TRIGGER
It had been weeks. Nothing had changed.
Ruan was still thinking on how to out game Lumi before the engagement day. Meanwhile, Lumi had only turned up the charm, adding more theatrics to their fake relationship. She clung to him in public, smiled like they were in love and played the perfect girlfriend.
Ruan tried to ignore her, but Lumi wasn't fazed at all.
Akari, too, kept his distance. He avoided Ruan at all costs, showing up late to class and slipping away quickly. The tension between them remained, unspoken and unsolved.
Apart from everything, Kev.
It had been almost three weeks; Kev hadn't shown up at school. That absence hadn't gone unnoticed, especially for Akari.
One afternoon, as Akari wrapped up his chemistry class, he glanced at the empty seat in the third row, his brows furrowed in concern.
"Ruan, Est and West see me at my office after class," he said, closing his notebook.
In his office, Ruan, West and Est stood by Akari's desk. Akari pulled an attendance file, and scanned it. He fixed his glasses and then looked up at the boys.
"You're close to Kev, yeah?" Akari started. "Any idea where he might be?"
The three exchanged looks. Est scratched the back of his head.
"He said he was going to visit his grandma in the country side," Est said.
Akari pursed his lips, "His mother says otherwise."
The boys stiffened.
"Listen boys if you know anything about Kev just tell me. Don't try to hide. This is not just for his attendance, it's for his safety," Akari insisted.
"Mr. Akari we really don't know what's going on. Kev's been... off lately. And yeah, as Est said earlier, he only mentioned about the country side. Nothing else." Ruan said.
Akari leaned back in his chair, clearly unconvinced. But he didn't push further, not yet.
"Bet his moms don't know that he skips school because she lives abroad," West commented, scratching the back of his head.
That evening, the three friends, Ruan, Est, and West together went to pay a visit to where Kev was living. Akari tugged along too. His friends knew his address. They rang the bell, but there was no response. They tried several times but still there was no response.
The boys tried calling and calling Kev's name but still no response.
"Maybe he isn't home," Ruan said stepping back.
"Damn...this is freaking me out. Do you think something bad has happened to him?" West said, pacing left and right.
Silence. A gust of wind.
Akari had to think out straight first.
"Kev, I know you're in there!" Akari called after some time.
"We called too though," Ruan mumbled mockingly. The twins nudged him into hushing.
"I'm going to count to three, if you ain't coming out, you'll left me with no choice but to call the police," Akari said before he started to count.
Surprisingly, on two, the door creaked halfway.
Kev stood behind it, head lowered, face partially hidden in the shadows.
"What do you want?" He asked voice rough and tired.
"Kev," Ruan and the twins called in unison, rushing forward, only for Kev to block the doorway.
"No, don't," Kev said. "Just...leave."
He tried to close the door, but Akari stopped him. Kev pulled to close it, but Akari held it firm with one hand.
"Kev listen," Akari said gently. "We're not here to scold you. We're worried."
"Kev, bruv, open the door and talk to us," West said. "Please."
Kev hesitated, but unwillingly, he opened the door wider and let them in. Wordlessly, he led them into the living room. They sat down, but in silence. All eyes on Kev.
"What?" Kev mumbled, avoiding their gazes, head lowered, fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve.
Kev looked different. He lost some weight; eyes dim, and had bruises all over. He tried to hide them with his jacket, but the bruises in his cheek betrayed him.
Ruan's jaw clenched. "Who did this to you?" Ruan asked angrily.
Akari placed his hand on Ruan's shoulder and shook his head no, arguing him to stay calm.
"Mate," Akari started. "Care to tell us who did this to you and why haven't you been coming to school?"
Kev didn't respond, he just fidgeted, shaking his left leg nervously.
"Bruv, don't you trust us?" Est asked resting a comforting hand on Kev's back, "You know you can tell us. Mr. Akari is here too. There is nothing to be afraid of."
Kev swallowed. His lips trembled.
"He...he can't help," Kev stammered.
"What do you mean?" West asked, eyes narrowing with concern.
"They threatened me and told me not to say a word," Kev said.
Akari leaned forward. "Who did?" Akari asked politely.
No comment. Kev fell silent.
Suddenly, Kev bolted up.
"Please, guys leave. Thanks for caring but I'll handle this myself," Kev hissed.
He turned his back, walking toward the door.
But before anyone could answer anything, Kev's phone rang. It was on the table. Briskly, without thinking, Ruan and Kev both went for the phone. Ruan got it first.
"T.J" The caller ID flashed on the screen.
"Oh no!" Kev sighed, hands running through his hair. Tears streaming down his cheeks.
Ruan sighed in disbelief. "T.J?" he stared at the screen then at Kev.
"T.J?!" the twins echoed in confusion.
Kev backed away, shaking his head. "No, it's not what you think. He forced me into it. I...I...I couldn't escape. He...he threatened me into selling drugs. O...or else he...he...he would leak the video of me and Sasha...on the night of Lumi's party," Kev cried.
Without hesitation, Akari went up to him and hugged him. "No, no, it's okay. It's okay mate. You've got us now."
The twins moved in too, and Ruan followed, wrapping his arms around Kev in a group hug.
The room was silent for a moment, heavy with shared pain and comfort.
T.J was one of the city's most feared gangsters, known for manipulating teens from multiple schools through blackmail and threats. His drug ring operated through students, handpicked by bullies planted within schools to scout for vulnerable targets.
Kev had become one of those victims.
Later after Kev had calmed down and wiped his tears, Est looked at him seriously, "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I...I was scared," he admitted lowering his gaze.
"You could have at least told your mothers," Akari said.
Kev raised his head, eyes wide, "Ho...how did you know...I..."
