The moment Wendy heard that, her face flushed all the way to her neck.
She had only said it because she was forced into a corner. She had never even had a boyfriend. She was not the kind of girl who treated herself casually.
For a long moment, she could not answer directly.
Then she stood abruptly, face red.
"I... I'm going to pay."
After saying that, she fled to the roadside stall owner like someone escaping a fire.
Wayne happened to come back from the public restroom, full and happy. He patted his round belly.
"I'm stuffed. Let's go, big brother."
In truth, Wayne was a year older than Evan.
But by now he had been fully convinced. Every "big brother" came out of his mouth naturally and respectfully. Especially after watching Evan break Tank's wrist with a single punch, Wayne admired him almost to the point of worship.
After lunch, there was not much time before afternoon class.
There was only one class in the afternoon. Once it ended, they could go home.
Evan and Wayne walked ahead, swaggering and bragging.
"Damn, big brother, how was my performance just now?"
"That idiot had barely raised his hand before I smacked him with the baton."
Evan copied the tone of a gangster boss from old movies and nodded lightly.
"Not bad, Wayne. Well done."
Wayne rubbed his hands together with delight.
"Thanks for the praise, boss."
Then he leaned closer. "Free this weekend? Let's play basketball."
"You can teach me a few useful moves too."
"Fine. Call me this weekend."
When they returned to the classroom, the way everyone looked at Evan had changed.
Their eyes were much clearer now.
The moment Evan sat down, Wendy sat beside him too.
Then more than a dozen boys crowded around them at once.
"Brother Evan, here, have a cigarette."
Another boy slapped the cigarette away.
"Smoke your mother. This is a classroom."
After saying that, he pulled a thin plastic tube from a transparent bag and offered it with both hands.
"Here, big brother. Candy."
It was a tube of powdered candy, the kind many kids had eaten growing up. Different colors meant different flavors.
Evan took one and held it in his mouth like a cigarette, then tilted his head back and inhaled a mouthful of sugar powder with great style.
"Big brother, you were too damn fierce just now."
"Exactly. From now on, we're following you at school."
These boys had come to pay respects.
Evan's noon fight had spread completely through the freshmen. With combat power like that, following him meant fewer beatings in the future.
While everyone was flattering him wildly, Mason entered the classroom with Fiona.
Fiona's cheeks were swollen on both sides. She deliberately let her hair fall forward to cover them. Mason's mouth was bruised, and the few followers behind him looked just as miserable.
The moment they entered, they saw Evan surrounded in the center like a newly crowned king.
Everyone was calling him Brother Evan.
Mason's chest nearly burst from humiliation.
As for Tank, whose wrist had been broken, he had already taken a cab to the hospital. Tough kids from those years really did have strange pride. Even at the hospital, Tank refused to admit he had been fighting and insisted he had broken it playing basketball.
Mason and his boys sat down in silence, each staring darkly at Evan's back.
One follower leaned in and whispered, "Mason, what now? We can't just swallow this."
Mason clenched his teeth.
"I already called my cousin."
"When he's free the day after tomorrow, he'll bring some real street guys."
"We'll bury this bastard."
"My cousin runs with an actual crew. I don't believe this idiot can overturn the sky."
Under the crowd's flattery, the bell finally rang.
The teacher entered. Evan immediately lowered his head onto the desk and closed his eyes to rest.
Wendy struggled beside him for a long time before quietly pushing over another note.
Evan opened it casually.
Her handwriting was much neater this time:
Can you give me some time? I need to prepare myself.
Evan nearly laughed aloud.
What he had said at the roadside stall was mostly a dirty joke.
After all, Wendy had kissed him in front of the class. Even if she backed out of the promise, he had already collected a little interest. No loss.
Who could have guessed this mountain girl would be so straightforward that she was seriously considering it?
Meat delivered to the mouth. If he refused too hard, was he still a man?
Evan picked up his pen and wrote one smooth line.
Fine. I'll wait.
Don't worry. I'll pay for the room.
When Wendy saw the returned note, her face burned even hotter.
After that class ended, school was over for the day.
Students returned to their dorms in groups.
Wendy pushed open the girls' dorm door and walked in.
The room fell silent.
Although sixteen girls were squeezed into that cramped dorm, nobody dared provoke her now.
The local girls who had acted arrogant the night before now avoided touching her things entirely.
Wendy climbed onto her bed, pulled the curtain closed, and lay down with a satisfied little sneer.
"Let's see who still has bad eyes after this."
On the other side of school, Evan got into Hannah's Honda.
On the way home, Hannah held the steering wheel and asked casually, "Evan, I heard there was another fight behind the school this afternoon."
"Did you go watch?"
Evan shook his head without any change in expression.
"No. I left school right after class."
Hannah warned him seriously, "Don't get involved in those things. Trade schools are strict about fighting. If you're caught, you'll lose credits and get a record."
"I know, Hannah."
"Good."
They returned to the apartment complex, and Hannah picked up some takeout downstairs.
After dinner, both felt tired. The sky outside had not fully darkened, but each went back to their room early.
Evan lay down and fell asleep almost the moment his head touched the pillow.
He had woken early, fought in the afternoon, and used too much energy.
While he was half asleep, a strange sound suddenly came from the master bedroom next door.
Evan woke at once and rubbed his eyes.
Then he slipped into his slippers and quietly left his room.
Like a thief, he went to Hannah's door and pressed his ear against it.
From inside came Hannah's breathing.
Quick.
Uneven.
One wave after another.
Less than a minute later, the sound suddenly stopped.
Evan still had his ear pressed tightly to the door.
Click.
The door opened without warning from inside.
Evan lost his balance and stumbled forward, nearly falling straight into Hannah's arms.
He looked up.
Hannah had changed into a thin silk nightgown. Fine sweat dotted her pale forehead, and her chest still rose and fell as if she had just run too far or woken from something too intense to name.
Seeing Evan outside the door, Hannah's face turned red at once.
"E-Evan? What are you doing?"
Evan's brain spun wildly.
He lied immediately.
"Nothing, Hannah. I just woke up and heard you talking in your sleep."
"It sounded loud, so I came to check."
Hannah accepted the excuse because she needed one too.
"Yes... I had a nightmare."
"Look, it scared me into sweating."
"I... I'm going to shower."
After saying that, Hannah hurried toward the bathroom in slippers, guilty and flustered.
Evan stood in place and watched her retreating figure, which was still too graceful for his peace of mind.
He muttered quietly, "What kind of nightmare makes someone breathe like that?"
Author's Note:
This story will continue updating here.
If you want to read more, you can unlock it here:
/c/TYMercer
Thank you for reading.