Nayeli’s Brother

The next day, news about me being in my underwear spreads throughout the school. Every student at All Star Academy knows about it. It was not my intention to become this popular. Before going to school, I took a quick visit to the hospital where Nayeli's brother and his friend was staying. After handling my business there I headed straight to school. Ignoring the students laughs, whispers and stares were surprisingly easy. By putting on earphones, no one bothered to talk to me about yesterday's matter. It is also a way of saying "Do not speak to me. I am listening to something". Alice did as promised and punished Fugo for what he did. He received three days worth of detention on his second week of school. Sadly, that barely helped the situation. Fugo's three friends who I just learned the names of, confronted me during lunch. The bald guy on the right is called Tetsu, the blondy in the middle is Bruno and the one on the left is Darwin I think.

Tetsu slammed his hands on my desks in an attempt to frighten me. When he noticed it didn't work he tried pulling my collar. They thought I would be shivering in fear right now. "What?" I asked while gazing out the window. "Bastard! You made Fugo get detention. You're gonna pay for that".

With one push, I sent Tetsu to the floor. Yesterday when I arrived home, I thought of countless ways to get back at Fugo and his friends. Some even involves murder, in the end I arrived at a decision. I had initially planned on doing this but now I have more reasons to do it. Investigate what really happened with Aphrodi. He did not deny the claims the students have, probably because he gave up on everyone. Who could blame him? Without a second thought, they all rushed on Nayeli's side. Is there a way to use Nayeli for Aphrodi and my sake? Nayeli Horohoro is very popular in our class, one of the biggest influences thanks to her cute face. I have a hunch that Fugo likes her, if I can use Nayeli properly, maybe my school life can get back on track.

So deep in thought, I forgot about the three in front of me. "Excuse Me" I said as I left the classroom. School was over early today because of a staff meeting. It was little passed mid-day. Before I left the school grounds, Stephano Souken, the Students Council President wanted to have a word with me. He heard what happened to me yesterday and asked if he could help in anyway. "No worries, Alice already gave me comfort"

"I-I see. Let me know when you're in trouble. It is my duty to help"

"Ah! There is one thing if you don't mind". I told Stephano a secret of mine. He will be the only one who knows it. Now he has to help me out.

....

"I have set my plan in motion. I will be liked by my classmates and Aphrodi will get off easy" I thought proudly to myself.

This is the best student council I have ever seen. I am starting to wonder if they are actual human beings. At my last school, the president would never offer help to those who aren't his friends. Stephano is a mass improvement. I left the school grounds and went the opposite direction of my home. The president was kind enough to give me a list of my classmates' addresses. With this sheet of paper, I can navigate Aphrodi's residence easily.

"Aphrodi lives in a hotel nearby. Hotel Concordia, I hear it's popular around these parts. Come to think of it, Aphrodi is definitely not Italian, neither am I or some of the other students. All Star Academy has students of every race" I said impressed.

After a half-hour ride in a cab. I arrived at the hotel where Aphrodi is staying at. I stopped at the reception area and asks for Aphrodi's room. I asked the receptionist various questions as well. Some weren't even related to Aphrodi's room. Does Aphrodi live with anyone and if he does who is he or she. Once I knew the question to that I asked for that person's number. The receptionist was hesitant at first but I told her my secret. The same thing I told Stephano earlier today. The receptionist asks for visual proof and I gave it to her easily. Didn't take her to give me what I want, the person's phone number.

"Fifth Floor, far back"

After finish sending a text message I sighed in relief. With help from the elevator, I arrived at Aphrodi's door in no time. There was buzzer beside his door so I pushed it.

Ring! Ring!

The door opened surprisingly fast. Almost as if, someone was already going to open the door before I pushed the buzzer. A girl around my age with long brown hair, wearing reading glasses. She had on a middle school uniform, this is most likely her last year. "Excuse me" she says in hurry.

"There she goes"

Aphrodi and I made eye contact after the girl left. He nodded at me then turned around. I could only assume that he is inviting me inside his room so I followed. We went in the kitchen where Aphrodi asks "What are your preferences?". He opened a fridge filled with many kinds of beverages. Sodas, fruit punches, water, alcohol and milk.

