Gregory

In the dimly lit room, the air was thick with smoke, curling lazily from the cigarettes clenched between the fingers of the group of boys lounging on worn-out couches. The room had an unkempt feel to it, with scattered bottles and wrappers on the floor. Among the group was Charles, Grace's boyfriend, who sat quietly, staring off into the distance, clearly agitated. Normally the center of attention, tonight he was subdued, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.

"What's up with the mood, man? You're unusually quiet today," one of the boys finally asked, taking a puff and exhaling a cloud of smoke, his voice cutting through the murmur of conversation.

Charles sighed, taking a long drag from his cigarette before exhaling slowly. "It was this evening, when I went out with Grace to MegaChop Diner," he began, his eyes narrowing slightly as he relived the moment. "She ran into some old classmate of hers. I just can't stop thinking about it."

"Bro, is that what's got you worked up?" another boy chimed in, shaking his head incredulously. "Grace ain't even your main chick. What's the big deal?"

Charles inhaled sharply, the frustration evident in the way he clenched the cigarette between his fingers. "I know, but it wasn't just that. I joked about him shooting his shot at her, and she didn't even flinch. The bitch actually agreed with it. I just smiled at her, but all I wanted to do was strangle her right there. How dare she flirt with another guy in front of me?" His voice was low and seething, barely masking his anger.

The second boy, who had been leaning against the wall, shook his head and stood up, walking over to the old speaker in the corner. He scrolled through his phone and started playing Roddy Ricch's "War Baby," the heavy beat filling the room, setting a darker, brooding mood. "Man, you sound like you're catching feelings for this girl. You sure you're not falling for her?" he teased, but there was a hint of seriousness behind his words. "Because honestly, I don't see why else you'd be so worked up over nothing."

Charles leaned back, staring at the smoke swirling above his head. "Nah, it's not that. It's just… I can't stand the thought of her looking at someone else like that, especially someone like that guy. I even said something about it, but he didn't do shit. Didn't flirt back, didn't make a move." He clenched his fists, his voice hardening. "And that's what pisses me off. He didn't even try, and she's still got an eye for him. That hit my pride, man. Made me feel small."

The group exchanged glances, and then, as if on cue, most of them burst into laughter, their voices echoing through the room. The sound was harsh, but not malicious, more like they found the whole situation absurd.

"You're mad 'cause the dude didn't give a damn?" one of the boys choked out between laughs. "Man, you're wild. That's on you for even letting it get to you."

Charles didn't join in the laughter. He just stared at the ceiling, the cigarette burning low between his fingers, frustration simmering beneath the surface.

As the laughter slowly died down, a figure sitting in the corner, almost shrouded in shadow, leaned forward. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint, and a slow, sinister grin spread across his face. Gregory. The moment he spoke, the room seemed to drop in temperature.

"What if," Gregory drawled, his voice low and filled with malice, "you teach him a lesson? You know, rough him up a little. Knock out a few teeth, leave a mark on that pretty face of his. Might be why Grace is into him, after all." He chuckled, the sound dark and unnerving.

The entire room went still. Every pair of eyes turned towards Gregory, their expressions shifting from amusement to outright terror. It wasn't just the words he said—it was the way he said them, like he had already visualized it a hundred times over, enjoying every detail of the pain he wanted to inflict.

Charles tensed, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the cigarette. He tried to hide the flicker of fear that crept into his eyes but couldn't quite manage. Gregory wasn't like the rest of them. He wasn't just some street punk blowing off steam. Gregory was a different breed, the kind of guy who thrived on chaos and violence, the one you didn't provoke unless you had a death wish.

Gregory leaned back, still grinning, his eyes gleaming with wicked intent. "Just a little friendly reminder, you know? So he knows not to mess around. I'm sure Grace would love to see him with a busted lip, maybe a broken nose." His fingers twitched as if he was itching to get his hands dirty.

Charles swallowed hard, trying to play it cool. "I don't know, man... I mean, it's not that deep." He chuckled nervously, but his laughter rang hollow. The others exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden turn of the conversation.

Gregory's grin didn't falter. If anything, it widened. His sadistic nature was on full display now, his gaze never leaving Charles. "It's your call, man," he said, voice smooth as silk but dripping with menace. "But if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."

The other boys in the room couldn't mask their fear. They shifted awkwardly in their seats, some looking away, others fidgeting with their phones or cigarettes. No one dared to challenge Gregory. His reputation preceded him. Gregory didn't just fight—he annihilated. And everyone knew it.

Charles, feeling the weight of Gregory's words, flicked his cigarette into the ashtray and stood up. "Yeah, I'll think about it," he muttered, but the lie was evident in his voice. He didn't want any part of whatever Gregory was planning, but he also knew he couldn't openly refuse. Not to Gregory.

As Charles turned to leave, Gregory's voice followed him, soft but unmistakably threatening. "Don't take too long to decide, Charles. Some things need handling before they get out of hand."

Charles felt a chill run down his spine but didn't stop walking. He just kept moving, pretending he hadn't heard, as the laughter from earlier faded into an uncomfortable silence. The air was thick with tension, and Gregory's shadow loomed large over all of them, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the room.