Oakridge Academy felt unusually restless that morning. Whispers ran through the halls, groups huddled together, and everyone seemed to be talking about the same thing—
The new transfer student.
His name was John Mercer—tall, sharp features, cold eyes, and a calmness that made people instantly curious. He walked through the hallway with a quiet confidence, not arrogant… just unbothered.
Aarvin noticed him briefly, nothing more.
Until things escalated.
The Confrontation
During the break, Aarvin was heading toward the courtyard when he heard loud voices—the kind that usually meant trouble.
A group of boys had cornered someone near the lockers.
John.
They shoved his bag, blocked his path, taunted him like some kind of initiation ritual for newcomers.
Aarvin paused.
He didn't know this John guy.
He had no reason to get involved.
But watching someone surrounded like that… something inside him stirred.
Before he realized it, his steps changed direction.
"Hey," Aarvin said, voice steady. "Back off. He just got here."
The group turned.
One laughed. "And who the hell are you?"
Aarvin didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
He just stepped forward—between them and John.
John raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
"Appreciate it," he said quietly, "but I can handle this."
Aarvin didn't move.
"That's not the point."
The boys didn't listen. The pushing turned into shoving, and within seconds, a full fight broke out—Aarvin blocking hits, grabbing wrists, dodging, protecting a guy he didn't even know.
John joined in too—and that's when everyone realized:
He wasn't just strong.
He was dangerously skilled.
The Moment Everything Stopped
Just when the fight was about to get out of hand—
A voice cut through the noise.
"Enough."
Riyan.
The entire hallway froze.
Even the troublemakers stepped back instantly. Everyone in Oakridge knew: when Riyan showed up, things ended fast.
But John didn't know that.
He was still ready to swing.
Riyan grabbed his wrist mid-motion—firm, unshakable.
Their eyes met.
For a second, something like mutual recognition flashed between them.
Aarvin quickly moved between them before things escalated again.
"It's fine. It's done."
After a long moment, Riyan let go.
The crowd slipped away like nothing happened.
Later… Nairi
When everything finally settled, Aarvin was heading out of class when Nairi approached him.
She looked… conflicted.
"I heard about the fight," she said.
Her eyes scanned his face, checking for bruises.
"Why did you jump in like that? You didn't even know him."
Aarvin hesitated.
He didn't know how to explain it—how something inside him refused to stay silent, how he just acted without thinking.
"I just… couldn't watch it happen," he said.
Nairi sighed softly.
"Just be careful, okay? Yesterday your mood was off, today you're fighting strangers… you can't keep doing this to yourself."
Her voice wasn't scolding.
It was worried.
And that made it hit deeper.
Aarvin looked away, unsure how to answer.
She stepped closer.
"Aarvin… just don't put yourself in danger for people you don't know. Promise me that?"
He swallowed.
"I'll try."
Nairi nodded, though she still didn't look convinced.
As she walked away, something in Aarvin's chest twisted—
a mix of confusion, stubbornness, and something else he couldn't name yet.
But he knew one thing:
This wasn't the end.
Not of the changes inside him.
Not of what happened with John.
Not of what Nairi was beginning to feel—but not ready to say.