"You've just lost in all three bets, boys," I smirked as I throw the billiard stick on the pool table, signaling that the game has ended, and I, the ultimate winner on this bet.
"There's no way, you're dead!" He couldn't believe he lost all his money and now he's watching me count them in my own hands.
"No, you simply sucked, Joe." After I counted the cash, I stashed it in my pockets and grabbed on my leather jacket to leave the pool hall but Joe was fast and devastated— he pushed me by the glasswall with all his strength.
"Where do you think you're going, asshole?" His puppets closed the exit and hovered near me.
"Okay, chill." I managed to spit out and chuckled.
"Bring back my money, you bastard!"
I noticed how he started to pull out something from his pocket, he has a glint of terror in his eyes and an evil smile on his face while his puppets are enjoying the show.
"Let's draw a fucking scar on that face, huh, pretty boy!"
I threw a punch on his jaw but his puppets ganged up on me to stop. They were holding both of my arms as Joe scoots closer with a small dagger in his hand.
Fuck. I am so fucked up!
Before I even free myself from the grip, an approaching sound of siren filled the avenue, getting closer to the location of the pool hall.
"Oh, holy shit! Run! Run, boys!" they sprinted their way to the back door, leaving me trapped.
"You've gotta be kidding me," I muttered and ran up the second floor of the building. I managed to hide before the cops opened the main door in the first floor. That was freaking close!
There's only one thing left to do... I've gotta jump the hell out of here.
I'm in the middle of making decisions, standing at the edge of the building when the door blasted open, with the cops pointing guns at me, "Don't move, kiddo!" they shouted.
And so I did not move, except when I let my body decided as I jumped down. I opened my arms wide, feeling the air and the adrenaline rush while waiting for the perfect landing.
"Shit!" And that was it. My fucking landing on the ground. This was all Joe's fucking fault! I'm gonna kill him!
But there was no time to comfort myself from the pain because I've gotta get going. I ran all the way to school and brushed off the fact that I almost got caught up in a big trouble.
---
"After three days, you finally showed up, Noah. And well, you're late, congratulations!" The teacher sarcastically stated. I banged the door too hard so the attention of the class shifted to me.
"Sorry," I plainly said and walked to my desk.
I was absent for three days, well, of course for some valid reasons, like who the hell is interested in these subjects, and why the hell should I care?
"Dude! You're a legend!" Hans didn't care how loud he is. He's throwing punches on my back.
"Stop that, you're annoying." I put my feet above the desk.
"You have a lot to explain, buddy." he warned me with his eyes.
"Yes, mom." I mocked him.
"Boy, that's a real attitude problem, there." he laughed which made the teacher frown.
"Get out of my class, both of you! Now!" The teacher screamed and pointed his meter stick in our direction.
Geez, no need to scream, old man. I'm more than willing to get out of the room.
---
"Hey, wanna skip fourth period?" I asked Hans casually while scrunching the soda can with my right hand.
"Dude, you wanna get expelled?" He is carefully wiping his skateboard with the cuff of his jacket.
"It's just... everyday is meaningless, you know. Especially in here." I looked down the campus. We're just passing time at the rooftop of the main building. It's forbidden but I had my ways. From up here, I can still hear the bickering of the students. I can smell the rusty pile of old chairs. I can feel the tin can of soda marking the skin of my palm. I can see the world so bleak.
"That's mental, dude."
"No, this is mental." I let out a maniacal chuckle and positioned my hand in the air, holding a can of soda.
"Bet I could drop this," I said a grin.
"You're an asshole, I trust that you could." Hans stood up and plopped his skateboard down. He started riding on it with his hands shoved in his pockets.
"You suck," I uttered bitterly as I finally free the can from my grip. I looked down and saw it almost hit someone on the head, I clenched my fist and to my surprise, she was safe, and so the can just rolled and rolled. It looks like she was in a hurry so she dogded the impact. The girl looked up but before her sight landed on my direction, I hid against the wall. Phew, that was close! I wouldn't want that girl to cry if ever I ruin the ribbons on her hair.
"Come on, get a life, Noah." He was irritated. Hans quickly stepped on his skateboard to pick it up.
"I've got no fear, I'll be leaving this shithole school anyway." I told him what I've been keeping a secret. I thought about it. I see no point in attending classes. And I figured out it will still be okay if I just drop it. No one would notice.
