Chapter 10: "The Winds Begin to Change"

Ethan felt his body move almost instinctively, as if an inner force was guiding him. There was no time to think; amidst the confusion and chaos, his muscles responded without question. An incredulity ran through his body; he was skeptical of himself, of how everything seemed to flow in a way he had never experienced.

Each punch he threw, each dodge he executed, felt like an echo of a skill he didn't know he had, as if his senses had suddenly sharpened. At first, the fight seemed like a whirlwind of erratic movements, but as adrenaline coursed through his veins, the doubt faded away.

He let himself go, flowing with the rhythm of the fight. His body moved with a grace that had seemed impossible before, almost like a dance. He jumped from side to side, dodging Nate's attacks with the grace of an experienced boxer. His guard remained firm, closing off any openings. The murmurs of his classmates became a distant echo; there was no doubt now that Ethan had transformed his fighting style.

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Among the crowd, a boy named Javier watched with bright eyes. He was a student in his class, someone who had grown up surrounded by combat sports. Since he was little, he had dreamed of being a boxer, inspired by the ring idols his father used to take him to see.

Last week, he had attended a match of Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns, the famous boxer who stunned everyone with his incredible knockout in the last round against Roberto Durán. Hearns' skill in the ring was an experience he would never forget, a true spectacle that fueled his desire to follow in his footsteps.

Now, watching Ethan in action, he felt his heart beat harder. The fight was unfolding before his eyes like an electrifying choreography, every movement of Ethan resonating with his dreams of grandeur. Although the boy didn't replicate Hearns 100%, there were moments when his dodges and counterattacks echoed the legendary boxer's style.

However, with his trained eye, Javier noticed some mistakes. His guard, though solid, slipped a little as he was carried away by adrenaline. There was a lack of synchronization in his movements, but that didn't diminish the impression Ethan was making. Despite his flaws, Ethan's innate skill dazzled. Every dodge, every counterattack, turned him into a captivating spectacle, a reflection of the heroes Javier admired so much. The fight between Ethan and Nate gave the impression that it had already been decided. It was as if Ethan was playing, like a professional boxer facing a street fighter. The way he dodged and counterattacked made it clear that Nate had no chance.

Ethan leaned back, dodging a right hook that Nate threw with all his might. In an instant, he landed a precise hook to Nate's side, sending him stumbling backward.

Nate, still determined, threw a jab, but Ethan dodged it with an agile move, slipping to the side. As the fight went on, Ethan began to play with his opponent. Each punch landed with precision, making Nate look more and more cornered. —Come on, Nate! React!— someone from the crowd shouted, encouraging the challenger to keep fighting.

In a moment of desperation, Nate grabbed a thick book lying on the ground, determined to use it as an improvised weapon. With a shout of defiance, he raised the book and swung it at Ethan with all his strength. But Ethan, with surprising agility, dodged the attack as if he had anticipated it from the start. He ducked with his entire torso, the book passing just above his head, and at that same moment, he launched an uppercut aimed at Nate's jaw.

The move was perfect, and the crowd held its breath, waiting for the imminent impact. However, just as Ethan's fist was about to connect, an exasperated voice rang out from a distance: —The teacher's coming!—

That warning cut through the electrifying atmosphere like lightning. The adrenaline turned to panic among the students, and the fight stopped immediately. Nate froze, the book slipping from his hands and falling to the ground. Meanwhile, Ethan, just moments from glory in the fight, stood frozen, his fist suspended in the air, unable to make contact with Nate's jaw.

The sound of the book hitting the ground echoed like a reminder of the confrontation that had just occurred. The atmosphere shifted from an epic battle to a frantic scramble to save face. Shouts mixed with nervous laughter as students ran in different directions, trying to cover up the chaos that had erupted.

Ethan and Nate, still stunned by the abrupt interruption, didn't even look at each other. Despite the intensity of the fight, there was only one clear trace: the small cut on Nate's nose that had bled at the beginning of the confrontation. Apart from that, neither had visible marks; any blows or bruises were hidden under their clothes. With quick and almost synchronized movements, they both brushed off the dust from their clothes, as if doing so would erase any sign of the fight.

Nate, feeling a slight dampness on his nose, touched it with the tips of his fingers and noticed the blood had already dried, but it had left a noticeable stain on his shirt. He frowned when he saw the dark stain, aware that he needed to clean it before anyone noticed.

Amid the chaos, one of Nate's lackeys, always by his side, approached with an absorbent paper in hand, as if he had anticipated the need. Without wasting a second, Nate took the paper and used it to wipe the bloodstain from his shirt. With quick and precise movements, he made sure no trace of the altercation remained, his face taking on a calmer expression as the evidence of the conflict disappeared.

Around them, other students began to recover what had fallen: spilled backpacks, rolling water bottles, and books scattered across the floor. Some hurried back to their seats, casting furtive glances at the place where the confrontation had taken place, their murmurs filled with barely contained excitement. Although the tension was beginning to dissipate, the echo of the fight still resonated in the air, leaving a trail of curiosity in everyone present.

