Chapter 21 || A Troublesome Life

Chapter 21: 21 || A Troublesome Life

It was morning.

The classroom was already rowdy, with everyone forming small cliques. Meira’s group had gathered around her desk while several other students talked among themselves.

Riven was talking with Yua and Kira. Huegene had his legs resting on his desk, relaxing with his eyes closed.

Aria quietly read through her book.

And Code...

Was asleep.

He slept peacefully with his head resting on his desk, completely disconnected from the noise around him.

The back door suddenly slid open with a loud bang.

Everyone went silent and turned toward the door.

Ethan walked into the classroom wrapped in a blanket designed with trains. His bag hung from one shoulder, while he carried a pillow in his hand.

Torin blinked. "Ethan... What’s with the new... look?"

Ethan walked angrily toward his seat. "Don’t ask me. Why don’t you ask Huegene."

He took his seat, dropped his bag, wrapped the blanket around his body, and rested his head on the his pillow.

Riven smiled awkwardly. "Ethan... you know you don’t have to listen to—"

Ethan immediately raised his head. "No , no, no."

He stared directly at Huegene.

"I’m simply being the shut-in that I am, isn’t that right Huegene?"

Huegene smiled.

"Yes. That I can see. I can also see you love choo choo trains as well. Very good taste, I must say."

Ethan’s face twisted into a frown as he stood up.

"Oh, that’s it—"

He was ready to jump at Huegene, but Ken quickly grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Don’t let him get to you, Ethan. You’re not a shut-in. Everyone knows that."

Ethan sighed and slowly sat back down. He placed his head on his pillow.

Ken glanced at Huegene.

"And learn to keep your mouth shut, Huegene. Or else—"

Huegene cut him off.

"Settle down Red bull. You can boss the big baby over there around..."

He side-eyed Ken.

"But not me."

Ken’s expression hardened. "What did you just call me?"

Caden and Torin immediately stood up.

Riven remained calm. "Calm down, Ken."

Ken walked over to Huegene’s seat.

Huegene didn’t seem bothered. He simply kept his eyes closed.

Meira spoke up. "No, Riven. Huegene needs to be thought a lesson."

Sena raised her hand. "Beat him up, Ken."

Aria glanced at the class.

Then returned to her reading.

’Another drama.’

Ivy stood up. "Let’s all take deep breaths."

Ken stared at Huegene.

"Hey, I’m talking to you. Answer me. Has the cat cut your tongue?"

Caden laughed. "He’s scared. Now who’s the big baby, sucker."

Torin stared at him.

Caden shrugged. "What? I’m simply going with the flow."

Huegene opened one eye.

"If you really want me to repeat what I said then it’s going to cost you. My words are precious you know."

He opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling.

"Let’s see... how much is it gonna cost you?"

Ken frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Huegene looked at him. "It’s all business, my red bull."

Ken snapped.

He grabbed Huegene by the collar. "You bastard...."

He raised his fist into the air.

At that exact moment, the front door slid open.

"What’s going on here?"

Code 11’s cold voice rang through the classroom.

Ken’s hand froze mid-motion.

The entire class turned to look at her.

Ken slowly lowered his fist and released Huegene’s collar.

Huegene, who hadn’t once lost his composure and whose smile never wavered, simply adjusted his tie.

"It’s nothing, Miss 11. We just had a bull running amok in the classroom. That’s all."

Ken glared at him.

Riven sighed. "Huegene , that’s enough."

Code 11 walked toward her desk.

"Take your seat Ken."

Ken clenched his fist tightly. He scoffed before walking back to his seat.

Huegene lowered his leg from the desk.

Ivy and the others calmly returned to their seats.

Riven also sat down.

Ryan, who had been knitting throughout the entire commotion, stared at Huegene.

’This guy is trouble. Serious trouble. It would be bad if I say anything, or I might turn into his source of entertainment like he did with Ethan.’

He swallowed.

’Just the thought of it made me scared, and that’s why I didn’t even bother saying anything in the group. He’s a real menace.’

He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"It’s not like I had anything to say anyway," he said in a calm voice.

