Hi, sis!

"Daryl?..."

"Why are you surprised, loser? Don't you know how to thank him for helping you?" Eli said to Jake, smiling.

Jake was shocked by what he heard and just stared at Daryl. He realized that the bruises and wounds on Daryl were not from falling down the stairs but from fighting with Noeh and Third to help him.

Suddenly, Faye arrived with Charm and Lorraine.

Faye saw what was happening and nudged Charm.

"Hey, is that Eli?"

Charm looked, and the first person she saw was Kristine with Daryl and Jake. Next to them was Eli.

"Brother?" Charm whispered.

Charm approached Eli and shouted, "Hey! Why are you fighting, huh?"

Eli looked over, "Hi, sis!" he greeted.

Charm got closer, "Hey, didn't I tell you to stop getting into fights, huh?" she said to Eli, grabbing him by the collar and frowning.

"Nope, we're not fighting. I was just talking to them." he answered calmly.

People in the canteen were surprised by what they saw and heard, even Daryl and Jake.

"Huh? Brother? Sister? What the f**k?"

"Eli and Charm are siblings?"

"Wow! They're siblings?"

"Their family must have great genes, I want to have kids with Eli."

While this was happening, Faye was looking at Jake, Daryl, and Kristine.

She stared at them, and Kristine looked back.

The two locked eyes without any reaction.

Soon after, Charm pulled Eli outside, "Come on! The crowd is getting bigger!"

Faye also looked away and followed them out of the canteen.

Jake watched them leave.

Daryl looked at Jake and said, "Hey, Jake..."

Jake stared at Daryl from head to toe.

"... Let's talk in the old building." Jake said as he walked away.

Kristine and Daryl looked at each other.

They both sighed and followed.

*****

The three of them were together in the old building.

Daryl and Kristine told Jake everything.

After a while, Jake spoke.

"So, the reason for your bruises and wounds is because you helped me?" Jake asked Daryl.

"Uh... yeah... so what? Haha."

"Because of me, you got hurt." Jake replied softly, looking down.

"It's nothing, we're friends, right?" Daryl assured Jake.

"Yeah, Jake. You guys are friends, so he just did the right thing, hehe." Kristine chimed in.

"Thank you!" Jake said to the two of them, his smile glowing.

The two were surprised by Jake, and they looked at each other.

"B-but I hope... it doesn't happen again. Don't put your lives in danger for me." Jake said to them with a smile and squinting eyes.

The two looked at each other again.

In Daryl's mind, "He's not avoiding us? And he even said thank you?"

"Come on, guys. Class might start soon, hehe."

Jake started walking, and the two looked at him, smiling.

"Hey, pal. Wait for us."

*****

Classroom*

When the three entered the classroom, their classmates stared at them.

Daryl: Hey, why are they looking at us?

Kristine: I don't know.

As they sat down, their teacher entered the classroom.

"Okay... Jake, Daryl, Kristine, Faye. Come over here."

The four were surprised and puzzled.

When they approached, the teacher immediately slapped Jake.

Everyone was shocked because the slap was so strong and loud.

"What, Jake? Another trouble you caused? The school found out about another fight you were involved in."

Jake was confused, "Ma'am?"

"Follow me to the principal's office, all four of you." the teacher added.

******

Principal office*

The four of them were sitting on the sofa, facing the principal and the teacher.

To their side were Noeh and Third.

The principal spoke, "What trouble have you caused this time, huh?"

No one answered, and the principal banged the table in anger, "What? No one will speak?"

"Sir... I didn't start it." Jake replied.

Kristine: Yes, sir. He didn't start it and it's not his fault.

Faye, Third, and Noeh looked at Kristine after she said that.

"So, who started all the trouble that happened? The police informed us because they caught other students involved in the fight who study here."

Daryl answered, "Hey, you two, tell them the truth." with a smirk.

The two just looked at him.

"Daryl? What do you mean?" the teacher asked.

"Ma'am, they are the reason for what happened. The ones caught by the police were the ones beating up Jake. Noeh and Third started the fight, and their group was the one who beat up Jake, which is why he looks like that." Kristine explained.

"What does Daryl have to do with this? Why does he look like that too?" the principal asked.

Kristine answered again to explain:

"We were the ones who helped Jake at that time. If we hadn't arrived, they would have beaten Jake to death. So, when the two of us arrived, Daryl fought their companions, and Noeh and Third ganged up on Daryl and hit him on the head with a baseball bat."

"Noeh and Third, is this true?" the principal asked.

The two didn't answer, while Jake just looked on.

While Jake was looking, he also looked at Daryl and Kristine.

In his mind, "They are helping me, they are really kind, hehe."

Noeh and Third admitted what they did. The principal suspended them for a month, warning that if it happened again, they would be expelled.

Everyone was dismissed, but the principal asked Faye to stay.

Jake and the others left together with Third and Noeh.

