"You can have this if you want."
Dexter extended the medal toward Max, his tone and expression flat.
"You just said it was allowed, right? Teacher?"
He turned towards the teacher as if to push his point forward. Max chuckled and said,
"You think I need something like that?! Is that your way of mocking me? If so, you failed miserably, I'd die before accepting alms from a dork like you".
Dexter was irked by Max's words but his expression didn't change.
He realized then that their earlier exchange was just an illusion. This was reality—Max HATED him.
The talk before was just to ensure smooth work when he got the position as class rep or possibly gain points with people in general.
Dexter could hear the two girls whispering behind him,
"Of all the things he could have said, he's the worst!".
This wasn't Dexter's intention by any means.
Dexter himself admitted that he was "bad" when it comes to interacting with people, so he didn't want to do a job which would constantly require him to run errands and talk to people.
The class commotion grew until the teacher finally spoke.
"There you have it! Max doesn't want to take the position as a class rep I suppose".
"Does anyone want to?", Dexter asked in the loudest voice he could manage— though it barely tickled the air.
No one came forward.
Dexter sighed and resigned to his fate.
"Fine, I'll do it".
The teacher continued;
"Well, that takes care of the boys. Now for the girls— the medal goes to Vanessa".
A little blonde-haired girl came forward.
When she reached to the stage where the teacher and Dexter were standing, she glared at Dexter as if to reject him.
"My name is Vanessa. I look forward to studying with you all"
Everyone's eyes mirrored her feelings. She was accepted by the whole class as the class rep, Dexter on the other hand was condemned deeply.
Some, who were already acting as Max's lackeys even refused to acknowledge him as the class rep.
The teacher observed but didn't say anything and started the classes for the day.
A few days passed.
The reps were asked to collect copies by the teacher for correction.
Both Vanessa and Dexter began collecting copies.
When Dexter reached for Max's copy, Max was away from the class so he started to shuffle through his desk for the copy.
Max's lackeys blocked his way, accusing him of theft.
Dexter stayed silent and continued collecting the other copies. They followed him, trying to force him to admit to theft.
Dexter refused but they didn't give in.
Suddenly a boy pulled Dexter away from the lackeys.
"I was watching him all the time, he didn't steal anything, quit making shit up from your ass".
The boy was rather tough for his age, his palms had calluses on them.
"Maybe he practices holdingthings…", Dexter thought.
The other two lackeys backed away.
"Thank you. That saved me"
Dexter said as he sighed and exhaled.
"No problem, dude, I am Kensei by the way, call me Ken", said the boy.
Dexter turned to leave, but Kensei stopped him.
"Now now, don't be so cold, why not chat for a bit?".
"As you can see, I'm a bit busy right now. Can we do this later?"
Dexter stated firmly, leaving Kensei no choice but to agree.
Max entered the room and Dexter went to him to ask for his copy.
"Why should I give it to someone like you?" Max shouted.
Dexter leaned slightly forward, copies tucked near his abdomen, "Well, the copies are to be checked, you won't get your grades otherwise".
Max sulked and gave his copy hesitantly. As Dexter was about to go with the copies, Max tripped him. Dexter fell face first— copies scattering across the floor.
The class chatter was muffled for a moment. He felt dust on his skin, the floor tiles were smooth and cold, a sting burned on his forehead; when he touched it… it felt wet.
"Remember this well. This is what happens when you are on my bad side" Max said as he exited the class while laughing with his lackeys.
Most of class sided with Max, mocking Dexter under their breath.
Vanessa saw and rushed over to help.
"Are you okay?!", She cried.
Dexter got up on his own.
As he got up, Vanessa's face tightened, her eyes narrowed looking at him.
There was a cut on Dexter's forehead.
Vanessa was about to shout at Max, but before she could, Dexter raised his voice—deliberately calm.
"Ahhhah! I fell!" He bent to gather the scattered copies, ignoring the cut trickling on his forehead.
The class couldn't believe what they saw.
Kensei, seething with anger, was about to follow Max but Dexter tugged on his shirt.
Kensei clenched his fists.
"Aren't you mad?! Don't you want to say something to him?!"
Dexter paused, then replied softly, "No".
Kensei exhaled, restraining himself, "Fine, leave the copies here, I will take them to the teacher, Vanessa, go with Dexter to the infirmary".
Vanessa nodded and guided him to the infirmary, her gaze lingering on the blood tracing down his forehead.