Firm

No response.

Elizabeth didn't even turn her head.

D-Did she not hear me? Carlos' eyes shook. T-That should be the case… right?

"Elizabeth, are you alright?!" He whisper-shouted.

Still no response…

I-I- Is my voice too soft?! She still can't hear me?

Just as Carlos was ready to speak again, he was hit by a sudden realization.

Maybe… Elizabeth is really mad, and doesn't want to speak to me?

Ah… I really messed up this time, huh?

He couldn't even pretend to be oblivious and continue to nag her anymore. It was my fault; Carlos bit his lip. What can he do now?

Can he make new friends?

But Cassian and his gang were such bad people, yet he didn't even notice!

When Carlos and the gang were together, they always had a lot of fun, and Cassian would teach the boy a lot of tricks and give him a lot of life advice. The other boys would be very nice and give him little presents. One person gave him a cat figurine, and to this day, that figurine still sat on Carlos' table back in his room.

Who knew they actually thought so little of him?

And the way they treated Elizabeth and Fei too. So vulgar!

Is this how most people in this world are? Wearing a thick mask above an ugly face.

If so, Carlos didn't want to make friends anymore. Even though he hated being alone, it was better to be a loner than mingle with those people.

He had Fei by his side anyway. He didn't need anyone else.

Thinking it through, Carlos reluctantly put down his acts of trying to soothe Elizabeth. Although he felt very guilty, he didn't know what to do about it. He did have one thought, though.

Would Elizabeth forgive me if I gave her some presents? But… what gifts would she like?

I'll ask Fei after school ends!

Just like that, the boy swung his legs beneath his desk and tried to focus on Mr. Burton's lesson in earnest.

But, in life, we don't always get what we want.

"Hey, Carlos." It was Cassian's low and confident voice. He came to Carlos' desk after class ended and apologized.

Carlos was very surprised. D-Did he come here to mock me? His lower lip trembled.

But what came next was out of his expectations.

"Look, I'm very sorry for what my gang did. It wasn't cool at all. I criticized those that displeased you, so forgive them, okay?"

Cassian mentioned with his fingers for a group of people to come forward. They bowed to Carlos and said in unison, "We are sorry!"

"So how about it? Let bygones be bygones?" The boy grinned with his perfect rows of white teeth showing.

It never even occurred to him that the naïve Rochester would NOT forgive him.

What? They… They are saying 'sorry'?! Looking at Cassian's deep caramel eyes, Carlos was a little swayed.

Elizabeth is mad at me, so I can't hang out with her anymore. If I don't agree to Cassian's suggestion, I'll truly be a loner—and being a loner isn't fun at all! I'm sure of it! While I said I didn't want to be friends with bad people, maybe Cassian isn't so bad after all? Besides, he apologized already, didn't he? It would be mean if I don't forgive them.

He couldn't find the heart to keep being mad.

But before the boy could reply, another voice sounded with his tone full of indignation. "Carlos! Cassian and his gang were such d**ks, and just because of a measly apology, you're gonna forgive them? You're way too naive if you think they aren't taking advantage of you!"

N-Naïve? Why would I be naïve?

Carlos widened his eyes and looked around, trying to find the source, but he couldn't see who had spoken.

At this time, Cassian's face was livid. He had similarly heard the oratory but could not find the perpetrator. "WHO SAID THAT?! SHOW YOURSELF!"

He had never been looked down upon, scorned at, in his entire middle school life. He was always on the top, the leader of the grade.

His family was a bunch of top dog politicians that had a lot of power in the government. With a wave of his hand, he could do anything he wanted! Anything!

He could probably even buy that Elizabeth wench's body if he wanted! Except he hadn't wanted to do that because it was fun to have a bit of a challenge.

And right now, he wanted to kill, no, torture the basta*d that cussed at him and his gang that he made with his blood, sweat, and tears.

But unfortunately for him, after the voice spoke, not even a peep came out from any of the students in the room.

But the silence only lasted for a second.

It seemed like the mysterious voice had stirred something in the class, and everyone began talking at once, advising Carlos to not listen to Cassian's bullsh*t—and since everyone is talking, Cassian couldn't single out anyone!

Suddenly, their voices drowned out the first son of the Hall family (Cassian's last name is Hall), and the boy could no longer retain his dominance.

After some hesitation, Carlos finally looked up at Cassian, who was still shouting at no one in particular in a fury.

If so many people were going against Cassian, then there's probably wrong with the guy, isn't there? Is what the boy thought to himself as he made up his mind.

"Yeah… C-Cassian, let's not be friends anymore?"

Despite the noise, the boy with jet black hair heard it well.

Holding back his anger, he tried one last time. "Please! Please, Carlos! I've taught you so much this week! I also showed you around school! Am I not good enough to be your friend?!" He hollered over the loud noise.

"… No. Let's officially break this off." This time, Carlos sounded firm. He would be stubborn in his decision now.

The boy was a person that always kept his words, always remained firm in his will no matter what, so even when he was uncertain in his decision, he was going to follow it to the end.

Cassian widened his eyes. "Ha." There was disbelief in his voice.

After a moment of speechlessness, the boy finally said something. "You fu*cking piece of trash. You actually dared talk to me like that! If it weren't for General Rochester, do you think I would show respect to a piece of trash like you?!" He seethed, but there was already a sense of helplessness in his tone.

Throwing up his arms, he turned around and walked back to his seat with his gang. Kicking away a desk that he passed by, the Cassian's cold umber eyes were piercing.