บท 5: Cafeteria
Noah sat for a few moments after the class emptied, letting the rush of new information from his "Basic Fighting Skill" sink in.
His mind felt sharper like a door had been opened somewhere inside.
The bell rang, signalling lunch break.
As he walked through the crowded hall, he spotted his best friend, Aiden—or, as he liked to call him, "Chipmunk."
"Noah! Over here!" Aiden called, waving with his usual enthusiasm.
Noah grinned as he made his way over. "Hey, Chipmunk. Ready for lunch?"
Aiden raised an eyebrow, giving him a once-over. "You? Eating in the cafeteria? Since when?"
Noah chuckled, realizing how much had shifted in just one day. "Since today. Let's just say things are changing."
Together, they headed into the cafeteria, the scent of food filling the air. Noah's stomach growled, making him realize just how hungry he was.
He usually skipped lunch, waiting to eat something small at home, but now? Now he had a Lambo sitting outside; he couldn't just skip lunch like before, right?
They reached the counter, and Noah scanned the menu, picking out the best meal he could find—something he'd only looked at from a distance until now.
Grinning, he accepted the tray from the cafeteria chef.
Aiden, who had also ordered a hefty meal, looked at Noah with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"What's the occasion? Did you win the lottery or something?"
"Maybe I did. Or maybe I just got tired of surviving on air."
Aiden chuckled, shaking his head as they sat down.
"Well, it's about time you joined the land of the living. Welcome to the world of actual food."
As they dug into their meals, Aiden suddenly started making exaggerated noises, trying to catch Noah's attention.
"Psst, Noah, look behind you!" he whispered urgently, his eyes wide with excitement.
"It's Lily, the Ice Queen. Dude, she's way too beautiful to be a high schooler. How are you so lucky to sit next to her every day?"
Noah, still chewing his food, turned his head slightly to see Lily entering the cafeteria, her usual composed expression in place as she gracefully moved toward a table.
He could see why Aiden was so worked up; Lily had a presence that was hard to ignore, and her cold persona only added to that.
Noah shrugged, "Yeah, well, sitting next to her is one thing. Actually talking to her is another."
Aiden shook his head, still staring in Lily's direction. "Man, if I had your seat, I'd at least try to melt that icy exterior. You never know—maybe she's not as cold as she looks."
Noah chuckled, returning his attention to his meal. "Yeah, good luck with that. She doesn't seem like the type who's interested in small talk."
Aiden sighed dramatically, finally turning back to his food. "Still, you're living the dream, Noah. Sitting next to the smartest and most beautiful girl in school. Some guys have all the luck."
As they continued eating, Noah glanced over at Aiden and asked, "So, how are you feeling about the exams? Think you're ready?"
Aiden shrugged, his mouth full of food.
"Most of the topics are fine, but physics and chemistry nope. They give me a headache every time I glance at the books, so I just keep them closed," he said shaking his head.
Noah considered this for a moment before offering.
"Want me to help? I could go over some of the material with you."
Aiden paused mid-bite, looking at Noah with raised eyebrows.
"Help me with opening the books? No thanks, I've got that part covered," he said with a smirk, clearly not taking the offer seriously.
He chuckled and shook his head, "But thanks for the offer, buddy. I think I'll just have to survive those subjects on my own."
Noah grinned, hiding the fact that he could easily help.
"Well, the mock exams are soon. He will find out then, I wonder what his reaction will be. heh" thought Noah, with a grin on his face.
Aiden, noticing the grin, suddenly widened his eyes in mock fear. He leaned back slightly, holding up his hands in surrender.
"Whoa, Noah I don't like the evil grin on your face."
"Don't tell me you became a genius overnight... and I'm missing my golden opportunity. Just like how my parents missed Bitcoin." He sighed
Noah laughed, shaking his head. "Relax, chipmunk. I'm not plotting anything… yet."
"Phew."
"You had me worried for a second there. Just don't go becoming a genius overnight."
