Ryan sat a little slumped over his desk, half-listening to the teacher's words on about something that definitely wasn't going to change his life at all.
His brain was already numbed from the heat, the long lesson and the silent pressure of being the new kid. He hadn't even written half a page in his notebook yet.
The moment the bell rang, a low exhale swept across the room. The teacher grabbed his books and walked out with all the urgency of a man trying to escape.
Ryan stretched his arms over his head with a loud sigh.
"Ugh… these classes are so boring man." He leaned back into the chair as he let his spine curve like a deflated balloon.
He didn't even notice a few guys approaching his desk until one of them leaned into his face.
Three of them. Ugly, greasy, rotten aura type stupid guys. Their faces looked like they'd been spawned from a sewer and raised on dumpster scraps.
One of them had a crooked nose and lips too big for his face. Another wore glasses so thick that they magnified the acne which was spread across his whole forehead.
The third one had a buzzcut and the kind of sharp eyes which radiated the feeling of 'Wannabe Gangster'.
The guy with the crooked nose muttered. "Yo fatass, you think just cause you're sitting next to Arthur, you're on his level or something?"
Ryan blinked twice in confusion. "Uh…What?"
Buzzcut leaned forward a bit, his fingers gripped on Ryan's desk. "You trynna act all cool, huh? You're too comfortable, piglet. Maybe someone should teach you that where you belong."
Then the glasses guy placed his hand on Ryan's shoulder as he smirked right in his face. "You seriously think that a guy like you deserves to be anywhere near Arthur?"
Ryan flinched a bit. 'Shit…again? Is this déjà vu? Do I attract trouble like this?'
Suddenly, they all froze as Arthur rose his head from the desk.
There were no words, just a small look from him. His eyes were half-lidded, but there was something deadly in them.
Like he'd just been woken up from a nap and was disappointed that reality still existed.
"Fuck off, bitches." His tone wasn't loud. It wasn't loud nor aggressive.
But it hit like a blade to the gut, the three punks stiffened.
"A-Arthur." The glasses guy stammered.
Arthur tilted his head a bit. "I told you to fuck off, or I'll show you what happens when you touch someone who's near me."
They all pissed their pants as they ran away from there.
The buzzcut even tripped over and fell face first on the ground as the whole class laughed.Ryan just sat there, drenched in cold sweat.
Arthur tilted his head a bit, enough to look at him. "You good, lil bro?"
Ryan nodded slowly. "Yeah… I'm good, thanks to you."
Arthur yawned like nothing had happened. He slung his bag lazily on top of his left shoulder.
"Come with me. Let's go eat, and." He paused as if he scanned Ryan. "I wanna see you box someday."
'Box? Me? God please have some mercy on this fat lowlife.'
"Y-yeah… for sure." Ryan muttered under his breath, throat dry.
As they walked out of the class together, Arthur led the way to the cafeteria. His shoulders moved in a calm, rhythmic manner. Oversized hoodie, baggy pants, hands in the pockets.
But every step he took in the corridor felt like that of a lion, who is walking through a den of sheep.
Ryan followed behind him, anxiety erupting inside of his stomach.
Behind their back the whispers started to erupt.
"No way, is that the new kid walking with Arthur?"
"He must've done something, Arthur doesn't even talk to the people."
"Dude's a legend. That fatass might even die if he steps outta the line which Arthur sets."
"I can bet that Arthur is doing some kind of timepass."
Ryan lowered his head, trying not to listen to these voices. His eyes flicked onto Arthur, who was walking in front of him.
'Arthur… he's not some random delinquent. He's walking death flag. Every step of his, every look… this guy's a warlord.'
[DING!]
[Host, you are fortunate that you're currently in his good books.]
'No kidding. One wrong word, and he'll turn my bones into thin powder. I'm a misstep away from a hospital bill which I can't even afford.'
He swallowed hard. 'But also… he saved me from those guys which he didn't have to. He just did out of pity, I guess.'
There was a weird warmth there, reluctant respect in his eyes towards Arthur.
Maybe it was the start of something great? A journey?
They reached cafeteria after a while as the chatter grew even louder. The smell of fried rice, meat and cafeteria's sludge in the air.
Students cleared the way when they saw Arthur, which proved that he is not someone whom Ryan can think of like a nobody.