Hugo pushed Zack aside, adjusting himself in his seat, but Uriel wouldn't grant him peace. He strolled over, playing the recording of their earlier conversation. "I'd like you to consider what your precious little crush might think if she heard this. What nickname do you imagine she'd bestow upon you?" he sneered.
Hugo stiffened, his nostrils flaring. "You're despicable! Is that a threat?!" he demanded, his voice strained and high-pitched.
Uriel clicked his tongue mockingly as Zack retreated to his own seat. "No, my dear friend. Cast your mind back to the days before her arrival. We were despicable together, remember? Don't attempt to portray me as the sole villain here." He chuckled, rolling his eyes as he leaned in close to Hugo's face. "I'm merely advising you not to obstruct my path, or things could become unpleasant. When I set my sights on something, friends and foes alike become irrelevant. I acquire what I desire, precisely how I desire it."
Abruptly, he kicked a glass, sending it crashing, before bolting towards the bathroom and slamming the door, startling his friends. Inside the pristine, luxurious bathroom, he slumped against the wall, reaching into his pocket for his medication – a contingency for when his IED symptoms spiraled. Swallowing the pills, he let out a frustrated groan, burying his face in his hands. He remained there for nearly half an hour while his friends continued their lectures.
Hours later, a deafening bang echoed through the room as the door was violently knocked off its hinges. Uriel's eyes fluttered open, disoriented, to find his friends standing before him. He had fallen asleep in the bathtub, enveloped in his favorite woolen blanket. Their faces displayed a mixture of fear, anxiety, and pity, haunted by the memory of his previous suicide attempt before his rehabilitation in the States.
Uriel rubbed his throbbing forehead. "Do you have any idea the severity of the migraine your racket just triggered?" he grumbled, but Zack and Hugo ignored his complaint, embracing him tightly.
Hugo sniffled, a tear tracing a path down his cheek. "We feared you were embarking on a one-way trip to the afterlife," he said, his tone a blend of sarcasm and genuine concern.
"Are you both insane? Cease this sentimental and sarcastic nonsense; it doesn't suit either of you," Uriel retorted, extricating himself from their grasp as he stood from the tub. "Gentlemen, I possess a resilient spirit. I won't succumb so easily. Please remember that."
Zack chuckled, playfully smacking Uriel's head. "Naughty boy, you skipped a lecture. It's been a bloody six hours since you locked yourself in here! Who wouldn't be worried?" he asked, his tone laced with passive aggression as he brushed past Uriel.
Uriel glanced at his watch, inhaled deeply, and ran a hand through his hair. "Lunch is on me," he offered, patting Zack and Hugo's backs dismissively before exiting the classroom.
AT THE CAFETERIA
The cafeteria buzzed with students engaged in lively chatter. A lengthy queue snaked towards the canteen booth, each student clutching a plate as the line slowly progressed.
However, Megara and Jane stood outside, engrossed in a cheerful discussion about Roman history and its Caesars, a topic recently covered by Mr. Grayson. As they approached the entrance, Megara found it peculiar that everyone was inside, with no one venturing out as they usually did. She nudged Jane, quickly pointing out an almost invisible thin fishing line stretched across their path – a clear trap for unsuspecting students like them.
Jane's eyes widened, and a gasp escaped her lips, but Megara swiftly covered her mouth. "Shhh, or you'll get us into trouble," she whispered, removing her hand and revealing a smudge of lipstick on her finger. "This is a trap. I've seen it before; my dad uses it for mice that disturb our sleep."
Jane snickered, and Megara turned to her as they both stealthily retreated to a hidden corner. "So, you have mice at home, and that thing was a trap?" Jane questioned breathlessly, nearly hyperventilating. "What are we going to do, Meg? I'm starving!"
Megara paused, mentally mapping out an escape. "Jane, calm down and breathe. I'll get us out of here, but first, we need to figure out how to bypass it, or you won't eat anything." She pointed out, retrieving a cake she had baked for Hugo and carefully handing it to Jane, who immediately began to devour it. "Here. Now, we just need to provoke someone into stepping outside, and once they do, the trap will be deactivated. Whatever they've rigged to fall from the ceiling will go boom, and we can sneak inside."
Jane munched on the cake, savoring its deliciousness. "Wow, this cake is amazing, but how will we get someone to do that? No one is coming in or going out," she replied, but Megara shushed her, pointing towards the arrival of the Z3. "Oohhh, I know what you're thinking, but that won't work. Plus, we'll both be signing our death warrants."
