Punches For Each of Them
Chapter 35: Punches For Each of Them
The next day, Wednesday, Lucas packed his things and took a ride to the school to study. He was still bothered about the Fifth Gen that Coach Clive had told them. He haven't seen the rest of the Selected Participants for a week already, and he had no clue who those unnamed two were.
He just neglected his thoughts as he walked to the hallway, as he evaded the rails on the 32nd floor. Just as he thought about it, this floor was the area where he had fought Winter, beside the Fire Class Room that he first entered. This floor gave him uncomfortableness.
As he continued advancing with caution, he saw the strange stares of the people again that was now bothering him. Is something bad will happen again?
Was the news of Doll's abduction had reached the students? Or the parents? This will be a pain in the neck, but he was certain that Principal Lyns will keep that abduction a secret. Surely those that he had seen at the Infirmary Room were informed about this, so there's no need to worry about that.
As he continued walking, the murmurings of the people became louder…
What was the real matter?
"Look, the sabotage that happened last seven years will surely happen again…"
"Right! With that double-agent Lucas present, he would brainwash the Principal and the Coach!"
"Was he not ashamed of himself?"
He cannot help himself but heave a sigh. Those people… They have nothing to do but gossip about everything.
He took a leisurely stroll.
This was a normal scenery he had mastered neglecting, so what's there to worry about? In fact, he had more important things to do. He did not meet anyone significant this day, but as he continued walking, he heard people talking when he took a turn to a more desolated chamber on the 32nd floor.
"Zeke, I beg you to let me off. I know my mistake for not checking if the hallway was deserted. I won't bother any of you anymore… just let me go…"
It was a boy's voice that rang out, lined with soft sounds of sobbing. The voice was young and innocent, but he stopped his way through the chamber to overhear the conversation without stopping him.
The sobs were followed by a familiar and cold snuggle. "Hmph."
The boy whose voice was lined with sobs spoke again. "Zeke, Mar… what I've said is all true. I beg you, please…"
Lucas tried his best guessing vaguely what had transpired, and could not help but stop in his tracks thoroughly. If he continued, he might disturb the scene.
As expected, it was the Two Bastions who the boy addressed as Zeke and Mar.
"Boy, why are you begging me? I brought you into the Null Room out of goodwill, and allowed you to train in the Classroom to allow you to be selected."
It was notably Zanc. Maru's voice followed it with a soft tone but seemed to be like a cold, sharp dagger.
"There are so many people around the school, how long will you last depending on your weakness? When you become older and lose your power, and still do not have the skill to fight, how will you survive then? We're helping you right now, thinking about all of this on your behalf, and you think we're out to harm you, begging me to let you go?"
"You're not captive. Suck that!"
With every line that they spoke, that boy gave a soft sob. Eventually, he was overwhelmed with tears, as he had heard from afar.
Lucas clenched his fist, the sharp tips of his fingernails poking into his palm and the pain slowly spreading.
He had heard that after the Null Room incident, the Two Bastions had been going through anywhere without feeling ashamed. What's more, they have appeared alive and kicking right before him now, thus he could not pretend that he did not care.
He didn't know why, but anything about them could still easily affect his mood. He thought that case was neglected… but he was wrong.
The boy was still crying. "I… I know you are doing this for my good." he said through his sobs, "But, I simply can't accompany you to leave this school. My parents were just too vicious, I…"
"You should go look for other schools, we're not the ones doing things for you." Maru's voice was gentle but was laced with pity and arrogance.
What a bunch of liars! Lucas didn't want to listen anymore and made his leave. However, his phone rang at this moment. He jumped, and the people speaking in the corner jumped as well. He heard Zanc warily ask, "Who's there?"
Lucas couldn't hide, so he chose to show himself. It was only now that he was able to see the entire scene. Under the familiar hallway, there was a long metal bench at the sides. The Two Bastions were sitting on the bench confidently, wearing both exquisite new uniforms. In front of them, a young man was standing with his head bowed.
He was the young boy that called him to the Null Room! He was preoccupied with looking at this young boy and was only brought back to his senses when Zanc spoke again.
"Lucas?" Zanc cocked his head slightly, giving him a once-over with an innocent expression. He started to speak with a gentler tone, having already hidden the caution and fury that had emerged earlier. A soft light reflected off his face.
Lucas' emotions were surprisingly calm.
