Chapter 9 : Blind Judgement

Morning light hit my eyelids, harsh and unwelcome.

For a second, I forgot. Then the memories of yesterday crashed down—the sickening crack of bone, the screaming coach, the cold dismissal from Sensei. And Jessica. Her scent, the chocolate and vanilla, still seemed to cling to my shirt. It was a shame she had to leave last night, but the silence of the room felt safer than the noise of the outside world.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Three notifications. Tyson. Alvin. Jones. Hangout? Sunday chill at the usual spot?

I stared at the screen. I could already picture it: the pity in their eyes, the awkward pauses where they tried not to mention that I was a disgraced outcast. I tossed the phone onto the mattress. Fuck that. I wasn't in the mood to be someone's charity case.

One thread remained empty. Jessica.

I typed out a quick text, thanking her for last night. It felt inadequate, but it was all I had. The reply came instantly, a little hit of dopamine. Pick me up tomorrow? We can go to school together.

I frowned. School rules strictly prohibited students from driving to campus, let alone parking there. A week ago, the old Daeron—the disciplined karate student—would have worried about detention.

Today? The Dojo had kicked me out. My reputation was trash. What could a detention slip possibly do to me?

Done.

I sank into the couch, controller in hand, and let the digital violence drown out the real world.

Monday Morning. I pulled up to Jessica’s curb, the engine idling low. Sean was in the driveway, heading toward his own car. He froze when he saw me behind the wheel.

"Daeron?"

"Morning, Sean." I kept my voice even.

"Picking up Jessica?"

"Yep."

He scratched the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. "Huh. Well... anyway, I heard you competed in the Karate Tournament last Saturday?"

My grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Yeah. Jessica told you?"

"Well... yeah. So, how’d it go?"

"Heh." I looked him dead in the eye. "I got disqualified."

"How come?"

"Let’s just say... I used too much power."

He chuckled, clearly buying the sanitized version. "Knowing you, I can imagine."

The front door opened, and Jessica jogged out, saving me from further interrogation. But as she reached us, Sean held up a hand.

"We need to talk later," he said, his voice dropping an octave. Serious.

Jessica’s smile didn't falter, but she gave a short nod. She slid into my passenger seat, slamming the door on her brother's authority.

"Drive safe, you two," Sean called out, waving.

"Thanks, you too."

"Bye, Sean."

I peeled away from the curb. The second we were out of sight, the tension in the car evaporated. The drive was electric. Fifteen minutes of traffic dissolved into banter and laughter. With her, the heavy black cloud that had been hovering over my head since Saturday finally lifted.

"Where are you gonna park?" she asked as the school building loomed ahead. "Student drop-off is packed."

I swerved toward the front entrance. "Right there."

"The staff parking lot?" Her eyes went wide. "What if a teacher catches you?"

I pulled into a spot for school staff. I killed the engine. "Meh. Fuck 'em."

Jessica laughed, a delighted, conspiratorial sound that scratched an itch in my brain. She leaned over, eyes sparkling. "I like this confident side of you, Tiger."

"Of course you do."

I gave her a subtle wink. She giggled and nudged my arm, and for the first time in days, I felt untouchable.

**

In the classroom, my eyelids grew heavier every time the teacher spouted nonsense from their mouth. sometimes the teacher threw a random question my way, but I answered it confidently. Hell, I’m not a dumb, bitch.

At lunch break, Jessica came to my class, and then we hung out in the courtyard. Damn, it had been a long time since I was here. It was the perfect spot to chill. It also had a secret spot for me and Jessica to fool around a little—petting, kissing, grinding, and oral sex. It was the energy boost I needed to survive the boredom when class started again.

After school, the door slammed open. Tyson marched in, ignoring everyone else, and sat his massive frame right on my desk. The wood creaked under his weight. He stared at me, eyes burning.

"Why are you avoiding us?" His voice was deep, vibrating with a seriousness that scared most people.

I didn't look up from my bag. "Give me space, will ya?"

"Have you lost your mind?" He leaned in. "What the fuck happened to you, dog?! Why do you act like we’re your enemy?"

I stood up, meeting his gaze. "Give. Me. Fucking. Space."

We held the stare for a long, tense moment. Finally, Tyson scoffed, shaking his head.

"..... Fine! But remember this: WE. ARE. NOT. YOUR. ENEMY!" He shouted the last words, his voice booming off the walls. He stood up and stormed out.

I glanced at Alvin, who was sitting a few rows back. He just lowered his head, unable to look at me. I grabbed my bag, picked up Jessica, and got the fuck out of there.