"You serious, bro?"
"Yeah, so, skip classes?" I projected a playful smile and brought back the topic of skipping classes.
"Damn, alright."
Before we go down the staircase, I glanced below the building. The girl was gone.
"Play pool?" Hans suggested but I just shrugged.
"No way, I had trouble." I shoved my hands in my pockets.
"Again?" He couldn't believe a troublemaker making trouble. Sometimes I am just confused why we became buddies.
"The cops almost had me, so I jumped and escaped." I said with pride.
"Too bad I wasn't there," Seems like he's fond of making trouble too.
"Yeah, you're always missing in action, pal."
We reached the back gate of the school. I jumped up to reach the bricked wall and managed to escape out. He followed my lead and at last, we're out of the campus.
I took a case of Marlboro cigarette in the front pocket of my school pants and lit one.
"Well, that's it." I bummed a smoke, feeling relieved.
"You're a hopeless case." He tilted his head in disappointment.
We're already far from Greenwood High School. We're walking along the remote and quiet 9th district, which is probably the most unsafe street here. There are two types of person that goes here: the one who harms, and one being harmed. I'd rather be the first one. We stopped over the sports bar to shoot darts. The place is dark and loud and all smoky. It's not overcrowded since it's only noon.
"You know Joe's crew?" I asked Hans as I shoot the target. While he's busy chugging his drink.
"What about it?"
"They're gonna get it." I said with vengeance on my face and hit the bullseye.
"You had trouble with them, don't you?"
"They threatened me. And now, it's pay back time." I finished the darts with one shot and propped down the couch. I lit another cigarette and placed my legs on the glass table.
"Can't you just forget about it? Come on, man."
"I'm just playing, Hans."
My eyes are busy watching the man who just came by from the other table whose now surrounded with girls. I wonder how he managed to swing all these girls? He raised his glass and the others cheered. The guy looks so happy and proud. It's suspicious.
Looks like I've found my target. Bullseye!
"That's it! One of Joe's puppet!" I slammed my hands on the table and continued watching like a predator.
"You look obsessed," Hans commented while shooting.
The guy got distracted with a phone call and when he's about to go up and take it outside, I stood up too.
"I gotta go," I heard Hans calling my name and trying to stop me but I did not look back. I sprinted and followed the footsteps of the guy instead.
I was leaning on the wall, hiding and peeking. He looked so serious while talking to somebody on the phone, continuously looking left and right to see if anyone is around. What a dick.
I got more curious when he started walking away the building. And so I followed.
Where you going at, asshole? Why in a hurry?
We're getting farther and farther the district. The silence is making me crazy.
"You can come out now, kiddo." My eyes widened when he talked to me.
Gotta stay cool.
"You should mind your own business, Noah." He's sounded like he was warning me.
"Nah, I don't want any of mine." I took a step closer and smiled.
And finally, I pulled out something from my pocket... a steel- tipped dart. With a hint of evilness in my eyes, I threw off the piece right off his arm like he's a damn dart board. He screamed in pain and twitched.
"You're my god damn business, you puppet!" I kicked him on the ground.
He was fighting back but when I stepped on his hand with my rugged converse shoes, he screamed in agony. I can hear his bones cracking.
"Stop! Fuck! What do you want?!" He is breathing faster and faster.
"Nothing much," I kneeled down and took his wallet. A yellow fucking wallet.
"Don't you dare take it, Noah!"
"Another word and the next target would be is your goddamn mouth." I pushed deeper the dart on his skin and smiled.
I left him on the ground, traumatized and weak.
Now, now, look what I've got here. I took the wallet from my pocket. How much will I get from this?
It has a flower keychain. It doesn't even look like a boy's wallet.
I opened the wallet and it was different from my expectations. Not that much of a cash. No bank cards. Nothing... except from an identification card. This is someone's wallet, a girl's wallet!
I took out the card and read the name.
Lee, Iris Claire
The Chapter Junior Photographer
Greenwood High School
This looks like a publication identification card. We're going at the same school and she's a journalist. It's not a surprise if I don't know her, I don't even know the name of my professors.
What the fuck I am going to do with this? It's not my problem. I could just dump it like a garbage.
This is not what I've been looking for, and yet, this is what I found.