As the school day ended, Noah and Aiden left their last class, which, ironically, was chemistry.
As they headed toward the school gate, they spotted Mark and Layla standing near the entrance. Aiden nudged Noah, reminding him of the earlier breakup conversation. Noah had already told him that he was done with Layla, so he intended to ignore them. However, Mark’s eyes were locked on Noah, his expression smug and provoking.
As they approached, Mark couldn’t resist throwing a jab. “You know, Noah, it’s funny… you were with Layla for so long, yet you never really got close to her, did you? Unlike some of us,” Mark sneered, making his insinuation clear without being explicit.
Noah stopped, narrowing his eyes at Mark. He responded with a calm but cutting tone, “That’s because I have standards, Mark. Unlike you, I don’t need to prove myself by treating girls like trophies.”
Mark’s friends burst out laughing, but not at Noah’s retort—instead, they were smirking at the impending confrontation. Mark’s face twisted with anger, feeling humiliated in front of his friends and Layla. “You—” he started, his voice trembling with rage. “Follow me if you’re a man.”
Noah didn’t hesitate. “Lead the way,” he replied coolly.
Mark turned on his heel and headed towards a secluded alleyway near the school. Aiden grabbed Noah’s arm, concern written all over his face. “Don’t follow him, Noah. He’s got two of his goons with him. They’re clearly planning to jump you.”
Noah glanced at Aiden, a small smile on his lips. “It’s fine. Trust me.”
Aiden sighed, knowing there was no changing Noah’s mind, and reluctantly followed.
When they reached the alley, Mark’s friends positioned themselves at the entrance, blocking any potential escape route. They snickered, confident that Noah wouldn’t stand a chance against their leader, who was not only the taekwondo club captain but also one of the wealthiest students at the academy. Layla watched from a distance, her expression a mix of worry and guilt.
Mark rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. “You should’ve stayed out of this, Noah. Now I’m going to teach you a lesson.”
Noah, unfazed, simply raised an eyebrow. “I’ve heard enough talk. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
With a swift motion, Mark launched a kick towards Noah’s midsection, aiming to wind him right from the start. But to everyone’s shock, Noah sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing Mark’s leg and twisting it, forcing Mark to lose balance and stumble backward.
Mark’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered, coming at Noah with a series of punches. Each strike was sharp and precise, a testament to his taekwondo training. However, Noah’s movements were fluid and almost effortless, as if he could predict every move before it happened. He blocked and dodged with a grace that left the onlookers stunned.
“Come on, Mark,” Noah taunted, “I thought you were better than this.”
Mark, now furious, threw a wild punch with all his strength. But Noah anticipated it perfectly, ducking under the blow and delivering a quick jab to Mark’s ribs, followed by a sweeping kick that sent Mark crashing to the ground.
The alley fell silent, the sound of Mark hitting the pavement echoing loudly. Noah stood over him, unscathed and composed. Mark’s friends, who had been snickering moments earlier, were now silent, their confidence shattered. Layla stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
As Mark struggled to get up, his pride shattered, Noah leaned in close and whispered, “Maybe you should pick on someone your own size next time.”
Mark glared up at him, seething with rage and humiliation. “This isn’t over, Noah.”
Noah stepped back, a smirk playing on his lips. “It is for today. Next time, think twice before underestimating someone.”
With that, Noah turned and walked away, Aiden following close behind, his mouth still hanging open in shock. Layla watched them go, her face flushed with a mixture of emotions she couldn’t quite process. Noah had not only humiliated Mark but had done so with confidence and skill that no one had expected.
As they left the alley, Aiden finally found his voice. “Noah… what the hell just happened? How did you…?”
Noah grinned and shrugged playfully. “Just some of that secret ninja training I’ve been doing on the weekends.”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. Next, you’ll tell me you’re secretly a superhero.”
Noah chuckled. “Close, but not quite. Anyway, wanna go for a ride around the city?”
Aiden’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Wait, you got a bike?”
Noah shook his head, still grinning. “Nope, I bought a Lambo.”
Aiden burst out laughing. “Haha, good one, Noah! A Lambo! That’s a good joke.”
Noah just smiled at his friend, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “So, you coming or what?”
Aiden paused, the laughter dying in his throat as he noticed Noah’s serious expression. “Wait… you’re joking, right?”
Noah just started walking, motioning for Aiden to follow. “Come on, you’ll see.”
Noah led the way, with Aiden trailing behind, still convinced that his friend was joking. As they approached the parking lot, Aiden spotted a shiny new mountain bike and grinned. “Not bad, Noah! This is one of the newest models. It costs around $500, right? How did you manage to save up for it?”
“Did uncle buy it for you?” Aiden said, knowing Noah’s housing situation.
Noah just smiled and kept walking.
Aiden frowned, glancing back at the bike. “Wait, why aren’t we going to the bike? Isn’t that yours?”
Noah chuckled. “Because that’s not my ride.”
By the time Noah and Aiden reached the parking lot, they were greeted by the attendant. The man instantly recognized Noah and, remembering the expensive car from yesterday, straightened up with a respectful nod. He quickly opened the gate without a word, treating Noah as if he were someone important.
Aiden’s eyes widened in confusion as they entered the lot. “Wait, what’s going on? Why is he letting us in so easily?”
Noah just grinned, leading the way to where the Lamborghini was parked. The sleek, black car gleamed under the lights, a stark contrast to the other vehicles in the lot.
Aiden’s jaw dropped. “No way… Is that…?”
Noah started tossing the keys in his hand, smirking. “I told you it wasn’t a bike.”frёeweɓηovel.coɱ