When the classes were over and they returned to the dormitory, as most did their own things, Christan stood near the window, his gaze intense as he stared at the road.
Students passed through the corridor outside, some laughing carelessly as if nothing was wrong here. It even started to make him think he was the wrong one.
At that time, Ethan walked in. He glanced at Christan briefly, who didn't bother to look his way. Then he stepped to Logan's bed and threw a medicine box.
Logan looked at it and laughed. "Thank you."
He hadn't asked Ethan to bring him medicine, as it would have been fine, but he did so. He immediately woke up to take it.
Ethan approached Christan and silently gave him a bottle. As someone who went to the infirmary for that medicine, before he left, he remembered Logan was also sick...
Christan looked at him in confusion, but he accepted it and examined it.
"Your hand, don't let it leave scars," Ethan said, pointing at the back of Christan's palm.
Christan glanced at his hand, where scratches had marked his skin with red lines. At that time, he hadn't realized what he was doing. It seemed that old habit hadn't left him as he thought.
Then he raised his eyes to Ethan. How considerate of him. "It was nothing. But thanks."
He wasn't going to apply that sour-smelling antiseptic, but seeing Ethan still waiting, he opened the lid and did so.
Soon, he opened his closet and changed into the required uniform outside the classroom: dark blue trousers and a white T-shirt.
His eyes drifted to his roommates. All of them were asleep, even Ethan. Did they never get time to sleep in juvie, or what?
The bell rang, its noise echoing through the whole school.
"Dammit! That was a nice sleep!" Joshua growled into his pillow.
Logan snapped his eyes open. "Lunch?"
Alan sat up slowly, his hair a mess.
Ethan slipped out of bed without a word, pulling on his shoes and grabbing his plate.
Joshua dropped from the bunk and smacked Kai on the head.
Kai jolted awake. "What the hell…"
"Lunch time," Joshua sneered.
Kai scowled. "Couldn't you have done it properly?"
Logan and Alan were already out the door.
Christan glanced at Logan. It seemed he was fine after some medicine.
"What's the hurry, Chris?" Joshua stopped Christan before he stepped outside. He draped an arm over Christan's shoulders, and they left together.
Once outside, Joshua scanned the other students, frowning. Their room's members were the only ones carrying plates.
"There are lockers in the hall," Christan explained.
Joshua looked at Christan and grinned. "You're some reliable fella here."
Christan gave a tight smile. All thanks to that one hour he used to read the rules while Joshua slept.
Not long after, they stopped in front of a long staircase, about thirty steps. At the top of the hill was a large building with a round door, and inside, a couple of trees could be seen.
Joshua stared up. "This is… freaking insane."
Christan stepped onto the first step. He couldn't blame him. Even he would have been shocked if he hadn't seen it earlier through the window.
He was the first to start, but Joshua ran up the stairs and stopped at the top, catching his breath.
Christan paused, watching him. Was this guy always like this?
Beyond the round doors was a courtyard with trees, flowers, and smaller buildings circling the space. One entrance had words above it: DINING HALL.
Stepping inside, the building was filled with students, almost the whole school along with tables and chairs. They stopped the moment they entered.
Wasn't the line for food a little too long?
The more they stared, the more the line increased. Immediately, they rushed to join it.
After what felt like an eternity, their turn arrived, and they got their food. They stood together and glanced at the empty tables.
From the rules, they didn't sit randomly. Each table was supposed to have ten members, no matter the class. Joshua headed to one of them without thinking much.
They found a table at the end of the hall and took a seat.
That was when Christan spotted two familiar faces. No—Joshua came to this table because he saw Kai and Ethan there.
A tall boy stood at the end of the table, his voice deep and steady. "You're new." He looked over them slowly. "I'm the table leader. Call me Clever."
Joshua snorted. "That's not something to be proud of."
Clever's eyes narrowed.
"I'll register you," Clever continued, his jaw tight. "You'll be added to the cleaning rotation. Washing dishes."
This time, all four stopped eating and looked at the table leader with wide eyes.
Christan hadn't seen that in the rules, so he was also taken aback.
Joshua scoffed. "Why the hell should I do someone else's shit?"
Clever smiled. "You're free to move. Same system everywhere." His eyes sharpened. "Say one more word, and I'll put you on duty for a week, until you understand how proud I am to be a table leader."
Kai leaned back. "How much do I need to pay someone to take my place?"
Christan raised his brow.
"You're free to negotiate," Clever said flatly. "If anyone's willing."
Christan let out a small sigh and pulled his plate closer.
Returning his attention to the food, he frowned at the vegetables. The food was too bland, almost as if it mocked him.
He couldn't believe that even Kai, who seemed on another level, ate without any problem.
He tried the soup, and his expression tightened as he tried to swallow.
Ethan looked at him in disbelief, while Joshua burst into laughter. Kai, who had no idea what was going on, raised his eyes in confusion.
Christan frowned at himself and looked to the other side. He froze.
Across the hall sat a student, his muscles straining against his shirt, his stern face holding a mischievous grin.
When the student shifted his gaze, he noticed him too, and his eyes narrowed.
Christan immediately averted his gaze and returned his attention to the food, forcing himself to swallow every bite.
The boy stepped away from his table and walked over, while another fellow trailed behind him.
They stopped beside Christan. The table members' gazes shifted toward them.
The guy's face hardened as he placed a hand on Christan's shoulder, leaned in, and whispered, "Hello, old friend."