MAX'S POV
It's been almost a week, and nothing has changed.
Ever since my classmates saw me working at the garage, they've started calling me names. Poor. Trash. Not worthy. Words thrown so casually, like they cost nothing. I don't even know what I did to make them hate me this much. I kept to myself. I didn't bother anyone. And yet, somehow, I became their target.
Today is Saturday. No classes today, none tomorrow either. I slept in longer than usual, waking up when it was almost lunchtime. My body felt heavy, like the week had settled into my bones.
I went to the kitchen and made some noodles. It wasn't much, but it was enough. While I was eating, my phone started ringing. The sound echoed in the quiet room.
I glanced at the screen, saw the name, and paused for a second.
Then I answered the call.
"Where are you?" the voice on the other end asked, low and familiar.
"At home," I replied. My eyes drifted to the window, to the empty street outside. "Why?"
There was a brief pause. "We need you. Now."
I didn't ask questions. I never did. I just hummed softly in response and ended the call. Whatever comfort the weekend promised vanished in an instant. Some parts of my life didn't care about school, or Saturdays, or how tired I felt.
I cleaned the bowl, changed my clothes, and dressed in black—track pants, a plain T-shirt. I pulled on a mask, grabbed a cap, and slipped out through the back of the house. The bike waited there, quiet and patient, like it knew this version of me better than anyone else.
The engine came to life, and I rode off.
I stopped at an abandoned building site on the edge of the city. No signs. No people. Just concrete, shadows, and silence. I parked behind the building, removed my helmet, and pulled my cap lower, hiding my face before stepping inside.
The moment I reached the first floor, I knew I was in the right place.
Men in black suits. Bodyguards. Too many of them for an "abandoned" site.
They noticed me immediately.
Before anyone could stop me, one of them stepped aside and spoke into his earpiece. A few seconds later, the path cleared.
They recognized me.
I walked forward without hesitation, my footsteps echoing in the empty hall.
They led me into a room hidden deep inside the building.
The moment I stepped in, the contrast struck me. Outside, the place looked unfinished and forgotten—cracked walls, dust, decay. But this room was different. Clean. Polished. Designed like a proper office, as if it belonged to an entirely different world.
An older man sat behind the table, dressed neatly in a blue suit. He looked serious, focused, a file resting in his hands. When he lifted his head and saw me, the tension on his face eased just a little. A small smile curved his lips.
"Looks like you're really tense, Mr. Yazek," I said lightly, dropping into the chair opposite him.
He sighed. "How many times have I told you to call me Uncle Yen?"
I ignored that and took the file from him. As I opened it and began reading, I replied without looking up, "And how many times have I told you I won't call you that anymore?"
"But—"
"No buts," I interrupted, my tone firm. I flipped another page. "Tell me about the plan."
He hesitated, clearly wanting to say something else, but in the end, he stayed quiet. We shifted straight into business—details, risks, timings. Everything that mattered. The rest was left unsaid, hanging in the space between us.
When we were done, I closed the file and placed it back on the table.
"Then we'll do exactly what we planned," I said calmly. "I'll take my leave now."
I stood up, already turning toward the door.
"Wait."
I stopped at the door and turned back.
Yen opened a drawer and took out a small box along with a key. He walked over and placed them in my hand, his expression softer than before.
"This is the key to your Uncle Ren's new garage," he said. "He asked me to give it to you."
I nodded slowly, curling my fingers around the key. I already knew how much that meant.
"And this," he added, tapping the box lightly, "is a gift from me."
I hesitated before opening it. Inside was a card and a silver chain with a small pendant. Simple at first glance—but the detailing gave it away. Custom-made. Expensive. Not something meant to be handed over casually.
"Why are you giving me a gift?" I asked, confused, looking up at him.
"You just started school," he said gently. "You deserve something. I wanted to give it to you on your first day, but it wasn't ready then—and you weren't free."
"I can't take this," I said immediately.
I tried to hand the box back to him, but he pushed it toward me again, firmer this time.
"Take it, the card is from me and the chain is from your Aunt" he said quietly.
