Chapter 157: The Aftermath
October 25th, 2010
Morning light slipped through the thin curtains in Dev's room, bright and almost harsh.
He slowly opened his eyes, his head pounding with a dull ache, his muscles sore and heavy.
Every part of him felt the weight of yesterday's fight, a reminder that victory always comes with a cost.
The room around him was still and silent, almost unnervingly so. It was a strange contrast to the deafening cheers that had filled the air just hours before.
He could still hear them in his mind the roar of the crowd, the rush of adrenaline, the moment he realized he'd won.
For a brief second, it all felt unreal, like a dream slipping away with the night.
With a quiet groan, Dev pushed himself up. Pain tugged at his legs, grounding him in the truth of it all. He reached for his phone on the bedside table, the screen lighting up in his hand.
Maybe he was looking for proof a message, a headline, something to tell him, yes, you really did it.