"Water sounds nice"

After throwing me a water bottle, we sat on the couch in the living room. His place is very spacious compared to mines. I may have to consider changing hotels. We both had a game controller in hand so we started playing video games. First race car games, the sports and now fighting games. Out of the dozen matches we played, we developed a serious synergy between us. Aphrodi's realized that I'm the type of player who performs best mid to late game. I realize that Xavier is a very consistent player. Starting off strong and ending just as strong. He won most of the games but at least I had fun.

"I forgot your name. What was it again" Xavier asks while putting down the controller.

"Victor Cruz. You're Aphrodite Giovanni".

"Why did you come here?" he asked me in a serious tone. We were just playing games a minute ago, having the time of our lives. To think he would just change the atmosphere like this was unexpected. I gave him the notebooks in my bags and told him "Your suspension will make you lag behind in studies. Study my notes, they're what we're focusing on this week". He politely thanked me for the books then asked "Is that all?"

...

I would be lying if I said yes. "I was hoping you could talk about the incident last week. I want to know the story from your perspective".

...

"You're the first person to ask me my side of the story. Sad to say, it's not different from Nayeli's. I picked a fight with two senior students and utterly destroyed them" Aphrodi proceeded to show me a picture on his phone. Two impaled bodies on the ground in a dark alley. Screaming in pain. That photo was enough to convince me. I thought he was framed but I was wrong. He really did hurt Nayeli's brother along with his friend. "Why did you do it?"

"What will you do it I told you?" Xavier replied with a question.

"I would cl-"

"I know! Last week you didn't agree with the others. I bet you were isolated because of that one moment. You're trying to help your situation by hoping I didn't hurt the seniors. So that you could be seen as misunderstood". Xavier hits the nail on the head. It was shocking how right he was. "You are right. You missed a part though. I want to help you. You're most likely going to be treated the same as me when you resume school next week".

Xavier pointed at the door telling me to get out. I did as told without hesitating one bit. As soon as I left his hotel room, I began analysing his behaviour. Aphrodi comes off as a cold person. When Nayeli yelled at him in class, he didn't spare her a look. To be completely calm and not care about people's opinions when he's being accused. I could never do that. He invited me in his room with a nod. He didn't bother to say anything to me, same thing with Nayeli. That tells me he doesn't like talking unnecessarily. While we were playing video games, it took him until our last game for him to utter a word to me. When he speaks, he prefers to get to the point and end debates quickly. Like how he showed me concrete evidence that he injured the seniors. After spouting my true intentions, he escorted me out the room.

To summarize, he's hard to be around. He is not hesitant to tell you what he thinks and does not tolerate unreasonable or unnecessary conversations. With this in mind, I can do the rest myself. I know where the incident took place thanks to Aphrodi's photo. Bet he thinks I wouldn't have known but I do. Only a few alley ways are that narrow and so clean. The walls did not look dirty in the slightest in Aphrodi's photo. I'll go to where the incident took place and ask around until I learn the true story. There has to have been an audience when Aphrodi's injured the seniors.

At the end of the day, this is a puppet show and I am also one of the puppets in it.

A narrow alley way with clean walls. It also has to be somewhere Aphrodi and Nayeli's brother can encounter each other. I went to the first place in mine. That alley way was desserted and the only path where Aphrodi and Nayeli's brother would interact. When I arrived there, the walls were sparkly clean just like in the photo, same colours well. Any doubt I had withered away.

"What are you doing here?" a voice said from behind. I turned around pretending to be surprised by Nayeli and the girl who recently left Aphrodi's room. It did not appear that they were hanging out. Nayeli was dragging the girl by her long hair. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me

"You! Move loser!"

I politely moved out her way, giving her space to walk. Although, that didn't mean I was going to leave them alone. I followed them to where they were going. Nayeli looked back pissed at me. "Quit following us!"

The girl who was being dragged yelled "Please help me! She's going to hurt me!"

Those words were what I was waiting for. There's no way I would ignore a cry for help after what happened yesterday. Alice went out of her way to comfort a nobody like me, I want to follow her example. Help everyone around me who deserves it. With little effort, I pulled the middle school girl in my arms and asked for her name.

"Bambi Bambistine"

"Weird name but I have heard of Bambistine before. You're from a family of priests. Am I right?"

The girl nodded yes in reply. She looked genuinely worried, I could feel her body shaking uncontrollably. "Nayeli, explain yourself"

"My brother is dead!"