Chapter 211
DISPLEASURE (2)
"What is it?" IAM asked, his tone cautious now as he caught the look on Reuel's face.
Reuel didn't answer right away. He ran a hand through his hair, then muttered, "Give me a second. I need a shower. And if possible… could one of you make something for me to eat?"
With a tired sigh, he grabbed his things, slung them under one arm, and walked into the bathroom. The door clicked shut behind him.
The room fell quiet for a few seconds.
Henry was the first to speak. "I swear, if he does all this and it turns out to be something stupid…" He narrowed his eyes, glaring toward the bathroom like he could see through it.
"I don't know…" IAM said from his bed, staring at the ceiling. "He seemed pretty serious for once."
Yohan scratched the back of his head, already getting to his feet. "Whatever the case… I'll make him something. Maybe a sandwich."
He headed into the kitchen, opening the cabinets slowly, like his thoughts were still caught up on Reuel's face. He pulled out the loaf of bread and set it down, then paused for a second—his hand hovering over it.
Henry watched him from across the room, arms crossed and legs stretched out as he sat by the door. "Hope he doesn't expect anything gourmet."
"I'm not his maid," Yohan muttered. "He's getting two slices, maybe some cheese if I'm feeling generous."
IAM chuckled faintly from the bed but didn't get up. His gaze drifted back to the bathroom door. The sound of the shower running was faint.
There was something different about Reuel this time.
IAM couldn't shake the thought. Reuel always had something to say—usually something snarky, exaggerated, or full of bravado. But this time he'd walked in like someone had taken the fight out of him.
Yohan moved slowly as he put together the sandwich. A bit of mayo. Two slices of cheese. Some pre-cooked meat from the academy fridge packs.
He placed the sandwich in the microwave and tapped the button. The soft hum filled the room.
The sound of water cut off.
They all stilled.
A minute passed. Then another.
The bathroom door finally opened with a slow creak, and Reuel stepped out.
His face looked more relaxed, but not by much. His hair was damp. He had changed into fresh clothes.
He looked at the three of them, then gestured toward the center of the room.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Come here. All of you."
The microwave beeped.
Yohan opened it and pulled the sandwich out, letting the steam drift upward. He didn't say anything as he placed it on a small plate and set it on the table.
He pointed at the table. "Here you go."
Reuel looked up, and gave a small, hopeful nod. "Oh—thank you. Could you pass it over?"
Yohan stared at him for a moment with a flat, unreadable expression, then wordlessly picked up the plate and handed it over. Reuel took it without shame and immediately started blowing on it like he hadn't eaten all day.
IAM narrowed his eyes with his arms crossed. "Come on. Stop leaving us hanging like this."
"Yeah, do tell," Henry added, leaning forward a little.
Reuel chewed slowly, swallowed, then cleared his throat like he was about to start reading a horror novel by flashlight. "I... separated from you guys and ended up hanging out with some of the older students. We hit it off and started talking."
Yohan rolled his eyes.
Reuel didn't notice. He continued. "There was this girl I was talking to. Really helpful. We started chopping it up—small talk, you know the the usual. Eventually I asked about her experience at the academy."
He paused to take another bite, then chewed in silence.
IAM gave him a look. "And?"
Reuel swallowed, wiped the corner of his mouth, and looked down at the sandwich like he was trying to collect himself. "She didn't really want to talk about it. Not at first. But I kept at it. Got her comfortable."
He paused again, his expression shifting—shoulders tensing just slightly.
"Eventually," he said, voice lower now, "she gave me some information."
He trailed off. His eyes weren't focused on anything in particular, and then—without meaning to—he visibly shivered.
IAM sat up straighter. "What did she say?" he asked, his voice firmer now.
Reuel didn't respond for a second. His eyes stayed low, fixed on the half-eaten sandwich in his hand like it suddenly made him nauseous.
Then finally, he spoke—quietly.
"I'm sure you guys are aware that the first year is mostly theory," he said quietly, voice flat. "They ease us in. Let us get comfortable. And that the real stuff—the real training—starts in the next four years that follow. That's what makes Hope Academy… Hope Academy."
Henry gave a short nod. "Right… and then it gets serious in second year. We all know that."
Reuel looked up slowly. "Yeah. That's what they tell us."
Yohan frowned. "Isn't that the truth?"
Reuel licked his lips. "Depends what you mean by serious."
His tone was flat.
Reuel looked up. His expression hadn't changed much, but something in his eyes had.
No one answered.
IAM stayed still, watching him carefully. Henry frowned. Even Yohan, who had been idly cleaning his hands with a napkin, stopped moving.
Reuel licked his lips again. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.
Then he looked each of them in the eye, one by one.
"I asked her what changed after first year. What made everything so much harder."
His eyes were empty.
"She just looked at me and said…"
He swallowed.
"People begin to die."
And he said it.
The room went dead silent.
Then slowly, Henry sat forward, his elbows on his knees. "What do you mean... die?"
But Reuel did not answer right away. He just stared at his plate. His fingers had tightened around it so much his knuckles were white.