The next morning, a gentle breeze drifted through the trees at Payuhakrit School. Despite the clear blue sky, it couldn't ease the turmoil stirring inside Riam.
Although he had handled yesterday's teasing, the lingering feelings of awkwardness and resentment still gnawed at him.
After signing in for attendance, Riam walked into class as usual — but today, the atmosphere felt heavier, the air somehow thicker.
Whispers about yesterday's incident had already spread across the school, painting Riam in a new light. Some students, curious or skeptical, were eager to test the rumors for themselves. Throughout the morning classes, the soft murmur of gossip buzzed around him, unsettling his nerves.
At lunchtime, students gathered as they always did at the field.
But today, the atmosphere was tense and strangely quiet.
The group from yesterday — the so-called "monsters" — stood with crossed arms, whispering urgently among themselves.
Their glances kept flickering toward Riam, who was sitting alone under a large tree nearby.
As Riam got up to fetch a drink, one of the boys nudged his friend and chuckled.
"Mike, why don't you go have some fun with that new kid?" he said with a sly grin.
Mike smirked and nodded. "Sure. Let's see how tough he really is."
Two large boys started making their way toward Riam.
Riam noticed them while stepping away from the pavilion.
The sound of trickling water from the nearby fountain seemed to grow louder in the tense silence.
The two boys moved like predators, slowly closing the distance.
"You're Riam, right?" Mike said as he blocked Riam's path.
His voice was calm, but his dark brown eyes were cold and calculating.
"We wanna see how impressive your 'Monkey-style' martial arts really are," he said, tapping his own chest lightly.
Riam took a steady breath, meeting Mike's eyes without a word.
Then, in a low voice, Mike added,
"After this... you won't be walking away so easily, huh?"
With a thud, a black staff struck the ground beside them.
Riam glanced at the scene unfolding before him with calm awareness.
"Excuse me," Riam said quietly.
Even though his heart was pounding, his face remained calm, his breathing slow and deep, blending with the earthy scent in the air.
He had no intention of revealing his Monkey-style techniques so easily.
Clenching his fists, Riam took a step forward.
Mike's eyes narrowed in surprise.
Standing tall, Mike raised his staff, daring Riam to make the first move.
His friend, another tall boy, stood nearby, eyes sharp and mocking, watching every movement closely.
Mike charged, rushing at Riam without hesitation.
But Riam, unfazed, merely shifted slightly, delivering a sharp, precise kick to Mike's thigh.
The impact wasn't enough to cause serious injury, but it destabilized him completely.
Mike stumbled, gasping for air.
"You planning to let me nap all day?" he grunted between heavy breaths, struggling to stay upright.
Riam remained silent, his eyes flashing coldly.
Taking a small step back, he kept his stance ready.
Mike's face turned red with frustration, and for a moment, he simply stood there, glaring at Riam.
Realizing he couldn't win easily, he finally backed off, motioning to his friend.
From a distance, the tall friend shouted,
"Enough!"
Mike reluctantly retreated, dragging his feet across the dirt in defeat.
Riam let out a slow breath, his hands trembling slightly.
He still felt the icy anger within him, but his expression stayed composed.
A ghost of a smile crossed his lips as he whispered to himself,
"Well, that's that..."
Mike's heavy breathing echoed faintly as he slumped away, leaving a shallow trail in the dirt.
He might have been bruised, but he understood one thing clearly now — Riam's movements, though seemingly effortless, held a sharpness that could leave a lasting mark.
That evening, after school had ended, Riam found himself back at the empty field.
The shadows of trees stretched long under the crescent moon.
The distant howls of stray dogs echoed in the cool night air.
Riam tightened the straps of his training belt and breathed deeply, lowering his stance like a hunter ready to pounce at the slightest signal.
"You really are something else," a voice said from behind.
Turning around, Riam saw Mr. Paitoon, the school's martial arts instructor.
The older man, still muscular despite his age, approached with a slight limp, his hand resting casually on his waist.
"Teacher..." Riam muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
Mr. Paitoon placed a water bottle beside him and sat down.
"You're doing well training by yourself," he said, his tone gentle but firm.
"But remember... don't rely too much on brute strength."
The teacher took a sip from his bottle before continuing,
"I heard about today. They say you've got... something unusual inside you. A rare kind of strength, huh?"
Riam hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"You don't need to answer," Mr. Paitoon said, raising a hand.
"But if you can use it wisely, you'll go far. Maybe even make those bullies bow before you without lifting a finger."
His gaze sharpened, as if seeing right through Riam.
Then, almost casually, Mr. Paitoon asked,
"Have you ever thought about studying abroad?
There's a scholarship program looking for gifted students.
You qualify."
He handed Riam a folded paper — a simple notice about an upcoming national scholarship exam that could lead to studying in Europe.
The words on the paper felt heavy in Riam's hands, the weight of opportunity almost overwhelming.
He couldn't quite believe it.
Could this really be his chance to escape his troubled past?
Mr. Paitoon's voice broke through his swirling thoughts.
"I hope you don't throw this chance away."
His tone was filled with sincere hope.
Riam nodded silently, unable to find words.
He knew this could change everything.
As the evening bell echoed across the empty campus, Riam folded the notice carefully and tucked it away, his face calm but his heart stormy with emotions — hope, fear, and an unfamiliar sense of purpose.
In the quiet of the night, under the faint glow of the moon, he took his first real step toward a future he had never dared to imagine.