CHAPTER 102: CAUSING A STIR

Theo stepped forward.

"Then let’s see if your fists can back your mouth this time," he said evenly, voice like steel.

A whistle suddenly cut through the air.

"Stand down!" barked a commanding voice.

A Class 2 AMS officer stepped in between them, followed by a couple of Class 3 enforcers. The officer’s eyes scanned both of them with cool authority.

"What’s going on here?" he asked sternly.

Ben pointed accusingly. "He’s provoking me!"

The officer turned to Theo. "You?"

Theo simply shook his head. "I stood up. He started shouting."

Beatrice stood up and seconded, "It’s true, Sir. Ben is the one who started it."

The officer narrowed his eyes. "I heard enough. You-" he pointed at Ben, "-are on probation. If you want to throw punches, do it during sanctioned combat training, not in the damn mess hall. One more stunt and you’re out of the program."

Ben’s face turned red, fists clenched.

"Understood?" the officer barked.

"...Yeah," Ben muttered bitterly, backing down.

The officer nodded and looked at Theo. "You handled that well, recruit. Next time, report it. No need to escalate."

"Yes, sir," Theo replied calmly.

Ben stalked off to his table, humiliated and fuming.

Theo sat back down as Beatrice did the same.

"You alright?" she asked.

Theo gave a small nod. "Yeah. I just didn’t expect him to show up here."

Beatrice frowned. "If he ever tries something again, just let me know."

Theo gave her a grateful glance. "Thanks."

Indeed, Ben was right, Beatrice always had his back.

Theo looked around the mess hall and noticed the stares. Some curious, others judging, and a few surprised. It was the same feeling he remembered back in school... when Beatrice stood by him despite how others saw him.

He gave a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

"Looks like I’m getting too much attention again," he said, glancing at her. "Just like back in school whenever I was with you."

Beatrice raised a brow and smirked. "Well, you were always easy to spot. Not just because of the baby fat," she teased playfully. "But because you had this habit of shrinking when people looked your way."

Theo grinned faintly, shaking his head. "I guess now I just stand taller."

She nudged him. "Damn right, you do."

From across the room, the tension had died down, but whispers still lingered.

Some stared because of Beatrice. Some because of the earlier scene. But more than a few looked at Theo differently now, with curiosity... and maybe even respect.

"Ah seriously, that woman," Shine muttered under her breath, glaring at Beatrice from across the mess hall. "Is she planning to stick around my Hunk?"

Without waiting another second, she snatched up her tray with an exaggerated huff and stormed toward Theo’s table, eyes blazing with determination.

Her boots echoed as she closed the distance, weaving through other soldiers.

A few glanced her way, recognizing the bright pink hair and already guessing what was about to happen.

Shine marched straight to Theo’s table and, without hesitation, plopped her tray right next to his. "Move over, Hunk," she said with a bright smile, nudging his shoulder with hers. "Didn’t think you’d start collecting admirers on your first day, huh?"

Theo blinked. "Shine-"

"Oh! Beatrice, right?" Shine turned to her with a sugary-sweet smile. "We didn’t get to chat earlier. You’re the mayor’s daughter, yeah? I’ve seen you around the labs."

Beatrice’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes. And you are?"

"Shine," she grinned, tossing her bangs. "Class 4. Combat unit. I’m practically Theo’s first friend here. You know, back when he was still round and squishy."

Theo groaned quietly. "Can we not bring that up?"

But Shine leaned closer, her eyes fixed on Beatrice. "So! What brings you to sit with my Hunk?"

"I believe that’s up to him," Beatrice replied coolly. "We’ve known each other for years."

Shine raised a brow, feigning surprise. "Really? Wow. That’s cute. Still... Theo, you promised we’d eat together once you passed orientation."

Theo looked between the two, visibly trapped.

"I didn’t promise anything-"

"Yes, you did!" Shine pouted. "Back at Metro Doctors, remember? You owe me for helping you!"

Beatrice chuckled softly, a little too elegantly. "Seems like you’re in high demand, Theo."

Shine folded her arms, beaming. "Of course he is. But some of us didn’t just show up after the danger passed."

Beatrice’s smile sharpened. "And some of us didn’t treat real danger like a game."

The tension at the table thickened. Theo sighed, dragging a hand down his face.

"I’m just trying to eat dinner," he muttered to himself.

Around them, whispers and curious stares were starting to spread through the canteen. The infamous new recruit caught in a standoff between two of AMSO’s most talked-about women.

Lexa stepped into the canteen with Mira and Karyle right as the awkward tension around Theo’s table was hitting its peak. The sound of Shine’s laugh, loud and dramatic, echoed as Beatrice calmly sipped her juice with a poised expression, pretending not to be fazed.

"Oh look," Karyle nudged Mira and motioned subtly toward the table, "isn’t that the guy from the screening? The one you said looked familiar?"

Mira squinted, then her eyes widened. "Oh! That’s right! That’s the one in the red zone, at campus, remember the unauthorize one? So he really did end up joining AMSO."

"Good," Karyle added with a light smile.

They both turned to Lexa, who stood still beside them, tray in hand, face unreadable.

"So..." Mira leaned closer. "Did the Supreme Commanders find out? About you helping him escape before?"

Lexa nodded slowly. "Yeah. They did."

"Punishment?"

"I’m benched for two weeks. No field ops. Just desk work and internal reviews," Lexa replied, her voice stiff.

"Damn," Mira muttered. "Well, at least they didn’t strip you of rank."

But then Karyle elbowed Mira again, nodding toward Theo’s table. "Wait, is it just me or is he being flanked by two gorgeous women?"

"Oh?" Mira leaned over to see and then laughed. "Yup. One’s that pink-haired Class 4 Shine, right? And the other is the famous Beatrice Smith. Wow, Lexa... your boy’s causing a stir."

Lexa’s brows twitched, lips pursing slightly. "He’s not my boy."

Mira grinned teasingly. "You sure? You’re looking like you want to yank that tray from Shine’s hands."

Lexa exhaled sharply and rolled her eyes. "Maybe he likes men, so he prefers the company of women. Who knows."

Both Mira and Karyle snorted.

"Come on, you don’t even believe that."

"I don’t," Lexa muttered, clearly not amused, "but that would make this a hell of a lot easier."

Mira laughed harder. "You’re so doomed, girl."

Lexa didn’t respond. She just stood there, watching Theo laugh awkwardly at something Shine said while Beatrice calmly stirred her soup, gaze occasionally flicking to him like he belonged beside her.

Lexa’s jaw clenched. ’Why am I even watching this?’