It was January 24th, 2020 — evening time, around 7:30 PM.
The dorms were slowly calming down, but Brandston couldn't. He kept thinking about Joel's bruised face.
He sat up from his bed, fists clenched. Joel was lying on his bed with ice packs on his cheek, but even with the pain, he joked,
"Bro, next time, remind me to shut up around angry dudes."
Brandston chuckled lightly, but deep down he was boiling.
Brandston thought:
"First, Allan tried to pick a fight. Now he's touching my friends too? I let the first slide. But this...?"
He stood up, put on his hoodie, and without even saying a word, Joel knew.
"Bro... don't do anything stupid," Joel said weakly.
But Brandston just gave him a half-smile and left the dorm.
He walked straight across the dorm complex towards the open courtyard.
He already knew where Allan and his crew hung out — the basketball court.
And there they were, laughing and talking like nothing happened.
Brandston approached, hands in his pockets.
The whole squad noticed him. Allan stood up, smug.
"Yo, pretty boy. You want round two?" Allan grinned.
Brandston didn't waste time with words. He stepped forward, fast —
with a sudden grip, he grabbed Allan by the collar and pinned him hard against the wall.
Everyone froze.
"Touch my friends again, Allan. I dare you."
Brandston's voice was low but deadly calm.
Allan shoved him off roughly, laughing nervously, trying to save face in front of his guys.
"Whatever, man. You're not worth it," he said, but Brandston could see it — fear in Allan's eyes.
He walked away, knowing the message had been delivered.
That night, Joel asked him,
"Did you beat him up?"
Brandston smiled and said,
"Nah. I didn't need to."