My routine shifted again. I was a ghost. School days were just me and Jessica. I switched gyms to avoid the crew. Weekends were spent in a digital coma, gaming alone in my room. The boys texted, called, tried to reach out. I ignored them all. Isolation felt safer.

Then, finally, the cycle broke.

"Ahhhhh, at last!" Jessica stretched her limbs in the passenger seat, cat-like. "Exams are done! Summer Break is officially here!!!"

"I like Winter better," I grumbled, eyes on the road.

"Shut up! Summer is fun. Hiking, shopping, BBQs at the beach..."

"Yeah, going to the beach to stare at bitches," I laughed.

"Eww. You sound like such a virgin."

"Who cares? I’m not ashamed of my status," I said, shrugging.

She paused, looking at me. "Wait. Are you serious? You’re actually a virgin?"

"Yeah. Well, you never let me go all the way, do you? That’s why."

"You’re joking, right?"

"No. Zero. That's the number." I glanced at her. "What about you? What's your body count?"

"Umm... one."

I nearly hit the brakes. "What? No way. Only one?"

"What the hell??" She punched my arm hard. "Do you think I’m a slut or something?"

"No! But... you’re popular, Jess. You’re hot. I just figured it would be higher."

"Well... that’s the fact." She turned away, staring out the window. Her voice got quiet.

"Must have been a special guy then?"

".... Not really."

A dark thought crossed my mind. "Don’t tell me..." I looked at her wide-eyed. "Is it Sean????"

"HELL NO!!!!" She shrieked, hammering my shoulder with fists. "YOU SICK FUCK!!!"

"Hahahaha! Hey, chill! I’m driving!" I laughed, dodging her blows. "Okay, okay. So who is it?"

"I’m not telling you!!"

"Come on. I won’t be jealous, Cheeto."

"...No. You ruined your chance with that sick joke!" She crossed her arms, pouting. "Anyway... it seems you really cut the boys off, huh?"

"Heh. You could say that. They’re busy with their girlfriends anyway."

"Tyson I get, Amy is clingy. But Alvin?"

"Alvin and Faye are joined at the hip now. He's busy."

"So you don't talk to him?"

"I do. We’re in the same class. We talk a little. But it's not the same."

"And Jones?"

"Meh. He avoids me completely. Probably busy screwing around."

"So... you haven't spoken to him?"

"Not since the tournament. No."

"I see." She sighed. "So, what’s the plan for Summer Break?"

"Ughh. Denmark. My parents are forcing me to come this year since I dodged it last summer."

"Awww! I had a trip planned with the girls! I was going to invite you!" She gave me her best puppy-dog eyes.

"Bullshit. If you were really going to invite me, you would have asked before exams."

"I’m serious!!"

"I don't buy it. Remember the movie? You invited me five minutes before it started because your other friends bailed."

"Yeah, but... I was serious this time."

"Whatever. I can't go anyway."

She smirked, leaning across the console. "Aw, don't be mad. Let’s stop at your house to... lift your mood."

"Are you crazy? My parents are home, Cheeto! They'd kill me. What about your house?"

"Hell no! My parents are home too."

"But they work late, right?"

"Yeah... but Sean is home!"

"I think Sean would be cool about it. I owe him a visit anyway."

"No!" Her voice spiked, panicked. "Sean will tell my dad!"

"Okay, I’ll just hang out with Sean then—"

"No!!!" She yelled, genuinely angry.

"Hey, chill."

"Just no, Daeron! Or I... I’ll be grounded!"

"Alright, alright. Relax, Jess."

I dropped her off at her driveway. She waved goodbye, looking relieved to be out of the car. I drove home, the strange conversation replaying in my head.

Well... Summer Break. Here we go.

**

Summer 2010. Denmark was quiet. Clean air, green grass, and silence.

My parents and I stayed at my grandparents' place in Hillerød. Julian was already there, having flown in from the UK with my aunt. He fit right in with the European vibe—sipping tea, reading books, acting like royalty. I spent my days at Strødam Lake with Grandpa, staring at fishing lines that rarely moved, or hiking through the woods with my cousins until my legs burned.

When the boredom hit hard, I ran. I jogged through the cobblestone streets of the town, pushing my pace until my lungs screamed, just to feel something other than the quiet.

Nights were the hardest. I’d lie in the guest bed, staring at my phone, calculating the time difference. Texting Jessica was sporadic. A few words here, a photo there. The silence between messages felt heavy. I missed her. I missed the chaos. I missed the scent of chocolate-vanilla and trouble.

September 2010. Senior Year. The top of the food chain.