The door creaked open, and the teacher entered, relaxed, as if he were a robot programmed to follow his routine. He didn't glance at the class, ignoring the slight disorder left behind by the altercation. Without missing a beat, he began dictating the day's content with the same monotony as always, as if the echoes of the fight had never existed. The class continued its usual course, and the students, still somewhat agitated, tried to focus on the lesson.

Finally, the sound of the bell rang, marking the start of the first break. The class filled with a nervous murmur as students rose from their seats. Nate kept staring ahead, his thoughts trapped in what had just happened, processing what had been the fight and the frustration that still lingered inside him.

Sarah, sitting near him, watched as he remained lost in thought. Her face was marked by a mischievous smile, and her eyes sparkled with a playful glint. She knew this was the right moment to tease him a little, as she always did. When the bell rang and everyone began to rise, Sarah calmly approached him, making sure he was completely distracted.

She sat next to Nate, and without missing a beat, let out a small mocking laugh. —I told you not to mess with him, Nate,— she said, letting the laugh escape her lips as if it were a light joke. —You're too much of a wimp to take someone like him on. Did you see those eyes? And that face? And, besides, he knows how to fight! He's perfect! How did you expect to beat him?—

Nate, not even looking at her, sank deeper into his seat. His gaze remained fixed ahead, as if everything Sarah said didn't reach him. Anger was consuming him, and the frustration of his defeat seemed to form a tight knot in his chest. But despite his feelings, he forced himself not to respond. Why does it bother me so much that she talks about him like that? he thought. But he didn't want to give Sarah the satisfaction. He didn't want to show her that it really bothered him.

—What's the matter? Now you don't have anything to say?— Sarah continued, this time with a sharper tone, as if trying to provoke a response. —Did it hurt too much to lose?—

Sarah's nervous laugh echoed in the air, but Nate remained unmoved. Every word she said seemed to add to the pressure he felt. It was as if her jokes were needles slowly piercing his skin, but still, he refused to react.

—What's wrong with him?— thought Sarah, furrowing her brow slightly. She didn't like this attitude. She was used to Nate responding, always with that flattering tone or even giving attention to every word she spoke. But now, he didn't even seem to notice her.

She leaned slightly toward him, trying to get him to look at her, and when she saw he wouldn't, she did what she always did in these situations: she gave him those puppy eyes, those sad, sweet eyes she always used to get what she wanted. She had used them countless times, and they usually never failed.

—Well, well, don't be like that...— she said in a soft tone, pretending to have a sweet expression. Then, with a slight twist, she added—: Hey, can you buy me something to eat? I don't have time to go to the store, and I'm starving.

The way she said it, with a hint of a pleading tone, made anyone feel obliged to help her. She had used that trick a million times successfully, but today something was different. Nate didn't say anything. His gaze remained fixed ahead, as if he hadn't even heard her.

Sarah watched him, still not fully understanding. It wasn't just his silence that surprised her, but the lack of reaction, that absence of the constant attention he used to give her. Is he really going to ignore me? She thought, feeling that something had changed in him. This wasn't like him. Normally, even when she teased him, he would smile or respond in some way.

She tried again, this time more insistently, with the same sweet tone:

—Come on, Nate, don't be like that! You know I'm a mess and I don't want to run to the store right now! Just a little favor, okay?

Nate, without turning around, let out a deep sigh, and finally spoke, although his voice was colder than usual:

—Are you really going to keep doing this?— His tone had no trace of the patience or kindness he usually showed her. —I'm busy. Go yourself if you're hungry.

For a moment, Sarah stayed silent, looking at Nate, trying to process what had just happened. It was like an invisible barrier had risen between them. She decided it wasn't worth insisting anymore and, with a somewhat annoyed expression, she slowly got up from her seat.

Nate, seeing her surprise, leaned back in his seat, not giving it any more importance. Sarah, still stunned, tried to find words but couldn't. Finally, without saying anything else, she turned and walked towards Ethan, leaving Nate lost in his own thoughts.

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N/A: Alright, I know it's been almost a month without updates, and I want to apologize for that. The truth is, I've been pretty busy with work, studies, and well, also taking some time to recover mentally. I won't lie, things have been a bit complicated, and I still have a lot to deal with.

Because of this, I won't be able to update as often as before, but that doesn't mean I've abandoned this story. In fact, it's something I'm really excited about and want to keep sharing with you. I'm just going to try to be more consistent, even if I can't go as fast as I did at the beginning.

I've been reading your comments, and I know there might be a few writing errors here and there. I'm working on improving that, so if you spot anything, don't hesitate to let me know. I'll be correcting the mistakes little by little.

Thank you for your patience and for continuing to read. Your comments always motivate me, so here we are, writing and improving. See you in the next chapter!

👋✨

PS: I want to clarify something about this story: don't focus too much on the details as if it were our past reality. This is a parallel world where technology, art, music, fashion, and even historical events are not aligned with the time we know. It's like if Elvis were just releasing his first hit and, at the same time, an iPhone 15 were appearing. So enjoy the unique mix of this world and don't worry about the time-related coincidences! 😎📱🎤