The sounds of the city surrounded Paul as he walked down the busy street.
The honking of cars, and the murmur of conversations all formed a sort of symphony, a bustling melody surrounded the city.
Paul's footsteps echoed on the pavement. As he approached the school, the buildings grew taller and closer together, the streets narrower and the people more numerous. Alen, Leo, and Lola appeared joining Paul as they start walked together.
"Is everything set?" Paul asked.
"Yes, everyone is in their selective school and everything is going as planned. Doesn't seem like a problem might occur anytime soon, so don't worry too much bro, everything is gonna be fine," Alen replied confidently.
Leo laughed a little, "Come on Paul, you scared or something?"
"Don't worry dude we just started the plan anyway, and I'm pretty sure today's gonna be fun," Lola said, patting Paul on the back.
"Scared? Who the heck do you think I am, I'm extremely chill right now. Since things are going well, let's just do this."
"Day 1 of high school here we come, what could possibly go wrong," Paul said smiling, as they finally stood before the gates of the huge school.
Paul stepped into the over-imposing building of Grand Empire Academy, a renowned institution known worldwide for nurturing scholars and molding future world powers.
It's towering presence and reputation in the city were palpable, and the atmosphere crackled with competition, fostering a sense of rivalry among the students.
One would expect this prestigious school to be a place of excitement for those lucky enough to attend, but an unmistakable intense animosity filled the air as every student understood what it meant to attend that school.
As Paul settled into his classroom, he found himself seated next to a familiar student whose presence wasn't felt by Paul on time.
But when he did...
"What the f**cking hell...?" Paul yelled in shock internally.
Paul couldn't conceal his fury as he glared nonstop at the person sitting next to him.
"You insolent bastard, how could such a lowlife like you get into this school?" Nicole said confusedly as she clenched her fist tightly about to attack. But then she noticed the curious eyes of the other students.
"Shit!! I knew she would be here, after all, she is the supreme student council president of the city, but in this massive big school,"
"how the heck did fate even conspire against me like this and place us in the same class, and worst of all, as seat partners? Darm I'll have to change my seat soon," Paul yelled internally, feeling super displeased.
Meanwhile, Nicole was grappling with her concerns;
"How did someone like him attend this school and I didn't hear about it? Or is he part of an influential family?, cause that is the only way I can explain this,"
"I'm worried he might reveal what happened that night, or use the info wrongly. If he does, my life at Empire Academy could be tainted by him, I must find a way to shut him up at all costs," she said internally.
Soon The homeroom teacher came in, And the first-ever class began.
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Throughout the first class, shivers went through the other classmates' spines as both Nicole and Paul's blood lust could not be dialed down.
Throughout the first day of school, after classes were over and lunchtime was active, a silent war was waged between Paul kept outmaneuvering Nicole as Nicole kept trying to capture him silently, both knowing that the revelation of their shared secret could have dire consequences.
With Nicole's continuous attempt to abduct Paul and Paul's unweaving attempt to avoid trouble, their school became a battleground of an unknown war throughout the massive Halls of the school.
.
.
.
On the roof of the school, his feet planted firmly on the concrete. The sky stretched out above, a vast expanse of blue sky. The wind whipped around, ruffling his hair and a chill down his spine.
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Paul finally escaped onto the rooftop of the building.
"Darn it, of all people, it had to be me this had to happen to. Well, I'll just have to wait here till class starts again, it's really beautiful up here," he said, taking a deep breath.
"Well what do we have here, I had the same thought to come to rest up in the rooftop, but lucky me I finally caught you," a dark figure said as the person walked up the stairs onto the roof.
Immediately Paul noticed Nicole and swiftly moved for a kick.
"Shit, since I want to avoid any form of nagging from Alen, I just have to attack her for a little while and escape when she's off guard," Paul said internally as Nicole blocked it with the staff that she was hiding behind her back.
She wasn't able to negate the impact, but skillfully maneuvered her way out of it and she was pushed towards the side a little, she then immediately went for an attack with her staff when Paul was still trying to recover,"
"BANG!"
Paul had just blocked the attack by moving his head closer to reduce the impact, but At that moment Paul's face got too close to Nicole's face.
Immediately he was pushed backward when he got too close.
"You bastard, what do you think you're doing again!!," Nicole yelled her expression filled with anger, veins budging from her fist.
But Paul who wasn't listening felt the shock of getting too close to her face leaving him with a blank gaze while still standing, as somewhere within Paul's mind, deep deep inside, as something locked up ruptured open, as a once vague memory became clear.
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The beautiful view of a soft and warm sunset from the footing of a cliff close by an ocean view blossom, as the blissful feel of the evening wind complemented with the calming smells of various flowers.
All in perfect harmony with the angelic voice of the little girl standing in front of a little boy.
"Hey Paul, just make sure you don't forget about me alright? And don't worry too much, it will only be a week's travel and I'll be back alright? so don't cry for me, unless you want me to keep calling you a weakling," the little girl said, patting little Paul's head while laughing.
"hey stop that and don't call me that again, I'm sure a few weeks is not that much, as long as you give me something in return, I will think about it," Little Paul said while smirking after fixing his hair.
The little girl smiling peacefully then said. "Alright then, let's see what I can give, hmmm, huh, huh,"
She picked a piece of paper and pen and wrote, "ok then take this,"
the little girl said as she gave Paul the note.
Paul, on reading it, burst into laughter
"Huh, really?"
