Chapter 28 - Crossing the Line

I make my way to my favorite spot, the podium. The podium is empty, just as I hope. I sit down, trying to catch my breath and clear my mind. I check my homework, close my eyes, and let the soothing sounds of the wind, leaves, and sky wash over me.

Just as I'm starting to relax, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching. Hana, my little sister, and her friends Maya and Steward, arrive with lunch and smiling at me. Hana is in grade 2, and her big brown eyes sparkle with excitement. Maya and Steward are her classmates, and they're all around 8 years old.

"Hey big brother!!" Hana exclaims, holding out a plate of food.

"Hey big brother Alex!!" Maya chimes in, grinning.

"Hey big brother Alex..." Steward waves at me, looking adorable.

"Big brother, I heard there's a huge commotion, and I could see big sis Mariam and big brother Amin being hung outside of the school podium..." Hana explains, her eyes wide with excitement.

"More like crucified..." Steward adds, making me cringe.

"What on earth happened?" Maya asks, curiosity getting the better of her.

I shrug, still trying to relax. "Not sure, and I don't care…"

As they eat and chat, I open my eyes and look at them. Hana offers me a steambun made with red beans, and I take a bite, savoring the sweet flavor.

We chat about class, and Hana mentions that Mr. Rahim is missing again. Steward adds that Ms. Genevie suddenly walked away for no reason, and I know exactly what happened.

"But Ms. Sahara is covering us," Maya says, smiling.

"Wow, Ms. Sahara, at least you had fun... I had Mr. Rahman..." one of them jokes, and they start comparing teachers, laughing and teasing each other. I smile, feeling grateful for the peaceful moment with my little sister and her friends.

Hazlan and Tama arrive, joining our little group. Tama's eyes sparkle with curiosity as she asks me, "I wonder, Alex, is that kind of punishment I saw with Mariam and Amin proper?" Hazlan coughs, trying to intervene, and explains, "Uh, Tama, that's because they all aren't human beings to begin with.”

I nod in agreement, and Hazlan continues, "But I wonder, most of that incident is with your class, you know... how on earth...?" I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Uh... let's just say... I was lucky…"

Just as I'm about to breathe a sigh of relief, I sense an aura behind me. I turn around, and my eyes widen as I see Amin and Mariam standing behind me, both of them carrying a crucified wood. Mariam's eyes gleam with mischief as she says, "Kukuku... you did say we all are three musketeers, eh? Kukuku…"

Amin's face is stern, but I can see the hint of a smile. "Bro, that's cold-blooded... why the hell did we all get the beating while you managed to escape?" he asks, his voice laced with amusement.

I try to calm them down, but they're having none of it. Suddenly, Amin does a camel clutch, and Mariam pulls out my shoes and starts tickling me with a feather. I burst out laughing, trying to defend myself.

"HEY!!!! STOP IT!!!!!!" I shout, laughing uncontrollably. Tama looks at us, a mixture of confusion and amusement on her face. "They're all good friends," she says, smiling.

Hazlan facepalms, shaking his head. "Haah... yeah... right..." he mutters, rolling his eyes.

The commotion really pulls all the stops, and after they all have their tantrums out, we hang around, exhausted. I lie down in defeat, feeling drained from the intense drama. Mariam and Amin are still fuming, but Hana's innocent smile and offer of steambuns seem to diffuse the tension slightly.

Mariam's eyes narrow as she looks at me, her voice laced with amusement and annoyance. "So... look at me, we're all having a hell of a lifetime while you asshole managed to escape all of it…"

Amin chimes in, his voice filled with mock desperation. "Bro... you've gotta back me up or else we're not going to survive this!!" I raise an eyebrow, thinking to myself, "Yeah right, like as if I'm going to back you up and lead myself into that kind of situation as well!!"

I shake my head, still lying down, and try to avoid eye contact with them. Mariam and Amin exchange a look, and I can tell they're not done with me yet. Hana looks on, oblivious to the underlying tension, and continues to offer them steambuns. "Want one, big sister Mariam? Big brother Amin?" she asks, her voice cheerful.

Mariam's expression softens slightly as she takes a steambun from Hana. "Thanks, Hana," she says, her voice a little gentler now. Amin follows suit, taking a steambun and giving me a sideways glance. "You're lucky, bro," he says, his voice low. "But don't think you're off the hook that easily.”

