Next day.
Same class.
But today, the tension felt… heavier.
At the center sat a group of six boys —
the strongest of Oakridge High.
The Iron Wolves.
And at the front of them, their leader:
Zane Lockhart.
Aarvin tried to stay invisible.
But fate wasn't in the mood.
When he reached for his book, he accidentally knocked a bottle off the desk —
Liam's bottle.
It rolled…
spilled…
and stopped at Zane's shoe.
The whole room froze.
Liam stood up slowly.
"You blind or what?"
Aarvin's heartbeat spiked.
"S-sorry…"
"Pick it up and clean the mess," Liam ordered.
Aarvin bent down instantly, hands shaking.
But Liam kicked the bottle away.
"Aise nahi. Proper. Face up."
Aarvin froze.
Fear.
Shame.
Eyes watching him like he was prey.
Something inside him cracked.
He whispered, barely audible,
"Bas… bohot ho gaya."
Liam leaned down.
"Kya bola?"
Aarvin suddenly shoved him back —
not courage, just panic.
Gasps filled the class.
Liam swung.
Aarvin dodged — pure instinct.
No thought.
Only survival.
Liam grabbed his collar—
Aarvin punched.
Once.
Twice.
The second blow hit Liam's jaw.
He fell.
Silence.
Then chaos.
Even Zane stood up, eyebrows raised.
Aarvin stumbled back, breathing fast and uneven.
He didn't win because he was strong.
He won because fear had taken control.
And the worst part?
Riyan didn't know.
Nobody dared tell him.
Because if Riyan Hale found out someone laid a hand on his brother…
Oakridge High would burn.
Aarvin returned to his seat, hands trembling again.
Not from fear.
From the realization—
that he could fight.
Even if he didn't want to.
This moment…
was the first crack in the wall that would one day break him completely.