"Alright then since you still can't let go of that big ego of yours, it has been decided now. Next time we meet our 100th prank war shall begin, just don't forget alright?" Little Paul said still smiling.
"Hey, Nicole let's go we don't want to miss our flight" a bold tall figure from the back yelled out.
"Ok, Dad I'm coming now" little Nicole yelled back.
"Come on what do you take me for? I could never forget you alright, to even ensure that I pinkie promise I won't forget you," she said smiling widely making a pinkie promise with little Paul.
"I got to go now see you later alright," Nicole said as she ran quickly with a massive smile on her face towards her dad.
"Bye," Paul whispered, as he watched his dearest friend walking far away from him, her smile radiating as a bright sun, to Paul, it was so calming it made him want to see it every day in your life as Paul was seen gazing at it, as the world started immediately revolving around the teardrops trickling down little Paul's face as the flashback stopped with a tear streaming off Paul's face.
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Back to the present time, at the towering height of the rooftop, Nicole is confused as to the tears rolling down Paul's face, "Hey, you, quit that, I need to talk to you about something important,"
"Haha Haha Haha, I remember it all now. Because of you, I waited and waited and waited and waited. Because of you, although I was going through the worst moments of my life, I still didn't lose hope in myself, because I knew you wouldn't break a promise. But now I'm not even sure you remember that day at all." Paul yelled out filled with frustration.
"November 25, 2007, do you remember what you forgot? That day, standing on a beach hill waiting for you." On the rooftop, a cold voice sounded.
"How the hell would I know, and how does it even concern you?" Nicole said in response.
"Oooh I see," Paul said in a cold and quiet tone.
"I knew it, you forgot huh? Well if that's the case I don't care, I'm still gonna keep my promise," his voice sounded out, broken in despair as from his pocket he brought out a am old wallet with two unclear pictures in it and from within the wallet he produced a piece of paper immediately giving a deadly bow.
"I declare the worst prank war you will ever experience, starting today, I will make you relive hell over and over again, that my new promise to you," Paul said grinning wildly, his eyes cold.
"What the heck, I had thought about it but he really is crazy, regardless of whatever status he has who would believe whatever he says with that crazy look in his eyes, I'm just wasting myself worrying about him," Nicole said Internally looking disgustingly at Paul.
"What the heck have you been murmuring about?" Nicole said confused and pissed, and then the school bell rang.
"Well I don't have time for all this bloody nonsense," Nicole said as she walked away, down the roof stairs leaving Paul standing alone on the roof.
"You have no right to reject this request, I suffered silently because I had to wait and hope for you, holding onto the memory of you as first ever friend," Paul murmured to himself, his head turned looking at the clouds.
"Shit, I forgot to still warn him. No, even if I did so, the way he just acted shows more how dangerous and crazy he is," she said as she walked down.
"How unlucky of you, because of that kiss now I will have no choice but to misuse my powers as the supreme student council president to make your life miserable now, just prepare because…" Nicole said walking downstairs.
"Because you forgot our promise," Paul said and his tone deepened.
"I will do every insane thing in my power to make you suffer… till you have no choice but to leave this school" With a smoldering rage in their eyes, both Paul and Nicole yelled internally as their gaze burned with furiosity.
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Paul stood in the middle of the school roof, his gaze fixed on the sky above. The serene blue sky and the gentle drift of clouds contrasted sharply with the chaos churning within him. His fingers clenched and unclenched at his sides.
"Geez!, my first day of high school is already a mess," he murmured to himself, watching a bird glide effortlessly through the air.
"why can't my school life just be peaceful and fun? what am I even saying with the kind of goal I have I don't really expect it to be peaceful, but now a new problem has arrived." He thought, Her mere presence was like a thorn in his side, a constant reminder of the peace he could never grasp.
The thought of her sent a shiver of anger through him, and he scowled at the memory of her laughing.
"Fate just loves to mock me, I just wanted to be pranking around and having fun while looking for my brother, but now this happens," Paul muttered, kicking at a pebble and looking at it with a blank expression.
"But thinking about it do I even deserve to have fun,"
His heart pounded, torn between the desire to enjoy his days at school and the simmering rage that Nicole's presence stirred.
A voice, soft and almost imperceptible, echoed in his mind.
"But Is revenge really the answer?"
Paul's brow furrowed as he considered the question. The idea of retaliation was tempting, a way to reclaim his lost joy. Yet, doubt gnawed at him, whispering that vengeance might not bring the peace he sought and he should just forget everything and walk away.
immediately that thought of the Pinky promise flashed, Making him clench his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
"I just want to have fun and look for my brother but she I'm the way, so like a roadblock, I must get rid of her," he said aloud, trying to convince himself.
A sinister smile slowly spread across his face as the thought of revenge took root, twisting his features into a mask of malice.
He could almost see it now—Nicole, humbled and filled with the despair he went through.
He burst into a crazy laughter, dropping onto the ground, clutching his sides as the laughter consumed him, his heart pounding with a dark, exhilarating thrill, although his sad expression and sorrowful tears betray his laughter.
"Yes," slowly relieving himself, he whispered.
"Revenge. That's the answer."
In that moment, vengeance won. The clouds above drifted on, oblivious to the choice Paul had made. The boy's mind, once a tumult of uncertainty, is now fixated on the all-consuming goal: to bring Nicole down and reclaim the fun he wants.