Chapter 3: First Sarcasm
The next morning, the corridor in front of 11th-Grade Science 2 was still fairly quiet. The bell hadn't rung yet, but Nayla was already busy organizing the class fund records at the duty desk in front of the classroom.
At the end of the hallway, Kevin strode forward confidently. His steps came to an abrupt halt when he saw Rey walking ahead of him toward the same spot.
“Nayla, these are the new student data sheets you asked for yesterday,” Rey said as he handed over a stack of papers.
Nayla looked up and accepted the papers with a bright smile. “Thanks so much, Rey. You're seriously on time, even though it's only your second day.”
“No problem. If there are forms from another class that need to be turned in, just let me know,” Rey replied politely.
Kevin, who had been watching from three steps away, immediately picked up his pace. He slammed his shoulder into Rey's hard enough to shove him slightly to the side.
“Oops, sorry. Didn't see anyone here,” Kevin said in a flat tone that was obviously fake.
Rey adjusted the bag on his shoulder, then stared at Kevin expressionlessly. “You need to get your eyes checked by a specialist, or do you just enjoy running into public facilities?”
“What'd you say?” Kevin put on a threatening expression and folded his arms across his chest. “I'm just reminding you of the school rules, new kid. Your tie's crooked and your top button's undone. Not exactly a very neat student.”
Rey glanced at his own uniform collar, then looked Kevin up and down.
“My uniform is only missing the top button,” Rey replied calmly. “Meanwhile, yours is untucked, your belt has vanished, and you're missing half your uniform accessories. Are you trying to be an idol basketball captain, or can you just not read the dress code?”
“You—” Kevin pointed at Rey's face, his eyes bulging. “You think you can order me around?”
“I'm not ordering you around. I'm just comparing which one of us looks more wrecked,” Rey replied casually.
Nayla, who had been watching the argument from behind the duty desk, barely managed to hold back her laughter. “Kevin, enough. Rey's right. Your uniform hasn't been neat once since yesterday.”
Kevin suddenly panicked when he saw Nayla's reaction. “Nay! Why are you defending the new kid? I was just telling him the rules!”
“The rules you break yourself?” Rey cut in from the side.
“Shut up!” Kevin snapped, his face beginning to redden with irritation. “Don't act all buddy-buddy with Nayla!”
“Who said I was acting buddy-buddy?” Rey raised one eyebrow. “I'm just talking to the Class President about an assignment. You're the one who suddenly showed up like a debt collector.”
“I'm the class monitor!” Kevin declared, with absolutely no basis.
“Class monitor?” Rey let out a quiet chuckle, a cold laugh that only fueled Kevin's anger. “Since when does a class monitor look like some street thug?”
“Reynald!” Kevin barked as he stepped forward, intending to intimidate him.
But Rey didn't back down in the slightest. He stared straight at Kevin, his eyes challenging. “Why? Want to get physical? In front of the duty desk? In front of the Class President?”
Kevin froze. Rey's words stopped him in his tracks. If he lost control now, his image in front of Nayla would be completely ruined.
Dimas and Aris, who had just come up from the stairs, immediately grabbed Kevin from behind before the situation could get any hotter.
“Easy, Captain, easy!” Dimas shouted as he wrapped an arm around Kevin's neck and pulled him back. “Getting worked up this early in the morning?”
“Let go of me, Dim! This guy's been picking fights since yesterday!” Kevin raged, pointing at Rey.
Aris, standing beside them, merely shook his head. “According to my analysis, the probability of you losing this argument is one hundred percent, Vin.”
“Aris! Are you my friend or not?!” Kevin yelled in frustration.
Rey flashed a faint smile, then turned his gaze back to Nayla. “Nayla, I'm heading in first. I don't want to catch someone's baseless anger.”
“Yeah, Rey. Thanks for the papers,” Nayla replied warmly.
Rey strolled past Kevin, who was still being held back by Dimas. As they passed each other, Rey whispered so softly that only Kevin could hear him.
“Practice talking before you try intimidating people, Captain.”
“Reynald Putra! Just wait till we get to class!” Kevin screamed hysterically after Rey had sauntered into the classroom without looking back even once.
“That's enough, Vin, that's enough,” Dimas coaxed, patting Kevin's chest. “Your face looks like a boiled crab. It's embarrassing when kids from the other classes see you.”
“I'll make him bow down! Just watch!” Kevin swore through ragged breaths, stoking the flames of hostility that had now officially begun to burn between them.