Neto stood still, staring at Zuri with the weight of her question pressing down on him.
He could feel the familiar pull of his anger, the instinct to shut everything out, to close off.
But there was something different in Zuri's eyes—an unspoken understanding that he couldn't ignore.
Before he could speak again, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, slow but deliberate.
The door creaked open wider, and the others—Neo, Aniyah, and Danso—entered the room.
Their presence was like a silent agreement. They had followed Zuri in, no words exchanged, but their faces spoke volumes. Each of them had their own understanding of what Neto had been through—of what he had suffered—and for the first time, it felt like they were here for more than just the confrontation.
"Neto,We all know you've been through hell." Neo spoke first, his voice quieter than usual, lacking the usual provocation.
"None of us are stupid." He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"But we're here now, man. You're not alone."
Neto's throat tightened, his grip on the doorframe faltering. The words hit harder than he expected. He glanced at Neo, who was standing by the door, looking calm, but there was an unspoken resolve in his eyes.
An old part of him screamed to reject the sentiment, to lash out and push them away. But something inside him shifted, just slightly, enough to let their presence sink in.
Zuri, standing by the window, turned her gaze back to him, her voice gentle but firm. "We've all seen the way you're living, Neto. You're not a machine. You don't have to carry this alone anymore. You're allowed to let go. You're allowed to feel."
Neto shook his head slightly, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips.
"You think I don't know that?"
His voice wavered, his walls cracking.
"But what if I let go? What if it happens again? What if I break? I've already been broken too many times. I.... I.....can't just..." He stopped, the words caught in his throat.
Danso, who had been quietly leaning against the wall, spoke up now. His deep voice was surprisingly soft.
"You're not the only one who's been broken, Neto. We all have scars.
The world is bleak man,everyone has his or her own demons." He stepped closer, his hand resting on the back of a nearby chair. "But that doesn't mean we can't fight together.
Doesn't mean we can't heal."
Neto's eyes flicked toward Danso, and then to the others. Neo stood with his arms crossed, but there was an openness to him now, something that Neto hadn't expected. Aniyah was the last to speak, her voice tinged with a calm certainty.
"We've all been through our own shit. And maybe we don't understand everything—but we understand pain.
We may not understand the exact pain you feel ,but we understand it nonetheless and we understand that you don't have to do this alone."
Neto looked away from them, his gaze falling to the floor. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together, trying to push back the emotions. He wasn't sure how to handle this, how to deal with the strange comfort they were offering.
But the more he stood there, the more it felt like their presence was slowly unraveling the tight knot in his chest. They weren't demanding anything from him. They weren't trying to fix him. They were simply... there. And for some reason, that meant more than anything.
He swallowed, trying to steady himself, before looking up again. "I don't... I don't know how to be any other way.
I don't know how to change."
Zuri's expression softened even more, and she stepped toward him, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.
"Then don't force it. Just... try.
Start small. You don't have to fix everything in one day, Neto. But you're allowed to try."
A long silence stretched between them all. It wasn't uncomfortable. It wasn't forced. Just a shared moment of understanding.
Neto let out a long breath, his body still tense, but a small flicker of something softer appeared in his chest.
A glimmer of something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in so long—hope.
Finally, he nodded once, barely perceptible. He wasn't sure where this would lead. He wasn't sure if he could truly heal from all the pain, the memories, the scars. But for the first time in a long while, he wasn't completely alone in the battle.
He could feel the weight of the four of them, their support, their silent promise to be there when he was ready. And maybe—just maybe—that was all he needed for now.
"Okay," he muttered, his voice rough but steady. "I'll try."
And in that moment, the tension in the room seemed to ease, if only for a brief second. They weren't expecting perfection. They weren't expecting him to change overnight. But for now, it was enough.
For now, Neto wasn't alone.
"That's it bro," Neo said with a smile.
Putting his hand around Neto's neck.
"We are with you ,all the way."
Neto tensed slightly at the contact, his first instinct telling him to shove Neo off.
But for once, he didn't act on it.
He just stood there, feeling the weight of Neo's arm around him. It wasn't suffocating. It wasn't a threat. It was just… there. Steady.
Zuri let out a small chuckle. "Well, that's one way to say it." She crossed her arms, watching them with a knowing look.
"You're stuck with us now, Neto. No take-backs."
Aniyah smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "And if you do try to push us away, we're just gonna keep showing up. So deal with it."
Danso nodded, his usual serious expression softening just a bit.
"We're not asking you to change overnight. Just don't shut us out."
Neto sighed, shaking his head slightly. He wasn't used to this—wasn't used to people staying.
But as he glanced at each of them, there was something undeniable in their eyes. They weren't just saying empty words.
They meant it.
Then he smiled a bit.
He clicked his tongue, rolling his eyes.
"Tch. You're all so fucking annoying."
Neo grinned, tightening his arm around Neto's neck playfully.
"Aww, look at that—he does care!"
Neto groaned, pushing Neo off.
"Get off me before I break your damn arm."
Neo laughed, stepping back with his hands up in surrender. "Yeah, yeah. Love you too, man."
Zuri just shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "This is progress. I'll take it."
For the first time in a long while, the tension that usually clung to Neto like a second skin felt just a little lighter.
He still had his demons, still had the weight of everything he had endured.
But maybe… just maybe… he didn't have to carry it alone anymore.
Then a chime came in from his bracelet.
[Come with your friends to my office.]
The overseer seemed to be done with his preparations.
After the principal's call interrupted the conversation, Neto's demeanor shifted back to his usual guarded state.
Whatever moment of openness had existed before was now buried beneath his usual cold but calm exterior.
As they walked toward the principal's office, he stayed a step ahead, not looking back at them.
The warmth of the moment they'd shared earlier seemed distant, almost like it never happened.
Neo nudged him. "You good?"
"Tch." Neto didn't respond beyond that, eyes fixed ahead.
Zuri, Aniyah, and Danso exchanged glances, understanding that pushing him now wouldn't get them anywhere.
But despite his usual bluntness, something was different. When Neo lightly bumped into him on purpose, instead of snapping at him or throwing a punch, Neto just exhaled sharply and kept walking.
It wasn't much, but they noticed.
He still didn't act like they were his friends—but he also didn't act like they were just obstacles in his way anymore.
As they walked further towards the overseer's office, the weight of the fight still lingered in the air.
The group stole glances at Neto, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever, though his breathing had steadied.
Just as the silence began to settle in, he spoke.
"I would have won that fight, by the way."
His tone was calm, almost casual, but the hint of superiority was unmistakable.
Neo scoffed. "Yeah, sure. Keep dreaming."
A few chuckles followed, the tension finally loosening its grip. Even if they weren't sure whether he was joking or serious, the fact that he said it at all was enough to shift the mood.
○○○○○○○
As Neto and his friends stepped into the Overseer's office, the air grew still.
The hum of the room's energy seemed to quiet as all eyes instinctively shift toward to a man standing at the center of the room.
REPRESENTIVE OF AFRICA [ATHEL]
Jide Okoro.
His presence is both unassuming and powerful, standing as a pillar at the center of the room, his posture calm but unwavering.
He turned,staring at them.
Eyes a distinct colour of green,opposed to the golden sun shaped pendant on his neck.
His eyes meet Neto's, then tilted his head to the side,unknown to others whether it was acknowledgment.
Jide remained still, as if sizing up each individual in the room, his stoic expression betraying little of his thoughts.
The immense power radiating from Jide was palpable.
Compared to the overseer ,his body exuded distinct weight of energy.
It seemed as though he could destroy this entire school with no effort.