The group of seniors coalesced around Emerald and Isak, effectively surrounding them. They settled in, their presence radiating an air of subtle dominance. One of the men, his gaze fixed on Isak, curtly instructed him to leave. Isak, sensing the potential for trouble, began to rise, but Emerald, with a subtle nod, gestured for him to remain seated. Isak, heeding the unspoken command, settled back down.
A girl among the seniors, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of curiosity and challenge, extended a hand towards Emerald. "I'm your senior," she began, her voice smooth and confident, "My name is..."
"Sophia Zetal, daughter of David Zetal," Emerald interjected, cutting her off smoothly.
Sophia's eyebrows arched slightly. "You know me, huh? A little too much, perhaps?"
"Isak just filled me in," Emerald replied, his tone nonchalant.
"Heard you're from offshore," another senior chimed in, his voice laced with a hint of condescension. "So why don't we have a little senior-junior chat, Mr...?"
"Emerald Mortaza," Emerald supplied, keeping his introduction brief. "Same major as you guys."
"Mortaza, an Asian prick, huh?" another senior muttered under his breath, the words laced with prejudice.
"I'm Alex," the first senior said, ignoring the muttered comment. "Alex Waffet. This is Ken Miles, and that is Tony Daric." He gestured towards the other members of the group.
"Sophia here hasn't been in a relationship for ages," Ken remarked, a smirk playing on his lips, "and she's hoping someone as handsome as you could lend a hand to alleviate her loneliness."
"I appreciate the offer," Emerald replied smoothly, a hint of amusement in his voice, "but sadly, I have to decline it. See, I'm a married man." He displayed his ring finger for emphasis.
The seniors chuckled, a mixture of amusement and disbelief in their eyes.
The eyes in the university canteen began to turn towards their table. Every single gaze was fixated on the unfolding scene, eager to witness the impending confrontation.
"Mr. Mortaza," Tony said, his voice hardening, "we aren't asking you, we're ordering you. Stand up, get on the table, and ask her out. Scream it at the top of your lungs, kid."
Emerald, unfazed, simply raised his hand again, displaying his ring as a silent rejection of the threat.
"He's a man, Tony," Alex interjected, a note of caution in his voice. "Don't push it."
"Can I see that ring?" Sophia asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Emerald slipped the ring off his finger and handed it to her. Sophia examined it closely, her brow furrowed. "What's it made of?" she asked.
"It's an ordinary diamond," Emerald replied, his voice calm.
The word "diamond" hung in the air, causing a ripple of surprise to pass through the group. Alex snatched the ring from Sophia, examining it with a practiced eye. After a few moments, he tossed it onto the floor, the clatter echoing through the tense silence. Isak's eyes widened, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
"The ring's gone," Alex said, his voice hard. "You should respect my words as a junior. Now, propose to her." He gestured towards Sophia.
"Respect should be earned, not bought," Emerald replied, his voice unwavering.
"Big words, huh?" Tony sneered. "Heard you drive a DBX. Give me the keys, little one."
"I think Isak should leave," Alex said, his gaze fixed on Isak. "It's better to save your ass for something you didn't sign up for." As Isak began to rise, Emerald gave him a subtle, almost imperceptible glance. In that moment, Isak felt a chill run down his spine, and he remained seated.
"You niggas think you can just walk home now?" Ken shouted, his voice rising. The other seniors in the canteen began to gather around, forming a menacing circle.
Emerald glanced at his watch, his expression unreadable. He turned to Alex, his voice low and dangerous. "I want my ring back on my finger within five minutes. If I don't get it, I'm going to break each finger on your hand, one every five minutes."
"Look who's talking," Alex sneered, "If you want it, go and get it."
Emerald rose from his seat, his movements fluid and deliberate. He walked over to where the ring lay, kneeling to retrieve it. Suddenly, a foot shot out, kicking the ring away, sending it skittering across the floor.
A wave of laughter erupted from the seniors, their voices echoing through the tense silence. Breaking the laughter, Emerald's hand flashed out, a fork appearing seemingly from nowhere. He swiftly stabbed the man who kicked the ring in the leg, the sudden, sharp pain silencing his laughter. In one fluid motion, Emerald rose, delivering a powerful punch to the same man's jaw, knocking him unconscious.
Another senior, attempting to seize the opportunity, tried to grab Emerald from behind. But Emerald, seemingly anticipating the move, executed a swift back heel kick, sending the would-be assailant crashing to the ground, unconscious.
The canteen fell into an eerie silence. Ken, his face flushed with anger, charged at Emerald. Emerald, however, seemed to move in slow motion, his senses heightened. He felt everything with an almost surreal clarity, as if the world itself had slowed down. Evading Ken's wild swing, he delivered a precise jab to Ken's neck. Ken crumpled to the floor like a felled tree.
Next was Tony. Emerald, with a swift and almost casual motion, grabbed a nearby metal tray. With a resounding smack, he brought the tray down on Tony's head, the steel warping and molding to the shape of Tony's face as he collapsed.
A particularly large and imposing senior stepped forward, his eyes filled with rage. Emerald, however, remained calm. He reached out with an unnerving ease, grabbing the man's head. With a tightening of his wrist, he applied pressure, the man's eyes rolling back as he crumpled to the floor.
The remaining seniors, realizing the futility of their initial approach, charged in as a group. Emerald moved with a speed and precision that defied their numbers. Within moments, twenty-two seniors lay unconscious on the cafeteria floor, a chaotic tableau of limbs and twisted bodies.
The crowd, which had swelled to fill the canteen, stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief. Not a single person moved. Isak, his face pale, remained rooted to his spot, his eyes fixed on Emerald. Alex and Sophia, too, were speechless, their expressions a mixture of shock and fear.
Emerald, with meticulous precision, retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and began to wipe away the sweat and a few bloodstains that marred his clothing. He then turned his attention to Alex, who was now trembling visibly.
"I'll pick it up, okay? No need for any more... hands," Alex stammered, his forced smile a pathetic attempt to mask his terror.
"A war is fought after countless diplomatic allegiances," Emerald replied, his voice calm and even.
Alex, his mind reeling, could only manage a bewildered, "What...?"
Without further explanation, Emerald grabbed Alex by the head and slammed it against the nearest table, the resounding thud echoing through the silent canteen. He then dragged Alex over to where the ring lay. With a cold, unwavering stare, Emerald gestured towards the ring. Alex, his fingers trembling, picked it up and placed it back on Emerald's finger. With a final, swift punch, Emerald knocked Alex unconscious.
Emerald then turned to Isak, who was still frozen in shock. "Let's go," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I'll drop you off."
As they approached the parking lot, Isak finally found his voice. "You... you know who they are, don't you?" he asked, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. "And yet you didn't hesitate. Who the hell are you, man? You just show up one day, and the next, you're taking down half the senior class."
Emerald paused, a pleasant smile spreading across his face. "I'm not a Mortaza anymore," he said, his gaze fixed on the ring. "See this? I'm a Raizal. Emerald Raizal. And a man worthy of the hand of Eva Raizal."
(To be continued)