Six months had passed, and life at school had settled into a familiar rhythm.
Roéà, the silver-haired transfer student, had seamlessly integrated into the class, her charm winning over students and teachers alike. Teae had become something of a legend-his athleticism and quiet intensity captivating everyone around him. Even Alonie had adapted to the new normal, though the memory of Ritu still lingered at the edges of her mind, an unresolved thread she couldn't quite let go of.
The school had done everything to find him. The police searched records, contacted distant relatives, and followed every possible lead. But Ritu had vanished without a trace. He had become a ghost.
It was a crisp, overcast morning when the monotony of school life was shatte-red.
Alonie was midway through her English lesson when a commotion erupted outside. Shouts and cheers filtered through the windows, drawing the students' attention.
"What's going on?" someone murmured, their curiosity contagious.
"Stay seated," Alonie instructed, her voice firm. But the noise outside grew louder-wild, chaotic, and filled with energy.
Unable to contain her concern, Alonie stepped out of the classroom and peered down into the courtyard. A crowd of students had gathered, forming a tight circle around what appeared to be a fight. Her heart sank as she realized it wasn't just a scuffle—it was a brutal beating.
A gang of boys from another school had surrounded a lone figure, raining punches and kicks down on him. The victim was on the ground, trying to shield himself from the relentless blows."Stop this!" Alonie shouted as she rushed toward the scene.
But the mob was too large, and her voice was drowned out by the jeers and cheers of the onlookers. She tried to push her way through, but the wall of students blocked her path.
Just as she began to despair, a figure moved at the edge of the crowd.
The air shifted.
Teae stepped into the circle, his expression unreadable. He didn't rush or shout
—he simply walked, his presence alone parting the sea of students.
"Hey!" one of the gang members barked.
"You want to get in on this too?"
Teae didn't answer. His eyes flicked to the victim, then back to the gang. He tilted his head slightly, as if calculating something."You don't want to do this," he said, his voice low but firm.
The gang laughed.
"Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it, pretty boy?"
The leader lunged at Teae, throwing a wild punch.
Teae's body moved like water, slipping past the strike with ease. His counter was swift and devastating—a single jab to the ribs that sent the boy staggering back, gasping for air.
The crowd went silent.
The gang hesitated, but only for a moment. With a roar, they charged at him all at once.
What followed was a symphony of chaos.Teae moved with precision and grace, his fighting style a blend of raw power and surgical accuracy. He weaved through the attackers like a predator among prey, every strike purposeful.
One boy swung a bat, but Teae ducked under it, delivering a sharp hook to the jaw. The bat clattered to the ground as its wielder crumpled.
Another tried to tackle him from behind, but Teae twisted his body, using the momentum to throw the boy over his shoulder. The sound of impact was sickening.
Three more rushed him at once. Teae dodged the first, deflected the second with an elbow to the chest, and caught the third's wrist mid-punch, twisting it until the boy cried out in pain.
The fight became a blur of movement.
Blood splattered, bodies fell, and the once-confident gang was reduced to a heap of groaning, defeated figures.Teae stood amidst the carnage, his white T-shirt now stained with blood. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths, his expression as calm as ever.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, but Teae ignored them. He knelt down, grabbing the leader by the collar and lifting him slightly.
"Why were you here?" Teae asked, his voice cold.
The boy coughed, wincing in pain. "We... we came for revenge. Someone from your school... he beat up everyone from ours. We came to pay him back."
Teae's brow furrowed. "Who?"
The boy groaned. "Tall guy... dark hair... his face... it was burned on one side.
Looked like a demon."
Teae froze. The description didn't match anyone he knew.
"You're lying," he said, his grip tightening."I swear!" the boy gasped. "He destroyed all of us... alone!"
Teae released him, standing slowly. His mind raced. Who could this mystery figure be?
He turned to Alonie, who stood at the edge of the crowd, her face pale and her hands trembling. Their eyes met briefly before the police arrived, dispersing the students and arresting the gang members.
Back in the classroom, the energy was electric.
The students surrounded Teae, bombarding him with questions.
"How did you do that?"
"Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"You were incredible!"
Even Alonie found herself drawn into the conversation, listening as Teae answered with vague, dismissive responses.But the chatter came to an abrupt halt when the door creaked open.
The sound was unremarkable, but it carried an ominous weight.
All eyes turned to the door as it slowly swung inward. A figure stepped inside, his silhouette dark against the light of the hallway.
He was tall, his posture casual but commanding. His hair was slicked back, gleaming under the fluorescent lights.
But it was his face that stole the air from the room.
The entire right side of his face was a web of burn scars, the tissue twisted anc discolored. His dark eyes were sharp and piercing, filled with an unsettling intensity.
The classroom was silent, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Alonie gasped, her hand flying to her mouth."Ritu?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The figure's lips curved into a slow, chilling smile.
The students didn't react with fear, but with shock-disbelief rippling through the room. Murmurs began to spread, voices hushed but urgent.
"Is that... Ritu?"
"Where has he been?"
"What happened to him?"
Ritu's eyes scanned the room, lingering on each face before finally landing on Alonie. His smile widened slightly, a dar unreadable expression.
He took a step forward, his presence suffocating.
"Long time no see," he said, his voice calm but laced with something that made the hairs on the back of Alonie's neck stand up.
The classroom held its breath, waiting for what would happen next.