Radit's eyes narrowed, his gaze as sharp as a blade. He took a slow step forward, each movement brimming with confidence.
"Chat, huh?" His voice was low, but it carried enough weight to make the boy falter. "Then why don't you include me in the conversation? I've got time."
The sharp challenge in Radit's voice seemed to thicken the very air around them. Unease flickered across the bullies' faces. One of them shifted as if to step away, while the others remained frozen, uncertain of what to do.
"C-Chill, Dit. We're just messing around…" stammered the boy who had mocked Kaivan. But before he could finish his excuse, Radit moved.
It was almost too fast to follow, his fist slammed into the boy's face with a solid, echoing crack. The impact sent the bully stumbling backward, clutching his reddened cheek in shock. Gasps erupted from the others, panic flashing in their eyes, yet none dared to step forward.
Radit stood tall, his gaze sweeping across the group like a blade of ice. His voice was low, edged with menace. "I don't care if you're joking or not. If you want to play around, try me instead."
No one answered. They exchanged frantic glances, then one of them grabbed the arm of the boy who had been hit, urging him away. Wordless, they retreated in haste, vanishing down the corridor without a fight.
From a distance, Tania, who had been laughing moments ago, now stood motionless. Her eyes lingered on Radit, filled with confusion. Why? she wondered. Why would Radit, the one who never seemed to care about anyone, suddenly step in for Kaivan? The question gnawed at her, unanswered.
For Kaivan, that morning marked a shift. For the first time, someone had stood up for him. He couldn't find the words to express the swell of gratitude in his chest, but he knew he would never forget this moment.
Under the bright blue sky, birds scattering across the air, Kaivan turned to Radit. His voice was little more than a whisper, yet it carried a heavy weight. "Thank you, Radit."
Radit responded with his usual inscrutable smirk, somewhere between sincerity and his laid-back indifference. "Don't mention it. Sometimes, they're just too damn annoying." He scratched the back of his neck, his hand rough with old scars, his tone casual despite the storm that had just passed.
They walked on toward class, side by side, silence settling over them, not heavy, but strangely comfortable. Yet in Kaivan's mind, curiosity sprouted. Radit was showing a different side of himself lately, something deeper, more complex.
Sunlight streamed through the canopy of leaves, scattering across the path they tread. The normally busy walkway felt hushed, filled only by the rhythm of their footsteps.
Kaivan drew in a careful breath, mustering his courage. His voice was soft, carried by the morning breeze. "Radit," he called, hesitating. "What really happened when Mr. Levan came to your house?"
Radit glanced over his shoulder, one brow raised, eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the intent behind the question. "Levan?" he repeated flatly.
Kaivan nodded quickly, slowing his pace to match. "Yeah, about the pickpocket incident," he pressed, his tone edged with urgency. "Why did he come to see you?"
Radit let out a faint chuckle, more like a sigh. His lips curved faintly, tinged with a distant warmth. "Oh, that," he muttered, almost to himself. His shoulders rolled back as he straightened. "He went on about how I saved him," he said, his voice light, though a subtle tremor lingered beneath. "Honestly, he made it sound way bigger than it was. I didn't even know what to say at the time, so I just… kept quiet."
Kaivan frowned, sensing there was more to it. "And he really wanted to repay you?"
Radit nodded slowly, one hand tucked in his pocket. "He said he'll cover my schooling, all the way to college," he admitted. His tone remained flat, but the faint disbelief in his eyes betrayed the weight of the offer. A short laugh slipped out. "Crazy, huh?"
"So… you're going to college?" Kaivan asked, eyes wide with genuine excitement. It was rare for Radit to talk about his future, and this was a glimpse Kaivan didn't want to miss.
Radit shrugged, his voice carrying its usual ease. "Who knows? Honestly, I'd rather work. But hey, if it's free, why not?"
Kaivan smiled faintly, the kind of smile born from quiet understanding. Beneath Radit's offhand words, he found something unexpectedly inspiring. That morning, so ordinary on the surface, felt like the beginning of something greater.
One morning, Kaivan awoke with an unusual spark of energy. Something resonated deep within him, as if the day itself promised something extraordinary. When he opened the Omnicent Tome, a fresh page caught his eye, bearing an unexpected command: "Go to the city's main street near the square and river. Go alone. Bring super glue and rope. Meet a girl."
Though strange, the instructions ignited his curiosity. What could rope and glue possibly have to do with this meeting? Who was this girl?
Cautiously, Kaivan packed everything the Tome had requested. The super glue went into his bag, followed by the rope, his preparation feeling more like gearing up for a mission than a casual encounter. A peculiar unease seeped into him, but one thing he knew: the Omnicent Tome never led him to anything meaningless.
As he threaded through the city's labyrinth, narrow alleys hemmed in by towering, timeworn buildings made his steps feel dreamlike. Every corner whispered of hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered. The distant roar of traffic accompanied his walk, but Kaivan remained sharp, his eyes scanning every shadow.
When he finally reached the central square, his heartbeat quickened. The meeting drew near; that strange anticipation coiled tighter inside him. Suddenly, the Tome's page shifted. A profile appeared before his eyes, the girl's name: Zinnia. Her hair, a deep shade of plum with heavy bangs, matched the ID photo shown on the Tome's parchment.
One line in her profile stood out sharply, drawing a frown from Kaivan. "Hates men." The words were etched with unnerving clarity. He stood frozen for a moment, turning the phrase over in his mind. How was he supposed to help someone who, according to the Tome, already carried such a visceral hatred for his kind?
Not far away, a small commotion broke his train of thought. His gaze followed the sound and landed on a young girl strolling along the riverbank. Her steps were light, almost like a dance. This was Zinnia. She radiated confidence and joy, so different from the harsh description on the Tome. There was something magnetic about her presence.
That fragile harmony shattered in an instant. The strap of her sandal snapped, throwing her off balance. With a startled gasp, she stumbled forward, tumbling awkwardly to the ground. Kaivan, watching from a distance, froze. The position she landed in was unusual, leaving him startled and, against his will, keenly aware of the scene.