Burning with the Breeze

5: Andy and Crooky

CHAPTER 5
[ Andy and Crooky ]

Aurora

"Aahhhh!"

The loud scream from the poolside froze us all. It was followed by a series of terrified cries and the sound of a splash.

The music cut abruptly, the spotlight vanished, and teens scrambled in panic. Everyone rushed to the poolside with curiosity and fear etched on their faces.

"What the hell's going on?" Nickel swore. His voice was barely audible over the commotion.

"That's Ander!" Brownlee shouted with wide eyes.

We turned to follow Brownlee's gaze.

"What the fuck is he doing?!" Ash muttered in frustration.

From where I stood, I saw Ander grappling with someone who looked like another batchmate. They were fighting fiercely, throwing punches and kicks with reckless abandon. Ander was drenched, presumably from falling into the pool.

Regina was crying and screaming, trying desperately to intervene the angry bulls out of control.

The crowd around the pool gasped and shouted in disbelief.

"Oh my god! Why are they fighting?!" someone cried out.

"Stop it, Tom!"

"Calm down, Ander!" Nickel's roar cut through the chaos. He and Brownlee were trying to separate the fighters.

The air was filled with curses as boys from our batch moved in, pushing between the two men. Despite their efforts, it took a concerted force to pull the fighters apart. The guards began whistling and intervening as well.

"You're a fucking asshole!" Ander yelled, his eyes blazing with anger and his left eye swelling. Water dripped from his hair and face, soaking his chest. "I don't care who you are! You don't disrespect me like that!"

He stormed off.

Feeling a mix of fear and anxiety, I quickly made my way out of The Crusade, weaving through the panicked crowd. I didn't say goodbye or glance back.

I jumped on my bike and pedaled furiously. My heart pounded with adrenaline. I didn't realize I could bike this fast. I might actually be ready for a triathlon after tonight!

As I reached the entrance of Manhattan Village, I took a moment to catch my breath. The night had been crazier than anything I'd ever experienced. My heart was still racing, and sweat trickled down my chin.

"Hey..." I heard a hoarse voice around me that made me feel chills all over my body.

Damn. I should really go right now. Calming myself down would be of no use at this point. I immediately grabbed my bike again but due to nervousness, I could not properly pedal.

"Fuck, don't go yet."

I stopped for a while when I realized that voice sounded familiar. I looked behind me.

It's Ander.

"Shit," I cursed out of the blue and prepared to run, but all of a sudden, he grabbed my wrist.

I found myself sitting on the bench in front of Aling Rosa's sari-sari store inside the village with my classmate slash groupmate who turned out to be a war freak guy.

I told my mom when I got home that I have a classmate who got into an 'accident' near the road passing the village and I have to help him with his wounds because I am the 'only one' he knows here.

Mom told me that I can bring my classmate inside our house to treat him, but I declined as per Ander's request. Because if Mom would see his wounds, for sure, she would not think that it is just a mere simple traffic accident.