"Nice to meet you too. I'm Ethan. This is Finn," Ethan said, his voice steady as he reached out to meet the other's hand.
"I know who Finn is. He was here last year," Seth replied, a thin, sharp smile stretching across his face. He didn't let go of the handshake immediately. "Anyway, you're the new guy, so I'll give you a fair warning. This school has a hierarchy. We call it a 'group,' but most people just say 'gang.' It's run by Enzo, and I'm one of his."
Finn shifted uncomfortably, but Ethan remained impassive.
"So," Finn spoke up, his voice hushed. "Is it true? That your boys got thrashed?"
Seth's smile twitched, and he finally released Ethan's hand, nodding slowly. "Yes. We sent them after a certain someone..." He locked eyes with Ethan, his gaze darkening. "...Only one of them crawled back. The other three? Two have fractured spines, one has a crushed chest."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a predatory whisper. "Enzo's father is powerful. With that kind of money, we can erase a man. Even a poor little sister might find herself starving on the streets if her brother doesn't know his place."
It wasn't just a threat; it was a declaration of war. Ethan didn't flinch. His breathing remained rhythmic, his expression a mask of indifference. The lack of fear clearly agitated Seth, though the boy tried to hide it behind a sneer.
The tension was broken by the sharp *clack* of the classroom door sliding open. Mr. Henry, the homeroom teacher, stepped in.
"Good morning, everyone. Settle down," Mr. Henry announced, scanning the room. "As you all know, Allen and Madison have been on leave. They'll be returning today."
The room erupted into hushed, excited whispers.
"Finally," one boy muttered, leaning back in his chair.
"Who's Allen and Madison?" Ethan asked Finn quietly.
"Remember when I told you two students were away? That's them. Madison is basically the queen of this school—rich, genius, and beautiful. Allen is her 'shadow.' He's her personal guard; he never leaves her side."
Ethan nodded, his eyes tracking Mr. Henry as the teacher glanced toward him before heading back out to the hallway. Outside, the buzz of the third-year students grew louder.
"I heard a third-year actually tried to propose to her this morning."
"Big deal. She's the granddaughter of a conglomerate head. She's in a different league."
As a group of seniors passed the door, Ethan spotted a boy with striking black hair and piercing grey eyes. He wasn't talking; he was observing.
"Jake, what do you think?" one of the seniors asked, nudging him. "Madison is the peak, right? Total female lead material."
Jake's eyes narrowed as they landed on Ethan through the doorway. "Too much glazing," he remarked, his voice cool and detached. "Normally, she wouldn't be the lead." He said and walked ahead, his gaze lingering on Ethan
His friends stood there, dumbfounded. "What's he talking about?"
Before they could follow him, Mr. Henry appeared behind them like a ghost. "He is like this. Get to your classes." The students startled and scrambled away.
Mr. Henry re-entered the room and walked to his desk. He cleared his throat, but instead of opening his book, he looked toward the door. It slid open with a smooth, heavy sound.
"May we come in?"
The voice was melodic but carried an undeniable weight of authority. Every head in the class turned.
"That's her," someone whispered. "And Allen is right behind her. His only job is to protect her at all costs."
Madison stepped inside, followed by a tall, Broad-shouldered boy whose eyes scanned the room like a predator's. His gaze stopped on Ethan for a fraction of a second—a silent acknowledgement of a threat—before he followed Madison to the back of the room.
"Let's begin," Mr. Henry said, though the atmosphere had shifted entirely.
Madison sat down, her eyes immediately drifting toward Ethan's back. "A new student?" she murmured.
"Transferred recently," Allen replied, his voice a low rumble. "I'll look into his background."
Ethan tilted his head slightly. He could feel Madison watching him. She gave a small, playful wave, but Ethan ignored her. His focus was entirely on Allen.
That guy... Ethan thought, noting the way Allen balanced his weight. He's not just any bodyguard. He's a fighter.
Lunch Break
The cafeteria was a roar of noise, but Ethan and Finn found a quiet corner.
"Finn, tell me more about Allen," Ethan said, opening his milk.
"Just rumors, mostly. They say he can take down forty trained fighters without breaking a sweat."
Ethan took a slow sip. "He looks the part."
"Why the interest?" Finn asked. "You think he could take Enzo?"
"Probably," Finn whispered. "A group of seniors messed with Madison once. Allen didn't just save her—he hospitalised half of Enzo's inner circle, including Seth."
Before Ethan could respond, the sound of a tray crashing to the floor echoed through the hall. A group of girls stood over a student with braided hair and glasses, whose lunch was now splattered across her uniform.
"You don't know your place, do you?" one of the girls sneered.
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "And who are they?"
"The one talking is Olivia," Finn sighed, looking defeated. "She's a first-year, but she's been a bully since middle school. No one touches her because she's Enzo's younger sister. In this school, her father's word is law."
Ethan watched as Olivia raised a hand to the girl's face. So, you're Olivia.