Chapter 19 Next Calculation

Chapter 19 Next Calculation
The next morning, every student walking toward the school turned their heads to look at the same thing. They saw Nolan walking past them, but he wasn't alone. Nina had her arm wrapped tightly around his right arm, while Nadine was clinging to his left. Nolan glanced left and right, seeing everyone’s confusion at the sight of him and the two girls.

"Damn... how did it end up like this... it’s all because of last night," Nolan muttered to himself, his mind drifting back to the events from the previous evening until they woke up this morning.

That night, after returning home and parting ways with Rico on the street, and after finishing his "punishment," Nolan—still shirtless, showing off his muscular build—sat with his back against the mattress in front of the coffee table. He was smoking while re-reading the files on his smartphone. He then glanced at Nina, who was buttoning up her shirt and wearing nothing else besides that shirt.

"Here, look at this," Nolan said.

"What?" Nina asked, sitting close to him and leaning in to see the smartphone.

Nina read the file, her eyes locking onto Harold’s home address and ID. She smiled and turned to Nolan.

"So, when are we going there?" Nina asked, ready for a fight.

"I have a match tomorrow night. We’ll see how things look then," Nolan replied, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"I see," Nina replied while looking at Nolan’s smartphone.

"Can I come too?" Nadine asked, raising her hand.

Nolan and Nina turned to see Nadine still lying flat on her back on the mattress behind them, completely naked, with her hand in the air.

"Yeah... sure," Nolan replied casually, exhaling smoke.

"Why do you want to wait and see tomorrow?" Nina asked, curious.

"Usually, if there’s a big match, he’s at the coliseum watching. Tomorrow happens to be a fight between Magnificent Troy and Fortress. Both are big stars," Nolan said.

"Hmm... okay, and then?" Nina asked, watching him smoke.

"If he shows up at the coliseum, we move. I don’t care if I miss my match," Nolan countered.

"Oh... so you mean you’re going to wait until he’s heading home and his guard is down?" Nina asked.

"Exactly. We liberate the slaves at his house and finish him off when he arrives," Nolan answered.

"Okay, I get it... oh, sorry, this spot isn’t clean yet," Nina said, sliding closer and placing Nolan’s hand on her upper thigh.

"Give me a break, I thought we already did that," Nolan replied, pulling his hand back.

"Again... I’m not a virgin anymore anyway, and since the pain is gone... yeah... again," Nina replied, clinging tighter to Nolan.

"Same here... me too," Nadine added, raising her hand.

"Gaah... damn it, not right now," Nolan snapped, rubbing his head. Suddenly, Rico’s face popped into his mind, saying, "bros before hoes." He immediately shook his head. "Damn you, Rico... don't show up now. I know I’ve already broken the code, you don’t need to remind me, you bastard," Nolan muttered to himself.

After being pressured, he finally gave in and they did it one more time, taking turns. First Nina while Nadine stayed in the next room, and then vice versa. Once both were satisfied, they put their clothes back on and slept together. Early the next morning, before leaving, "Hey... wake up... school," Nolan said, nudging them both awake. "Hmm," Nina groaned as she stretched, and Nadine followed suit. Both rolled to either side of Nolan before suddenly lifting their heads.

"Morning," Nina said, leaning up to kiss Nolan’s cheek.

"Good morning, my husband," Nadine added, also kissing his cheek.

"Aah... enough already. Just get up, we have to get to school," Nolan replied.

"Okay," they both answered in unison, still stretching their bodies.

After that, Nina and Nadine stood up, stretching their bodies once more. Then, they walked toward the man-sized hole behind the television that connected Nina’s and Nolan’s apartments—the one Nina had smashed through last night while demanding Nolan’s "punishment." Nolan could only shake his head and rub his face, which suddenly looked five years older than his actual age.

"How the hell am I going to explain that hole to the landlord," he muttered to himself.

Back to the present. Several students Nolan passed began whispering among themselves.

"Hey... isn't that guy a gladiator who wears the band but never actually fights? How is that failed gladiator walking with that transfer student we saw yesterday and... who’s the other one? Never seen her," one girl said.

"Shh... he’s Rico’s friend, you’re gonna get in trouble with him. But wait... the other girl looks familiar... oh, that’s right! She’s that truant who barely ever shows up to school but is actually smart. Whenever she did show up, she looked like a total witch. I can't believe she’s actually that pretty," the other girl beside her replied.

"Oh, really? So she’s the one whose hair usually looks like a lion's mane and never gets combed? That is so unfair... I mean, she used to be so grimy and scruffy... and now she’s suddenly gorgeous... ugh," the first girl said.

"Damn... how does a loser thug like that end up with two hot girls like that? It makes me so jealous," a male student muttered.

"Hey... watch your mouth. I don’t want any business with Rico’s friend, but yeah... I get why you’re jealous. Those two girls are definitely hot," the student next to him replied.

Nolan, who could clearly hear them because they were whispering without even trying to hide it, felt a bit annoyed. However, he chose to stay quiet. Instead, he pulled his arms free from Nina and Nadine’s grip, then reached out and threw his arms around both of them. It caught them by surprise, but they seemed happy; their faces suddenly flushed red even though they kept their expressions flat. Suddenly, "clap," Nolan turned around to see Rico—his face still covered in bandages from the night before—slapping him on the back.

"What the hell, dude? Why do you have your arms around them?" Rico asked, looking confused.

Immediately, Nina and Nadine glared back at Rico with eyes that looked ready to kill, making Rico flinch so hard he let go of Nolan’s shoulder.

"Whoaa... my bad," Rico stammered.

The two girls smiled and turned back to face forward. Nolan let go of them and stepped back slightly, letting Nina and Nadine walk ahead.

"It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later," said Nolan, who was now walking beside Rico.

"Okay... okay... you’re fighting tonight, right?" Rico asked.

"Yeah... I haven't really looked at the schedule yet. Yesterday I only caught a glimpse and saw the match between Magnificent Troy and Fortress because it had the biggest font on the flyer," Nolan answered.

"Hold on," Rico replied.

Rico pulled out his smartphone and opened the screen, showing the fight card for tonight. Nolan squinted at the display. The match between Magnificent Troy and Fortress was the headliner, while his own fight against a gladiator named Ed Cross was the opening match.

"Hmm... first match against... do you know this gladiator?" Nolan asked, turning to Rico.

"He’s a new gladiator too... tall and skinny... uses white element Orbs and is a little weird, like a crazy person," Rico answered.

"Hmm... okay. The plan is for me, Nina, and Nadine to move tonight. You should probably stay out of this one. It's way more dangerous than the last one," Nolan countered.

"Haaah... looks like your mind is made up... alright, I get it. Just stay safe and you better come back, bro," Rico said, raising his fist.

"Got it. No need to worry about that," Nolan replied, bumping his fist against Rico's.

"So... what’s up with those two hoes? Why are they acting different with you... and... how do I put this? You and them look like you've already... you know," Rico whispered, making sure Nina and Nadine walking ahead couldn't hear him.

"Let's just say I broke the code, but it was for the greater good of humanity," Nolan said, looking like he couldn't be bothered to explain the details, especially regarding last night.

"Huh... what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Rico asked, completely confused.

Then they continued walking through the school gates and headed straight toward the main building, completely ignoring everyone around them.