Mark sat with Chris and Wayne inside the classroom. He gently offered Chris a glass of water.
Chris took it and drank slowly.
Mark sighed. "Did he get on your nerves? Why did you turn like that again?
I thought you only become like that when you're desperate to beat someone who owes you."
Chris placed the glass on the desk and breathed heavily.
"For a moment… I thought I was weak," he said."And my goal is to beat those Blackridge guys.
When I looked at Henry, I saw failure. Someone lying on the ground, pathetic… Someone who was the same rank as the people I want to defeat.
When I couldn't beat him… everything felt pointless. My mind just… shut down."
He clenched his fist. "And when I came back to myself… you were holding my hand."
Wayne and Mark exchanged a look. Now they understood why Henry had triggered him.
Mark stepped closer. "Listen, Chris. I know you want revenge on those Blackridge guys. But you should postpone that. Don't rush into it. You might seriously hurt someone."
Chris looked away. "But—"
Wayne cut in gently. "Listen to him. He's saying this for your own good."
Chris's expression fell slightly. But he nodded.
---
The scene shifted to Blackridge.
Bob, Andrew, and Coner were walking down a cloudy street, eating ice cream.
Bob smiled. "This ice cream is so good."
Andrew laughed. "Even better now that we're not working for anyone."
Coner frowned. "You mean Jack? That guy was scary. I'm glad we surprise‑attacked him that day."
Bob snorted. "Even though we got wrecked instantly… that mad dog still went berserk."
A flash of the fight between Daniel and Jack passed through their minds.
Andrew nodded. "Good thing Alan showed up."
Coner sighed. "Never thought we'd thank someone we almost killed."
Bob waved it off. "Let's not talk about that."
They walked into a large, empty garden. Moss covered the stone floor. Small rocks were scattered everywhere.
They suddenly stopped.
Bob narrowed his eyes. "Wait… who's that?"
A figure stepped out from behind a wall.
"Long time, my targets… Or should I say—"
Chris stepped forward.
Bob, Andrew, and Coner froze.
Bob blinked. "Who are you?"
Chris smirked. "Didn't even let me finish. You really don't remember the people you messed with. I'm Chris. The one you three bullied years ago."
Bob laughed. "Chris? That weak kid?"
Coner clenched his fists. "Why are you here?"
They threw their ice creams away.
Andrew cracked his knuckles. "We're free now. So this time, we'll really beat you."
Chris stepped forward. "I'm not running… never even when I was weak".
Bob laughed: You won't be able to—
"Come at me." - Chris Says with anger
To be continued…