"Ethan! Ethan! Ethan!"
The crowd's thunderous chant echoed across the schoolyard, growing louder with each passing moment. It was as if they wanted the entire school to hear his name, to witness the downfall of the notorious Alex Chen.
As Ethan continued to assert his dominance, the crowd's fervour intensified. Their voices blended into a deafening roar, a cathartic release of pent-up frustration.
It came as no surprise that Ethan had such overwhelming support. His peers had long suffered under Alex's tyranny, and now they revelled in his comeuppance.
The school's inaction had emboldened Alex, allowing him to wreak havoc unchecked. But today, Ethan's bravery brought hope to the marginalized and oppressed.
Students from various cliques and social circles united, their shared disdain for Alex transcending differences. They cheered Ethan on, eager to see the tables turned.
"The wicked shall reap what they sow," someone shouted, echoing the sentiment of the crowd.
As Alex's humiliation deepened, the chants grew louder, a triumphant declaration of Ethan's victory.
Teachers and staff rushed to intervene, but the crowd's momentum was unstoppable. For one fleeting moment, the students reclaimed their school, standing against the toxic culture Alex embodied.
Ethan towered over Alex, his voice thundering in the defeated boy's ears. "How does it feel, huh?" he shouted, his words dripping with triumph.
"How does it feel to be the one on the floor? How does it feel to grovel in dirt? How does it feel to be the one being oppressed?" Ethan's questions pierced the air, each one a dagger to Alex's already shattered pride.
Ethan's eyes blazed with intensity, bloodshot from the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Alex's face, once a picture of arrogance, now swelled with bruises, his features distorted beyond recognition.
Blood dripped from his mouth, staining the grass beneath him. His eyes, once bright with malice, now dimly flickered with pain and humiliation.
Alex's mother wouldn't recognize her son in this state. The boy who had once wielded power and fear now lay broken and battered, a shadow of his former self.
The crowd's cheers and chants continued, a deafening backdrop to Alex's downfall. Ethan's dominance was absolute, his victory a testament to the power of standing up against tyranny.
As Ethan's words hung in the air, Alex's gaze met his, a fleeting moment of understanding passing between them. The tables had turned, and the oppressor had become the oppressed.
Ethan's declaration hung in the air like a challenge. "You've always oppressed the weak and preyed on them for no reason," he said, his voice resonating with conviction. His eyes blazed with a fire that seemed to burn brighter with every word.
With a swift, fluid motion, Ethan's fist connected with Alex's face. The impact was explosive, sending Alex crashing into darkness. His body went limp, pain-racked screams silenced as he lost consciousness.
Ethan seized Alex's collar, pulling him upright with a fierce intensity. Their faces inches apart, Ethan's words dripped with venom. "Next time, don't hurt my friend. Don't talk trash about him. Don't even go near him."
Alex's eyes fluttered, barely conscious, as Ethan's grip tightened. For a moment, their gazes locked, Ethan's burning with determination, Alex's clouded by pain.
With a final, piercing glance, Ethan released Alex's collar. His body thudded to the ground, still breathing but lost to the world.
Ethan turned away, his stride confident, his arms raised in triumph. The crowd erupted, chanting his name like a battle cry.
"Ethan! Ethan! Ethan!" The roar grew louder, a tidal wave of adoration sweeping the schoolyard.
A wide, exultant grin spread across Ethan's face as he locked eyes with Asher. "Did you see that, Asher? I won! I beat that jerk! I finally won!" Triumph coursed through his veins, his heart pounding with exhilaration.
Asher's brow furrowed, confusion etched on his face as he studied his friend. "Won what?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Ethan's triumphant grin faltered, his eyes scanning the empty space before him. The vivid image of Alex's defeated form, the cheering crowd, and the rush of adrenaline all vanished, leaving only the stark reality of the deserted schoolyard.
His gaze dropped, embarrassment washing over him like a tidal wave. The concrete beneath his feet seemed to shift, as if the ground itself was opening to swallow him whole.
"Dude, what's wrong with you?" Asher's voice cut through Ethan's mortification, his concern deepening. "You stood there for two minutes, grinning and laughing like a lunatic. I called your name, but you just laughed more. Now you're grabbing me, telling me you've won... Won what, exactly?"
Ethan's face burned, his cheeks aflame with humiliation. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, all the air knocked out of him. His eyes darted around, hoping no one had witnessed his bizarre outburst.
The sound of students chatting and laughing in the distance only amplified his embarrassment. Had anyone seen him? Was he the joke of the school now?
"Nothing," Ethan muttered, attempting to brush off the humiliation. His voice barely above a whisper, he couldn't meet Asher's gaze.
Asher's expression softened, his eyes filled with understanding. "You okay, man? Maybe we should get out of here." He placed a reassuring hand on Ethan's shoulder.
Ethan nodded, grateful for his friend's empathy. He couldn't bear the thought of facing his classmates, not now. As they walked away, Ethan glanced around, hoping to escape the awkwardness.
The schoolyard seemed to stretch on forever, each step feeling like an eternity. Ethan's mind replayed the embarrassing scene, his imagination still reeling from the vivid fantasy.
Ethan and Asher navigated the bustling hallway, a sea of students swirling around them. Lockers creaked open and shut, their metallic clangs punctuating the hum of conversation. The air vibrated with chatter and laughter, creating a cacophony that filled the corridors.
As they reached their lockers, Asher turned to Ethan, curiosity etched on his face. "Bro, what happened back there?" he asked, his voice low amidst the din, his brow furrowed in concern. "After Alex left, you just stared at his back and laughed like a lunatic. What were you thinking about?"
Ethan's smirk hinted at secrets, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Just a wild imagination, a wild imagination," he replied, his voice dripping with enigma.
Asher's gaze lingered, concern flickering beneath his friendly demeanor. He sighed inwardly, hoping for the best for his friend, praying he wasn't losing his grip on reality. Ethan's behavior had been erratic lately.
Just then, the hallway speakers crackled to life, cutting through the chatter like a stern referee.
"Attention students, all students are to assemble at the school hall at 8:30."
The principal's voice echoed through the corridors.
The announcement sent ripples through the crowd, students exchanging speculative glances. Ethan and Asher exchanged a curious look.
"What's going on, you think?" Asher asked, shutting his locker with a clang.
Ethan shrugged, his shoulders barely rising above the fray. "No idea, but let's get to the school hall. We don't want to be late."
As they merged with the flow of students, Ethan's mind drifted back to his vivid daydream. The memory brought a sly smile to his lips.
Asher noticed and raised an eyebrow. "You okay, man?" he asked.
Ethan nodded, his smile widening. "Yeah, just looking forward to what's next."
As they walked, the hallway's sounds receded, replaced by Ethan's internal monologue. His imagination still simmered.