Playing Chess or Checkers

Malakai held out paper. Johan held out rock. 3-0. It was done. The crowd exploded, and screams of 'Oh my god' were in the air. A first-year beat a third-year in a challenge. Completely destroyed him. No one in the history of this academy has yet managed to get a hundred points on their first day, and this British boy who accidentally painted himself as a villain a few hours before became a somewhat hero for the first years.
Everyone started clapping. Some were even standing.
"He did it", William said, clapping.
"We knew he would though", Benjamin replied.
"True, but maybe he shouldn't have done it", Lucas added.
"He shouldn't have. Now everyone knows him. The idiot", David said, smiling in his seat and looking at Malakai.
Ray looked over to David
"Maybe he wanted this. You know, Mally. Sometimes no one can read him".
William looked at Ray
"I can't read him most of the time".
Meanwhile, on the stage, Johan was empty. He didn't know what happened. Did that happen? Johan looked at his hand, which was still in a fist from showing rock.
Malakai looked at Johan with a disappointed face
"Bro, I told you I was going paper. Why would you go rock?".
Johan's face slowly turned up
"Why would I believe you?" he said sharply.
Malakai smiled,
"I don't lie."
Johan lost it. He got closer to Malakai and gripped his hoodie, similar to what Dillon had done earlier.
"You think this a joke! You think this a game! You're not ready. You think you're really smart, don't you. Get this in your head. YOU'RE AN IDIOT! YOU'RE USELESS!".
Malakai was so close to Johan's face, but despite that, Malakai was smiling from ear to ear. He loved it. Getting this type of reaction after pissing someone off,
"Calm down, it's only a hundred points; you can get it back. Mr president".
Johan tightened his grip and brought Malakai even closer. Malakai laughed a little to try to make Johan do something more.
"ENOUGH!" Mr White shouted.
He placed his hand on Johan's arm,
"Let go".
Johan let out a tut and forcefully let go, pushing Malakai back.
Mr White looked at Johan, who was already walking away.
"This isn't how a student president should act. This isn't setting a good example".
Johan ignored him and kept walking.
"Let's go, Alina".
Alina, who was on the side watching, followed silently. The two of them left the stage while Malakai watched on. Malakai then turned to Mr White.
"Sooooo, When do I get my points?".
Mr White didn't know what to think of this 18-year-old in front of him. Was it luck? Or did he psychologically outplay Johan? Is this kid really in 1-C? He had so many questions that could only be answered through time.
"Erm, you'll get the hundred points before the end of the day", he looked at the audience chatting away and then back at Malakai.
"I don't know how you did that, but congratulations. Let me dismiss everyone, and then when everyone's gone, you can leave as well".
"You're not going to keep me behind?" Malakai asked.
"Naa, you've done what you need to do and a bit extra. It would just make more sense if you stayed up on stage".
Malakai didn't understand, but he went along with it. Mr White stepped forward and faced the crowd.
"OKAY EVERYONE THANK YOU!".
The students started to quiet down.
"This year's group doesn't seem to stop surprising me; I hope it can continue. Anyway, thank you all for coming; I have nothing else to say, so you are free to go". Mr White stood next to Malakai on the stage, watching all the students leave the hall.
"Looks like He's gonna stay behind", Lucas said.
"I mean, when you beat a third-year in a challenge, I'm sure even the principal would want to talk to you," Benjamin replied.
After all the students left, the two were on the stage. Malakai stayed silent; he didn't know what to say.
"You can go now as well", Mr White.
"Okay? You're not going to tell me off?" Malakai looked at him.
"Why would I tell you off?
"I caused a scene again."
"It's fine, I'm sure everyone loved it".
"Okay? I guess." Malakai shrugged his shoulders and started walking away.
"Just one more thing", Mr White called out.
Malakai turned around.
"I'll keep my eye on you, and I'm sure many other people will as well." Mr White then turned around and started to leave the stage through the exit on the side. Malakai didn't say anything; he just listened and acknowledged what he said.
"Did I really have to do that?" Malakai questioned himself.

