TERRA EMPIRE: ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR
Episode 6: GROWING NEW LOSERS IN LYNBROOK
The math class he had just attended was no better than the literature class a few hours earlier, especially since he did not like counting so it was fortunate that he had been able to get through it so far, so he did not like counting, and the lunch bell is a missed savior. There is one more class that must be followed after lunch, namely History and Culture.
Jordan went to the cafeteria to see what he could eat this afternoon. His stomach was already so hungry from skipping breakfast this morning, no wonder he woke up at dawn and finished pudding from the refrigerator making him not want to eat anything else when he left for school at seven in the morning.
The teenager arrived at the cafeteria a little late so the cafeteria tables were full of hungry children eating lunch. A little worrying indeed when considering the level of difficulty finding a seat with a boisterous state now but at least he does not need to queue too long to get his food. Just five minutes apart, a bowl of spaghetti with chopped meat and lemonade was in the tray.
Now the hardest part is finding a table so he can sit down and eat. Looking around the room, Jordan found an empty chair in front of the table where Lana McQueen, the girl he had met earlier this morning, was also eating there. That girl is nice, surely Lana doesn't mind if she sits at the dinner table with him…
Jordan Cross walked away with fun while carrying a tray, listing things that might be topics of conversation with the girl, for example where her home is, what lessons she took this semester, and of course the question with the possibility of a long answer like what Lana felt during school in Lynbrook.
“Hai, Lana..” greet Jordan.
The girl looked up, “Oh, hi Jordan.”
“Can I join you? Everywhere full of.”
Instead of giving an answer immediately, Lana's expression looked strange at a glance, but welcome also Jordan took the table after she looked around, “Please! Tumben you just ate now...horrible schedule?”
“That's how..” Jordan replied after sitting down. “...mathematical class.”
“I guess not everyone likes math,” comments Lana.
“What is clear English Literature is more mingling,” reply Jordan who overwritten crisp laughter Lana. “And only now do I realize.”
“At least you know where you make the glass, compared to the numbers that are not clear, right?” lana said between her laughter.
“I think so,” sahut Jordan.
Lana's laughter suddenly stopped as five boys approached the table where the two were. They were none other than a group of school rugby members. Somehow with a stocky body and more bongsor than the average size of children their age in this room, they seem to have the right to intimidate other children. The curly-haired boy who elbowed Jordan this morning was also among them.
The curly opened a conversation that felt like it would be something bad, “Halo, Lana! I saw you differently today. Cheerier than usual..” The girl pretended not to hear his words so the boy turned to Jordan. “...oh, apparently he got a new friend. Not just any..male friends..”.
The rugby troupe that was with him chuckled in response to a sentence that actually did not sound like a joke...
“You're done, Allen?” lana Tease.
“I just started, Lana!”
“Then we are done. You can get this table,” Lana then stand up. “Let's go Jordan.”
Jordan had not yet lifted the tofu tray Allen curly had first placed his hand on Lana's shoulder. Not just putting his hands there, Allen's fingers squeezed Lana's right shoulder so hard that the girl frowned in pain, sat back down on the chair, and groaned for mercy.
“Release Allen...please..you hurt me.”.
“Everything don't like to go carelessly. I haven't given you permission.”
“No one needs to ask you for permission, asshole!”
The begundal Allen was surprised, staring in disbelief at Jordan who was very brave to say such things to him, “Wah...wah..just right this nerd Lana became brave, it was influenced by her new boyfriend.”.
“If it's not wrong he's the new kid here.” a friend Allen chimed in.
“Is that? You broke my heart by choosing this new child instead of me, Lana.” the curly Allen said in a scornful tone, which followed the laughter of his friends.
Seeing Lana again frowning in pain as Allen was too tight to grip his shoulder, Jordan reprimanded him for the second time, “Let go of him!”
“Hazard him and his dirty mouth, Allen!”
“Add a new loser dong in Lynbrook,” another one is pumping.
Lured by the provocation of his friends, Allen came to Jordan with his right hand clenched fist. The whole dining room moved away knowing soon there would be violence. Jordan Cross who is small and thin is unlikely to escape the reach of the curly Allen's fist. Almost everyone in the cafeteria was sure the boy would collapse with a single fist from Allen.
Kinky Allen clutched the collar of Jordan's shirt and prepared to swing a punch to the opponent's chin before something shocked him and his comrades. Not until his fist landed, the tray near Jordan tofu jumped and hit Allen. No doubt Allen collapsed to the floor with spaghetti, sauce, and lemonade juice spilling on his head. The laughter of all the children in the cafeteria broke, making Allen's curly look so**** while lying on the floor. He could not wake up for a while because his head was hit by the tray was painful not playing.
Some children who had apparently been sick days because they had been victims of Allen and his gang, used the moment to get revenge. They took their phones and recorded Allen lying in disgrace, some of whom even sent pictures to their social media. Allen's friends who did not thank his friend were treated so much as to stare at Jordan with anger.
“You accidentally threw that tray at him, right?” accuse them of it.
“Sorry..sorry...I did not do that.” sahut Jordan with a pale face.
Jumping the tray was not the work of Jordan, from his sitting position clearly did not allow him to do it, especially when Allen was gripping his clothes, which means his position to reach the tray was blocked. But these mules do want to understand…
“HAAJAAAR!!”
Whether who gave the command, the next second three other children who were gigantic in stature invaded Jordan, making him fall under the table. Jordan curled up in pain as the three children gave him repeated punches and kicks. Lana screams, asking that they release Jordan. The atmosphere of lunch in the canteen turned chaotic…
***