Walking into the hallway felt like stepping onto a different planet. Everyone had changed. Guys were flexing "summer bodies" that would deflate by November. Girls were tanned and glowing. The cafeteria buzzed with a specific, annoying noise: the click-clack of typing on glass. The iPhone 4 had dropped, and suddenly everyone was a tech mogul.

I felt like a stranger in my own school.

"Daeron!"

I turned. A girl stood by the lockers. It took me a second to register who it was.

Red hair. Green eyes. But the hair was gone—chopped into a sharp bob that framed her jaw.

"Whoa, Jessica. New look?"

"It’s cool, right?" She tossed her head, the short strands bouncing.

"Yeah. It suits you." I leaned against the locker. "I didn't expect you to cut it, though. You used to say your long hair was your power."

"Yeah, well." She touched the ends self-consciously. "Just wanted to try a new style."

Her smile was thin. Tight.

"You don’t like it, do you?"

"Hey! Stop criticizing my style, sheesh!" She punched my arm, but the hit lacked her usual fire.

"Alright, alright. Let’s get a soda. You can tell me about your summer."

We sat in the courtyard. She told me about her trip—how she and her friends ended up crashing the boys' vacation. Photos of beaches and bonfires. Tyson, Jones, Alvin... all of them laughing.

Did I feel left out?

No. I told myself. Family time was good. Denmark was good.

I drank my soda and swallowed the lie.

October 2010. Homecoming Week. The school was vibrating with it.

It was worse this year. A new app called Instagram had just launched, and suddenly life wasn't about living; it was about the filter. Everyone was posing, snapping, tagging.

For me, it was just another week to survive. Since freshman year, my tradition was simple: skip the dance, buy snacks, and play video games with Alvin until our eyes bled.

But traditions die.

"Daeron, let’s join the Homecoming party, man," Alvin said, cornering me at my locker. "The crew misses you."

"Nah. I don’t feel like it."

"Why are you being like this?" He slammed his locker shut. "You treat us like we’re the enemy."

"I just don’t feel like it, Al. Drop it."

"Is it about Jessica?"

My jaw tightened. ".... Look. If you want to go, go. Take Faye. Have a blast. You know I hate dances. Don't let me hold you back."

Alvin sighed, rubbing his face. He looked tired. "If you won’t talk to me, at least talk to Tyson. He’s got your back, man. Even with all the shit going around."

"What shit?"

"The rumors. On Formspring."

I stared at him blankly. "What the fuck is Formspring?"

"Jesus, Daeron." He looked at the sleek iPhone 4 in my hand. "You have the newest tech and you live under a rock. It’s an anonymous Q&A site. People are talking."

"Let them talk. It’s just a phone app."

"It's not just an app when it's about you." He lowered his voice. "Just talk to Tyson, okay?"

He walked away, leaving me standing in the busy hallway. I looked down at my phone. A black mirror reflecting a guy who didn't know what was coming.

"....."

**

Homecoming Night. The city felt hollowed out. Every teenager within a ten-mile radius was currently cramming themselves into the school gym, desperate to grind on each other and pretend they were having the time of their lives.

Perfect.

While they suffocated in cheap cologne and body heat, I had the streets to myself. I grabbed my keys and a novel. The destination was a small café on the edge of town—my sanctuary for the night.

The place was nearly empty. Just the hum of the espresso machine and the smell of roasted beans. A few elderly patrons sat in the corners, speaking in hushed tones. This was peace. I ordered a black coffee, claimed the secluded table in the back, and cracked open my book.

"Sorry to interrupt you, young man."

I stiffened. Seriously?

I looked up. An old man in a tweed jacket was standing there, smiling politely.

"Yes, sir? Can I help you?" I kept my voice neutral, masking the irritation.

"Pardon my rudeness, but you look like a high school student, correct?"

"Yeah?"

"May I sit with you for a while?"

My internal alarm bells rang. Why? But saying no to a polite old man felt petty, even for me.

"Sure."

He placed his cup down and settled into the chair opposite me. "My name is Charles." He offered a hand.

"Daeron." I shook it. Brief. Firm.

"Isn't tonight the Homecoming party?"

"Yeah."

"You strike me as a popular guy, Daeron. Not the typical introvert hiding in a book. It feels odd to see you here instead of there."

"I’m just not a fan of those kinds of events, sir." I offered a tight, polite smile, signaling the end of the conversation.

It didn't work.

Charles launched into a monologue about his youth. His prime. The glory days. Great. My peaceful night had been hijacked by a nostalgia tour. I stopped listening after the second sentence. I nodded at the right intervals, sipped my coffee, and read the same paragraph of my book five times, praying for him to run out of breath.

"You’re not sure about yourself, are you?"

