The cafeteria incident still lingered in the halls like smoke after a fire. Students whispered Logan's name in every corner, their voices laced with awe and dread. He had crushed Vin, humiliated Zack, even made Vasco stumble. Rumors spread fast:
"Logan Lee's unstoppable.""He doesn't care who it is—he'll fight anyone.""Even Daniel Park might not be safe."
Daniel's perfect body walked the corridor, calm on the surface, but inside, his stomach churned. Every whisper felt like it was meant for him. He knew Logan wouldn't stop at humiliating others. He'd come for him too.
And it didn't take long.
The hallway went quiet as a heavy shadow stretched across the floor. Logan Lee stepped into view, his frame filling the space like a wall of muscle. His grin was sharp, hungry.
The crowd instinctively gave way.
Daniel froze.
Logan's eyes locked onto him—not his ugly body this time, but his perfect one. His grin widened, cruel recognition sparking.
"You," Logan growled, his voice dripping venom. He stepped closer, boots echoing. "You think you're hot shit just 'cause of your face? Huh, pretty boy? Makes me sick."
Daniel's jaw tightened. He had been here before—cornered, mocked, crushed. Only this time, he wasn't the fat, trembling body Logan remembered. This time, he looked strong. Handsome. The kind of guy Logan hated most.
"Back off," Daniel managed, his voice steady but softer than he wanted.
Logan's laugh echoed down the hall. "Back off? Oh, you don't get it, do you? Guys like you—" He jabbed a finger into Daniel's chest, hard enough to make him stumble. "—you're the reason I hate this world."
The crowd murmured. Phones came out.
Logan's grin widened. "You don't get to walk around like some prince while the rest of us bleed for respect. I'll smash that face until no girl looks twice at you."
And then he swung.
Daniel barely dodged, the fist whistling past his jaw. He countered with a quick jab, landing against Logan's ribs. The crowd gasped. For a moment, hope sparked.
Logan looked down at the spot where Daniel had hit him. Then he chuckled. "Not bad. Faster than I thought."
His fist shot forward.
Wham!
It collided with Daniel's stomach, forcing the air out of his lungs. He staggered back, gasping, but forced himself to raise his guard.
"C'mon, pretty boy!" Logan roared, swinging again. "Show me what makes you so special!"
The hallway exploded into chaos. Daniel ducked one blow, slipped another, then snapped a sharp hook into Logan's jaw. The crowd erupted.
But Logan didn't flinch. His grin only widened.
He grabbed Daniel by the collar, slammed him against the lockers. Metal rattled. Daniel gritted his teeth, swinging wildly, forcing Logan back an inch—just an inch.
Logan's laugh was low, cruel. "You've got guts. But guts won't save you."
He drove his knee into Daniel's chest. Crack! Daniel gagged, pain flaring through his ribs. He tried to swing again, but Logan's fist hammered into his jaw, sending him sprawling across the floor.
Students screamed.
"Daniel's losing!""He's fast, but Logan's too strong!""Why's he even fighting him?!"
Daniel pushed himself up, blood dripping from his lip. His vision blurred, but he forced himself to his feet. His body screamed at him to stop, but something inside—tiny, fragile, burning—kept him upright.
I can't freeze again. Not this time.
He lunged, throwing punches as fast as he could. Logan blocked most, some grazed him, one landed square against his chin. But Logan only smiled through the hits.
"You've got speed," he admitted. Then his hand shot out, catching Daniel's fist mid-swing. "But you don't have fearlessness."
His other fist smashed into Daniel's gut, lifting him off his feet before slamming him to the ground.
Daniel coughed blood, clutching his stomach, his chest heaving. Fear clawed at him—old, familiar, suffocating. But for the first time, it wasn't absolute.
He looked up at Logan, trembling, but his fists clenched. His lips parted, voice hoarse: "I… won't… run."
Logan froze for a second, then his grin twisted cruel again. "Good. Means I get to break you slower."
He raised his fist for the finishing blow—
"Enough!"
A new voice cut through the chaos.
The crowd turned.
Someone stepped into the hall.
And for the first time, Logan's grin faltered.
✨ End of Chapter 69 ✨