"Do you know who they are? They're the school's kingpins. No one crosses them and survives. I was mortified just confessing my feelings to Uriel, who happens to be their leader," Jane confessed, her voice low and her shoulders slumped, but Megara paid her no attention. "We're both going to regret this!"
Megara laughed, tightly retying her hair. "I'm going to get back at Uriel for ruining my day, and he's a complete idiot for dumping a cute girl like you. That's even more reason for revenge," she declared vehemently, confidently stepping out of their hiding place and approaching Uriel, whose signature smug smile adorned his face. "Wipe that arrogant grin off your face, you ass hat, or I'll gladly do it for you."
Uriel's expression darkened, clearly showing his displeasure at her confrontational manner. Deep down, Megara felt a flicker of satisfaction at his reaction. "Are you simple-minded, or did you enjoy my little 'welcoming party' so much that you've forgotten your manners? If you're not here to apologize, I suggest you get the hell out of my sight and don't try to spoil my appetite," he mocked, his voice dripping with contempt. "Boys, let's go."
Megara grinned wickedly, wrinkling her nose. "It's hilarious that a weakling like you would even call that pathetic excuse earlier a welcoming party. Honestly, you're the most ridiculously insane person I've ever encountered," she retorted, and Uriel's fists clenched at his sides. "Getting worked up, little boy? I haven't even begun. Now, what were you saying?"
Zack, easily discerning her plan, leaned closer to Uriel's ear and whispered, "She's trying to provoke you, Uri. Just ignore her and let's leave. If she's out here, it means the trap hasn't been triggered." He informed him, and Uriel's eyes narrowed towards the almost invisible fishing line.
Uriel let out a booming laugh, confusing Megara, who wondered if he had seen through her scheme. "I see you, Megara. You're not here to apologize, but to provoke me. However, I have nothing to say to you except to get out of my sight, or you'll have only yourself to blame," he threatened, his warning hanging in the air, casting a frightened spell on Jane, who emerged from their hiding spot, oblivious to the crumbs scattered across her face.
She pleaded, clutching Megara's arm. "I'm sorry, please don't hurt my friend. She's new and doesn't know the rules. Let's go, Megara. I'll order takeout for us," she urged, pulling Megara, who was reluctant to leave.
Hugo turned to face Uriel, who looked increasingly angry at the sight of Jane. "Man, we should end this game. I'm not enjoying it either. They're both starving, and ordinary students can't order takeout – only we can."
Uriel's gaze narrowed as he faced Hugo, towering over him. "Whose side are you on? Theirs or mine?" he demanded angrily.
"I'm on your side, but let's do the right thing for once. We don't want anyone ending up in the sickbay," Hugo pointed out, but this only fueled Uriel's anger.
"Get yourself together! This isn't the Hugo I know," Uriel snapped, poking Hugo's chest. "The Hugo I know is mean, sarcastic, and supports everything I do. This Hugo is nothing but a wimp."
Hugo balled his fist but refrained from striking Uriel in public. "Times have changed, man. This bullying is just becoming boring," he said, walking away to join Megara and Jane, who weren't far off. "Guys, wait up! I'll have lunch with you."
Uriel raked his hair furiously, frustrated. He had completely forgotten about the trap, and before Zack could stop him, he stepped directly onto it. Instantly, the ceiling panels swung open, and a deluge of rotten spaghetti, dung, and refuse rained down on him, ruining his hair and clothes. Zack rushed to his side to help, but Uriel angrily shoved him away, covering his nose from the pungent stench.
The students stared, their mouths agape at their king's humiliating predicament. Megara and Jane, witnessing the commotion from afar, burst into stifled laughter, clutching their hands as they headed straight for the cafeteria entrance, only to find Uriel standing there.
Megara snickered, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. "Now that's the smell of defeat," she laughed, turning to leave the scene, only to trip on a puddle of spilled water. She stumbled backward, falling directly onto Uriel. Zack couldn't contain his laughter as Jane rushed to help her up. "Why must I attend school with such terrible luck and a pervert like you?"
Jane offered a hand, which Megara gratefully accepted, pulling herself up and brushing off her soiled uniform. A grimace crossed her face as she caught a whiff of the unpleasantness. "Megara, are you alright? You look like you could really use a shower," Jane suggested, and Megara nodded emphatically.