The shift in his tone snapped my attention back. The nostalgia was gone. He was looking right at me, sharp and analyzing.

"Pardon?" I lowered the book.

"You’re conflicted. You're drifting."

I stared at him. Who is this guy?

"Sometimes," Charles said, leaning back, "we feel like the world is against us. We try so hard to meet expectations, and when we fail, we decide that not giving a shit is the easiest way to survive."

My grip on the coffee cup tightened.

"We cannot please everybody, that is true. But we should know what we really need. Don't betray your own well-being just to spite the world. Self-reflection, Daeron. That is the only way to understand who you are."

I looked out the window. The streetlights blurred against the glass. Self-reflection. I thought I was doing that. Or was I just running away?

"Give it some thought," he said, standing up. "We live only once. Make it worth it."

Bzzzzzt!

My phone vibrated violently against the wood, shattering the moment.

I checked the screen. Jessica.

"Sorry, sir. I have to take this."

"Sure. Take your time." Charles nodded and walked back to his own table, leaving his words hanging in the air.

I slid the answer bar. "Hello?"

"Daeron! Where are you?" Her voice was high, tight with panic.

"Relax. What’s up, Cheeto?"

"Help me..."

I sat up straighter. "What happened? Where are you?"

"I’m on the street. Near your old Dojo. Can you come here? Please?"

My stomach dropped. The Dojo? Of all places?

"On my way."

I threw cash on the table, grabbed my stuff, and sprinted to the car.

Five minutes later, I screeched into the parking lot.

The scene was a disaster. Under the harsh yellow streetlights, I saw three girls arguing with a man. I recognized the man instantly. My Sensei.

And standing right in the firing line was Jessica.

I killed the engine and got out. Jessica saw me and jogged over, looking terrified.

"What happened, Jess?"

"Silvia and Hilda," she whispered frantically, pointing to her friends. "They got caught smoking weed and drinking right in front of the Dojo. They thought it was empty."

"What the fuck?" I looked past her. Silvia and Hilda were swaying, looking messy and wasted. And Sensei... Sensei looked ready to murder someone. "You weren't smoking, were you?"

"No! They called me when they got caught! I just rushed here to help them!"

"Cheeto! Are you fucking stupid?!" I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "This is collateral damage waiting to happen. You’re going to get caught in the crossfire. Detention? Expulsion? Do you want that?"

"....They’re my friends, Daeron. Please help me. You know him, right?"

"I knew him. Before he kicked me out." I rubbed my face. "Fuck. Stay here. Keep your mouth shut."

I walked toward the group. Sensei turned, his eyes locking onto mine. The recognition was instant, and it wasn't friendly.

"Are you part of this gang, Daeron?" His voice was ice.

"No, Sensei."

"Don’t call me Sensei."

"Please, Sensei. I just came to pick up my friend."

"Friend? These three girls are smoking weed and drunk on my property! I’m reporting this behavior to the school immediately." He pulled out his phone.

"What?! Three girls?" Jessica stepped up behind me. "I wasn't smoking or drunk! I just came to help!"

"I don’t believe it!" Sensei snapped. "You probably just tossed it when I walked out. I’m reporting all of you. And you too, Daeron, if you insist on being involved." He pointed a shaking finger at my chest.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice. I needed to de-escalate this now.

"Please, Sensei. I don’t care about those two." I gestured to the wasted girls. "But I know for a fact Jessica isn't part of this. You know me. I made mistakes. I lost my temper. But I never lied to you. Not once."

He stared at me, searching for the deception.

"I still owe you an apology for what happened at the tournament," I said, swallowing my pride. "But I am begging you. Don't let Jessica’s stupidity in trying to help her friends ruin her future. She’s innocent."

The silence stretched for an agonizing ten seconds. Sensei looked at the weeping girls, then at Jessica, then back to me.

"...Fine." He lowered his phone. "But I’m not letting those two go. I’m calling the police and the school for them."

"Thank you, Sensei."

"Stop calling me Sensei! Take your girlfriend and go. Before I change my mind."

I nodded once. I didn't look at Silvia or Hilda. I grabbed Jessica’s arm and dragged her toward my car.

"Daeron!! Wait!" She struggled against my grip. "Please help my friends too!"

"Shut. The. Fuck. Up." I opened the passenger door and shoved her in. "I’m driving you home. Stay away from them."

"But they’ll get expelled!"

"Don’t test my patience, Jess." I leaned into the car, staring her down. "I just saved your ass. Don't make me regret it."

"....."

She slumped back in the seat, defeated.

I slammed the door and walked to the driver's side. The night was a mess. Homecoming, indeed.