Meanwhile, outside the hall, Alexander, Frank and Isabella were walking together.
"You still think he's an idiot?" Frank asked Alexander. Alexander had a tired look on his face. He wasn't physically tired. He was just tired of hearing Malakai's name constantly.
"Yes. He just won a game of rock paper scissors. Nothing special. That third year lost his cool and let him get in his head".
Isabella leaned forward,
"There is some psychological skill involved, and I do think he is good at getting in people's heads, but it's a one-in-three chance to win".
Frank looked ahead to
"He's got balls. I'll give him that".
Alexander started walking faster.
"I'm happy he's not in our class. Hearing his name every day would give me a headache".

Malakai left the hall and stepped outside. He found his five friends waiting for him. As soon as he left the door, he was mobbed.
"100 points already; give us some", Lucas said, putting his arm around Malakai.
"I thought you were going to lose, to be honest", William poked at Malakai.
"Did you plan that Mally?" Benjamin asked while rubbing his head. Malakai wriggled his way out of all their grasp,
"Let go, man", he laughed while escaping the three of them.
"Naa, I didn't plan it. I just saw an opportunity innit". Malakai was British, so slang came out from time to time. Ray started to walk next to Malakai,
"It's great you got points, but now everyone knows you".
"He's right. You should've just apologised, let Johan insult you and be low-key. Now everyone knows you're a threat". David lectured.
Malakai was walking slightly ahead of everyone, but he stopped.
"That's a good thing, no?". He said, standing in front of the five of them.
The rest of them also stopped to look at Malakai.
"Now everyone's focussed on me, you lot can go and get points. They won't pay attention to you as much as me."
"So you did this for us?" Benjamin questioned.
"Kinda. The AK-47 joke was accidental, and the game was spontaneous". Malakai said, thinking back.
"So you didn't do it for us," William realised he just did it for his entertainment.
"I still did it for all of you in the end".
"Yup, sure you did, buddy". Benjamin replied. The five of them started walking away.
"You don't understand I'm playing checkers while everyone else is playing chess", he shouted.
"It's the other way round, idiot", David shouted back.
"Is it actually?" Malakai questioned.
Malakai followed behind them.
"Same concept. I'm playing a different game".
"Just shut up, man." Lucas smiled.
Malakai jumped on Lucas's back.
"Woah, what you doing?" Lucas said, stumbling.
"Carry me to a restaurant", Malakai ordered.
"Walk by yourself". Lucas complained, carrying Malakai.
"I'm tired. I just earned 100 points". Malakai replied.
"For yourself", David pointed out.
"We're a team, and I'm the leader". He answered.
Everyone started laughing.

For the students, that concluded a very eventful first day, which the higher-ups watched.
"Wow, what a showing". One of them said.
"This is only the first day; I can't imagine what will come next."
"He wasn't lying when he said they were special".
"Where did he go?" He said, looking around the room.
"Who knows. Who cares. He's done his job. Now we can do what we want and relax".
A few of them started laughing at that comment.
"What do you think we should do? Should we scrap the regular regime and make it more strict?".
As soon as he finished, the door opened.
"No, you won't change anything". The man behind the recruitments came bursting in.
"Speak of the devil".
Some faces dropped slightly as soon as he entered.
"Why? Did you see what just happened? You were right. They are extraordinary, so I think they'll be able to handle whatever we give them".
"It doesn't matter. No changes will happen. If changes were to happen, it will be later. Now is too early".
The man kissed his teeth and didn't bother to respond back.
"Changes will happen. It might not be now, but later, you will have no say".
"I'm not denying change; I'm against change NOW". he said, emphasising it was too soon.
"Fair enough, as long as you know change is inevitable".
"You did warn us that these students were different, and it's our fault we didn't believe you. But now we've seen proof. You can leave and relax. We've got it from here". One of them said, gesturing with his hand for the man to go away.
"I'm not leaving. I helped recruit many of these students. I'm not going to let them turn into guinea pigs that you can experiment and play around with".
"You talk a lot for a man by himself. You see, you're outnumbered here".
The man started leaving the room just minutes after he entered, but before he left, he warned,
"Actions have consequences. It could be a year from now or later; it will catch up to you eventually"