Valz stepped into an internet café. The room buzzed with the sounds of keyboards clacking, mice clicking, and game music blasting from computer speakers.
He scanned the place quickly. Almost every seat was taken, except for one half-empty row. He walked over, sat down, and powered up the computer.
Five minutes later, the café door slammed open. Three boys walked in, loud from the moment they entered.
One of them had a Messy undercut dark brown hair, trendy clothes, and a laid-back but confident face. He was about 176 cm tall. This was Ruck.
Beside him were his two buddies: one bald kid who looked like a wannabe thug, and another chubby one with a dopey expression.
They plopped down at the computers right next to Valz, making the row instantly noisy.
Suddenly, Ruck shouted, "YES!!!"
His voice boomed like he'd just won a million-zen lottery.
"I passed the Riverside High scholarship exam!" he yelled, raising his fist dramatically. His two friends cheered, throwing him thumbs-up.
Valz turned his head slightly, giving him a puzzled look.
Noticing, Ruck snapped back, "What? Never seen someone happy when his dream comes true?" His tone was cocky, but his expression was more comical than intimidating.
Valz ignored him and turned back to his monitor. He opened his inbox. And there it was—an unread message from Riverside High.
Ruck, being nosy, glanced sideways at Valz's screen. His eyes widened. "NO WAY! You applied for the Riverside scholarship too?!"
He leaned in closer, almost bouncing in his chair. "Come on, open it! Did you pass or not?!"
He was more excited than Valz himself.
Calmly, Valz scrolled down. The words appeared clearly: Congratulations, you passed.
He let out a quiet sigh of relief, leaning back in his chair.
"WOOOHOOO!!!" Ruck screamed again. "You passed too! Hell yeah, bro!"
Valz flinched at the sudden noise, then went back to his usual indifference, shutting things down.
Ruck stared at him, half-annoyed. "Man, you're way too cold. You know, even with that handsome face of yours, if you act like this, girls will run away terrified. Hahaha!"
Valz glanced at him once, unimpressed.
Without missing a beat, Ruck shoved his hand forward.
"Name's Ruck! A true man destined to be adored by countless women!"
He tried to look cool, but the smug grin made him look ridiculous.
Valz finally shook his hand, and for the first time in a while, his lips curved into the faintest smile.
Ruck took that as a green light and started talking non-stop. He explained his "noble" reason for applying to Riverside—to prove his worth as a man. But he quickly admitted he was also "a little pervy."
"They say Riverside's full of gorgeous girls. That's the real motivation, bro." His eyes lit up with shameless energy.
He leaned closer, lowering his voice dramatically. "Especially Maryl. The freshman queen. Her body…"
He shaped his hands like the curve of a guitar. "Perfect curves, bro. Even better than a Fender!"
"And her chest…" Blood suddenly gushed from his nose. "Firm. Perky. Absolute perfection!"
His two friends burst out laughing. Even Valz, usually stone-faced, cracked up—laughing freely for the first time in a long while.
Ruck slapped the table. "Alright, bro, gimme your Message.me ID!"
Valz shrugged. "I don't have a phone."
Ruck froze. His jaw dropped. "WHAT?! Are you from the Stone Age?! Who the hell doesn't have a phone in this era?!"
Valz chuckled softly, then fell silent again.
Finally, Ruck patted his shoulder. "Fine. Just promise me this—when we meet at Riverside, don't act like a stranger. Say hi. Because you… are my first friend at Riverside High School."
They split ways outside the café. Ruck waved enthusiastically as he walked off in the opposite direction. Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a pretty girl passing by. His expression flipped into full perv-mode, breathing like a raging bull.
The girl glanced at him with disgust. "Pervert."
Valz watched, expression blank—but inside, he was amused. "This guy… he's one of a kind."
That night, as Valz walked home, Ruck's words echoed in his head. "Stone Age man without a phone."
With a small sigh, he stopped by a tiny electronics shop.
Minutes later, he walked out carrying a box with a brand-new phone. His face was still stoic, but he muttered under his breath, "…At least now I'm not a caveman."
The shop clerk who overheard snickered. "Kids these days…"
Valz ignored him and walked on. For the first time, he had a phone of his own—all thanks to the loudmouth named Ruck.
That day, without realizing it, Valz had found his very first friend.