Chapter 7 - I have a girlfriend

After standing up, I glanced at Diether, who returned my look with a genuine smile. We exchanged nods of acknowledgment.

I then shifted my gaze to Diether's back, where three different faces were watching us with equally cheerful expressions. Diether noticed my attention, and he, too, turned to look at them. The onlookers continued to wear their smiles.

The three of us slowly closed the distance, and when we were face to face, we extended our arms and shared a group hug.

"Hey, you guys...how was your vacation?" Alfred inquired, his eyes glistening. His physique was neither exceptional nor poor—no excess fat nor bulging muscles. He had short red hair, much like the rest of our circle of friends.

In fact, all five of us sported short hair and had faces that could be described as slightly above average or just below average. We weren't particularly famous, and our friendship was similar to that of others in the school.

In this school, student hierarchy wasn't anything special. There were positions for talented students, but respect was earned based on worthiness rather than talent. Peace reigned in this school, and bullying was rare.

If any disputes did arise, it was typically the bullies who suffered. Why? Because the school had its fair share of untalented students who wanted at least to be treated as equals. They'd band together to put bullies in their place. Teachers only intervened when matters escalated significantly.

That was how things worked here, with a few exceptions, like the most talented students. They were not allowed to be harmed too much, given the powerful connections that backed them.

Kyle, Daniella, and their friends, as beautiful and untouchable as they were, stood at the pinnacle among the most talented students.

As the five of us continued to embrace, it seemed that our friendly reunion hugs were turning less friendly.

I felt their hands on my back, seemingly ready to tear me apart.

"Let me ask you, my friend, can I take his arms?" Alfred inquired of the others.

"Yeah, that should work for you. Let me take one of his feet," Jan Mark replied.

"Then I'll make a sacrifice and take his other foot," Josh chimed in.

"Hmm...as the most handsome in the group, I'll take the other arm. That's reserved for me," Diether asserted.

Amidst our friendly threats of dismemberment, we couldn't help but laugh. It was good to be reunited with my friends, even if our humor was a tad dark.

"I see you guys haven't lost your twisted sense of humor," I quipped, still caught in the middle of their faux aggressive embraces.

Alfred grinned, his red hair glinting in the school's fluorescent lights. "Nope, not a bit. You know we missed you, man."

Our group had always been a collection of diverse personalities. Jan Mark, despite his tough exterior, was the sentimental one. Josh, with his sharp wit, always found a way to diffuse tension with humor. Diether, with his knack for leadership, kept us organized even in the most chaotic situations. And then there was me, the voice of reason when they went too far with their schemes.

As our laughter subsided, Diether glanced around and asked, "So, where are the others?"

I glanced toward the classroom doors. "I saw them running off when you guys started pummeling me. Probably watching from a safe distance."

Jan Mark chuckled, "Smart move on their part."

We soon broke our huddle, our camaraderie stronger than ever. Our seemingly mismatched group of friends was bound not by talent or looks, but by the unique blend of personalities that somehow worked together seamlessly.

As we headed off together to catch up on everything that had happened during the break, we knew that, in this school, our friendships were the most valuable treasures we could possess.