Noah chuckled, giving his friend a reassuring pat on the back. "No promises, but I'll try not to outshine you too much."
After finishing their lunch, Noah and Aiden headed to their next class, which they had together.
As they settled into their seats, the teacher, Ms. Harper, began her history lesson.
"Today, we're diving into the Treaty of Arvon. This was a pivotal moment in the 18th century when two rival kingdoms, Arvon and Beltrane, signed an agreement that ended a decade-long war. The treaty included several key provisions that shaped the political landscape of Europe at the time..."
As Ms. Harper continued her lecture, her voice droned on in a steady, almost soothing rhythm.
For most students, it was engaging enough, but for Noah, history had always been his weakest subject.
He found it hard to stay awake in this class, and today was no different. a full stomach and the teacher's monotonous tone was like a lullaby, lulling him into a peaceful sleep.
Despite Aiden's subtle nudges and whispered attempts to keep Noah awake, his eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep.
Ms. Harper, noticing Noah's head drooping, frowned. Her eyes narrowed, and she called out sharply, "Noah!"
Noah jolted awake, his heart racing as he realized he had dozed off. The entire class turned to look at him, some stifling laughter, others just curious to see what would happen next.
Ms. Harper, clearly displeased, pointed to the board where she had written details about the Treaty of Arvon.
"Since you seem so well-rested, perhaps you can explain the significance of the Treaty of Arvon and its impact on European history?"
Noah blinked, still groggy, but as he glanced at the board, he quickly understood what she was talking about.
He took a deep breath and stood up, his voice steady.
"The Treaty of Arvon was significant because it marked the end of a long-standing conflict between the kingdoms of Arvon and Beltrane."
"The key provisions of the treaty included the exchange of territories, the establishment of a neutral zone to prevent future conflicts, and an agreement on trade routes that benefited both kingdoms."
"This treaty not only brought peace to the region but also set the stage for the eventual unification of smaller states under a single banner, leading to the creation of what we now know as the United European Kingdom."
The classroom fell silent, and Ms. Harper stared at Noah, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.
The rest of the class was equally stunned, including Aiden, who had been certain that Noah would get into trouble for sleeping.
Ms. Harper finally found her voice, her tone softer now, "That... that's correct, Noah. Very well done."
Noah sat back down, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over him. The entire class was still staring at him, most with their mouths slightly open in shock.
Even Aiden, who was rarely speechless, could only manage a dumbfounded look.
Aiden stared at Noah, wide-eyed and completely shocked.
He leaned closer and whispered, "Already?"
Noah gave him a confused look. "Already what?"
Aiden, still processing what had just happened, glanced between Noah and the board, then back to Noah's calm expression.
Noah smirked, suppressing a chuckle. "I guess I didn't need a whole night after all."
Aiden shook his head in disbelief, still trying to comprehend the sudden change in his friend.
"Unreal...It must be a fluke."
With a slightly embarrassed look on his face, Aiden glanced at Noah and said, "So... Is the offer for science still available?"
Noah couldn't help but laugh at Aiden's hopeful expression. "No."
Aiden's face instantly fell, his expression turning comically sad as if dark clouds had appeared above his head.
"Man, you're cruel," he muttered, looking defeated.
Noah chuckled, clapping Aiden on the back. "I'm just messing with you. Of course, I'll help you."
Aiden's face lit up immediately, the imaginary clouds disappearing as quickly as they'd appeared.
"Thanks, man. I felt miserable for a second there. The books of biology, chemistry and physics have been feeling too heavy for me."
"I am meant to by touching the books, but recently I felt that they had been touching me."
Looking at Aiden's smug face. Noah couldn't help but say.
"You-"
"I'm joking! please help me. Thanks!" replied Aiden immediately, seeing that Noah was about to beat him up.
NEW NOVEL
CHECK OUT 'GLOBAL AWAKENING: STARTING WITH SSS SUMMON.'
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