Maru continued to stare at him. "Lucas, we're asking you a question."
He said, "I'm just passing by. I'm busy right now, so I'll leave."
"Wait a moment." Zanc didn't want to let him go. "You knew we will be expelled, right?"
"Looks like it's true." Maru's voice lowered. After a while, he said again, "See, we've told you." He turned to the young boy and surprisingly smiled. "White Day High doesn't want us anymore. They liked all dumbasses!"
Coldness entered Lucas' body. "I have no interest in your matters, don't tryna pull me into that!"
Zanc looked up at him, the hatred that had flashed through his eyes disappearing in an instant. "Lucas, how can you be considered an outsider? Oh, you're an Aspho! Looks like I had forgotten that." he laughed.
"Don't pretend to be all high and mighty here. For a student like you with no family or anyone, how can you pose a threat?" Maru added.
It looked like they were well-informed in many aspects. Still, they have the nerve to mock him straight to his face. So be it! Let's see what will be going to happen!
His phone started to ring again.
Lucas picked his pocket and looked down at the phone screen. It was Principal Lyns, and the call that he missed because of this was also from her. Lucas hushed his curse, the Principal was a horrible person to meet.
He hung the call-up and said to the people in front of him coldly, "I'm busy. I need to leave."
"Stop right there." Zanc blocked his path persistently.
He started to get annoyed. "Do you think that everyone is like you? Let me break it down for you— it is you who were outsiders right now, not the other way around! Instead of spending so much time setting up your grand schemes, why don't you just admit to yourself that you have failed to win against me?"
Zanc's face turned pale as Lucas' words hit right where it hurt his ego.
Lucas side-stepped to go around Zanc but saw his pale face appear in front of him yet again.
"You're not being too much," he said as he shook in anger. "Who is the one who wants to be selected? Look at you, you're not in the place to refute us, and you don't even know your place as a transferee. What in the world did Principal Lyns see in you? Could it be that you are so wild, so shameless, that she—"
Lucas couldn't help and gave Zanc a tight punch across his face; a punch that was burning!
Zanc fell to the floor from the impact, holding his face in his hands. His eyes filled with accusation and disbelief, looking forlorn and innocent.
Maru appeared, his expressions darkened. "You dare hit him?" He stood in front of him.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Lucas lifted his head high and said with an arrogant and cold tone.
The students in the area were gossiping them again, as they stared at them with animosity in their eyes. Yet, he seemed to not see them at all and had the arrogance to be standing still.
He walked right in front of Maru and said, "Can you bring it up?"
Maru just walked back and carefully helped and half-carried Zanc into a standing position as he faced—
Ugh!
Everyone stared in shock as Maru whined. Lucas' movement was so quick and punched Maru with all of his might, such that Maru went to the ground, with Zanc falling again with him!
He was shocked by what he did, but as he was aware that the other students were staring at them, he had controlled his strength.
Both sides started to get more heated and aggressive. Zanc and Maru stared at Lucas while sitting on the floor.
Seeing that the conflict was getting out of hand, Lucas suddenly laughed his heart out. "Okay, okay. That's enough," he said.
He was happy that he managed to give the Two Bastions punches for each of them, and now that he had vented his anger, it was important to ensure what was the Principal was about to tell him with her calls.
Zanc wanted to stop him, but Lucas quoted what he had said earlier, "It is you who were outsiders right now, not the other way around!"
Giving Zanc the ultimatum.
With that, he turned first and ran through the hallway, escaping his way. His phone rang for the third time and he was determined to talk to Principal Lyns. He tapped the answer button and put his phone next to his right ear as he continued running.
"Why—"
"LUCAS MARTIN, COME HERE TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE! I WAS CALLING YOU FOR MANY TIMES ALREADY! WHY ARE YOU NOT ANSWERING?"
As he strolled to the stairs to go down, he heard the murmurings of the people around him become even louder. They have watched how he punched the Two Bastions out of his way, and they witnessed all that had happened.
"TALK TO ME, LUCAS! IT WAS IMPORTANT! ANSWER ME!"
He neglected the phone call, as well as the people as he was previously doing, and headed down to the Principal Office. He hung the phone call, as he escaped from the crowd. Now, he started to walk at a slower pace. He glanced at the nearby Bulletin Board and saw that newspapers were now published for the month.
