Chapter 6: Fight

This is out of the blue but it's about two months later on the last week before winter break. I'm walking casually to school and I see some chaos at the school like usual. People throwing stuff, girls lusting on the jocks, and school gangs bullying others. This is the life of West T High School.

It's about 8:00 in the morning. I still got about 10 minutes left until school starts so I thought of just walking around and seeing the things around me. I then run into my target. Annabelle was right in front of me with a big smile on her face.

Annabelle: "Hello Jalen. How's it going?"

Jalen: "I would say fine."

I had no idea why she was acting like this. She starts to come closer to me and I just stood there with no emotion. I really was thinking if I manipulate her. Guess she wanted to change herself. That's impossible though. She must some sort of change in her life for this to happen.

Annabelle: "You wanna go to class together?"

Jalen: "I'll pass. I want to be left alone for now."

Annabelle: "Fine. If you say so."

That was weird. There's something fishy about this. She must be trying to be friends and then betray me. 

Anyway, I went to homeroom first and see what was happening. There was something that was announced coming soon during the spring festival. They decided to add a sports festival where the grades compete for spirit points. I thought it was a terrible idea but OK. Guess I will go all out and be a sports nerd. I stopped to think about why all this mattered. Why does anyone's opinion matter? Why do these people influence me? I should grow up and get away from the noise and ignore them. If I don't want them to succeed, I need to showcase my potential. As I was deep in thought, a note was passed to me, which turned out to be a threat from Annabelle. It said

"Jalen. You ain't going to duck this. I will fight you during lunch and everyone in the school will watch you fall."

-Annabelle

As said by a so-called tough guy. 

I would like revenge but if she hurts Jeslyn, then I will fight her and beat her up of course. At the moment, she wasn't going to get a fight from me. I will duck this.

The person next to me whispered if I will fight her. I responded quickly with a no. I mean it's not like I even agreed. Unless she hurts Jeslyn, the fight is off. In general, though, I don't really consider Jeslyn a friend. She's just some ally to get intel. Maybe I will change and she grows on me and we become a couple. I just don't want that.

Homeroom ended and I walked out of the room to go to English class and everyone in the hallway was just clearing up space for me to walk and saying hateful things. Jeslyn came behind me and was worried if I was going to fight. If I agreed, I would find Annabelle and tell her that it's on but no.

Jeslyn: "Jalen. Don't agree to fight. I really don't want to get hurt."

Me: "Do you actually care or I'm some tool to you?"

Jeslyn: "Don't you remember your promise at the beginning of the school year? The promise that you considered me as your friend and you will protect me."

Jalen: "Of course but I will figure it out. Besides, I will fight if you get hit. Don't worry."

Jeslyn blushed and ran to class quickly embarrassed.

After finishing my morning class, I took a break for lunch. As I walked, I noticed some people were cheering for me while others were being disrespectful and throwing things. It's disappointing to see such behavior. Suddenly, I noticed something alarming - Jeslyn was being bullied by Annabelle and her friends. Jeslyn attempted to escape, but Annabelle's friends were holding her back. I quickly ran towards them and intervened by forcefully pushing Annabelle against the wall.

Annabelle: "Ow! Who did that?

She turns around and sees me standing there. She really had to do that. It just was a promise for Jeslyn and nothing else.

Annabelle: "Ok! This should be interesting. Get ready for your end... Jalen!"

Jalen: "This will be over in 15 seconds."

Annabelle: "Awfully confident are we?"

Jalen: "We'll see about that."

I threw a punch which she effortlessly caught and countered by knocking me to the ground. Despite not feeling nervous due to prior experience in martial arts (which I stopped practicing last year), I managed to land a powerful kick to Annabelle's cheek and continued to pummel her with punches until she cried out of fear. However, the fight quickly became boring to me and I knocked her out and walked away after only 15 seconds, bringing an end to the altercation.