Chapter 7 : Cold Eyes of Zebadiah
"You really have to do something about that guy though, Nash," Daniel continued after Junior's angry interjection.
Zebadiah was a pain in the ass in the school. Not only was he going around bullying people, he was also disturbing the female students simply because he was rich and pompous, believing that he should be the one to have them.
Nash sighed. In that swift moment, he recalled the advice Eileen Weatherbee had given him back at the hospital.
He appreciated Daniel and Junior's concern but he knew better than them that Zebadiah was not someone they could mess with right now.
This was not particularly because of Zebadiah himself but due to his family, who gave him their full backing.
Nevertheless, Nash also knew that he would have to deal with Zebadiah sooner or later and now that he had Null with him, that plan wouldn't be so hard after all.
******
Nash couldn't blame his roommates for showing concern for his well being. If it was him, he would too.
"Well, all we are saying is… you best handle the situation before it gets out of hand," Junior added. "I don't see him stopping with his stupid acts anytime soon if you continue to allow it."
Nash poured out a drink into his glass cup and took a sip. "I understand all you both have said. You don't have to worry about him. I assure you."
Junior and Daniel looked at each other and shrugged. It was as if they've been talking to themselves this whole time.
"If you say so," Daniel replied, taking a sip from his own cup.
"Come on, guys!" William interrupted the moody atmosphere. "Enough sulking. That's not what we are here for. The person we are talking about is probably out there enjoying himself."
"That's true," Junior replied. "Anyways, what level are you now in Apex Online, seeing how you didn't even realise that we have left."
Daniel chuckled hearing this.
Nash's expression dampened. "Still level 1," he answered with a frustrated sigh.
"Same here," William added, his face distorting with profound frustration. "That game is so hard to level up in. I have no idea why they made it like that. It's frustrating!"
Junior and Daniel looked at each other, almost chuckling at how bitter William looked as they clinked their glasses.
"I'm level 3," Daniel said.
"I'm also level 3," Junior added. "What races did you guys choose?"
"Human," Nash answered swiftly.
William felt a bit shy to give his own answer as he looked away briefly while saying it. "G-Giants…"
"Damn! What are the odds that none of us picked the same race?" Daniel said. "If that was the case, we would have shown you both the ropes but unfortunately, it seems we can't meet in the game just yet."
Daniel was the roommate who went for the more brutish ways of doing things in the game and had chosen the class of [Warrior] of the orc race.
Junior, on the other hand, had gone for the class of [Mage] with affinity for flame, choosing the elf race since they were the most blessed with magic.
In addition to William being a giant, he also picked a class that complemented the unnatural physical strength that giants had and that was the [Berserker] class.
In their character creation, they did not fall short as each one chose a class and a race that complemented each other very perfectly to bring out the best in them.
"You two will have to be snappy with it though," Junior urged them. "Once you leave your novice village, then we can meet up in the game and ride together."
William scoffed on hearing Junior's words.
"Any problems, Will?" Junior asked.
"I'm good," William answered. "Watch me take over the world of Apex Online."
He clenched his fist in the air like a conqueror from the ancient times. "I will be the character that everybody follows. A legend!"
Daniel and Junior couldn't help but laugh when William made such a bold declaration.
Leveling up in Apex Online was hard and for someone who was still in level 1 to boldly claim that he would become a legend everybody would follow, it was worth laughing at. Although they had not done this in a mocking way but as a natural reaction.
Nash, on the other hand, just smiled. He said nothing to support or shun William's declaration.
Nash just drank his juice and thought about how he was blessed with the grace of being reborn and with knowledge of the game. To top it all, he had Null to help.
He would no longer need to rely on anybody this time around.
As time passed, they switched from nonalcoholic drinks to a few shots of alcohol while they chatted about the most random topics, further strengthening their bonds as roommates.
This continued deep into the night before they finally decided to return to their hostel. Getting to their hostel, they had their bath and went to bed since everyone was tired already.
******
The next morning.
Nash was on his way to his class, yawning and massaging his head from the hangover of last night.
*Squeak*
He took a long drink from the bottle of water he had in his hand, almost sucking the entire thing in. That was the only way he could get himself to feel better.
'I really shouldn't have drank so much last night,' Nash thought in regret, recalling the swell time he had with his roommates.
Just then, he entered the classroom and a second later, he noticed a pair of cold eyes glued at him as if such wicked stare was premeditated.
Those were the devilish eyes of Zebadiah Gates.
Nash equally raised his eyes to match Zebadiah's gaze, confirming it was truly him.
This was the first time since his rebirth that he would come face to face with the young man who killed him in his previous life.
Nash felt a lot of emotions, mostly anger but as frustrating as it was, he had to bottle his rage in.
Zebadiah shook his head, throwing his left over the shoulder of the girl beside him as he scoffed.