It was Thursday morning, two days after the incident in history class.
The school cafeteria was a boiling pot of chatter, laughter, and clinking trays. Liewen walked through the chaos, his shoulders hunched slightly as he moved toward the farthest corner. He didn't feel like eating much, but skipping meals wasn't an option. Certain people would notice if you skip meals, for example, Kian.
He sat down at an empty table, his tray carrying a sad-looking sandwich and an untouched apple. The noise around him was a blur of indistinct words and high-pitched giggles. He usually found this corner safe, out of everyone's line of sight, but today, it felt different.
Someone sat across from him. Liewen glanced up to see Malik, his sharp gaze scanning the room before resting on him.
Malik is Kian's friend. He's known for the title "Malik the Charmer." He could talk to anyone and somehow get them on his side, like it was nothing. Always so relaxed, like he was too cool to care, but it works. People just gravitates toward him, and my measly self couldn't figure out how he did it.
"You're always eating alone," Malik said, his voice flat but curious.
Liewen shrugged, keeping his eyes on his sandwich. "I like it that way."
"Do you, though?" Malik asked, leaning forward slightly.
Before Liewen could answer, another figure slid into the seat beside Malik. Kian. He set his tray down with a dramatic sigh. "Man, why is the pizza always lukewarm? It's like they're actively trying to ruin lunch for us."
Liewen frowned. "Since when do we sit together?"
Kian smirked. "Since now. Don't act like you're too cool for us, Liewen. You belong to us"
"Belong to who..?" Liewen repeated, confused.
"Yeah," Malik said, his tone lighter now. "We're starting a club. Membership: three people. The rule of three, you know?"
"What's the rule of three?"
"Everything works better in threes," Kian explained. "Comedy, storytelling, even friendship groups. Think about it—Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Ed, Edd, and Eddy. It's a universal law."
Liewen blinked, unsure if Kian was joking. "I don't think I fit in that equation."
"You do now," Kian said, taking a bite of his pizza. "We're like the three horsemen of the apocalypse, but cooler."
Malik raised an eyebrow. "Cooler? Speak for yourself."
Aren't it the four horsemen?
For a moment, Liewen felt a strange sense of ease. Their banter created a kind of shield against the world outside, a space where he didn't have to try so hard.
But then, as always, reality crept back in.
Across the cafeteria, Jason and his group of friends were huddled together, laughing at something Liewen couldn't hear. Jason caught his eye, and the smirk that followed made Liewen's stomach tighten.
"Ignore him," Malik said, noticing the exchange.
"I wasn't—"
"You were," Malik interrupted. "Guys like him feed on reactions. Don't give him one."
Liewen nodded, though his fingers clenched around the edge of his tray. He wasn't sure what it was about Jason that got under his skin so easily. Maybe it was the way Jason seemed to embody everything Liewen despised about the school—the hierarchy, the cruelty, the constant performance.
Kian leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, I heard something interesting about Jason."
"What?" Liewen asked, despite himself.
Kian's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Apparently, he's terrified of frogs."
Liewen blinked. "Frogs?"
"Yup," Kian said, grinning. "There's a story about him running away screaming because one jumped at him during a camping trip."
Malik smirked. "I'll admit, that's funny."
Liewen felt a small tug at the corner of his mouth. It wasn't much, but it was there.
"See? We're already bonding," Kian said triumphantly.
Their conversation drifted into lighter topics—movies, music, the weird quirks of their teachers. For once, Liewen didn't feel like he was simply existing on the edges. He wasn't sure if this was what friendship was supposed to feel like, but it was close enough.
As the lunch period wound down, Malik and Kian left first, leaving Liewen to finish his meal in peace. He took a bite of his sandwich, his gaze wandering back to Jason's table.
That's when he saw it.
Jason was standing now, his attention focused on a girl near the cafeteria doors. She looked unfamiliar—probably a freshman. Jason's body language was casual, but there was something about the way he walked toward her, cutting off her path, that made Liewen uneasy.
The girl's shoulders were tense, her movements hesitant. She tried to step around Jason, but he blocked her again, laughing at something she said.
Liewen's chest tightened. He knew he should look away, pretend he hadn't seen anything. It wasn't his problem.
But his feet moved before he could think.
He was halfway across the cafeteria when Jason noticed him. The smirk on Jason's face faltered for a moment, replaced by surprise, and then amusement.
"Well, well," Jason said, straightening up. "If it isn't our local zombie. What brings you here?"
Liewen ignored him, his eyes on the girl. "You okay?" he asked her quietly.
She nodded quickly, but her eyes darted between him and Jason.
Jason laughed, loud enough to draw attention. "Are you seriously trying to play hero? That's adorable."
Liewen's fists clenched at his sides. He didn't want to be here, nor did he want to do this. But something in him refused to back down.
"Leave her alone," he said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands.
Jason tilted his head, as if considering the request. Then he took a step closer to Liewen, his grin sharp and dangerous. "And what are you gonna do if I don't?"
The tension in the room was palpable now. People were watching, their conversations fading into whispers.
Liewen's mind raced. He didn't know how to handle this. He wasn't the kind of person who stood up to bullies, who made scenes.
But then, out of nowhere, a tray slammed onto the table next to them.
"Hey, Jason," Malik said, his tone casual but his eyes cold. "Didn't anyone ever teach you not to mess with other people's friends?"
Jason turned, clearly caught off guard. "What's your deal?"
"My deal," Malik said, stepping closer, "is that you're not as scary as you think you are."
Jason's bravado faltered, just slightly. Before he could respond, Kian appeared on Liewen's other side, his usual grin replaced by a more serious expression.
"You really want to do this here?" Kian asked, gesturing to the growing crowd.
Jason glanced around, realizing how many eyes were on him now. He hesitated, then scoffed. "Whatever. Not worth my time."
He stepped back, throwing one last glare at Liewen before walking away.
The tension in Liewen's chest didn't ease until Jason was out of sight.
"Thanks," the girl said softly, before hurrying toward the doors.
Malik and Kian turned to Liewen, their expressions unreadable.
"Not bad," Malik said finally.
Kian clapped him on the shoulder. "Looks like you're not a zombie after all."
Liewen managed a weak smile, though his hands were still shaking.
As they walked back to their table, something shifted in Liewen's mind. He didn't fully understand it yet, but for the first time, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he wasn't as alone as he thought.