The New Bad Boy

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### Chapter 4

Adam was ready for his transformation and decided to start with the basics.

"I need to build up my confidence first. From now on, I will sit at the back with the 'bad boys' to build up my confidence. Yeah," Adam told himself.

He reconsidered his statement. "But if I change all of a sudden, people will suspect something is wrong. I'll change bit by bit every day. Yes, that's what I'll do."

The next day, Adam entered the school bus, gave Rose a quick glance, and proceeded to sit with the backbenchers.

"Hey guys! What's up?" Adam greeted.

"Adam, come have a seat with us," Albert responded.

"Thanks, Albert. So, how are you doing?" Adam asked.

"Everything is fine. What about you? It's the first time you're sitting at the back," Albert noted.

"Yeah...I am just trying to experience the lifestyle of backbenchers before ending my high school life," Adam explained.

"Wow...what should I say? Ah, welcome," Albert laughed.

Adam smiled, "Hmm."

"I need to look dashing...ah...what should I do?" Adam mused aloud.

"You should comb your hair in the vertical direction. You will look cool," Albert suggested.

"Really?" Adam asked.

Albert nodded.

The next day, Adam's hair stood high with utmost attitude as he headed for the last seat of the school bus.

"How do I look?" Adam asked Albert.

"Cool, man!" Albert affirmed.

"Thanks, man!" Adam continued to keep up the same style and attitude but failed to get Rose's attention. After a few days, Albert questioned him one morning.

"Do you see that girl?" Albert pointed toward Rose.

"Well, yes," Adam replied.

"Do you know her?" Albert asked.

"Nope," Adam said, hiding his serious reaction.

"What do you think...if I propose to her, how will she react?" Albert asked eagerly.

"Well, are you serious?" Adam asked.

"At my level best!" Albert declared.

"Ah, um, well, just a minute," Adam said, thinking.

"If I let him start a friendship with Rose, then I too can talk to her...yeah...and I don't think she will like Albert...so let me be her friend through Albert, and then if she rejects him..." Adam smiled to himself.

"Don't propose to her directly. First, become friends. Then slowly and steadily, keep going," Adam advised.

"Thanks. I will talk today itself," Albert said.

"You are most welcome," Adam replied.

During the return journey from school, Albert sat on the back seat near Rose and asked Adam to join him. Adam agreed.

Albert initiated a conversation with Rose, "It seems you are new here."

"Actually, I am older than you, brother," Rose replied sweetly.

Adam thought, "Aw...her sweet voice."

Albert was baffled at being called 'brother.' "What? Look at my face, am I a brother material?"

"Honestly...umm...yeah...you are a brother material," Rose said with utmost calmness.

"Going right, Rose...don't make him your boyfriend. I am here," Adam thought.

"Let's be friends first, then you will understand what material I am," Albert said, trying to sound confident.

"You boys will never progress," Rose retorted.

Adam remained silent, listening intently to every word.

"Then be my friend and make me progress," Albert giggled.

"You are like a hyena...yeah, a hyena...no shame, nothing," Rose said.

"What? Then you are sick!" Albert snapped, getting angry.

Rose started talking to her friend.

"She has too much attitude. Aw...my good mood is no more," Albert complained to Adam.

"Don't worry, you will get someone else! Someone better than her!" Adam consoled him.

"As for me, she is the best," Adam thought to himself.

"Yeah, you are right!" Albert agreed.

Adam reached home and later at night thought about what he should do next.

"Maybe I should keep up a stylish attitude, and maybe in some time she will notice me and then we will be friends..." Adam giggled.

He decided to change his hairstyle regularly, start sitting at the back seat of the school bus, and dress in an attractive manner. Every boy in the bus wished Rose, but Adam decided not to, thinking this way he could attract her attention.

This continued for a few weeks until Adam got frustrated at not getting her attention. He got so busy thinking about Rose that he neglected his studies and scored poorly in his exams.

Although his primary goal was to get Rose's attention through his changeover, it brought him no benefit. He began losing himself and his good friends, starting friendships with boys who had no promising futures. Their goal was to get as many girlfriends as possible and enjoy life.

With this, Adam started falling into the deepest ocean of wrongs, from where a comeback was almost impossible.

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