Before he finished, Akari pointed to the photo frame on the table beside the couch he sat. It held of Kev's moms' smiling.
"I just didn't want to worry them." Kev said.
"They both outside the country?" Akari asked.
Kev nodded, "Hm...They run a company there. The company—that's what brought them together."
"Then until they're back, we've got you." Akari said.
Akari smiled slightly. But something stuck in his chest as he gazed at the wedding picture of Kev's mothers.
For a moment, he didn't hear what the boys were saying. His mind spiralled.
"Why not me?" Akari thought.
That would be him and Kian if only Kian didn't run away from him. The life they dreamed of. A peaceful home. A future. But Kian chose to abandon him. And why did he do that? Was it shame, money, did he not love him the way he did?
A tear Akari couldn't stop, slid down his cheek.
Ruan noticed the uneasiness covered on Akari's face, but didn't dare ask because he knew Akari wouldn't be sincere with him. And instead he went on teasing Kev.
***
The next week, Kev returned to school but not without caution. For the past few days, he'd been staying with the twins for his own safety. Ruan had personally assured him that if T.J bullies dared show up, they'd have a test of him first.
So Kev walked into school that morning with trembling hands but a little hope.
During break time, a few students were in class including Ruan. As his usual he was dozing on his desk. The twins were out for some air. Kev sat quietly at his seat, tapping away on his phone.
Suddenly, somebody snatched Kev's phone from his hands. He thought it was one of his buddies but no. It was the T.J bullies.
Jay, one of the bullies flanked by his usual cronies, he grinned maliciously.
"Oh! Look who's here guys. It's Kev, our long lost drug mule!" Jay said to his other two friends. And they laughed mockingly.
Kev flinched, "G…gi...give it back."
He tried to reach his phone but the bullies toyed with him, passing the phone to his friends and forth.
"You disappeared for a while, huh?" One of them sneered. "Got a little brave?"
Kev tried to stand on his ground, but his legs were shaking.
Jay leaned in. "You thought just because you cried to your little friends, you're off the hook?"
Just then, a heavy thud echoed, Ruan's chair scraped back. He stood slowly, eyes narrowed, fists clenched.
"Put it down," he said voice low and deadly calm.
The room stilled.
Jay chuckled. "Or what? You'll cry too?"
Ruan didn't flinch. He took one step forward, then another.
"Try me dickhead," he said, eyes locked. "But I swear, if you lay one more finger on Kev, you won't walk out of this room with all your teeth."
Ruan snatched away the phone from Jay's hand. "Next time don't dare ruin my sweet nap." He beamed. "Just a warning," he said tapping the Jay's chest with the phone.
Then he turned to walk away.
Jay scoffed, "And who do you think you are? Koo boy? Some kind of super hero? Or maybe..." he smirked, "his boyfriend?"
He shoved Ruan's shoulder.
Ruan clicked his tongue; rubbing the spot Jay touched him. "Tch... forgot to tell you something." He stepped closer, expression cold. "That video? Go ahead, upload it. No one gives a fuck about two teens having the best night of their lives. You are just pissed it wasn't you because you're into Sasha."
One of Jay's goons clenched his fist, about to swing but Jay held him back with a silent hand.
Jay's glare deepened.
"Koo boy," he spat. "Maybe you should stop sticking your nose into your friend's mess and start worrying about your own."
The tension thickened. Ruan didn't flinch. His smirk only widened. "Thanks for the advice, sweetheart."
The classroom buzzed with whispers.
But Jay grinned, too confidently, and locked eyes with Lumi.
"Bet nobody really knows the truth," he said with a cruel smirk. "Not even your little girlfriend over there...because Koo's are good at hiding stuff."
Ruan's smirk faded. He didn't know where Jay was getting at and now he was curious.
Jay chuckled, the added, voice louder, venomous dripping, "Why don't you go hide your psychotic mother before she starts running half naked through the streets again? Is it like a curse for invading other people's houses or what? I'm curious you know. Tell me Mr. Illegitimate son..."
CRACK!
Before he could finish, Ruan's fist collided with Jay's jaw. Jay hit the ground hard.
Without a second thought, Ruan was on him, fists flying, fuelled by raw fury. One punch, two, three, brutal and rent less. His rage was uncontrollable.
Jay's friends lunged toward Ruan, but he shoved them back with snarl, wild eyed, veins pulsing in his neck and arms.
Students gasped. Some screamed. Phones came out. The entire class gathered, stunned, but no one dared to step in.
Then...
"Stop," Miss Leah stepped, the discipline teacher, followed by Akari.
Akari rushed and grabbed Ruan's arm, trying to pull him off. But Ruan yanked his hand away, ready to land another blow.
"Ruan, that's enough. Please stop!" Akari begged.
Ruan froze at Akari's voice, breathing heavily. His fists were bloodied, is knuckles scraped and raw. He slowly turned and looked at Akari. Akari shook his head slightly.
Jay lay on the floor, nose broken, groaning and barely conscious.
Ruan and Akari locked eyes, but this wasn't like the rain shelter. Ruan's eyes were blazing, animalistic, still high on adrenaline and rage. Akari's gaze softened, full of concern, but also torn, he couldn't take sides.
Akari glanced at Kev in the back, pale, shaking. So that's what this was about... Akari realized. It wasn't about pride. It was about protection.
Ruan had snapped...forgot Kev.
"Everyone, back to your classes!" Miss Leah barked. "Someone help Jay to the infirmary. Ruan...my office. Now!"
As the crowd began to disperse, Lumi stood in the corner, arms crossed. She hadn't moved the entire time.
She smiled.
A cold, knowing smile.
She had seen something in Ruan, something dark, unfiltered, that he had always tried to hide behind the cocky smirk.
And she liked it.