Alex

As Zion and Audrey made their way toward the cafeteria, a student approached them with a slight smirk, blocking their path. "Zion, the teacher's calling for you," he said, his voice filled with false urgency. "They want you up on the rooftop—right now."

Zion narrowed his eyes, a knowing look flashing across his face. The setup was so transparent, so obviously a childish trick that he almost laughed. It was the oldest prank in the book, and the smug expression on the student's face only confirmed it.

Without missing a beat, Zion gave a casual shrug, his gaze steady and unimpressed. "Tell them I'll pass," he replied, brushing past the student as if he were nothing more than a passing shadow.

He turned to Audrey, who was watching the exchange with mild curiosity, and gave her hand a gentle tug. "Come on. Let's get something to eat," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Audrey let herself be pulled along, stifling a chuckle. Together, they continued on their way to the cafeteria, ignoring the frustrated glare of the would-be prankster. Zion's calm, unbothered reaction only deepened the curiosity and admiration around him. And as they walked, hand in hand, it was clear that Zion had far more important things on his mind than childish tricks—like sharing lunch with Audrey.

As they made their way to the cafeteria, Zion's mind was still on Alex. It wasn't unusual for him to pull a stunt like this—calling him out with a lie, only to set up something else entirely. In fact, Alex had a reputation for staging little traps that often turned into spectacles. Today, however, Zion could sense that this was different.

"Are you sure you want to skip?" Audrey asked, sensing his hesitation. "What if he's serious?"

Zion shook his head. "It's just a trick. He's probably waiting for me up on the roof, hoping I'll take the bait. I'm not falling for it."

Audrey raised an eyebrow, impressed by Zion's confidence. "You really think he's up there?"

"Absolutely. He loves putting on a show," Zion replied, a smirk creeping onto his face. "But I've got better things to do than entertain him."

With that, he pulled Audrey along, and they continued toward the cafeteria, where the warm scent of food and the laughter of their classmates enveloped them. As they entered the bustling room, the worries of Alex's childish game faded, replaced by the comforting familiarity of shared meals and friendly conversations.

Zion felt a sense of freedom wash over him. The rooftop trap didn't matter; what mattered was the time spent with Audrey—simple, genuine, and far more enjoyable than any petty drama that Alex could concoct. Together, they found a table and settled in, ready to enjoy their lunch and each other's company, leaving the rooftop and its foolishness far behind.

While Zion and Audrey sat together in the cafeteria, enjoying their lunch and the warmth of their conversation, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful on the rooftop above.

Alex stood there, fuming, his frustration palpable as he confronted the student who had tried to provoke Zion. "You're such an idiot!" he shouted, shoving the student back against the wall. "What kind of plan was that? You think calling him out would actually work?"

The provocateur, caught off guard, stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance, eyes wide with surprise. "I thought it would be funny! Everyone was talking about how they were holding hands and stuff. I just wanted to mess with him a bit!"

"Messing with him? You're lucky Zion didn't take you seriously! You know he's not the kind of guy to back down from a challenge, and now you've just made it worse!" Alex spat, his anger boiling over. "You're useless! If you can't even handle a simple setup, you don't belong in my crew!"

The student's face fell as Alex continued his tirade, punctuating his words with harsh gestures. Alex felt the weight of disappointment settle over him. This was supposed to be a clever scheme to humiliate Zion, but now it had turned into a chaotic embarrassment instead.

Alex was not just any student; he was the son of a wealthy entrepreneur, a young man accustomed to getting what he wanted. His family's fortune, worth millions, afforded him privileges that many could only dream of. With expensive clothes, the latest gadgets, and a reputation that preceded him, Alex navigated the halls of Zanica High with a confidence that often bordered on arrogance.

This wealth, however, came with its own set of expectations. His father had high hopes for him—to follow in his footsteps and one day take over the family business. But Alex had other ideas. He preferred the thrill of being in the spotlight, orchestrating elaborate schemes and enjoying the attention that came with them.

As he stood on the rooftop, still fuming after confronting the provocation, his thoughts drifted back to his father's constant reminders about maintaining a strong image. "You have to be decisive, Alex. People respect strength," his father would often say. And in his mind, failing to outsmart Zion, the quiet yet formidable student, felt like a betrayal of those lessons.

Back in the cafeteria, Zion continued to enjoy his lunch with Audrey, completely oblivious to Alex's mounting frustrations. The laughter and conversations swirled around him like a comforting embrace, a stark contrast to the tension brewing atop the school. The carefree moments shared with Audrey only reinforced Zion's resolve to focus on what truly mattered, while Alex's challenges felt increasingly distant—a reminder that wealth and status didn't always translate to respect or cleverness.

But Alex was not one to back down easily. Embittered by his earlier failure, he began to plot a new scheme—one that would restore his sense of control and satisfy his ego. The thought of exacting revenge on Zion, the boy who had brushed him off so easily, consumed his mind.

"I'll show him," Alex muttered under his breath, a determined glint in his eye as he paced back and forth on the rooftop. "If I can't embarrass him publicly, maybe I can scare him a little. I'll make sure he knows his place."

His plan formed rapidly: he would wait for Zion after school, corner him in a secluded area, and give him a taste of intimidation. After all, Alex had connections. He could easily gather a few friends to back him up, making the encounter more intimidating. In his mind, he justified the act as a harmless way to teach Zion a lesson about respect and boundaries.

Meanwhile, back in the cafeteria, Zion and Audrey finished their lunch, oblivious to the brewing storm. As they gathered their things and prepared to leave for their next class, Zion felt a sense of ease wash over him. With Audrey by his side, the world outside seemed manageable, even enjoyable.

Little did he know that Alex's frustration was about to take a dangerous turn, threatening the peace he had built around himself. As the school day progressed and the final bell approached, the stage was set for a confrontation that would test Zion's resolve in ways he had yet to anticipate.