Uriel pushed himself up, a wave of nausea washing over him. The entire student body stared, yet no one dared to meet his gaze. "Dude, you should probably go change. You don't look so hot," Hugo offered, earning him a venomous glare from Uriel, while Zack's laughter only intensified the awkwardness. "The flies will be here any minute, and we all know how you feel about them," Zack added.
Uriel's fists clenched at his sides as he glared from Hugo to Megara and back again. "Don't worry about me. Looks like it's 'hoes before bros' now," he spat, turning and stomping towards the exit.
Chris emerged from the crowd, concern etched on his face. "What the hell happened to him?" he demanded. "Did he get hurt?"
Zack clicked his tongue. "He's seeing red right now, Chris. I'd suggest bringing him a new set of clothes, or maybe just steer clear before he uses you as a punching bag," he advised, causing Megara's eyebrow to arch.
Chris's anger flared. "That's rich coming from you, Zack, and you too, Hugo! You're supposed to be his best friends, not conspiring with his enemy to make him back down!" he yelled, his voice cracking. Hugo shoved Chris against the wall, grabbing his shirt. "What are you going to do, huh? Beat me up like you always do to everyone else? Get off me!"
Megara gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "Hugo, what's he talking about? Let him go! Let's just forget this whole thing!" she pleaded, but Hugo's grip remained firm, and the murmuring of the students grew louder. "Hugo, I said let him go, or I won't be friends with a bully like you!"
Instantly, Hugo released Chris, who straightened his collar. "Get the fuck out of my sight before I gouge your eyes out," Hugo threatened, and Chris quietly walked away. Hugo turned to Megara, reaching for her hand, but she recoiled. "Are you okay, Megara?" he asked.
Megara looked at him, an unreadable worry clouding her features. "Let's go, Jane. I need to get this stench off me," she said, turning and walking away, Jane following close behind.
Zack watched Hugo's deepening frown, then glanced at Jane's retreating figure. "Hey Jane, wipe the crumbs off your face! Disgusting!" he yelled before turning to the gawking students. "What the fuck are you all looking at?! Get back to what you were doing, or I swear none of you will enjoy a peaceful lunch! And someone get this damn floor cleaned up!"
The students scattered fearfully back to their tables as Megara and Jane headed towards the gym bathroom.
INSIDE THE GYM BATHROOM.
Megara scrubbed relentlessly at the dirt on her purple uniform, but the stubborn stain refused to budge, making her wish for a black one instead. Jane, meanwhile, frantically washed her face in the mirror, a wave of humiliation washing over her. The whole school had seen her with crumbs smeared across her face, as if she'd been caught stealing a snack.
She groaned in frustration, pulling her stinging hand away from her reddened skin. "Oh my gosh, I'm so ruined! This will be all over tomorrow's blog," she whined, turning towards the closed stall door where Megara had disappeared. "Girl, when are you coming out already?! Don't tell me you're in there sulking about what happened earlier."
Megara emerged from the stall, letting her shoulders slump. "I'm not sulking, or whatever it's called. I just feel sorry for Uriel, that's all. But he did something wrong to me and shouldn't expect to go scot-free," she justified. "Was Hugo a bully, as Chris had said earlier?"
Jane applied lipstick to her dry lips before turning to face a curious Megara. "Well, we have to be quick before another classmate hears about this, or we'll both be in trouble," she whispered, looking around cautiously. "He was, and he was the cruelest. His buddy Uriel is by far the most ruthless."
Megara nodded as if she'd struck gold. "That's icky, like he was the executioner, wasn't he?"
"He was, and everyone was terrified of them. He'd ordered Ryan Callister, the former head of the nerds club, to have his 'first time' with another nerd on stage," Jane whispered. Megara gasped, and Jane quickly shushed her, urging her to lower her voice. "That's not all. He had personally instructed the school boys to rape the female students of Shinhwa High, the sibling college to ours, right after they had dethroned the ruling gang here."
"That's sick!" Megara declared, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "I used to think it was just arrogance, but I didn't know he had gone to this extreme."
Jane scanned the bathroom like a thief. "Yeah, it wasn't. It was all about power, and it's kinda their nature," she admitted sadly. "I'm not stopping you from being friends, but I'm warning you that he is more dangerous than Uriel, and you better be alert."