Kira turned toward him. "Who are you talking to?"

He froze, caught off guard, then coughed.

"Nothing. Just talking to myself."

Kira turned away and whispered,

"Creep..."

Riven stood up.

"Miss 11, before we begin, I would like to ask a question."

"Go on."

Riven continued.

"We all have decided to open an acct with the ARCS in order to secure our savings. But... I would like to confirm if it’s possible."

Code 11 powered on her tab. "Yes , it is."

Riven smiled. "Great."

The class was elated by the news.

Code 11 looked at the class. "If that’s all, let’s begin with our lesson today."

Riven took his seat.

....

When the class was over, Miss 11 powered off her tab.

Riven stood beside her. On the table in front of him was a stack of notes.

Lily stepped forward and added hers to the stack.

So did the other students.

Code, meanwhile, was busy doing his assignment, writing with his left hand because of his injured right hand.

Aria glanced at him.

’Is this really the time he should be doing his assignment? What was he doing all through the night?’

Her eyes briefly fell on Code’s colorful bandaged hand before she turned away.

Riven arranged the notes, then looked at the class.

"Anyone else who hasn’t submitted?"

Code raised his wounded hand.

Riven looked at him. "Right, Code..."

Code closed his note, stood up, and walked toward the front.

He handed Riven the note but remained standing calmly.

Riven placed his note on the stack.

Code spoke. "Uh... Riven. Can you please put my note at the middle? I don’t like seeing it at the top."

Riven blinked. "Huh...?"

Code picked up his note, lifted the others, and placed his note in the middle of the stack.

He turned to walk back to his seat, only to notice everyone staring at him as if he had committed some kind of offense.

’Did I do something wrong...?’

He walked back to his seat and sat down calmly.

Code 11 picked up her tablet and walked out of the classroom.

Riven followed behind her with the notes.

The door slid shut.

Back in his seat, Code turned and found Aria staring at him.

Code blinked.

Now even she is looking at me.

"Is something wrong?"

Aria looked ahead. "Aren’t you suppose to say something?"

Code was silent.

Aria sighed, then turned and unzipped her bag.

"What was I even expecting from you..."

She pulled out a book and handed it to him.

"Take it."

Code took the book.

He turned it over. Written across the front was:

How Not to be Lazy

Code looked at her.

Aria didn’t even glance at him. "Take it as a thank you gift for what you did yesterday."

Code looked down at the book.

’You could have just said thank you and ended the conversation there.’

Aria continued. "Either way I didn’t really need your help. I could have handled that on my own."

Code stared at her.

’She ruined it.’

He turned back to face the class and dropped the book onto his desk.

He opened the book.

[Preface: How not to be lazy is a practical guide to discipline, purpose and self-improvement]

Code began reading Chapter One, which was titled.

Understanding Laziness.

The book challenged the idea that laziness was simply not wanting to work and discussed several common causes:

Lack of purpose.

Fear of failure.

Comfort and routine.

Procrastination.

Lack of discipline.

Low motivation.

Avoiding difficult or uncomfortable situations.

Code didn’t even bother finishing the Chapter. He simply flipped the page and went straight to Chapter Two, which was titled,

Find a Reason to Move.

The Chapter explained that discipline becomes easier when someone has a meaningful goal.

He stopped reading and glanced at Aria, who was also reading the same book.

He looked down at his book.

’Being lazy wasn’t something that happened to me. I chose to be lazy. I don’t need to show people what I’m capable of. The moment they find out, things become troublesome.’

’People would ask me for help. Teachers would pay attention to me. My classmates would start depending on me. Someone would challenge me. Someone would expect something from me. It might work for a while. But eventually, I’ll fail to meet someone’s expectations. They’ll be disappointed. They’ll complain. They’ll ask me to help again. And before I know it, I’m dragged into problems that have nothing to do with me.’

He closed the book and rested his face on his palm, staring at the class.

’But that isn’t me. That isn’t Code Warden. I’d rather remain a Grent, sleep and live a Peaceful life than deal with all that trouble.’