I looked down at the chain once more, my chest tightening. I wasn't used to gifts. Not like this. Not without conditions. And yet, his eyes held nothing but sincerity. Because they were the only ones who treated me as a human not as some object....
I closed the box slowly.
"Thank you," I said at last.
"I'll leave now…"
I left without looking back. I got on my bike and rode off, disappearing down the road like I was never here....
I went straight to the garage he told me about. The place was heavily guarded—security posted outside like sentinels. I stopped infront of them, and showed them the card. They bowed. No questions. Just respect.
They let me in.
Inside, I parked my bike and walked through rows of machines—bikes and cars, all built for racing. This wasn't just a garage. This was a battlefield for speed.
I changed my clothes and got to work like I belonged there. No hesitation. No wasted movement.
I worked until nightfall.
I didn't even go home.
The next day, when I finally returned to my place, my phone buzzed with a notification.
Payment received. 2 million
I checked my phone and left it for charging then I was going to make something to eat when I saw that the fridge was empty... I am too lazy to cook now.... So I'll just eat something from the convenience store...
I took a bath and changed my clothes and went to the convenience store.... First I got some instant noodles and juice to eat after finishing my brunch I got all the things I needed.... I paid and started walking towards my home....
On my way I heard a noise... It's from the back of the building.... It none of my business I'll just go home and started going towards my home....
AUTHOR'S POV
A group of guys had pinned a boy, against the wall. One of them grabbed his hair, forcing him to look up.
The main aggressor, Bob, greeted him with a menacing tone,
"Hey there little one... It's been so long since we last met you!!!" Zack pleaded with them, "I don't have any money with me.... Let me go.... Please."
In response, Bob punched Zack in the stomach, making him scream in pain.
Bob questioned how Zack could claim to be broke, calling their intended theft "borrowing."
He looked at Zack menacingly. Zack started to reiterate that he genuinely didn't have any money, but before he could finish, Bob slapped him hard and grabbed his collar.
Bob grew angry, accusing Zack of messing with him and threatening to teach Zack another lesson.
ZACK'S POV
I just wanted to get something to eat.... But I ended up running into them... Bob said, "Hey there little one... It's been so long since we last met you!!!"
This son of a bitch and his minions.... They always bully me and take all my money....
Like always they didn't listen to me and punched me in my stomach and slapped me.... He was about to punch me again when something hit his head hard..... I looked at where it came from..... It's her!
Max said, "Let him go!!" Bob retorted, "You bitch!!! How dare you throw that can on me??" Max replied, "You should be pleased that it's a can not a brick...." Bob then said,
"Who do you think you are?? Boys catch her and make her kneel!!!" I tried to warn her, "Run!!!"
She didn't move from her place. One by one they went towards her and the next thing I saw is all of them laying on the floor and she looking at her knuckles which have blood on them....
Bob yelled, "You!!! What are you both looking at?? Get her!!" The two guys who had been holding me immediately released their grip and ran toward her.
I watched as she lifted her leg and delivered a clean kick to one of their stomachs, stopping him dead in his tracks and sending him kneeling in pain.
The other guy looked scared of her but still tried to punch her. She caught his hand effortlessly and twisted it, making him cry out. She then kicked the back of his leg, forcing him to kneel, and landed a solid punch on his face, knocking him out cold.
Bob was furious. "You!!!" he screamed, charging towards her himself. She landed a clean kick on his face, making him crash against the wall on his side. He seemed to have lost his senses. She walked up to him and threw some cash on his face.
"Go to the hospital with your lap dogs and get cleaned up," she commanded him. "And one more thing.... If I ever see you bullying anyone... I'll make sure you never raise a hand again...."
She then turned to look at me and walked over. She gently grabbed my face with her hand and checked me for injuries.
"Just some bruises," she said, telling me to get some medicine and learn to defend myself. She then turned and left.
I just stood there stunned, eventually going home, taking a shower, and using a first aid kit. Looking at my light bruising and small cut in the mirror, I started thinking about her.