I sigh, knowing that I'm not out of the woods yet. Mariam's eyes sparkle with curiosity as she asks me, "Hey bro, did you meet with Shinji?" I shake my head, not really in the mood to think about Shinji. "Nope, why?" I reply, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Mariam's face lights up with excitement. She tells me, "Well, while you were in a coma for a few days, Shinji really changed. He follows everything that I do." I raise an eyebrow, skeptical about this sudden change in Shinji's behavior. I'm glad that he's doing well, but I'm still not entirely trusting of this new development. Maybe I'm being a bit childish, but I'd rather see it for myself before I believe it.

"Good for him," I say, trying to be neutral about the situation. Amin, however, has other plans. He places a hand on my shoulder, his face serious in a comedic way. "Bro, sometimes you need to move forward as well," he says, his voice dripping with wisdom.

I roll my eyes and quickly respond by choking him with my elbow. Amin's eyes widen, and he taps his hand on my arm, saying "Give, give!" in a playful tone. Mariam intervenes, knocking my head and scolding me. "Hey, just try to meet him!!!!" she says, her voice firm but laced with amusement.

I rub my head, looking up at Mariam with a mixture of frustration and resignation. Maybe I'll consider meeting Shinji, but I'm not making any promises. Amin, still grinning, pats me on the back. "Come on, bro, it'll be good for you," he says, his voice full of encouragement.

I sigh, knowing that I'm not going to get out of this easily.

We're still hanging around the podium, with me sitting down and trying to relax. Suddenly, I feel a pair of arms wrapping around me from behind, and Siti's sweet voice calls out, "Darling!!" She's hugging me tightly, completely oblivious to the surrounding commotion.

But I know Siti's got a bit of a mischievous side to her, and I'm not sure what she's got planned.

As she's hugging me, I can feel her grinning against my back, and I sense that she's up to something. Before I can even react, Hana springs into action. With a fierce determination in her eyes, she delivers a roundhouse kick straight to my gut. I grunt in pain as Hana shouts, "Bad girl, and big brother is not a toy!!!!”

Siti giggles, still clinging to me, and I can tell she's enjoying the drama that's unfolding. "Oops, sorry Darling..,,” she says, her voice dripping with mischief. Amin and Mariam burst out laughing at the scene unfolding before them. "Hana's got your back, bro," Amin says, chuckling. Mariam just shakes her head, smiling. "You're in trouble, Alex," she says, her voice dripping with amusement.

I try to catch my breath, still wincing in pain from Hana's kick. Siti looks up at me with a playful glint in her eye, and I know I'm in for more trouble. "You're so easy to tease, Alex," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. I roll my eyes, trying to play it cool, but Siti just laughs and continues to hug me tightly.

Tama's words are like a death sentence, and I can feel the intense aura emanating from Sylvia and Priscilla. My instincts scream that I'm about to be killed... again. Tama's voice is barely audible, but the names she's spoken hang in the air like a challenge: "Ah... Sylvia... Priscilla…"

Sylvia's voice is a gentle whisper, but it's laced with an unsettling intensity. "Darlin'," she coos, her eyes fixed on me with an unnerving devotion.

Priscilla's smile is sweet, but it's a facade that hides her true intentions. "Blimey, babe, you're having a laugh, ain't ya?" she says, her fists clenched and crunching together, her eyes gleaming with a manic energy.

I'm trapped in a vortex of chaos, with no escape in sight. The three girls close in on me, their movements almost choreographed. Priscilla's got a firm grip on my right arm, while Sylvia's holding onto my front, her soft curves pressed against me in a way that's both intimate and suffocating. Hana's still pulling on my left arm, her face set in a determined expression.

I'm starting to feel like I'm being torn apart, limb by limb. Siti's not having any of this, and she steps forward, her voice firm. "This is my darling!!! No one is allowed to have him by themselves!!!" Her words are a declaration of war, and I can sense the tension escalating between the girls.

The air is electric with anticipation, and I'm caught in the middle of it all, unsure of what's going to happen next. Will I be torn apart by these girls, or will something else entirely? One thing's for sure: I'm not going to have a peaceful time anytime soon.

Just as the chaos is reaching its peak, Mr. Akira appears out of nowhere, Shinji by his side. "Uh huh... this must be interesting..." Mr. Akira's face contorts into a mixture of amusement and exasperation as he facepalms himself, chuckling. Amin and Mariam can't help but burst into laughter, and for once, Mariam refrains from taking out her phone to capture the moment.

