The next few weeks blurred together in a haze of textbooks, late-night study sessions, and relentless exams. Troy kept his head down, focusing on passing his tests while avoiding unnecessary confrontations. Miguel kept his distance, though his glares across the school halls made it clear their earlier clash wasn’t forgotten.
When the final bell of the semester rang, a wave of relief washed over the students. The stress of exams lifted, replaced by the excitement of summer break. But while others planned beach trips and parties, Troy had a different agenda, getting stronger.
Troy sat at the kitchen table, arms crossed as he faced his mother. She sipped her tea, her expression unreadable.
“You want to spend the whole summer training?” she asked, setting down her cup.
Troy nodded. “Yeah. Jace offered to help me, and I can’t pass that up.”