The fluorescent lights in the school restroom buzzed faintly, flickering just enough to make the atmosphere uncomfortable. Krist stood by the sink, leaning heavily on the edge, his chest heaving as if he had run a marathon. The sharp scent of cleaning chemicals mixed with the metallic tang of blood that still clung to his knuckles. Across from him, Maya stared, her wide, tear-filled eyes reflecting the storm brewing within him.

"Krist," she began, her voice trembling, barely above a whisper. "You can't keep doing this. You scared me."

Her words pierced through the haze in his mind. He turned to face her, his tense expression softening. Maya was always there—his only constant in the chaotic world he'd come to know. "I'm sorry, Maya," he said, his voice hoarse. "But I couldn't just stand there. Not when he said that about my dad."

Before she could reply, the restroom door creaked open, interrupting the fragile moment. John walked in first, a smug look plastered across his face. Behind him came Bellatrix, the school's principal, and Mr. Adams, Billy's father. Mr. Adams was a man who radiated authority, his tailored suit and sharp eyes giving the impression of a predator circling its prey. His gaze landed on Krist, taking in the blood, the disheveled uniform, and the defiance simmering just below the surface.

"Krist," Mr. Adams said, his voice low and dangerous. "What have you done to my son?"

Krist straightened, his back against the cold tiles, his chin raised in defiance. He met Mr. Adams' glare with unwavering eyes. "I defended myself," he said simply.

"Defended yourself?" Mr. Adams stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over Krist. He pointed to Krist's bloodied hands. "This is what you call self-defense? You've assaulted my son. This is unacceptable!"

Bellatrix stepped forward, her presence commanding but calm. "Mr. Adams, let's not jump to conclusions. We need to hear the full story."

Krist watched as Mr. Adams' eyes narrowed, the flicker of contempt unmistakable. It was the same look Billy had worn just hours ago—the entitlement, the belief that the world bent to their will.

Krist clenched his fists, his voice steady as he spoke. "Billy's been bullying me for five months, Mrs. Bellatrix. Every day, I've taken it. But today...today he went too far."

Mr. Adams scoffed, his laughter cold and humorless. "So you beat him senseless? That's your excuse?"

Krist's anger flared, but he forced it down, the words coming out measured. "Five months of bruises, broken things, and humiliation. And where was justice then? Nowhere. But the moment I fight back, the lawyer rushes in."

Maya stepped forward, her small frame trembling but her voice unwavering. "I was there, Mr. Adams. I saw it. Billy and his friends attacked Krist first. He didn't have a choice."

Mr. Adams turned to her, his expression condescending. "And who are you? Another troublemaker? Perhaps you're the one who encourages this delinquent behavior."

Maya's hands curled into fists at her sides, her eyes blazing. "My name is Maya," she snapped. "And I'm not a troublemaker. I'm a witness."

Bellatrix raised her hand, silencing the escalating tension. "That's enough. We will handle this appropriately." She turned to Krist. "You'll come with me to my office. Mr. Adams, I'll contact you once I have all the facts. Maya, thank you for your statement. You may go once we've finished speaking with you."

Krist cast a glance at Maya, who gave him a small, determined nod. It was a fragile reassurance, but in that moment, it was all he had.

Bellatrix's office was immaculate, every book and paper in its place. Krist sat across from her at the polished desk, his posture tense. She studied him for a moment, her sharp gaze piercing through his defenses.

"This isn't the first time you've been in trouble for fighting," she began. "But I want to hear your side. What happened?"

Krist hesitated, his fingers tightening around the arms of his chair. The memory of the cafeteria replayed in his mind, vivid and raw.

Lunch had been quiet at first, just him and Maya at the far end of the cafeteria. It was their usual spot, away from the chaos. He had barely taken a bite of his sandwich when Billy's voice broke through the low hum of conversation.

"Well, well. Look who decided to show up," Billy sneered, flanked by his cronies, John and Han. The trio sauntered over, their presence suffocating.

Krist ignored them, keeping his eyes on his food. But Billy wasn't one to be ignored.

"Hey!" Billy barked, slamming a hand on the table. "I'm talking to you!"

Krist continued eating, his calm demeanor enraging Billy further. With a nod, Billy signaled his lackeys. Han kicked the table, flipping it over and sending Krist's lunch to the floor. Maya barely managed to save hers.

The commotion silenced the cafeteria. All eyes turned to the scene unfolding.

John and Han grabbed Krist by the arms, pinning him to his chair. Billy stepped forward, his grin predatory.

"You think you can ignore me?" Billy growled, slapping Krist hard across the face. "You're in my school, Krist. You follow my rules."

Maya shot to her feet. "Who do you think you are? You can't just decide who does or doesn't belong here!"

Billy turned to her, his expression smug. "Relax, sweetheart. You'll come around. You'll be mine sooner or later."

He turned back to Krist, delivering another slap that sent him sprawling to the ground. The world spun as pain blossomed across Krist's face.

"You see," Billy said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "your dad didn't teach you any respect. But then, what can you expect from a fool who—"

Krist's vision went red. The words barely registered before his fist connected with Billy's face. The cafeteria erupted in gasps as Krist moved with a ferocity no one had seen before. John and Han went down in a single blow each.

Billy was next. Krist's fists rained down on him, all the pent-up rage of five months finding an outlet. Even as blood splattered across the floor, Krist didn't stop until he felt Maya's hands on his arm, her voice breaking through his fury.

"Krist! Stop! Please!"

Don't you ever talk about my dad that way

In Bellatrix's office, Krist finished his recounting, his voice low but steady. "I didn't want to fight. But he gave me no choice."

Bellatrix leaned back, her expression unreadable. "Krist, this isn't just about what happened today. It's about what kind of person you want to be. I'll investigate, but you're suspended for now. Think about how you handle these situations moving forward."

Krist left the office, the weight of her words heavy on his shoulders. But in the depths of his mind, one thought burned brighter than all the rest: Never again.