5. F.A.F.O

"... and then you solve for X. Does anyone want to take a guess at the answer?"

The math teacher beamed at the front of the room, seemingly oblivious to the collective groan that went through the students. Who the hell wanted a math lesson on the first day? Certainly not me.

"How about Jack Spencer?"

I glared at her. There were clearly other people with their hands raised—eager little nerds desperate to make a good first impression—but she picked me instead. She wasn't slick. She wanted to humiliate me, probably assuming I wasn't paying attention.

"It's 45.7%," I said, barely sparing a glance at the problem.

For some reason, I just knew the answer, even though, in my last life, I hadn't made it past Algebra I.

I guess this Spencer kid was actually smart.

"That's correct," the teacher said, a little too surprised. "I thought you weren't paying attention, but I guess I was mistaken."

So she was trying to embarrass me?

This was exactly why I hated school. Teachers were all the same—condescending, petty, and full of shit. This was why I dropped out the first time.

I wondered... would my life have been different if I had stayed in school? Would I have been this smart? Would my mother and father have been proud of me? Would it have given them a fighting chance to stay sober?

Probably not.

My thoughts were cut short by the feeling of someone staring directly at me. I turned my head slightly and, sure enough, Damien was burning holes into the side of my skull.

Ever since I got rewarded his loyalty, his love meter shot up to 95%, and the pulsing heart next to it was glowing.

What the fuck did that mean?

I wish this damn system would give me more details. At least let me see my own stats or something. It'd be easier to know what was going on with Damien rather than sitting here, trying to ignore him like some obsessed fangirl.

Maybe I'd unlock a mind-reading ability later. That'd save me the headache.

The worst part? The entire class kept sneaking glances at me. Some had seen me punch that guy in the face this morning. Others had only heard the rumors about my so-called "personality change." Either way, I knew what was coming.

Someone was going to test me.

That's just how school worked.

It was weird being on the other side of it.

Finally, the bell rang. I exhaled in relief. Last period over. First day survived.

"Hey! Let's leave quickly!"

I turned my head to see Damien frantically stuffing his things into his bag like he was escaping a crime scene.

"Why?" I asked, dragging my movements out intentionally.

"Have you forgotten what you did to those two earlier? Don't you remember that their group takes their anger out on anyone who rebels against them?" Damien said, his voice laced with urgency.

I scoffed. "I sorted it out earlier."

"Jack! I don't know how you were able to suddenly do all that, but let's say you have enough strength to take on all of them—you're still outnumbered!"

"What, so there's more of those fucking idiots?"

"Yeah, there's about six of them," Damien said.

Six? That's it? I thought he was about to say twenty or something. What kind of weak-ass school gang was this? Even I had at least fifteen people back in my day.

They're only high school kids who've never put in any work on the streets. How dangerous can they really be?

"Where are they?" I asked. Damien paled.

"They should be gathering in front of the school, so hurry up and let's leave out the back entrance."

[New Mission: Get Revenge

Reward: Love Interests Unlocked

Penalty: Brutal Stabbing]

I paused. Revenge? Already? On Damien's bullies?

And what the fuck was this about unlocking a love interest? Was I supposed to have multiple or something? Was this the system's way of trying to make me a normal high school kid? Didn't it already know I wasn't interested in love?

[Rewards from God cannot be rejected]

Whatever.

A love interest didn't mean anything if I didn't act on it. I locked down my emotions for twelve years in my last life—I could do it again.

I've my peace being on my own.

"Alright, Damien," I said, smirking. "Hold your head up high so we can walk out the front entrance."

"What?!" Damien's face twisted in pure dread. "Are you crazy, Jack? Why are you smiling?! Have you actually lost your mind this summer?"

"Is there something wrong with having confidence?" I chuckled.

Damien's hands clenched around his backpack straps. "But you warned them not to bother you. You think that'll be enough?"

"It should've been."

"But it wasn't!"

"It's simple," I shrugged. "If I start losing, just jump in and help me."

Damien's face immediately turned red, and he ducked his head, staring at his shoes.

"I-I don't believe that violence—"

"Then don't complain about me fighting if you refuse to help," I smirked, standing up and slinging my bag over my shoulder.

Damien groaned in frustration, but I could hear his footsteps as he followed close behind me.

"Is this really necessary?" he muttered.

"If I don't handle it now, they'll come after me or you later."

Damien hesitated. He must've known I was right because he didn't argue.

Still, I could hear him muttering behind me as we walked down the hallway.

"You're crazy. You've seriously lost it."