"Hey, this is your last entry, how unfortunate! HAHA!" Daryl taunted the two.

The two glared at him.

"Yeah, what?" Daryl said, also glaring.

The two walked away, ignoring Daryl.

Kristine and Daryl laughed, "HAHA, losers."

Then they both looked at Jake.

"Uh... guys, thank you for everything." Jake said to the two, smiling and bowing.

"If it weren't for you... I would be the one suspended, so thank you very much."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Kristine: It's nothing.

Daryl: Come on! Stop the drama.

"No, I'm just thanking you."

And the two laughed at Jake.

Meanwhile, in the principal's office, Faye was talking to the principal.

"Faye, did you know that you were supposed to be suspended along with those two?" the principal said, staring at Faye.

Faye answered with her head down, "I know, sir. I'm sorry."

"Sigh, don't let it happen again, Faye, because next time I won't let it slide. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry!" Faye replied softly.

"If it weren't for your father's connections to this school, you should be grateful for that." the principal said, then dismissed Faye.

Faye's father had connections with the school, which is why she wasn't suspended along with the other two.

*****

Classroom*

The three of them, including Jake, were sitting together, talking.

"Ma'am didn't even apologize after slapping you." Kristine said to Jake.

"Yeah, she slapped you right away without knowing what happened."

"HAHA! It's nothing, guys. It's fine."

Faye entered the classroom and went straight to her seat.

The three looked at her.

Daryl suddenly spoke, "Faye wasn't suspended because her father is well-connected at the school."

Jake and Kristine silently looked at Faye.

"It's different when you have power." Daryl added.

"Let it go, hehe." Jake said.

Their teacher arrived.

"Okay, class. Let's start."

→⁠_⁠→→⁠_⁠→→⁠_⁠→←⁠_⁠←←⁠_⁠←←⁠_⁠←

After school, the three left together.

"Guys, on my day off, if you're free, let's grab some coffee at the shop, hehe." Jake offered.

Daryl: Whoa! That's right, you're treating us, right?

Kristine: So when?

The two asked, excited.

"Saturday is my day off, guys. Let me know if you can make it, hehe."

Kristine and Daryl: Sure, sure, we'll be there, hehe.

"By the way, let's eat. Come with us, Jake." Kristine invited.

"Uh... I have work, hehe. I start at 1:30, and I might get scolded if I'm late, hehe."

"Aww, okay, Jake. Daryl and I will go alone. Take care."

"Take care, pal."

"Sure, guys, thank you. Bye! (wave)."

Jake got on his bike and left.

The two started walking.

"Where should we eat, Kristine?" Daryl asked.

"Hmm, I feel like having samgyup, hehe."

"Sure."

While walking, they saw Faye, Lorraine, and Charm.

Faye approached the two and spoke, "Can I talk to you, Kristine?"

The two stared at each other for a few seconds.

Kristine answered, "I have nothing to say to you."

"But I do." Faye quickly replied, walking away.

Kristine looked at Daryl, "Wait here, okay? I'll be right back." and followed Faye.

They were now behind the school, with Daryl watching from across the way.

"What do you want to say? Make it quick because we still have to eat." Kristine said to Faye.

"What happened to you, Kris? Are you really going to throw away our friendship because of those two?"

Kristine just stared, not speaking.

"What do they have that we don't, for you to side with them and forget about us?" Faye asked.

"... You know, Faye? I like being with you guys, but I can't handle what you're doing anymore."

The three were shocked by what she said.

"Can't handle it?" Charm asked.

"Yeah, I can't handle it. Why are you so mad at Jake? What did he do to you to deserve what you did to him?" Kristine asked.

"Kris? Is that really you?" Lorraine asked.

"Do you have feelings for Jake?" Charm asked.

"Feelings? No. I just like being with Jake because he's different from how you perceive him. If you hate him, well I don't." Kristine said.

The three just listened.

"This is my life, so I will choose who I want to be friends with and who to avoid." Kristine added, turning away from the three to walk away.

"Kris..." Faye called.

Kristine stopped walking, waiting for Faye to speak.

"... You're still my friend... to me."

Kristine continued walking. She went to Daryl.

Faye turned to Charm and Lorraine.

"You guys? Are you still my friends?" she asked with a smile.

"Duh, of course." the two answered.

"What about Kris? Is she still your friend?"

"Yes, but let's just leave her alone." Charm answered.

"Come on, girls. Let's eat. I'm hungry." Lorraine invited.

→⁠_⁠→→⁠_⁠→→⁠_⁠→←⁠_⁠←←⁠_⁠←←⁠_⁠←

1:40 PM.

Store*

"I have a delivery now, I'm excited to deliver and use my new Japanese bike, hehehe."

Jake left the store, looking at his new Japanese bike.

"Good thing I bought you with the money my boss gave me at the shop, hehe. Otherwise, I might have sold my fixie to buy you for this job, hehe."

He got on his bike and left to make his delivery.

To be continued...