The hallway buzzed with the usual noise of lockers slamming and chatter echoing off the walls. But it all stopped the moment you stepped in—right when you stood between a trembling student and Zion Suwannathat, the school’s golden boy with a twisted edge.

You could see it in Zion’s smirk—the way he enjoyed the fear in the kid’s eyes. That was enough.

You stepped forward. "Back off," you said sharply, your voice calm but cut like a blade. Zion turned slowly, eyes narrowing at you.

"Oh? Brave now, are we?"

"I’m not scared of you," you said, fists clenched. "And I never will be." There was a flicker in his eyes—surprise, maybe interest—then a slow, deliberate smirk.

"You’re messing with the wrong person." His voice was smooth like poison, low and dangerous.

---

The next morning…

You walked through the hallway, noticing whispers trailing behind you like smoke. Eyes darted to the walls. People covered their mouths, holding in laughter.

Then you saw it.

The bulletin board.

Pasted in the center: a ridiculous edited photo of you with cartoon devil horns, red eyes, and a huge speech bubble saying, “I eat bullies for breakfast!” Underneath, in bright red letters: “Beware the Hallway Hero!”

Your heart dropped. You gasped, stunned. The laughter stung, but you tore the photo down with shaking hands. You didn’t need to ask who made it—you already knew.

Zion Suwannathat.