Maybe this is what Amin was telling me about. Shinji's eyes are cast downward as he approaches me, his voice filled with remorse. "Sempai... I apologize for what happened before, and Sylvia sempai... I'm sorry!!!" Sylvia's expression softens, and she smiles, but Priscilla's reaction is different.

"Well, ain't gonna be a bloody picnic for you, mate, eh?" Priscilla says with a sly grin, her eyes glinting with mischief. I'm not sure what she's getting at, but I have a feeling it's not good. I push the girls away, trying to create some space.

Mr. Akira's voice cuts through the chaos, his words directed at me. "I know this is rough, but please talk to my son... he's already changed thanks to you all..." I glance at Shinji, sensing that there's more to him than meets the eye. He has a certain vibe, one that reminds me of myself, though I'm not sure I'm ready to admit it. It's like he's gone through similar experiences, and I want to know more.

I turn to Mr. Akira, my fist clenched. "Is it okay if I want to test him?" Mr. Akira's expression changes, and he nods, understanding. "Well, that's something I haven't seen in a long time... like those Yakuza tests…"

I call out to Shinji, and he looks up, his eyes wary. "Come on, let's go over there..." I lead him to the center of the field, away from the others. Mariam's curiosity is piqued, and she wonders what's going on.

As we reach the center of the field, I open my shirt, revealing my inner shirt. Shinji's eyes widen, and he protests, "No sempai, I don't want..." But I'm just trying to verify something. Without warning, I throw a punch at him, and he's quick to block it. Mr. Akira watches, a smile spreading across his face.

The punches keep coming, and Shinji blocks each one with ease. "I wonder if you learned from Mariam," I say, and Shinji nods, his voice firm. "Yes, sempai... Mariam trained me..."

I study Shinji's expression, searching for something. "This school... this lifestyle... I wonder if you can handle it well?" Shinji's face is a picture of uncertainty, and I can see the doubt in his eyes.

Shinji's words paint a vivid picture of his experience in school. "This school... it's become my second home," he says with a hint of a smile. "When I'm involved with the school council, it's like a whole new world opens up. It's full of life, and it's fun. Mariam sempai told me about the tough times you've been through, and I couldn't believe it at first. But now that I've seen it for myself, I understand why you're so strong.”

The look in his eyes is all too familiar - the same look Hiew had when he was trying to attach himself to Natalie. Damien's words come flooding back, and I feel a sense of unease. I try to keep my emotions in check, but it's getting harder by the minute.

"Get up," I say to Shinji, but he shakes his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "No, I can't... I promised mom and dad..." I lift him up gently, my voice firm. "Tell me…"

The name Halim pops up, and I'm not sure why. But at the same time, I'm conflicted inside. My emotions are raging out of control, and before I know it, I punch Shinji. But he doesn't fight back, and Mariam and Amin are quick to intervene.

"Yo, bro!!! Stop it!!!" Amin holds my arm back, while Mariam shields Shinji. "You're okay?" she asks, her voice laced with concern. Shinji nods, his voice weak. "Yes, sempai..."

Mariam's expression turns stern as she looks at me. "Well, like I said before, he ain't holding back... plus..." Before she can finish, she punches me in the face, but I don't flinch.

"Dumbass!! He is still little, you know!!" I mutter an apology, feeling a mix of anger and guilt.

I walk away, heading back to my place, but Mariam suddenly tries to attack me. This looks like a real argument between us, one that escalates into a fierce fight. I hold back my punches, but she doesn't, and I can feel my anger rising.

"Just because I'm a girl..." she says, punching me back and pissing me off. The fight is intense, with neither of us holding back, until Melissa intervenes.

"That's enough!!! Mariam!!!!" she shouts, her voice firm. I stand up, my chest heaving with exertion. "Well, gotta go..." I walk away, leaving the chaos behind. Amin holds Mariam back, her angry roars echoing behind me.

As I walk away, I can see the fear in the eyes of Sylvia, Hana, Priscilla, and even Siti. But I don't care. One thing's for sure - I might need to pay a visit to Halim and his goons again. Maybe I have a talent for breaking things apart, but I don't care. The storm inside me is still raging, and I'm not sure how to calm it down.