Alan punched Bob. Bob stumbled, almost falling, but Andrew and Coner quickly supported him.
Ellie clapped her hands and smiled. Alan turned toward her, walking happily.
Alan smiled, breathing heavily.
"I did it. I can't believe it… I won."
Ellie chuckled softly.
"Yeah. You won."
Before the moment could settle, Andrew and Coner left Bob behind and walked toward them. Bob stood still like a statue, lost in thought. His mind replayed the moment again and again. How did someone like him land a hit?
Andrew suddenly grabbed Ellie's arm and shoved her aside. At the same time, Coner grabbed Alan by the collar and pulled him close.
"How?" Coner asked sharply. "You weren't supposed to hit him."
Alan's eyes widened.
"W-what? He said if I hit him, I'd win!"
Andrew glanced at Ellie coldly.
"Stay here. We'll handle him."
Coner smirked and looked back at Bob.
"Bob didn't lose," he said confidently. "Right, Bob?"
Bob didn't answer at first. Slowly, he lifted his head and stared at Alan with burning eyes.
"Hey," Bob said, his voice cold. "I was just off guard. Don't be silly, brat."
Alan clenched his fists.
"That's not my fault if you were off guard!"
Ellie finally broke free from Andrew's grip.
"Alan won fair and square!"
Bob turned toward her. Seeing her defend Alan shattered what little control he had left. Being humiliated in front of his secret crush pushed him over the edge.
Bob shoved Coner aside and slammed his fist into Alan's face.
Alan fell to the ground. But it didn't stop there.
Bob grabbed Alan by the shirt and started punching him again and again. His rage had taken over completely.
Alan's vision blurred. Blood streamed from his nose. His lips tore open. Ellie screamed, begging him to stop. Even Andrew and Coner froze in shock.
Still, Bob didn't stop.
For more than a minute, he kept punching.
Alan couldn't feel his body anymore. He couldn't hear anything clearly. The last thing he saw was Bob's fist crashing down on his face again and again, until everything went dark.
Then the teacher arrived.
Bob was pulled away, but it was too late.
In the silence that followed, one thought echoed.
This wasn't just a beating.
It was an attempted murder.
Is Alan finished?
Or is this only the beginning?
To be Continued