The sudden appearance of the three was like a replay of that day.
The only difference, perhaps, was the way the door was opened. Last time it had been kicked open, but this time, it was pushed open in a much more civilized manner, as if hinting that this visit would be different.
However, Sophie seemed not to notice, as familiar scenes unfolded, she instantly became alert, frowning and gripping her pen a bit tighter.
But Sam was remarkably calm, even after a glance, he simply lowered his head and continued reading, as if nothing concerned him.
Asher and his companions hesitated for a moment before walking up to Sam.
Sophie, looking at Sam with his head down, wondered why he was so composed.
Was this familiar scenario a chance for her to make a different choice?
While Sophie was puzzled, Asher spoke up.
“Sam, can we talk?”
Sam, flipping through his book and taking notes, responded without looking up.
“What is it?”
But Asher hesitated, glancing at Sophie. Despite her beauty, Asher seemed uninterested in the feminine allure at that moment.
“Excuse me, could you give us a moment with Sam?”
Sophie, aware of the reputation surrounding Asher and his group, found his politeness odd.
Wasn’t their style to slam the table and loudly demand she leave?
Truth be told, Sam didn’t expect Sophie to comply, having realized through their brief interactions that she wasn’t one to yield to others.
She was self-protective, proud, and stood by her convictions.
Unexpectedly, Sophie closed her book and slowly stood up.
Meeting Sam’s gaze, her face showed disdain.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just not interested in your conversation.”
Asher sincerely said, “Thank you.”
Sophie, surprised by his polite demeanor, still remarked,
“I’ll be outside. If there’s any funny business, I’ll notify a teacher.”
“Don’t worry, we just want to chat with Sam!”
Sam, watching Sophie quickly leave the study room, was puzzled. This wasn’t like her. Had she had a change of heart? Or did she realize her previous choice was wrong?
He couldn’t understand, maybe everyone needs a chance for self-fulfillment.
Asher and his companions stood beside Sam, hesitating before Asher suddenly took a deep breath and bowed deeply.
“I’m really sorry about today!”
Sam, unsurprised, calmly turned to them.
“You feel sorry?”
Asher looked somewhat embarrassed but spoke apologetically.
“I know what I did was despicable, and I can’t just blame it all on Brody’s instructions. After all, I agreed to do it at the time…”
“Why are you apologizing now?”
“Because… if you had reported me back then, I would have been the one leaving the school, right?” Asher said with an awkward smile.
Sam also smiled.
“Just leaving school? I think you’d probably end up in jail too. But don’t worry too much, you have Brody backing you up, right? He might bail you out?”
At this, a flicker of anger crossed Asher’s face.
“After I was taken away by Thomas, several teachers interrogated me. I thought you had told them something beforehand. So, I tested that bastard Brody, telling him I was in trouble and hoping he’d help me out. But he just said it was all my idea and had nothing to do with him! He’s just a coward who wants others to do his dirty work while keeping his own hands clean!”
The shorter boy behind Asher also spoke up angrily.
“Brody has done similar things before! I heard about someone on a forum accusing Brody of making them do shady stuff. That person got expelled, Brody didn’t show any support, the post was quickly deleted, and they were left high and dry.”
Another person clenched his fists.
“Yeah, Brody is a jerk. He only cares about getting his own work done, with no regard for others’ feelings!”
Listening to them, Sam showed no reaction, appearing indifferent.
“What does any of this have to do with me?”
Asher hesitated, then looked at Sam.
“Brody’s targeting you now. He’ll use other means against you in the future. Without us, there will be others to do his bidding, given his background… Maybe we can help you.”
“Help me? How? By helping me kill Brody? Or do you think with your ‘brilliant’ minds, you can get him kicked out of Kuhang High School?”
Hearing Sam’s obvious sarcasm, Asher and his companions fell silent.
They couldn’t think of a rebuttal. How could they confront Brody? In the end, they were just ordinary students from average backgrounds, even disliked by many as bad students.
After a moment of thought, Asher said through gritted teeth.
“We can follow you, you be our leader, and we can help you deal with Brody!”
Hearing this proposal, Sam fell silent, just looking at Asher. Asher thought Sam would agree, believing their experience and status could indeed help Sam in some ways.
The reason Asher wanted to help Sam was out of anger, infuriated by people like Brody who, with their privileged backgrounds, mercilessly manipulate others. Unable to swallow this indignity, and moved by Sam’s intelligence and his decision not to report Asher immediately, Asher felt Sam had no reason to refuse.
