BEST SERVED COLD: THE ULTIMATE REVENGE SYSTEM

His Rose

Mr Hampton exhaled sharply, raising his chin and concedensingly looking down at him. “Or maybe you're used to that shameful feeling, hmm?

But then, you know that being used to that feeling is not the end, right, Sabito?”

“Yes.”

“Good. And what will happen if you continue failing?”

Silence.

Mr Hampton narrowed his eyes again, his voice cold. “I asked you a question, Sabito.”

Sabito swallowed. “I'll be…I'll be expelled.”

The words alone felt heavy and final, making his stomach twist in his own disgrace.

Mr Hampton gave a slow, and deliberate nod, like he was allowing the weight of the statement to sink in. “That's right. Expelled. No second chances, no repeats. You'll be kicked out of Oakenshield High, just another failure no school wants to deal with.”

Sabito's nails but into his palms. His breath came out in short, shallow bursts.

Expulsion meant no future. No shot at college, and no escape.

Just the streets, the cold brutal streets with nothing to write home about.

Just the life he never wanted.

“Good. You can go back to your seat. Not that being here will yield any positive results anyways.” Mr Hampton said dismissively.

Sabito didn't need to be told twice. He hurriedly scurried back, eager to escape the man's intimidating and piercing gaze.

The rest of Mr Hampton's words faded into the background, blending with the dull hum of the classroom.

Suddenly, he was stumbling. Before he could react and brace for something, he fell flat and hard on his face, followed by a loud thud!

A student had maliciously stuck out one of his legs, causing him to trip and fall.

A round of laughter erupted in the hall, hands from different angles pointing towards him, mocking and enjoying his misery and humiliation.

Sabito's face flushed crimson as a wave of embarrassment washed over him. But he knew better to say something, as doing that would only make it worse.

The lecturers wouldn't defend him. It has always been like that from the start. To them, the smart, brilliant students could do no wrong. And someone as dull and as worthless as him? He wasn't worth their time.

He stood up, blinking back the humiliation that had taken shape as tears in his eyes. He wouldn't give them that satisfaction. Besides, giving in will invite more humiliation.

He finally sat down on his seat at the very far end of the classroom, using the other student's bodies as a shield from sight.

Class started and before he knew, it had ended in a blur. His favourite part was the school bell whenever it rang. It meant closure and closure meant his freedom from the day's activities, or should he say bullies.

He stood up and flung his backpack to his back. But when he saw the other students, she slowly sat back down. Sabito couldn't risk being tripped all over again. He was now so scared that being in school was like hell itself.

Gradually, each and every one of the students finally left before Sabito was finally able to summon the courage to leave.

Even though he was away from the judging eyes of the school, his head was still hung low, like an act he had grown too accustomed to, gazing only at his feet as he dejectedly walked along the streets of Chicago.

He had escaped the school bully for the day, but as he remembered the one he would face at home, his heart plummeted even more.

They were supposed to be his family, but they are no better than Jasper and the likes of him, always talking him down instead of lifting him up.

Sabito sighed, wondering when his struggles and difficult life was going to end.

When he finally got admitted into Oakenshield High, he thought his hard and difficult life was finally coming to an end. He would go to school in peace, graduate, land a job and finally lead a good life.

Sabito glanced to his left, lifting his gaze for the first time since leaving school. This route was a long walk from home, but he didn't mind one bit.

Because at the end of it was her!

Rose. The one person who made enduring all the misery feel worth it. He'd liked her from the moment he saw her sitting in the school’s cafeteria for as long as he could remember, though he never dared to say it out loud.

Long brown hair; sparkling eyes, pointed nose that lead down to her full natural pink lips, she was everything beautiful. Warm like sunlight, but so far out of his reach it was almost laughable.

She came from wealth, the kind he couldn't even begin to imagine. Meanwhile, he barely had enough to take care of himself, let alone impress a girl like her.

Sabito watched as Rose laughed at something on her phone, completely absorbed. Then her screen lit up with an incoming call. She glanced at it before standing, shifting to her weight and walking out of the D’luxe lounge.

D'luxe lounge is known for its exquisite ambiance, where the wealthy gathered over cocktails worth more than Sabito's annual income.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the room, casting golden glow on Rose, making her appear even more ethereal.

And then it struck Sabito. Why not just go ahead and talk to her? Maybe the girl isn't like the other girls after all.

There is only one way to find out. And it is now or never!

Swallowing hard and clenching the straps of his school bag, he forced his feet forward.

“Hey, Rose,” he said, his voice steadier than he felt.

Rose turned around, her smile fading the moment she saw him. Emotions flickered in her eyes, recognition, hesitation, and worst of all…pity.

Sabito almost cuffed out blood. He didn't need her pity. He only wanted her to see him for who he was.

“Sabito,” she called, her tone careful.

He ignored the tightness her voice caused in his chest. “Can…can we talk?” he said sheepishly.

But before she could answer, the low growl of an approaching engine cut through the air. A sleek Porsche 911 Turbo S pulled up beside them, glossy black, polished to perfection.

Sabito already knew who it was before the door swung open.

It was Mikes car.

Dressed in his usual designer jacket, he stepped out with the kind of arrogance that came naturally to people like him. His eyes landed on sabito, and immediately, his lips curled into disgust!

“Wow,” Mike drawled, shutting the car door with a lazy push. “Didn't expect to see you here.”

Ethan and Jasper climbed out next, flanking him like a well dressed wall of hostility.

Ethan scoffed. “You got a death wish or something, loser?”

Jasper sneered, shaving his hands in his pockets. “Seriously, do you even know where you are standing right now?”

Rose shifted uncomfortably. “Guys, stop—”

Mike ignored her, stepping closer until there was barely a foot of space between them. His smirk vanished, replaced by something colder.

“I don't know what kind of pathetic fantasy you've got in your head,” he warned, “but Rose isn't someone you talk to. She's not in your league, and she never will be.”

Mike scoffed, eyes filled with disdain. “You really don't get it, do you? People like you don't belong anywhere near us. Or near her.”

Jasper chuckled, the sound rich in darkness. “Maybe we should make sure he understands that.”

Sabito braced himself, his body tensing immediately.

Rose took a step forward, eyes pleading. “Mike, don't. Just…just let him go.”

Mike exhaled sharply through his nose, fuming. “Don't tell me you like him, Rose.” He said with an accusatory voice.

“No!” Rose was fast to deny his accusation. “I…I dont! I don't just just like what—”

“You heard her, right? She doesn't even like you one bit. So Leave. Now!”

Rose sighed, shifting uncomfortably. “Sabito, I appreciate…whatever this is, but—I don't think we should talk.”

There it was.

Cold and final.

Before he could say anything, Mike's smirk is back and even more widened.

Sabito's heart skipped a beat and he fearfully nodded. There was nothing left to say anyway.

He turned on his heel, walking away before they could see the way his face burned with shame.

Behind him, the car doors slammed shut, and the Porsche sped off, taking Rose—and the last shred of his dignity—with it.

Just great! He now had to walk back that long distance to his house with the insult sauntering along with him and mocking him.

As he walked along the sunlit road beside the lake, empty and devoid of any form of life at this hour, a sudden screech of tires tore through the silence, making him nearly jump out of his skin!