the truth(35)

Michael and his friends barely stepped into the school before the chaos began.

Challenges. Bets. Tests of strength, intelligence, and skill.

It was almost amusing how predictable it was.

Their reputation had been set in stone back in middle school. Now that they were in their final year of high school, every student in the school wanted a shot at proving themselves against them.

They all wanted a chance to take down the kings and queens of the school.

But there was just one problem.

They weren't ready.

And they never would be.

Michael sighed, walking through the halls with his hands in his pockets, the usual bored look on his face. Beside him, Alex spun a basketball on his finger, Ethan stretched like he had just woken up, and the girls walked with the same quiet confidence that made people either admire them or resent them.

Lisa glanced around, smirking.

Lisa:

"How long you think it takes before the first idiot shows up?"

Marie chuckled.

Marie:

"First period. Someone's gonna start something."

Alex snorted, spinning the ball once more before tossing it into his locker.

Alex:

"Yeah. You can just feel the desperation."

Michael sighed again.

Michael:

"I really hope they don't waste my time too much today."

And just like clockwork—

The first challenge came.

It started in the first period.

A cocky student from the advanced class stood up, slamming his hands on the desk. His name was Aaron—one of the top students in the school, a boy who had spent the last few years believing he was the smartest in the room.

Aaron smirked, pushing his glasses up.

Aaron:

"Michael, I've heard a lot about you. 'The undefeated genius,' huh? Let's put that to the test. You up for a little academic showdown?"

The classroom went dead silent.

Michael, who had been lazily leaning back in his chair, barely glanced at Aaron.

Michael:

"Sure."

The teacher, clearly amused, decided to allow it. A spontaneous quiz-off. Whoever answered the most questions correctly, the fastest, would win.

The first question was read aloud.

Aaron slammed his hand on his desk, answering with confidence.

Correct.

The second question came.

Aaron answered again.

Another correct answer.

People in the room started murmuring. Maybe, just maybe, Michael wasn't as untouchable as they thought.

But then—

The third question.

Michael's voice cut through the classroom, calm, collected. He answered instantly.

Correct.

Fourth question.

Michael again.

Correct.

Fifth.

Sixth.

Seventh.

Each time, he responded before Aaron even had the chance to open his mouth.

By the tenth question, Aaron's confidence had crumbled.

By the fifteenth, he had gone completely silent.

By the twentieth, he had given up.

The class erupted into cheers, but Michael simply yawned.

Michael:

"Too easy."

Aaron slumped into his chair, utterly humiliated.

And that was just the beginning.

The next challenge came from the sports teams.

The basketball team. The soccer team. The track stars.

They all wanted a piece of Michael's group.

Alex was the first to step forward, smirking as he spun a basketball on his finger.

Alex:

"Alright. Who's getting embarrassed first?"

The school's best basketball player challenged him to a one-on-one match.

It lasted two minutes.

Alex scored every single shot with ease, dodging past his opponent like he was standing still.

Next, Ethan took on the soccer team's star striker.

It wasn't even close.

Ethan's footwork was flawless, his speed unmatched. He outmaneuvered his opponent with casual ease, scoring goal after goal.

Marie, watching from the sidelines, just shook her head.

Marie:

"They never learn."

Then came the track challenge.

Lisa was up.

The fastest girl in school against the captain of the track team.

It was supposed to be close.

It wasn't.

Lisa finished her lap before the other girl had even reached the halfway point.

One by one, Michael and his friends crushed every challenge thrown at them.

No one stood a chance.

And by the time the day was over, the entire school had been reminded of one simple fact.

Michael and his friends were untouchable.

After a day filled with victories, the group sat in their usual hangout spot on the rooftop, enjoying the sunset.

Then, suddenly—

Emily, Marie, and Lisa stepped forward, looking unusually nervous.

The boys blinked, confused.

Michael:

"What's up?"

The girls exchanged glances. Then—

Marie:

"Alex, let's go on a date this weekend."

Emily:

"Michael, same for us."

Lisa:

"Ethan, you too."

Silence.

Not because the boys were shocked.

But because…

They had been dating for months already.

Alex:

"Uh… sure?"

Ethan:

"Why do you sound nervous? We've been on dates before."

Emily, Marie, and Lisa suddenly turned red.

Then, without another word—

They bolted.

Michael, Alex, and Ethan stared after them, baffled.

Michael:

"Okay. What the hell was that?"

The others burst into laughter.

Random student:

"Why were they blushing like that? You guys have been dating for a while, right?"

Random student:

"Yeah, what's with the sudden first-date energy?"

Michael rubbed his temple, still confused.

Then, from the shadows, Dakota chuckled.

Dakota:

"Well… those dates weren't just normal dates."

The group turned to him.

Mia:

"Special dates? What does that mean?"

Dakota smirked, staring into the sunset.

Dakota:

"You'll see."

A chill ran through the air.

Henry:

"Wait… see what?"

Dakota's eyes gleamed.

Dakota:

"I'll show you."

A slow grin spread across his face.

Dakota:

"Each and every one of them."

And with that, the past began to unfold once again.

Dakota thinking: well these dates should be fun to watch, because these dates like I said are special, it will be fun to watch. And I want to see my Friends reactions, I wonder how will they react. I know they're memories aren't fully back but they will feel something at least, and I wonder what that will be... Well i guess I will soon find out. And their reactions will be amusing to watch, and so will the dates we are about to watch.

Dakota then chuckle and smirked, remembering his date with Emily.