Miguel stood up and walked towards them. "Hey, bitch! Meet me after school at the usual spot," he told Kris.
The trio looked at Miguel, but it was as if they hadn't heard him; they continued their conversation as if nothing had happened.
Thursday turned to Kris. "What do you do now since you don't remember what you did before?"
"Oh, I like reading Data Beast informations. I enjoy reading those bo—" Before he could finish, someone kicked their desk, cutting them off.
"Who the fuck are you trying to ignore, Kris?!" Miguel shouted, causing the entire room to fall silent as everyone turned to stare at him.
Kris remained seemingly unbothered, his gaze fixed coldly on Miguel.
As Miguel met that icy stare, a shiver ran down his spine. That look was all too familiar—it reminded him of the way his father would look at him when he was angry. Miguel swallowed hard, anxiety creeping in as he opened his mouth to say something.
But before he could, a science book came flying across the room.
Bang!
Miguel found himself knocked to the floor, dazed, as he saw three images of Kris happily riding the science book, circling his head like some twisted amusement park ride.
"I told you to shut up, didn't I?" Belle's voice rang out, sharp and unwavering.
Everyone looked at Belle, terrified by the scene they had just witnessed. "I hope you learn your lesson, Miguel. I tolerated your comment earlier because I was in a good mood. Now that you're running your mouth, I'm not giving second chances."
'She was in a good mood earlier?', someone thought.
"You tell 'em, Belle!" Selina cheered from the side, fanning the flames.
Miguel, still dazed and trying to shake off the embarrassment, realized that all eyes were on him. The humiliation burned in his chest; he was determined to teach Belle a lesson.
He stood up, still a bit wobbly from the impact, he strode towards her, his hand drawn back as if he were about to slap her.
But before he could make a move, a cold commanding voice cut through the tension.
"At ease."
Miguel froze, his blood running cold at the authority in that voice.
Kris stood up, stepping into the fray where Miguel had just been struck by the flying book. Calmly, he bent down, brushing off the dust from the floor with a deliberate, almost nonchalant motion.
The tension in the room was thick, but Kris carried himself with a steady air of control.
As he walked toward Belle, a smile played on his lips. Miguel, still frozen in place, watched in shock, unsure of what had just transpired.
Kris didn't even glance at him as he passed by, his focus entirely on Belle. He handed the book back to her with a polite nod.
"I'm sorry for the noise we made. Can I buy you a drink to help you relax? Tea or water?"
he asked, his tone light and inquisitive.
Belle, clearly caught off guard, blushed slightly and fidgeted with the book in her hands. "N.. No, I.. I'm good. Thank you," she replied, her voice a bit shaky.
"Then both it is!" Kris grinned, his charm disarming her even more.
"I'll be right back."
With that, he slid the door open and casually exited the room.
As soon as he left, the collective tension in the classroom seemed to dissipate. Students exchanged looks, some in awe, others whispering quietly among themselves.
"Damn, what was that?" someone finally muttered, breaking the silence.
"Was that what they call Aura?" another student questioned, eyes wide in astonishment.
The room buzzed with chatter, everyone now talking about Kris and the commanding presence he had just displayed. It was as if they were seeing him in a new light, a different version of him than they had known before.
Thursday and Necho exchanged bewildered glances, clearly confused but also in awe of what had just unfolded.
They had known Kris as someone reserved, but the way he had just handled Miguel and defused the tension with Belle felt completely different—unexpected yet impressive.
"Did... did that really just happen?" Thursday muttered, his brows furrowed in disbelief as he stared at the door Kris had just walked through.
Necho nodded slowly, still processing the scene. "Yeah... I mean, who knew he had that in him?" He shook his head slightly, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"That amnesia must have done something to him."
"Yeah, it's like he just flipped a switch or something," Thursday added, his eyes still wide. "I didn't even know he could be that... cool."
The two of them sat there in silence for a moment, letting the strange yet impressive behavior of their friend sink in.
Miguel sat down, his mind still spinning from the scene that had just unfolded. His friends leaned in, chuckling as they tried to lighten the situation.
"Bro, this Kris is really a moron. Who the hell shouts 'At Ease' out of nowhere? That was so cringe" one of them teased, clearly trying to rile him up.
But Miguel barely heard them. His mind had drifted back to a darker place, a memory that he had long tried to bury.
He could see his father standing tall in their dimly lit living room. The cold, unwavering gaze in his father's eyes as he shouted, "Stand here, boy!"
Miguel, barely ten years old, stood trembling, eyes filled with tears. "Dad, please no, I didn't touch your money, I promise you," he had pleaded.
But his father wasn't listening. "AT EASE!" The words hit Miguel like a commandment, forcing him to stand at attention, his small frame rigid with fear.
His father crouched down, looking him directly in the eyes. "You know, boy, in our platoon we have a code—no stealing, no killing, and no lying. Anyone who breaks the code gets drenched in cold water and sleeps outside... with the Data Beasts or much worst the Virals."
Little Miguel had been shaking then, the terror sinking into his bones.
"If you stole my money and lied about it... what do you think happens to you?" his father's voice had been deep, haunting.
Tears rolled down Miguel's cheeks as he whispered, "You... you'll kill me."
His father chuckled darkly. "No, boy. Much worse than that."
SLAP! The sting of his father's hand across his face still burned in his memory.
"You felt that, right?" his father had said. "From now on, whenever you make a mistake, I'll slap the shit out of you."
Miguel snapped back to the present, the memories fading as his friend's voice broke through the fog.
"Miguel, you okay, dude?"
Miguel gritted his teeth, still shaken by both the past and the present. "Shut da fuck up, leave me alone" he muttered, trying to escape into oblivion.
"But you really let him do that to you," another friend pushed.
Miguel's face darkened, and without looking up, he hissed, "If you don't shut the fuck up, I'll slap the shit out of you." His voice carried the weight of all the buried pain he refused to acknowledge, silencing the group instantly.