Then suddenly the air shifted, the atmosphere froze.
Everyone turned their eyes to a particular direction.
Roman noticed the boys around him were suddenly hushed, some were giving him a pity look while others were giving him a warning signal.
One boy mouthed something that looked like: “Stand up.”
Others looked excited like they were waiting for entertainment to begin.
Roman could not comprehend why they were giving him these signs.
What was wrong with these people?
Then a cold ear broke out behind him and A voice, dripping with pure arrogance and low authority, reached his ears.
“what do you think you are doing here?”
The voice was smooth.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Roman turned around to see the most beautiful human he ever saw looking down on his shoulder.
Curly Blonde hair spilled out from his head touching his shoulders and catching the light of the chandelier.
Thick black eyebrows set in definite waves, pink cherry lips curled in a smirk.
Roman’s breath hitched sharply in his chest.
His heart did a strange, erratic flutter against his ribs.
He was so completely enamored by the boy’s flawless, striking face that, for a few seconds, his brain failed to register the thick hostility directed right at him.
“I said,” the blonde boy repeated sharply before slamming his palm against the table, making the plates shake slightly.
“What are you doing here?”
Roman snapped back to reality immediately.
Now he could notice the smouldering anger swirling in his deep green eyes threatening to burn him.
The hostility in them startled him.
How could such a pretty person be full of hate?
“I am here to eat of course.”
Several nearby students inhaled sharply.
Luciano gritted his teeth, his green eyes rolled backwards “I asked why are you sitting here?”
“Because no one is sitting here, there are no other empty seats available.” He answered honestly.
“And so? Do you think every empty chair is meant for you to sit?”
Roman shuddered, the intensity which he said that unsettled him, why making such a fuss over an empty chair?
He stood up on his feet, Roman is not the type to be bullied easily.
He turned around and faced Luciano directly.
Up close, the proximity was dizzying.
Roman could see the flawless texture of the boy’s skin, the expensive scent of vanilla and ice trailing off him, and—oh my god, he is so hot.
Behind him stood two other boys who were actiing as silent guards.
They were equally handsome in their own ways, dressed neatly in the academy uniform with confident expressions.
But compared to the blonde boy…They faded.
It honestly felt like comparing stars to the moon.
Roman forced himself to regain his composure immediately, he will not allow himself to be unnerved by a rude pretty boy.
“Who else is supposed to sit on an empty chair if not a person. ” Roman said calmly, he did not show any slightest show of anger at their provocation.
Luciano was taken aback, he was many things.
Popular.
Feared.
Respected.
Admired.
But one thing Luciano was definitely not used to…Was being challenged openly.
Especially not by some unknown new student.
Luciano took a slow deep breath.
“I am going to say this one last time. I want you to leave this table. Now.” He said firmly
Roman crossed his arms.
“Make me leave then.”
Whispers immediately exploded around the hall.
Roman still did not understand what the big deal was.
There were literally three other empty chairs at the table.
Why did they suddenly desperately want him gone?
Was this some rich kid nonsense?
A school gang?
A secret frat group?
“I don’t care who you are or who is backing you up but if you don’t leave this table now I will make sure you regret it.”
“Luciano he is the new….” One of the boys behind Luciano interrupted.
“I don’t care who he is.” He snapped.
Roman felt anger rise inside him instantly.
This is not how he anticipated his first day at Vesperridge Academy to go.
He doesn’t want to cause trouble or attract any attention to himself he just came here to finish his high school on scholarship, play hockey and probably got drafted into the big leagues.
He did not come here to fight anybody.
But Roman knows that if he doesn’t stand up for himself and defend himself on day one , they will see him as an easy prey in the future.
“Then go to hell.” Roman thundered.
Luciano’s face contorted in pure rage.
Without another word, he raised a tightly clenched, fisted hand, intending to strike.
But Roman reacted instantly.
Before his punch could land, Roman intercepted it midair.
His palm clamped tightly around Luciano’s clenched fist.
The impact stung slightly.
For a brief second, everything froze.
Eyes locked against eyes.
Fire and invisible sparks seemed to fly out between them
Roman could practically feel the heat radiating off Luciano’s body.
The whole Hall watches with bated breath as this strange historical event unfolds before them.
They can’t believe their eyes, an unknown student openly challenging Luciano Anderson.
“Roman!!” A voice rang out across the hall, Roman looked to see the owner of the voice and it was Ralph the porter that brought him to his dorm room.
The older man stood near the dining hall entrance looking nearly horrified.
He looked down, Luciano’s clenched fist was still in his grasp.
He looked up and he was still looking at him with murder in his expression.
He released his hands and began to walk towards porter Ralph.
Porter Ralph gave him a cautionary look.
“This is just your first day here, why are you picking up a fight.”
“I didn’t mean to quarrel with anyone, I just sat down to eat and a group of boys came to bully me.”
Ralph sighed tiredly.
“What did they say to you.”
“They said I should leave the table for them.”
Ralph looked at the table where Luciano and his friends were already settling down occupying the position previously occupied by Roman.
Luciano still looked furious, then he said to him.
“Go and look for another seat.”
Roman stared at him in disbelief.
“But why?” he protested quietly.
“I got there first. The chair was empty.”
“Roman—”
“If they wanted it so badly, they should’ve arrived earlier.”
Ralph sighed again before patting his shoulder.
“Just do what I tell you to do, after dinner come meet me at my office.”
Roman clenched his jaw tightly.
This whole thing felt unfair.
He walked back into the Hall with a sullen face still angry that his seat was wrongfully taken away from him.
As he was walking into the dining the other students were now looking at him like a ghost.Whispers followed him like shadows.
“That’s him…”
“He fought Luciano.”
“He is definitely dead.”
Roman ignored all of them and continued walking.
Unfortunately, almost every table was already full.
His frustration slowly increased.
Just as he was about to lose patience completely, a loud voice suddenly called out.
“heyyy!” Roman ignored it and kept walking
“Heyyy over here.” The voice was very persistent.
Roman turned to the direction of the voice, at the far corner of the hall with back to the wall and a stout looking boy with brunette hair was waving his hands frantically.
Roman wondered whether it was another bully or humiliation, Roman walked towards him regardless, amidst the burning stares and whispers.
When he got there the boy gestured him to a chair,
“You can sit here.” The Chair was a low three legged chair, it has no backrest like other chairs in the hall that is why Roman did not notice it in the first place.
When the boy saw the way Roman was staring at the chair, he offered,
“I can switch chairs if you don’t want it, I am shorter than you—you know”
“No it’s okay I am fine with it.” Roman settled down, he has eaten in worse chairs back in his hometown.
“I am Caleb.” The boy said, extending his hands.
“I am Roman.” Roman took his hands.
The rest of the dinner went by in a blur.
The dinner was rice with steaming beef stew and Roman ate everything with relish.
It tasted unbelievably good.
The beef was juicy and tender while the rice was well cooked without stone like the one in his hometown.
After the dinner Roman went out to look for the porter.
His office was not hard to find.
Porter Ralph was a bit popular and his name plaque was plastered boldly outside his voice.
Roman knocked twice before he heard him say “Enter!” in a clear voice as if he was already expecting him.