Chapter 27: Main Teacher
Nero, engaged in conversation with the other three, felt a pair of eyes boring into him. Without needing to look back, he knew exactly who it was—Barak. He could easily anticipate what was going through Barak’s mind; he must be seething, especially since he hadn’t expected Nero to pass the academy tests. Not only had he passed, but he had also gone further, becoming a member of the Elite classroom, a fact that was undoubtedly hard for Barak to swallow.
There was another reason for Barak’s glare. The way he had looked at Nero when he first entered the classroom hadn’t been solely one of surprise; it was laced with hatred. It was clear why—Nero was sitting where Barak felt he should have been, and being with Lux, Adam, and Blake was a bitter pill for him to swallow.
’He’ll probably try to make my life a living hell. Heh! A life without hardships would be boring. I’ll play along and crush them one by one.’ Nero smirked, already anticipating Barak’s next moves.
"Let’s exchange contact information at the end of class," Lux suggested, glancing at Nero.
"Sorry, I don’t have a phone yet. I’ll buy one later."
This revelation shocked the three of them. In this day and age, it was unthinkable for a young man not to own a phone. It wasn’t just a trend; it was a necessity, given its many utilities. Hearing that someone their age didn’t possess a smartphone hit them hard.
"Are you seriously saying you don’t have a smartphone in this age?" Adam asked, bewildered. Blake, equally curious, stared at Nero with wide eyes.
"I really don’t have one. I’ll buy one when I have the money," Nero admitted, not hiding his financial struggles. It was then that they recalled his background, and it made sense that he didn’t own a phone. Lux spoke not out of sympathy, but because he genuinely felt that Nero was his friend, and friends should help each other.
"Okay, I’ll buy you one after class."
"I would have suggested it if you hadn’t said anything," Adam added, having had the same thought, while Blake nodded silently in agreement.
Seeing their genuine desire to help him, Nero didn’t refuse. He wouldn’t turn down a helping hand.