Chapter 2: ripples

I sat on the cold concrete steps of the schoolyard, knees pulled to my chest, trying to steady my breath. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cracked pavement, and the distant chatter of students heading home buzzed in my ears. I hated this feeling — the tightening in my chest, the trembling in my hands. My heart was racing, not from exertion but from the pure terror of what was about to happen.

“Tianze!”

I lifted my head. Jian stood a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest, his sharp eyes narrowed beneath dark, messy hair. He looked every bit like the kind of guy who wouldn’t hesitate to break someone’s nose — which he probably had, more than once. Behind him stood Ren, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his expression blank but his eyes sharp, taking in every detail of the scene.

“They’re coming,” Jian said, jerking his chin toward the alley at the side of the school.

My stomach sank. “Are you sure we shouldn’t—”

“No.” Jian’s eyes hardened. “If we let them walk over us once, they’ll keep coming back.”

“They’re bigger than us,” I said, voice cracking.

Jian grinned. “That’s why I’m here.”

A group of three older boys stepped into the alley, their expressions dark and predatory. Their leader — a broad-shouldered guy with a jagged scar running down his left cheek — rolled his neck and smiled.

“Well, well,” Scarface said. “Looks like you didn’t get the message last time.”

Jian stepped forward. “We got the message. We just decided to send one back.”

My heart hammered in my chest. Jian was confident — too confident. I could barely breathe as Scarface’s group closed the distance. Jian cracked his knuckles, his smile sharp.

Scarface lunged.

Jian moved fast, ducking beneath the swing and driving his fist into the guy’s ribs. Scarface grunted and stumbled back, but the other two rushed in. Ren sidestepped one punch and drove his elbow into the guy’s side, sending him reeling. Jian had already dropped Scarface to one knee and was moving toward the next target.

And then it happened — one of the guys rushed straight at me.

My feet froze. My chest locked up. All I could hear was the roar of blood in my ears.

“Tianze, move!” Ren shouted.

I couldn’t. My body wouldn’t listen. The guy’s fist slammed into my stomach, driving the air from my lungs. I crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.

He grabbed my collar and lifted me up. “Pathetic,” he sneered.

Something inside me snapped. My vision blurred. I didn’t think — I just acted. My hand shot out, fingers clawing at his face. He yelled, and I twisted free, falling hard onto my side. I heard Jian’s voice, sharp and angry, followed by the heavy sound of fists meeting flesh.

Jian drove his knee into Scarface’s gut and slammed his elbow into his temple. Scarface collapsed, unconscious. Ren moved swiftly, sweeping the legs of the last guy, sending him crashing to the ground.

The alley was quiet except for the sound of ragged breathing. I lay on my side, clutching my ribs.

Jian knelt beside me. “You good?”

I coughed. “Yeah… I think.”

Ren stood over the unconscious bodies. “That was messy,” he said flatly.

Jian smirked. “Yeah. But we won.”

I sat up slowly, my whole body aching. Jian extended a hand. After a moment, I took it.

“Tianze,” Jian said, his voice low. “Next time… don’t hesitate.”

My fingers tightened around his hand. I nodded.

As we walked away from the alley, I could still feel the bruises forming beneath my shirt, the sting of my failure burning deeper than the pain. I knew I’d frozen — that I’d almost gotten us hurt. But Jian and Ren had my back.

For now.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***