During the second break, so kids invited him to the cafeteria. He had his brother’s card with him, but he politely declined. He rarely ate lunch at school.
He then went back to working on his laptop. Zane had left again. He didn’t know why it bothered him. It felt as if he were disturbing the boy’s peace.
"Nathan!"
Nathan turned to Franc, who was walking toward him. He imdiately scowled. Why was that kid coming over? Did he want to pick a fight?
Nathan was ready, but Franc just smiled. He frowned.
"Aren’t you going to the cafeteria? We get healthy als every day. Isn’t this your first day? Co on, co with ," the boy said.
Nathan was imdiately suspicious. Why was Franc suddenly being nice?
Nathan glanced at him. Franc’s tone was perfectly apologetic, the picture of a repentant family mber. But Nathan had spent seventeen years reading people to survive. He saw the way Franc’s eyes darted around, checking who was watching them.
"No, thanks. I can go by myself," Nathan said. He didn’t know if he would get free food. It was better to take it.
"Don’t be like that," Franc pressed, reaching out as if to guide him. "Co sit with us. The cafeteria is segregated by hierarchy, believe it or not. If you sit at the wrong table, it’s social suicide. We Salazars have a special place."
"I’m not interested in your hierarchy," Nathan said, pulling away from Franc’s reach. "And I’m not interested in playing happy family just because we’re at school. Leave alone."
Franc’s smile faltered. For a split second, a flash of genuine irritation crossed his face, a sneer that reminded Nathan of Amanda. But it vanished instantly, replaced by a hurt look.
"Fine," Franc sighed, raising his hands in surrender. "I was just trying to help you. People talk, Nathan. I didn’t want you to get into trouble."
"I can handle it myself," Nathan said, turning on his heel and walking away.
He didn’t see the way Franc pulled out his phone the mont his back was turned, tapping out a quick ssage with a smirk.
Nathan t Nael halfway. His twin waved at him.
Nathan exhaled lazily. He just wanted to be alone.
"Let’s go to the cafeteria! How was your first day? They were nice to you, right?" Nael asked, chatty as ever.
Nathan walked without paying much attention to his twin, answering only occasionally. When they arrived at the cafeteria, Nael pulled him toward a table.
"I’ve been waiting for you. You took so long. Let’s sit here!" Nael said, dragging Nathan to a table near the window.
From there, Nathan could see the large sports field below. But several boys were already seated there, and he imdiately grumbled when he realized they were Nael’s friends.
"This is Nikolas, you can call him Nick," Nael said, pointing to a tall boy with an uncomfortable gaze. Nick imdiately began talking at length, explaining this and that.
Then there was Jonas, who looked curious but wore a slight smirk. Finally, there was Hale, who was quietly eating, which Nathan appreciated.
Nathan observed the crowded but orderly cafeteria. Everything seed normal, yet he felt as if everyone was watching him.
He glanced toward the food area. It looked like he would have to wait in line, but before he stood up, Nael stopped him.
"Just wait here. Eli will co get you so food," Nael said.
Nathan frowned. He hadn’t known there was a delivery service. He noticed that Nael, Nick, and Jonas had already finished eating.
Hale was still eating quietly.
Then a boy who looked young, probably a junior, with an innocent face approached with a tray of food. He looked nervous.
Nael waved at him. "Please give that to him. He’s my twin, Nathan," Nael said with a friendly smile.
Eli looked at Nathan, smiled nervously, and carefully placed the tray in front of him.
"I... I don’t know if you like the food. If you don’t like any of it, I can get you sothing else," he said anxiously.
Nathan looked at the tray in front of him. at, bread, vegetables, fruit. What was there not to like?
He smiled at Eli. "No, it’s all good. Thanks."
Eli nodded, visibly relieved.
Nael handed him his card. "You can buy anything you want."
Eli hesitated. "...But you already paid yesterday."
Nael smiled broadly. "Just take it, like usual. Give it back to later."
Eli took the card and nodded. "Thank you."
Nathan felt strange. The boy was wearing the sa uniform as him. Why was he delivering food, and getting paid?
Nathan chose not to interfere. He watched the boy go to the food counter, which was now empty, then return with more trays.
"Why does he do that? Is he paid by the school?" Nathan finally asked.
Nael, who had been chattering away, imdiately changed the subject.
"His na is Elijah. He’s a first-year on scholarship. He doesn’t mind waiting in line for us, and we pay him. It’s a win-win solution," Nael said.
Nathan shook his head. "You pay soone just to wait in line for food?" he asked scornfully.
"We’re just helping him earn so money," Nael replied. "He wouldn’t like us giving him money for free, and he doesn’t mind doing it."
Jonas sighed. "That kid’s cunning too. Last ti, he used my card to buy a lot of food. I’m sure he bought it for his poor family."
Nathan stopped eating. The word poor triggered him. Nael seed to notice.
"You won’t be in trouble just because he took a few euros," Nael quickly said to Jonas.
"What can I say? He already used it. There’s no way to take it back," Jonas replied.
Nathan sighed. They were talking about Eli, but he was the one who felt offended.
At the nearby tables, Eli continued delivering trays one by one. Nathan paid closer attention this ti. Wasn’t the boy tired?
"El! You know I don’t like sausage. Can you get an egg?" a boy complained.
Eli looked nervous. "I’m sorry, I know you don’t like it, but the eggs are gone. They only have sausage. I can take it back if you want."
Nathan realized then that everywhere was the sa. There were always the superior and the oppressed. At his old school, here, it was no different. Only the scale had changed.
At his old school, they took money and bullied people. Here, they used power and wealth to show that they could buy anything.
And that they thought they could do anything.
Like that boy, upset about sothing, using Eli as an outlet.
"Take it away! You’re ruining my appetite, damn it!"
The tray fell, spilling vegetables and at onto Eli’s shoes.
Everyone turned to look. Nael glared. Jonas and Nick clicked their tongues.
"He did it again? God, that Leinster," Nick muttered.
Jonas remained unfazed. "He’s getting paid. It’s a risk. Custors need to be satisfied."
Nathan slamd his fork on the table. "You think your pathetic money can buy soone’s dignity?"
Jonas froze, stunned. "What?"
Nael looked panicked.
Nathan glared at Jonas, then turned back to Eli, who was hurriedly cleaning the ss with a tissue.
Sothing possessed Nathan. He stepped closer, took the tray, and dumped its entire contents onto the boy’s uniform and table.
A scream rang out. Murmurs erupted around them.
Eli’s eyes widened in shock, the dirty tissue clenched in his hand. The boy whose clothes were ruined shouted as he tried to clean himself.
The students at the table stared, speechless.
The boy stood, towering over Nathan, eyes blazing. "You! What are you doing?!"
Then he noticed Nathan’s face, the hair, the resemblance to Nael.
A Salazar.
Nathan threw the empty tray onto the middle of the table, startling everyone.
He wanted to punch him, but it was his first day of school. He forced himself to take a deep breath.
"You’re rich, right?" Nathan said coldly. "Send your clothes to the laundry. Or have your servant bring you a new set. No big deal. Sorry, my hand slipped earlier."
The boy glared, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. "Don’t you know who I am? Leinster! You think you’re the only one in charge here?"
Nathan stared at him indifferently. "Leinster? You think I need to know? Too bad. I’m not interested in being in charge. But if I see you humiliating this kid again, I won’t hesitate to punch you in the face."
This first day hadn’t gone as well as Nathan had expected.
But at least he had beco famous.
The entire school buzzed, waiting to see what Zane would do when he found out his brother had been humiliated by a child of the Salazar family.
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