Chapter 39 : Cafeteria Eyes
After parting ways with Airin, Eiden headed straight to the cafeteria. The moment he stepped in, the familiar aroma of oily fries and spicy ramen greeted his nose along with the louder-than-necessary shouting from one corner. There they were: Deuel and the rest of the gang. Without hesitation, he walked over and grouped up with them.
As soon as he sat, the conversation picked up right where it had been. "Anyway, that jerk deserved it," Deuel declared, cracking open a soda like it was a beer. "Wait, did Ruel even come to college today?" Harry asked, raising a brow. "No," John replied firmly, crossing his arms. "Why?" Harry followed up. John leaned in with a smirk. "He got suspended." Eiden raised an eyebrow. That was fast.
"And his family can’t do anything about it," John added with a tone that carried the smugness of poetic justice. "Sure, he might have a strong background, but compared to the authority of Fors Height the kind of place that has kids from elite families they’re nothing. Plus, this college is being sponsored by some of the biggest names out there."
"Yeah," Deuel chimed in. "Groups like Samsung, and they wouldn’t want any trouble." Harry nodded. "Especially since Ruel’s ex-girlfriend’s dad is a high-ranking police officer. He’s been keeping an eye on Ruel’s family ever since the breakup."
"They can’t act out unless they want to get obliterated," John said. "Unless they’re total beasts." At that, Eiden’s mouth twitched slightly.
"They kind of did act out this morning, though," he muttered. "Oh?" Deuel leaned in. "Then they are beasts. Lol." "AHAHAHA!" Everyone burst out laughing. The tension lifted, the boys enjoying the shared schadenfreude. But then something shifted.
John, who’d been mid-sip from his drink, glanced toward Petter. His brows furrowed.
"Hey... What’s up with you, man? You’ve been quiet this whole time. Don’t tell me did masturbation finally get to your head?"
The rest of the group turned toward Petter, curious and amused. Petter, however, didn’t respond immediately. He sat in the corner of their booth, the lighting casting shadows across his face. His eyes looked darker than usual, and his voice, when it came, was low and gravelly. "We’re being watched," he said.