Chapter 11

Ryan’s POV
“Rei Watanabe.” Tom replied, his voice filled with caution.
We were all silent for a moment, watching Rei's every step. There was something unusual about him, something that made us all feel the tension. However, before we could think further about Rei, our attention was diverted by another figure entering the cafeteria.
Alina appeared, walking alone towards the cafeteria. My heart fluttered when I saw it. However, my calm did not last long. A girl with a loud voice mocked Alina as soon as she entered. The sound of ridicule cut through the air sharply, echoing throughout the cafeteria.
"Hey, failed at being a cheerleader again, huh?" shouted the girl, greeted by laughter from several other students.
I felt angry, seeing Alina having to face such humiliation. Alina's face looked tough, but I knew that the teasing hurt her. Everyone in the cafeteria seemed to know about Alina's failure to become a cheerleader and their laughter added to the pain in her heart.
Mark, who was sitting next to me, stood up angrily. “Hey, that's not funny!” he shouted, walking quickly towards the girl who was mocking Alina. His voice echoed in the cafeteria, making several people stop laughing.
I immediately stood up and walked over to Alina, who looked a little shaky. "You are okay?" I asked softly as I approached her.
Alina nodded, although her eyes showed that she was hurt. “I'm fine, Ryan. Thank You."
I looked at her attentively, hugging her shoulder warmly. “I'm here to support you, don't let them get you down.”
Alina seemed to be looking at someone behind there but I didn't want to look back. I just wanted to look at her face which looked limp and pale after hearing those painful words.
“Thanks, Ryan, I'll sit over there.” Alina said to me with a weak smile then she walked to the table at the end, where Rei sat alone.
I could feel the annoyed gazes of the people mocking Alina, but I didn't care. What's important to me right now is making sure that Alina knows she's not alone.
"How does Ryan know her?"
"Are they dating?"
"No wonder there wasn't any sadness in failing the audition but it turned out to be Ryan's girlfriend?"
“Mark's girlfriend or Ryan's girlfriend?”
"Cool, having two boyfriends, Alina must have swallowed a magnet."
The teasing in a small voice could still be heard in my ears as I walked back to our table. Meanwhile, Mark confronts the girl who mocked Alina. "What's your problem? Why do you feel the need to insult other people?" he asked in a voice full of anger.
The girl looked surprised and a little scared. “I... I was just kidding.” She said quietly, but her tone clearly showed that she didn't expect this kind of reaction.
“Well, your joke wasn't funny. So stop!” Mark said firmly before returning to our table.
I could feel the tension still hanging in the air as Mark sat back down. Rei Watanabe, who was sitting with Alina at the other end, seemed confused by the situation. He watched us closely, trying to understand what was happening. Through his eyes, I could feel that he was digesting everything that was happening around him. However, after he finished, he looked at me and my other friends. He seemed to be focused on chatting warmly with Alina. I turned my attention away from Rei and focused back on Alina, despite only being able to see her shoulder from our table. The tension between us and the girls who mocked Alina was still palpable, but at least we managed to show that we wouldn't be silent when a student was treated unfairly and I knew we had to remain alert to the presence of Rei Watanabe, who seemed to carry her own mystery.
"Rei was seen raising his middle finger at the bully girl earlier but Alina stopped him."
“No need to discuss it!” Said Mark, who was still angry, in a smaller voice.
***
After class, we immediately prepared for an adventure in the forest, relaxing our minds in nature. Everyone rushed to the parking lot, carrying backpacks and equipment that we had prepared beforehand. Dylan brought his family's off-road car, a large and sturdy vehicle that is ready to face any terrain.
We started our journey full of enthusiasm. The atmosphere in the car was full of laughter and light conversation, trying to unwind after a long week. Dylan sat behind the wheel confidently, while I sat beside him, watching the scenery passing by quickly outside the window.
Tom, Jake, and Mark sat in the back, busy talking and laughing, occasionally joking about silly things that happened on campus. Our moods all improved as we went along, feeling the gentle breeze coming in through the slightly open windows.
After several hours on the road, some of us started to feel tired. Tom and Jake were already asleep, their heads resting on the back of the seat, while Mark was still awake, but seemed calm and enjoying the ride. Dylan and I stayed awake, keeping the conversation flowing to ward off sleep.
The journey to the forest took quite a long time. We passed winding roads, passed small villages, and walked along streets that were increasingly quiet and far from the hustle and bustle of the city. The view changed from tall buildings to a dense green forest, with tall trees that seemed to welcome us.
Finally, we arrived at the edge of the forest which was our destination. Dylan parked the car carefully in a fairly large area, surrounded by large, towering trees. We all got out of the car, feeling the soft ground under our feet and the fresh air filling our lungs.
"Here he is." Dylan said with a big smile. “Time for adventure.”
We entered the forest, our feet stepping on the soft earth and scattered leaves. The sounds of the forest greeted us, from the chirping of birds to the gentle rustle of the wind. It felt as if we were in another world, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. After walking for a few minutes, we arrived at a clearing surrounded by tall trees. Dylan stopped and gestured with his hand, we all looked at each other and smiled. The time has come.
We nodded to each other and started concentrating. In an instant, our bodies began to change. Our muscles writhed, skin turned into thick fur, and claws appeared on our fingertips. It feels amazing and thrilling every time it transforms. In a matter of seconds, we had all turned into huge wolves with sharp, glowing eyes. The me who was now in the form of a wolf with shiny black fur, let out a low roar, feeling the power and freedom that could only be felt in this form. Dylan, with his dark gray fur stood next to me, his eyes shining almost the same as Jake's. Tom and Mark have all transformed too, each with their own unique feathers. Without needing a word, we immediately ran into the forest. Our feet darted quickly, jumping over tree roots and rocks hidden beneath the leaves. The wind blew around us, carrying the scent of earth and trees. We ran in tandem, moving at a speed impossible to achieve in human form.