As expected, the two idiots from earlier were standing outside, looking visibly beat up but still putting on a show to draw a crowd. They were loud, cocky—acting like they had the upper hand when they were the ones who got their asses kicked just a few hours ago. It would've been hilarious if I wasn't so focused on the four new faces standing with them.

I knew those faces. Especially the one who looked the most smug, despite the swollen eye I had given him before he stabbed me in the stomach.

The four motherfuckers who had killed me in my past life.

God truly is a stand-up guy for giving me this chance.

So this was what the system meant by revenge. I wasn't just fighting some wannabe thugs—I was fighting the guys who took my first life. And now? Now I had a chance to finish things.

"Hey! Spencer! We heard you got a brain transplant over the summer!" One of them called out, his voice gathering more onlookers.

"You actually were crazy enough to come to us so we could get you," another laughed.

I could see what they were trying to do. They wanted to humiliate me in front of the entire school—to make a show of putting me in my place. There were even some teachers watching, but not one of them moved to stop this.

Guess they'd never helped this kid out before. But they had no idea. This wasn't just some stupid high school fight to me.

They killed me before. Now they had to die too.

Not here, obviously. I couldn't exactly murder them on school property. But I could beat them beyond recognition and circle back to the killing part later.

"Jack, we can still run away," Damien whispered beside me, only loud enough for me to hear.

I smirked and shoved my bag into his arms. "Run away if you want to. I won't be mad."

"Jack!"

"Hey! He's actually squaring up to—"

Crack.

Before the idiot could finish his sentence, I slammed my fist straight into his face, sending him stumbling back. Blood spurted from his nose as he clutched it in shock.

"Don't stop now," I grinned, stepping forward. "I want to hear your fucking monologue, bitch!"

I didn't even let him get his bearings before raining down more punches. Some of them he managed to block, but I still felt the impact land through his defenses. In this younger body, I was faster and stronger than I'd been at thirty.

This time, I wasn't outmatched.

Once I saw enough blood, I finally turned to the other three, who were still frozen in place, just staring in shock.

"Kill that bastard!" Idiot 2 ordered.

"You fuck!"

"Are we funny to you?!"

They rushed me all at once.

One swung first. Bad move.

I ducked low and drove my fist straight into his balls. He let out a choked noise and folded in half, but I wasn't done. I uppercut him in the stomach with all my strength, sending him crumpling to the ground.

Another guy got a hit on me, but I kicked him away before he could follow up. He hit the ground hard, and before he could even think about getting up, I kicked him in the head, knocking him out cold.

The last one tried to kick me down, but I caught his leg before he could land it. I twisted it into an unnatural position, grinning as a scream tore from his throat.

"Ah, fuck! My leg! You bastard, I play soccer!"

"Not anymore," I laughed.

Then I jumped on his other leg.

A loud crack rang out.

The guy howled in pain, clutching his shin as he collapsed.

"Fucking useless!"

One of the idiots from earlier—the second one I beat up this morning—suddenly pulled out a pocket knife.

The crowd instantly backed up in shock.

I tilted my head, smirking. "So you're gonna stab me in front of multiple witnesses? Dumbass."

His face twisted in frustration, and then he lunged at me and swung.

Missed.

Before he could recover, I grabbed his wrist and brought my fist down hard on his elbow. The knife clattered to the pavement.

I punched him twice in the face for good measure, then forced him onto his back, pressing my knee straight into his chest.

His breath hitched.

"A little more pressure here and I can break your rib cage," I mused, pressing down just enough to make him wheeze.

"You fuck—"

His voice cut off as I pressed harder.

"You don't even have the strength to eat bread, let alone kill me," I said, tilting my head. "Get it?"

I looked up at the last idiot standing.

The only one left.

He was alone now, and I could see the panic on his face. He wanted to run, but he knew it would ruin his reputation.

"You—"

"Since everyone's gathered here," I cut him off, raising my voice, "I have an announcement to make."

Silence.

The entire school yard was listening.

"The Jack Spencer you knew? He's fucking dead." I smirked, scanning the sea of faces. "From now on, it's fuck around and find out for anyone who fucks with me or Damien Anderson."

[Mission Accomplished! You've unlocked your love interests. Would you like to view them now?]

I sighed. I'd check it out later when I got home.

Standing up, I walked back to Damien, who was still clutching my bag, his face a full of awe and amazement.

"No congratulations?" I asked.

"C-Congratulations, Jack!" Damien stammered quickly. "I—I never should've doubted you!"

I smirked, taking my bag from him.

"Let's go. I'll give you a ride home."

Erwin should already be waiting out front for me.

"Okay!"

The crowd parted as Damien and I walked through. No one tried to stop us. No one even looked me in the eyes.

This is how it should be.