her cheek.
She looked at me.
And suddenly, tears streamed down her face. My anger from earlier melted away. I pulled her close and hugged her tightly.
"S—sorry," I stammered. It was the first time I'd ever apologized, and I even stuttered like an idiot.
She didn't say a word. I just let her cry until she felt better.
"Why did you let them do that to you?" I asked once she had calmed down.
She broke free from the hug and glared at me. "What's it to you?" she snapped, rolling her eyes.
This girl... I helped her, and now she's giving me attitude?
"Tss! So annoying," she muttered under her breath, wiping her wet clothes.
I turned my back on her, took off my jacket, and handed it to her sideways.
"Here."
"What am I supposed to do with that?"
"Put it on," I said, glancing at her. She was now standing and staring at me in confusion.
"I don't want to."
Tsk! Stubborn.
"Put it on, or I'll keep staring at your pink bra," I said with a smirk.
She immediately grabbed the jacket from me and covered her front.
"Pervert!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.
"It's just a bra. Besides, there's not much to cover there because your chest is—"
"You're such a pervert!" she yelled angrily, hitting me with the jacket.
"Ow! Ow! I wasn't trying to see your bra—ow!" I said, dodging her blows.
I quickly grabbed her hands to stop her because the zipper of the jacket was starting to hit me. It hurt.
I held both her hands and pulled her close, trapping her in my arms.
She looked at me, startled. Even with her messy hair, she still looked beautiful.
My eyes fell to her lips, which had a cut.
"Let me go!" she shouted, struggling to break free. But I tightened my hold on her.
"Can I kiss you?"
She froze and looked at me.
"You keep running through my mind. Every time I close my eyes, I see your face. You just pop into my head randomly, even when I'm showering—"
"Pervert!" she pushed me away. Since I loosened my grip, she managed to escape.
"Can you stop dragging me into your nonsense?" she said, moving away from me.
"I'm telling the truth! That's why I want to know why. Because I'm going crazy thinking about it."
"And what does kissing have to do with that?"
I paused to think. What indeed?
"Nothing! I just want to kiss you," I said with a grin.
She glared at me. "You're crazy!" she said and walked away.
"At least I tried asking for permission!" I shouted after her.