Chapter Five

Last night, Joshua chose to skip dinner. And during breakfast, he had eaten quite a lot. He even ate his share from last night.

It's still early in the morning, thin layer of fog blurred the surrounding.

The waiting shed by the bus stop was empty, but Joshua and Louise were sitting by the sidewalk. The former was wearing his usual grumpy expression as he was poking the concrete road repeatedly with a stick he had picked up from somewhere.

"Cheer up, Josh," Louise said.

Joshua threw the stick away. He really isn't liking what he's feeling as of the moment. He's anxious, he's afraid. But he can't explain exactly why.

Out of nowhere, a familiar noise rang their ears. It started as insignificant then sounded like it's fast approaching. When they got to learn the source of the noise, they jumped back in surprise.

There were three fellows riding their skateboards. The leading one skillfully jumpe over the siblings' laps with his skateboard.

He landed gracefully then maneuvered the skateboard to face the two. He stepped off of it, kicking it up to catch it with his hands.

The victims were shocked, resulting to them throwing edgy looks at the culprit.

The other two didn't do any tricks, they even look like beginners. Them three looks like around joshua's age.

"Looks like we got some new meat," the leading one spoke. He looks older and more matured than the other two. His cheeks were filled with freckles.

The other two snickered like there's something so interesting.

"Since you're new here, let me introduce ourselves."

The siblings remained silent.

Louise was calculating the situation. He is worried about the possible worst case scenario.

"On my left is Kristoff," the rude guy went on. "On my right is Tristan."

While being introduced, the two behind the rude guy kept pushing each other, arguing about something until the plump one picked up his skateboard and went to the leading guys right side. The rude guy rolled his eyes at their stupidity.

Tristan is a chubby fella, but he doesn't look cute anyhow because of his haggard face and sweaty body. Kristoff is a skinny one, looking so frail. Among them three, he looks the ugliest face wise.

"And I am Roland," the rude guy continued.

This isn't the first time for Joshua getting targeted by bullies and so he had already learnt to ignore them as to hate them. He gave them one last glance before lowering his head.

The trio caught sight of a Joshua's furrowed eyebrows. This sent sour expressions on their faces.

Louise remained cool headed. "What do you, guys, want?" He asked with neither intimidating nor submissive tone.

The trio's attention shifted towards Louise who sounded passive. Tristan rubbed his palms together looking like he's going to be able to get a heap of treasures.

"Well, as newbies, there are things that you do not know yet," he said maliciously.

Kristoff kept on nodding his head too many times, making him look more stupid.

"We are here to collect school bus fee from you," Roland sounded ominous, speaking meaningfully. "You know what I mean."

Joshua looked up at them, examining each faces.

Kristoff noticed Joshua's hateful gaze. "What are you looking at?" He asked with slightly trembling voice. His head seemed to jerk with every word he says. Disappointingly, he was ignored.

Joshua stood up, tugging Louise's wrist. "Let's go," he said.

Louise was actually thinking of how to get rid of this bullies shortly. He didn't expect his brother to ignore them this way.

Though he looks stupid, Kristoff was fast. He had pulled a knife on Joshua.

Roland clicked his tongue a few times. "I actually thought you're going to be more cooperative." He walked up to Louise and fished the latter's wallet from its pocket, immediately transferring it to his own.

Louise tried to stop Roland, but he was threatened with a knife.

Joshua's mind became chaotic. There were many things messing up his thoughts this past few days, and now this punks are adding up more. His grumpy expression worsened as he subconsciously felt his head getting uncomfortable.

"You better give that back," he whispered, voice low, powerful and threatening.

The trio were stunned by his tone.

Even Louis felt disturbed by it. It's the first time he had heard Joshua talk in such a way.

Roland had shaken off that disturbing feeling, then dismissed it. "Or else? What would you do?" He asked, daring.

The next thing he knew was getting pushed by a force, having him fall to the ground. His nose felt numb yet tingly as he felt something flow down from his nostrils.

Kristoff was surprised by Joshua's sudden hit. He had realized he was the next target when his wrist was twisted, resulting for his knife to slip from his grasp.

Joshua caught the hilt mid air, swiftly turning around as he ducked. The knife sliced Tristan's forearm's skin, who was about to attack him. Louise followed up on punching the sidekicks' guts, knocking them down.

Roland was quite dumbfounded by his companions conditions. He struggled to get up, grip tightening around his knife's hilt. He adjusted his facial muscles. He saw Joshua's back.

Joshua was feeling weird. There is something he couldn't understand. Suddenly, he turned around, face serious.

Roland was surprised. He was about to attack Joshua but his arm was frozen mid air.

Another fist came flying. He knew where it's going but his body seemed stuck and uncooperative with what his mind is telling.

Louise's punch landed on his jaw, pushing Roland back to the ground.

The latter's senses became numb.

"Louise," Joshua whispered.

Louise immediately checked up on him. "What is it? Where you hurt?"

Joshua was looking at his hands. He couldn't believe he was able to do what he has just done. Everything happened so fast. And then worry masked his face when he realized the result of the fight.

What are they to do?