Lucian approached Lucas and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jack's just worried. He… saw Max go through something really bad in the past. He doesn't want history to repeat."
Lucas nodded slowly. His eyes flicked toward the balcony, where Jack stood with his back facing them. There was a heaviness in the air that Lucas couldn't ignore.
"It's my first time seeing them argue like that," Tik muttered and sat back.
"Me too," Sol added, his voice low.
"Forget it. It's already happened," Lucian said, shaking his head. "Right now, we need to focus on Max. Jack will come around eventually, but Max needs us more."
Lucas stayed quiet, still watching Jack's silhouette against the darkening sky. Something about his posture—the way his shoulders slumped—made Lucas uneasy.
Outside, Jack leaned against the balcony railing, eyes fixed on the empty street. His breath was steady, but his mind wasn't.
"I'm just worried for you, Max. I don't want that thing to happen again."
He let out a soft sigh as the memory returned—one that had never left his heart.
---
Flashback – Reformatory Days
The air was warm under the wide tree where Jack and Max sat. Jack was reading a book, absorbed in the pages, while Max was lazily counting leaves above her head.
But suddenly, a voice broke the calm.
"Leave me," someone cried—a pleading voice soaked in fear.
Max sat up instantly. A few meters away, a group of boys had cornered another student. One of them held a blade, flashing it under the sunlight.
"Let me just write something on your skin," the boy sneered.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Max shouted.
One of the bullies turned and snarled, "None of your business, bitch!"
Max's expression changed instantly. Her eyes darkened. "What did you just say?"
She rolled up her sleeves, but Jack grabbed her wrist. "Max. Don't. It's none of our concern."
Max turned to him sharply. "It is my concern. He called me a bitch. I won't let that slide."
Before Jack could stop her, Max was already walking toward the group.
Then—bam!—she landed a punch on the boy who insulted her. The hit was sharp and clean, making his head snap back.
The fight exploded from there. It was Max against six boys. They circled her like vultures, throwing punches and insults.
Max dodged the first hit, elbowed one boy in the stomach, kicked another in the shin. But it wasn't easy. One grabbed her from behind while another scratched her arm with the blade, drawing blood.
Jack tried to jump in, but two boys grabbed him from both sides, pinning him down.
"Let me go, you jerks!" he shouted, but they only laughed.
Max kept fighting. A knee to the stomach, a punch to the jaw—she didn't stop, even when she started bleeding from a wound on her forehead.
One of the boys struck her hard across the face. She stumbled back, blood dripping into her eyes. Jack's heart dropped.
"MAX!!" he screamed.
The boys realized it had gone too far and rushed to stop their own friend from continuing. Jack broke free and ran straight to Max, catching her before she fell.
"I'm fine," Max said weakly, swaying but still standing.
Jack looked at her—blood on her forehead, hand, and shirt—and his chest tightened. His breathing got faster. His hands shook.
"Max…"
And then—darkness. Jack collapsed to the ground.
---
When Jack opened his eyes, the hospital ceiling greeted him. To his left, Max sat beside his bed, sleeping with her head resting on the mattress. Her hair was messy, bandages on her head and hand. But she was safe.
Jack sighed in relief and guilt.
He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"Mmm…" Max woke up, rubbing her eyes. "Oh! You're awake."
She held his hand warmly. "How are you feeling now?"
Jack didn't answer immediately.
"Don't worry," Max smiled. "It's nothing serious. You fainted because of your blood phobia. That's all."
"I'm sorry," Jack whispered.
Max tilted her head. "For what?"
"For not being able to protect you."
"Don't ever say that," Max said, her voice firm but soft. "You always protect me. But maybe next time… I'll be the one protecting you."
Jack's lips twitched into a faint smile. "That's not going to happen."
Max chuckled. "Okay, tough guy."
---
Back in the present, Jack sighed deeply, still staring into the night.
That day had changed something in him. From that day forward, he had vowed—never again. He wouldn't let Max get hurt like that. Not under his watch.
"Mind if I join you?" a voice broke his thoughts.
Jack turned to find Lucas standing there, holding two cups of chocolate shake.
Jack blinked, surprised. "You… brought one for me?"
Lucas shrugged, offering a small smile. "Figured you'd need it more than I do."
Jack looked at the cup, then at Lucas. For the first time, he saw no arrogance in the boy's eyes—only understanding.
"Thanks," Jack murmured, accepting the shake.
They stood there quietly, two very different boys united by one shared concern: Max.
To be continued…