Max clenched her fists, eyes locked onto the group of men harassing the girl. She had given them a chance to walk away, but they had chosen to provoke her instead. One of the men, tall and reeking of alcohol, stepped closer.
"You're prettier than her," he sneered, eyeing Max with a disgusting smirk. "How about you keep us company instead?"
Max let out a sigh, already calculating her next moves. "Last chance," she warned. "Walk away before you regret it."
The man laughed, turning to his friends. "Did you hear that? This little girl thinks she can—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Max moved. Her fist connected with his jaw so fast he didn't even have time to react. The man stumbled backward, clutching his face as blood dripped from his nose.
"What the hell?!" one of his friends shouted before lunging at Max.
She sidestepped easily, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. With a swift kick to his legs, she sent him crashing to the ground. Another man tried to punch her, but she ducked, countering with an elbow to his ribs. He groaned in pain, doubling over.
The remaining two hesitated. Max smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Still want to try?"
They exchanged nervous glances before turning and running away, leaving their friends groaning on the pavement. The girl they had been harassing was still frozen in shock.
"You okay?" Max asked, dusting off her hoodie.
The girl nodded quickly, eyes wide with fear and awe. "Th-thank you..."
"Go home," Max said simply before turning on her heel and walking away as if nothing had happened.
---
Max arrived home, stepping into the kitchen where Astra and Amigas were preparing dinner. Without a word, she placed the grocery bags on the counter and headed to the sink to wash her hands.
Astra noticed the red stains on her knuckles and frowned. "Max... what happened?"
Amigas, who had been chopping vegetables, turned his head, eyes widening. "Wait, is that blood?"
Max shrugged. "Got into a little fight. Nothing serious."
"Nothing serious?" Astra repeated, placing her hands on her hips. "You just got back after five years, and you're already fighting people?"
Max smirked. "What can I say? Some guys needed a lesson."
Amigas blinked, looking at Astra. "She's joking, right?"
Astra sighed, shaking her head. "Nope. That's just Max."
As Max dried her hands, her phone buzzed. She checked the screen and saw Uncle Waan's name. "Gotta take this," she muttered, stepping out of the kitchen.
Amigas turned back to Astra, still processing what just happened. "So... you and Max are the same age, right?"
Astra nodded, continuing to unpack the groceries.
"Then why is she still in college? You already finished and have a job."
Astra hesitated before sighing. "It's a long story."
"I've got time."
She glanced toward the doorway, making sure Max was out of earshot. "It's because of Lucas. But don't tell her I told you."
Amigas frowned. "Lucas? What does he have to do with it?"
Astra leaned against the counter. "Max has liked Lucas since middle school, but she never had the courage to tell him. Back in high school, something happened…"
---
Flashback – Five years ago
Max and Astra sat in the school cafeteria, quietly listening to a group of girls gossiping behind them.
"Lucas topped the exams again," one girl said, sighing dreamily. "He's smart and handsome. Such a perfect guy."
Max's grip on her fork tightened, but Astra placed a calming hand on her arm.
"Oh, and guess what?" another girl added in a hushed voice. "I invited him to my birthday party tonight. I'm going to slip something into his drink and spend the night with him."
Max's blood boiled. Before Astra could stop her, she shot up from her seat and stormed toward the group.
"What did you just say?" Max demanded, glaring at the girl who had spoken.
The girl smirked. "None of your business. And who do you think you are, talking to me like that?"
That was the last thing she managed to say before Max's fist collided with her face. The cafeteria erupted into chaos as Max repeatedly punched her, ignoring the screams around them.
---
End of Flashback
Amigas stared at Astra, stunned. "And then...?"
"She went into a coma," Astra said bluntly.
"C-coma?!" Amigas stammered.
Astra nodded. "Because of that, Max was sent to a reformatory school. Uncle Sebastian was furious. When she returned, he sent her straight to military school for two years."
Amigas shook his head in disbelief. "Damn… And how did she end up in Thailand?"
"She met Jack in reformatory school, and they became best friends. Their bond was so strong that wherever Max went, Jack followed. From reformatory school to military school, and now college."
Amigas smirked. "Sounds like Jack might have a thing for her."
Astra shook her head. "Max sees him only as a friend."
Amigas was about to ask more, but Max suddenly reappeared, eyeing them suspiciously. "Dinner ready yet?"
Astra quickly turned back to the stove, pretending to focus on cooking. Amigas gave Max an awkward smile before continuing to chop the vegetables, now looking at her in a completely different light.
To be continued...