Ethan awoke at the crack of dawn, greeted by Luna's comforting presence by his side, ready to dive into his customary regimen of running and refining his abilities. As he progressed through his exercises, he stumbled upon Sister Yuki in her serene garden, deeply immersed in her yoga routine once again. Intrigued by her absence the previous day, Ethan inquired, prompting Sister Yuki to admit that she had overslept, causing a disruption in her usual daily routine.
After completing his daily routine, Ethan indulged in a refreshing shower. As the water cascaded over him, his mind wandered back to the vivid dream he had experienced the night before. Suddenly, a realization struck him – their family album! Determined to locate it, he hastily dressed for class, noticing he had a bit of spare time before breakfast.
Despite his best efforts, the album remained elusive as he scoured the house. Just as he was about to expand his search, Isabell summoned him to the dining table to join the family for breakfast.
With a resigned sigh, Ethan decided to postpone his quest until later, resolving to resume the search upon his return. Rising from his seat, he joined everyone at the breakfast table, ready to start the day.
........
After entering the hall, leading to the classroom, the first thing that caught my attention was Christian attempting to grab Joe's hand in the hallway. However, for reasons unknown, Joe instinctively withdrew her hand before Christian could grasp it.
In response, Christian's frustration escalated into anger, and he raised his hand threateningly, poised to slap her. Joe, anticipating the impending blow, closed her eyes, bracing for impact.
Witnessing this altercation unfold, I hurriedly intervened, intercepting Christian's hand mid-air as I approached them.
Christian turned his head abruptly, his eyes widening in alarm as he caught sight of me reaching out to grasp his hand. In that fleeting moment, a flicker of fear danced across his features before he averted his gaze, refusing to meet my eyes.
With a decisive tug, he withdrew his hand from my grasp and uttered, "This matter does not concern you, Ethan. I implore you to respect our privacy and leave us be."
"Well, it's my business now," Ethan asserted firmly, his tone carrying a grave warning. "You're free to do as you please, but be mindful of the consequences." Ethan's words were laden with a sense of authority, implying a seriousness that couldn't be ignored.
"Y-You..." Christian turned towards him with a flash of anger evident in his eyes, his voice beginning to rise before faltering into meekness the instant his gaze met Ethan's.
With a warning glance directed at Joe, indicating that this matter was far from settled, Christian swiftly departed from there, accompanied by his small circle of friends who had remained on the sidelines, displaying no inclination to intervene.
Joe graciously thanked Ethan for his assistance, acknowledging the kindness he had shown. She also made it clear that there was no expectation of receiving any recognition or reward for his little help.
Ethan responded by raising both hands in a gesture of surrender, a smile playing on his lips. It was evident to him that Joe was grateful for his intervention earlier, preventing Christian from striking her.
"Have you made up your mind yet?" Ethan asked playfully, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"About what?" Joe replied with feigned innocence, pretending she hadn't a clue. She began to stroll towards the classroom, a casual tune escaping her lips as she hummed, seemingly lost in thought.
"You already know what I'm referring to," Ethan stated firmly as he gently grasped her hand, guiding her towards the wall where he positioned himself with his hand resting near his head. Locking eyes with her, he continued, his voice carrying a mix of intensity and assurance.
"Y-You.. W-What are y-you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling with a stutter as she struggled to articulate her words amidst her growing unease.
"I am not going to allow you to-"
"Cough"
Ethan was about to continue speaking when a sudden cough interrupted him mid-sentence. The unexpected interruption caused him to pause momentarily, shifting his attention towards the source of the sound.
As he turned around, he caught sight of Miss Valencia, the stern gym class instructor, glaring at them with her piercing gaze.
After I distanced myself from Joe, she proceeded to walk away. Before leaving, she issued a stern warning to Ethan, emphasizing that this wasn't merely a park for casual interactions but rather a school ground where such behavior was entirely inappropriate and unacceptable.
"YES, MA'AM," we both exclaimed simultaneously while bowing our heads, upon hearing her stern warning. Our voices echoed in unison, reflecting our acknowledgment.
Only after she left did we lift our heads and turn to look at each other, exchanging a chuckle before entering the class. The topic I intended to ask her about, I let it linger behind, but not before reminding her that I awaited her response. In response, she merely shot me a sidelong glance.
Unbeknownst to them, their actions and laughter had not escaped the notice of someone lurking behind the wall, whose clenched fist trembled with simmering rage.
...........
When recess started, I noticed Christian storming out of the classroom in a fit of anger, forcefully slamming the door behind him as he exited the room. His clenched fists and furrowed brow indicated his intense frustration about something.
Upon witnessing his antics, the class representative, Suzain, promptly rose from her seat to pursue him, but shortly thereafter returned, shaking her head in apparent frustration and settled back into her seat.
Observing this, I couldn't resist inquiring about the incident, especially since her seat was conveniently positioned in front of mine.
She informed me that she couldn't locate him, mentioning that he appeared to have gone somewhere. She couldn't discern the direction he went as she didn't witness his departure.
She resorted to gnawing on the top of her pen, expressing her frustration.
Seeing her upset like that, I rose from my seat and comforted her, saying, "Let it go, Pres. It's recess now, and you know how he behaves all the time. Don't worry; he'll definitely get his punishment someday. Hahaha. Come on, let's go grab our meal together."
Upon hearing me, she nodded in understanding and made the conscious decision to put aside the recent misfit of Christian. She rose from her seat, clutching her lunch in hand.
"Hey, don't forget about me!" Mark exclaimed as he playfully jumped onto my back from behind, joining in the conversation. With a mischievous grin, he chimed in with his thoughts.
"We are coming too, brother," Sarah exclaimed cheerfully as she and Tyna approached me. Both of them were wearing bright smiles, their lunches held firmly in their hands.
Then all five of us went to the small park so we could share our meals among us while enjoying the comany of each other.
..
.
To Be Continued.....