Yet, after a moment’s silence, Sam slowly said,
“Get lost.”
Asher and his companions were stunned, seemingly not expecting Sam to use such words.
“What did you say?”
“I said get lost.”
Sam’s indifferent gaze fell on the three, and before they could react, his words came down like a torrential rain.
“I didn’t turn you in immediately, didn’t send you to jail. What did you think that was? I’m not overly kind, but I don’t harm people without cause. You want to acknowledge me as your leader? What, can’t you do anything other than bullying the weak? Or do you think I’m like Brody? I should have sent all three of you to jail today, you’re irredeemable trash.”
After Sam finished, Asher and his companions were shocked, unable to muster anger against his blunt words. Instead, they felt a deep sense of guilt.
Indeed, they had approached Sam precisely because he was different from Brody.
And yet, they had the audacity to think of making him their leader, which was utterly foolish.
Sam closed his book and stood up.
“Not leaving, huh? Then I will. Don’t come looking for me again, and don’t associate me with you. What happens to you has nothing to do with me.”
As Sam was about to leave, Asher grabbed his hand.
“Wait, Sam!”
Sam frowned at Asher, who looked ashamed and hesitated before lowering his head.
“We were wrong… Forget what I said. We just wanted to be friends with you… We promise not to do those things again, even make up for our past wrongs. We’re truly sorry, we just wanted to thank you!”
“Be my friend?”
“Yes… Can we?”
Sam thought for a moment, then withdrew his hand from Asher’s grasp, feeling a bit odd. He preferred the softer touch of a girl’s hand.
Sam didn’t say much more, just indifferently remarked,
“What you do is none of my business. Don’t worry about how Brody will deal with me. That’s it.”
With that, Sam turned and walked out of the study room, leaving a dazed Asher behind.
…
Sam walked out of the study room and saw Sophie standing at the corner of the corridor, looking at her phone. As he appeared, she lifted her head, her gaze still as cold and disdainful as before.
Sam didn’t bother to explain anything; he just spoke while walking downstairs.
“It’s better for you to go back in after they leave.”
Sophie frowned.
“So, you’re actually on good terms with them.”
She obviously mistook Sam as being of the same ilk as Asher. Sam smiled faintly, not bothering to clarify. He knew any explanation would be perceived as trying too hard to impress her.
He shrugged.
“Well, a bit better than with you, anyway.”
Sophie clenched her fists and turned her head away, ignoring Sam.
But then, something seemed to strike Sam.
“By the way, Sophie, you’re good at math, right?”
Sophie replied irritably.
“I’m good at everything, what’s it to you? Don’t think you can use this as an excuse to get me to tutor you. No way.”
Sam didn’t seem to care.
“No, just asking, that’s all.”
After saying this, Sam turned and continued down the corridor, actually leaving. His actions left Sophie puzzled and somewhat irritated. Why did he suddenly ask that? He must be crazy!
Just then, her expression changed abruptly.
“Why wouldn’t you tutor him, sis?”
“Why should I tutor him? Are you crazy?”
“But… he really loves studying!”
“Bullcrap. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. I have no intention of getting involved with him. He’s not into studying. He’s just putting on a show, all pretense!”
Sophie’s expression and tone kept changing. Then, suddenly stopping, she looked up to see three dumbfounded people in the hallway.
“What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen someone talking to themselves before?”
Meanwhile, Sam had almost reached the school gate.
Regarding Asher and the others wanting him as their leader… Sam understood their motives but saw no reason to agree.
Gathering a bunch of bad students around him to become some sort of gang leader? Was he out of his mind, seeking trouble?
Moreover, Sam knew that Asher and his companions were only turning to him because they couldn’t stomach their situation with Brody.
As for why Sam spared Asher earlier, it was planting a seed – to mitigate some animosity and have them owe him a favor, a potentially profitable situation.
As for when these people might come in handy, that wasn’t a concern for now.
Relaxed, Sam reached the entrance, and his phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Picking it up, he was relieved to see it wasn’t anything strange, just a message from Angel.
[It’s almost been a week, when do we start?]
Sam smiled slightly, impatient, are we?
He decided to reply arrogantly after getting home.
[What’s the rush? Let’s wait until after this week’s test.]
