[Day 3]
Salin's body ached. Worse than when he took his first punch from his boxing coach at fifteen. Worse than his first street fight.
But he didn't complain.
Salin sat in a corner of the room, back against the cold wall. His hands throbbed, fingers scratched and raw. But he preferred that.
Pain was simple. Clear. It didn't lie to his face.
Unlike the haters online.
When he finally stood, his muscles protested. But he didn't waver.
If it had to hurt, let it hurt for something that mattered.
That's when Ravi showed up. One of the seniors. Cold eyes, unshaven face, looking at Salin like he was a rat among soldiers.
— Nice effort. — Ravi said, crossing the courtyard, sweating. — Too bad it means nothing. You're only here because you slept with someone powerful. Not because you earned it.
Salin blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness. The silence around them was heavy, like everyone knew this was about to go south.
