The designated time for lunch was 2:00 pm. They had to wait for the call before going, which only came after the bell.
Soon, Christan was walking behind his roommates—Oliver, Nathan, Joshua, and Kai—as they headed to the canteen, all wearing tracksuits, uniforms outside the classrooms.
They stopped at the building he had earlier noticed through the window, which, surprisingly, was the dining hall.
They climbed about thirty stairs before entering. Inside, there was a courtyard with a couple of trees, flowers, and several other buildings. One of the entrances had words above it that read Dining Hall.
Stepping inside, the building had many tables and chairs, like other canteens he had seen before. As he entered, he found himself standing at the entrance, unsure where to go as his roommates departed.
What made his eyes widen slightly was the unusually long food line. A stern, middle-aged woman stood to the side, holding a long whip as she observed those in line.
As he stood there in a daze, his shoulder was suddenly grabbed. Instantly, he turned, only to relax when he saw a familiar face.
"The earlier you come, the lower the chance of missing food. What are you doing standing here instead of joining the line?" Vivek glanced at Christan's empty hands. "Are you going to put the food in your arms?"
Christan followed his gaze and realized he didn't have a plate. "Ah…"
"Ah?"
"Where do I get it?"
Vivek sighed. He led him to the far end of the dining hall, where there were lockers. Turning to Christan, he explained, "Each room has a locker for storing their dishes. You buy them from the shop and store them here after using them. Come on, let's grab yours."
They arrived at the locker for Room One, only to find two guys glaring at each other.
Joshua raised a plate toward Nathan, furrowed deeply. "You can't call this clean unless you're a stupid ass."
Nathan frowned and blurted, "Compared to you, didn't I do better? You don't even use clean water! At least I cared about our health. It's just that I couldn't find soap."
"Health, my butt!"
Vivek stepped closer, drawing the attention of the two. "I was asking for Chris's plate."
Nathan's brows knitted upon hearing Vivek call Christan Chris, showing how close they had become. "What are you? His amplifier? Can't he speak for himself?"
Christan took a breath. He noticed Nathan's rage spike whenever he saw Vivek. He didn't want any complications—he had decided to live a quiet life until graduation. So, he asked politely, "I don't have a plate... Can you help me with it?"
Nathan turned to him seriously and pointed at Vivek. "This asshole makes friends with any newcomer and dumps them after three days of losing interest. He won't always be there, so learn to survive on your own."
Nathan, who knew Vivek well, warned Christan before leaving.
Christan watched Nathan's back with a curious look before inwardly thinking, I know.
However, he couldn't care less. Whether Vivek had motives or not, as long as he made things easier, Christan wouldn't mind.
Vivek's brows furrowed, but he said nothing. Nathan wasn't wrong, but did he really have to spoil his fun? "He's getting on my nerves."
Joshua took a dish with three compartments and handed it to Christan. "Any damage, and you pay for it!"
"Thank you." Christan glanced at the plate—it was made of plastic, so he saw no reason to worry about damage.
"He always talks nonsense," Vivek muttered, still annoyed by Nathan's words.
They moved to the line. After what felt like an eternity, their turn arrived, and they got their food. Then, Vivek led him to a particular table.
"Our table has nine members and is supposed to have ten. He'll be our tenth member," Vivek said to the others at the table.
According to Vivek, students didn't sit randomly. Each table was registered for ten students, regardless of class, as long as they were in the same year.
Christan looked at the table and noticed two familiar figures: Kai, and when his eyes moved to the other, they widened slightly—it was the silver-haired boy who was eating silently. He remembered leaving him in the room still asleep, yet somehow, he had gotten his food before him.
"He's the table reader," Vivek pointed to one of the tall guys at the table, who ate while standing. "He'll register you as our member."
The guy glanced at Christan and didn't look away.
Normally, he hated new members at the table. Each table received rations, so the fewer members, the better. But looking at the boy, his first words were—
"Did you take after your mother?"
The members around the table looked at him weirdly. The table reader, seeing that, cocked a brow. "What? Don't pretend you can't see what I'm seeing."
"Seeing and saying are different matters."
"What are you implying?"
Christan shifted uncomfortably at the strange topic about him. He glanced around for an empty seat, but there wasn't one. The table had ten members, but only six seats.
One of the members who had just finished eating stood up. "You can have it."
He thanked him before taking the seat, while Vivek remained standing beside him. However, instead of eating, he gazed at Kai, observing how elegantly he ate his food.
He couldn't believe that Kai, who seemed like he came from a well-off family, actually enjoyed the meal. Meanwhile, to Christan, the food seemed too bland. He frowned at the vegetables.
At that moment, two students approached their table. The air around the table turned tense as some stopped eating and glanced at them with wary expressions.
The boy who arrived held a notebook and a pen, while another tagged along. Both looked well-built and rough, as though they only cared about working out. Their muscles stretched their T-shirts.
The boy stopped beside Christan and looked at him. More students stopped eating and turned their gazes toward them—including Kai.
"Hey, what are the Beasts trying to do with that newbie?" one student whispered.
"How the hell would I know?"
Christan, too busy with his own thoughts, stared at his food with a stressed expression as if he didn't notice the attention he was getting, or he pretended not to.
Vivek hesitated to nudge Christan. Everyone knew the gang that called themselves Beasts—one of the most aggressive groups in the school.
The Beast member noticed the frail-looking guy ignoring them. Even if he didn't know who they were, he should have at least read the atmosphere. His face hardened as he placed a hand on Christan's shoulder and leaned in.
Christan froze for a moment before turning aside to meet the guy's gaze.
The guy expected even a flicker of panic in Christan's eyes. However, they remained calm.
"Our leader wants you in our club," the guy said.
Almost half the hall, those who were paying attention, sank into silence—jaws dropping, eyes widening. Even Weston stopped eating and, for the first time, turned his gaze toward Christan.
Weston never involved himself in such groups but he heard of the Beasts. What made them stand out was their sheer strength. And they wanted him? An invitation directly from their leader?
Vivek looked at Christan, his mind swirling with unanswered questions—just like the others. They all waited for Christan's response.
"Pardon?" Christan asked calmly, his tone polite.
The man's expression darkened, and his grip tightened. "Give me your damned name."
"Uh… Christan," he replied hesitantly.
The recruiter scribbled in his notebook. "Well, Christan, from now on, you're part of the fitness club. Be there after every call—no exceptions."
Christan raised a brow in surprise. "I'm sorry. I've never worked out."
The guy scoffed. "Even more reason for you to be there."
Christan turned to Vivek, finally understanding the strange atmosphere at the table. Vivek only averted his eyes, wanting no part in the trouble.
The companion of the guy who wrote the name leaned in. "Izaak, are we really taking this wimp?"
Izaak scowled. "Do we have a choice?." Then, he walked away.
Christan exhaled. He had little idea of what had just happened. His brows scrunched as he inwardly grumbled in frustration.
"I knew living quietly wasn't easy for me. But to think that on my first day... after all the effort... argh... Mom, are you seeing this? I tried."
His eyes glinted slightly as he muttered, "Sure. Why not? I was bored anyway." Then, he scooped a spoonful of rice into his mouth.