Nobility of the 21st century

Chapter XIV: Confrontations

Benjamin, moving discreetly, stealthily approached the court where Professor Cristal Fritz was reprimanding Edgar. The scene he witnessed elicited a mixture of curiosity and astonishment in the young man, as his eyes captured every detail of the teacher's expression.

Cristal's demeanor was clearly disturbed, her face reflecting a combination of disgust and surprise. The teacher's lips twisted into a deformed grimace, as if struggling to find the right words to express her discontent. Her eyebrows had furrowed into a tense line above her nose, which had slightly wrinkled in a display of disapproval.

Cristal's eyes, wide and open, revealed her surprise at Edgar's attitude. They seemed like two orbs on alert, seeking answers from the Russian standing before her. The teacher's intense gaze bore into Edgar, and Benjamin could sense the tension in the air as the reprimand continued.

—Your audacity surprises me, O'Neal... said the teacher, appearing much more terrifying than before. Edgar wanted to go home—Skipping classes and then showing up in mine half an hour late, very calmly. Listen to me very carefully, young man, I understand that you're new and not yet familiar with the whole school system, but don't try to be smart with me, okay?

—Yes... replied the Russian, without lifting his face.

—Perfect, now, line up so I can continue with the class.

During the brief ten-minute break granted by the teacher, Benjamin gathered his close friends, Erika and Lucien, in a corner of the rest area. The atmosphere was imbued with the agitation typical of physical exercises, and the group sought a quiet space to converse.

Erika and Lucien were on either side of Benjamin, each with a water bottle in hand as they exchanged impressions about the intense matches in class. The expression on Benjamin's face reflected the intrigue and concern that had accompanied him since he witnessed Professor Cristal's reprimand towards Edgar.

—So? Any gossip? I thrive on it, said Lucien, stretching his legs to one side of the brunette, who smiled. Erika was warming up her arms, as she was about to play a volleyball match with some classmates.

—Well, for starters, it was my idea for him to come back alone so that the teacher could scold him. On the other hand, I found that i***t tangled up with Jonathan. They were in the hallways! exclaimed Benjamin in a low voice, avoiding the class from knowing everything—I mean, he can't even hide properly.

—Jonathan Guess? That Guess we all know? inquired Lucien, pointing to his friends. Erika shook her head with a silent motion.

—Edgar has the lovely ability to mess with the wrong people. Especially, Jonathan, said Erika, sighing as she continued to warm up—I can already imagine the scandal Frank will make over this...

—Exactly! At least, he didn't find them. I mean, can you guys imagine what I saw? I hope not because... It was impressive.

—Wait, is Edgar gay or bi? asked Lucien and stopped stretching to sit next to the brunette.

—That's the least important thing now, Lu, scolded the marquess—Even if it mattered, it's not like you've never met gay or bi people.

—Okay, what I mean is... wow. It's incredible how much attention he gets just for being new, said the count, shrugging.

The three friends remained in a silence loaded with thoughts as they assimilated all the shared information. Their gazes met, communicating complicity and shared doubts, and finally they released synchronized breaths. Benjamin, taking the initiative, stood up from his seat with determination, preparing to start stretching and warming up his body before resuming physical activity.

—Anyway, now I have to worry about that i***t Frank. Damn dumb blond, muttered the brunette with annoyance and stretched his limbs.

(...)

As the exhausting Physical Education class concluded, Benjamin disconnected from his friends and headed towards the bathrooms, feeling dizzy and fatigued from the exertion. Upon entering the facility, he made his way to one of the sinks and, with determination, turned on the faucet to let the cold water fall on his hands. Then, carefully, he splashed his face, feeling the freshness of the revitalizing liquid as he tried to alleviate the sense of exhaustion that enveloped him.

The irritation towards the teacher burned inside him, an internal curse that he barely uttered in his mind as he quickly dried his hands. He was about to leave the place when suddenly Frank confronted him, gripping his arm firmly and forcing him to retreat back into the bathrooms. The pressure on his arm was palpable, a claw that compelled him to follow the unexpected turn of events.

—Let go of me! The words came out in a defiant shout from Benjamin's lips, laden with indignation as he tried to free himself from Frank's tight grip. However, his attempts proved futile when the blond, in an act of his own defiance, pushed him forcefully against the wall. The collision was abrupt and piercing, a burst of pain that shot through his back and momentarily left him stunned. Frank's hands, relentless, continued to hold onto his arm tenaciously, as if he had no intention of letting go. Confusion and discontent mingled in Benjamin's blue eyes as he found himself trapped in this unexpected and tense confrontation.

—Were you planning to hide from me what happened with the new guy and my brother? Or were you helping the new guy? Frank's words echoed in the air like a sharp dart, loaded with accusations and questions that shattered the calm of the moment. Benjamin's blue eyes met Frank's, a gaze filled with a mixture of challenge and reservation. The silence that followed the question was palpable, filling the space between them with a tense atmosphere. Benjamin's mind wrestled between answering, denying, or simply dodging the question. He knew Frank was partly right; he had witnessed the encounter between Edgar and Jonathan, but he also knew he had no obligation to intervene in other people's affairs. Despite that, his tongue remained still, resisting to confess what he had seen. Tension loomed over them like a storm about to break, and the confrontation between the two young men intensified with each passing second.