He had vaguely read the statements published for the news as he continued walking through the Office. After a minute of strolling, he stopped when he got near the Principal's Office. Opening the door, he saw that there was none other than the Principal Lyns herself, not shocking him a bit.
Principal Lyns was in her usual get-up —a formal uniform donned by most Principals— as she invaded him hurriedly, handing a stack of newspapers to him.
She spoke to him, "The news from Doll's abduction the last days was out. Take a look for yourself."
Lucas cannot do anything but to accept the stack of newspapers and saw that the School's News Section had an eye-grabbing headline—
Mister Vacio was visited by a White Day Student at the Southern Woods outside the town. The visitor was Lucas Martin?
What? This abduction news was out? How come? All of the content for the school's papers were edited and accepted by renowned publishers, yet they let this news be out? The school should just reject this and they won't have a problem!
He continued scanning the newspaper. Several photos accompanied the headline, all taken at the Southern Woods, depicting him talking to Mister Vacio in a man-to-man manner.
That paparazzo had good camera skills and chose great storytelling angles. His straight back —as he stood— towering over the strong-standing Mister Vacio. Also, the disbelief and contempt in Vacio's eyes were clearly shown. Just by looking at the pictures, even Lucas himself was almost deceived into believing that he had an under-the-table talk with Vacio.
As he held the papers, he stared at Principal Lyns. "Why did something like this come out?"
Principal Lyns gave him a shrug. "I don't know. It may be an independent newspaper coming out from our editors."
He read the news scoop in detail.
It was indeed depicting the story from the Southern Woods where he was left to battle Vacio. The report claimed that before the abduction, 'Lucas' had already been looking for Mister Vacio with regards to the transferring of him to White Day. Mister Vacio could only tolerate him. Yet, nobody could have known that after Doll was saved, 'Lucas' appeared again to talk with Mister Vacio and negotiated with him as to win the selection for the victory of Aspho High— the loss of White Day in proportion.
This time, Mister Vacio spoke that they have no connections and that Lucas was not studying at Aspho High anymore, but at White Day High now. Who knew that this would lead 'Lucas' so much that he insisted on sabotaging White Day and then stated that he still belonged to Aspho High.
The report also said that this angered 'Lucas' and battled Mister Vacio with his overwhelming fire starter skills. The spells he used were one of a kind, and it was super unnatural.
That left Mister Vacio with a second-degree burn and was hospitalized that night and needed emergency attention.
"What a wonderful scoop, Miss Lyns." Lucas slowly folded up the newspaper. No one was more aware of what happened other than him —the Lucas Martin that they accused. He hadn't been closely involved in all of the dirty plans and monitoring of Mister Vacio towards him. He was also positive that Vacio was completely fine, and didn't have any burn on his entire body.
He can heal himself as he had seen. It was him —the Lucas Martin that they accused— that almost went dead out of injuries.
And Mister Vacio was so good in this news? Second-degree burn and hospitalized? What a bunch of jokes!
Principal Lyns confirmed this fact. "I've got someone to investigate already. He did not have any burn whatsoever. But…" she stopped and stared at Lucas.
This time, she only had the opportunity to lecture Lucas. He was prepared with this, so let the rampage start!
"What was up with you this past few days? Why did you go mess with the people from Aspho High?" she shouted. "Aspho High's position and power were overshadowed by your current status, and they saw you as a pain in the eye. They were probably looking for an opportunity to get back at you. Why were you so stupid as to give them an opening?"
Lucas kept quiet as he felt that Principal Lyns was right. But, the news? Never mind!
In fact, yes. He was being dumb that day and battled Vacio despite having rescued Doll, thus allowing a paparazzo to take such pictures. But… he recalled how he felt from the attacks that he retorted to Mister Vacio, it made him feel much better.
It felt like he had seen Victor again and intensified his hope of finding his foster father for the second time after he had left them. The remnant power that was inside him reminded me of him every time. How he wish he didn't leave.
Hence, he promised Principal Lyns sincerely. "If I cross his ways again, I will make sure to find a time and place that I can punch and assault him. With that time, no one will take pictures of us."
Principal Lyns was speechless, and Lucas seemed to have the strength to talk with that Vacio again.
One thing, one question was in the Principal's mind right now. Was it because this man has stayed too long beside Vacio that he had been influenced by his grim comprehension?