From Zero to Hero

I looked at my watch, the short arm was pointing to 3 while the longer arm was pointing to 12. 3 PM, huh?

Riding the subway train headed to the main district, I rode this train for no reason—not really headed anywhere at all, I was just train hopping—and I feel like getting off soon.

I don't feel like going home yet, there isn't anything to do back there. I don't feel like going back to school either. The principal would just probably lecture me for coming in to class a little bit TOO late. Classes started at exactly 7AM.

Not that I care if she tells my parents, not that they care either.

I can feel the other passengers secretly take glances at me and talk about me.

"Arriving at the next station." The PA announcement echoed throughout the whole train as the train slowly made a full stop as it loaded and unloaded passengers.

People kept gushing in as the train doors opened and as each adult entered, I felt another pair of eyes looking at me disgustingly. They were trying to recognize my school uniform and were probably wondering why I was out of school already on broad daylight, school hours to be exact. Our school held classes from 7AM to 4PM, and I was out an hour earlier—I can even recognize some who also rode the train earlier this morning.

What?

These guys have never seen a student cut class before? Maybe the difference was that their so called delinquents would change into casual clothes and be found on gaming establishments. I could do that but I don't feel like playing. I've been through that stage already, the "rebel" thingy which is a trend to most teenagers today.

To be honest, it wasn't that much fun at all. It doesn't even make you look cool. You just look like an idiot trying to be "in" in the latest trends of teenagers.

If slashing your wrists looks cool,would you slash yours? I won't.

If walking bare naked in public looks cool, would you walk bare naked? I definitely won't.

A delinquent.

A person up to no good.

The trash of the society.

The subject of gossip.

This is what young people like me were branded with names like these by the society.

I don't really care about their thoughts and opinions on me—they can curse me and say whatever they want behind my back. Girls can hate me all they want but I won't fall for those Justin Bieber songs.

...

Eh?

It seems that their attentions' not with me anymore, for a change.

I looked at the direction their heads were pointing to—right behind me, and obviously I'd notice that something was wrong at my first glance.

What would be the first thing you'd think of when you see two large white men, probably around 6-foot-5 tall, both bald headed, wearing tuxedos—like the ones James Bond wear in his movies, and paired with sunglasses?

Trouble.

But what would come to your mind when you see those men cornering a defenseless girl?

And what the heck is that baldie doing, grinning ear to ear as he checked her out?

Stares at the girl.

Yellow ha—?

Before I noticed I was kind of grinning too… and I was only looking at her legs.

"Hey mister, your nose is bleeding." A voice said.

I turned around.

As I turned, I wasn't able to ascertain the identity of the person behind me—but it was a very familiar suit. The very same suit these two giant mongrels before me are wearing.

He must be with them.

"Don't move."

As far as I know, I have everybody's attention—the passengers, these three MIBs, and the yellow-haired girl—after disturbing these weird guys.

What the heck are those people around doing, just watching us? Can't they read the atmosphere?

Nobody would help us, I have no choice. It's about time for the mighty Seta to make his entrance.

"Ah! There you are! Thank you, thank you misters. You found my friend. You see, she just moved here from Antarctica so she's pretty new here."

Wait—did I just say Antarctica? Does anybody even live there?

I blabbered that out of pressure. I had no choice, these irresponsible adults won't help us. I hope these guys are stupid enough to believe in that.

"Ahahaha!"

A cynical laugh.

"Does she look like a penguin from Antarctica to you?" The brown-haired man behind me said.

Well, she's definitely cuter than them.

…

But I guess they're not idiots.

I'd punch this guy right away… if he wasn't over 6 feet tall.

"As I can see, this lady's bags have French words in it. So you must be a foreigner too? Come on show me some French."

Trying to humiliate me further, are you?

It seems that I have no choice at all, everyone was looking at me. Actually I'm quite confident with my French. I was one of the best French speakers in my class.

"AH LA VACHE!"

I said that in the best way I could generate a French accent.

"Wow…" I can hear some passengers make some fuss.

"I never expected that a kid like him would know French."

From Zero to Hero.

Come on, keep the praises coming. I've proven your accusations wrong, in your face!

This feeling of victory is slowly swallowing my mind. A while ago I looked like trash, now everyone's looking up to me.

…

… …

The three men were standing still, each of them raising an eyebrow.

Hmph, wasn't that enough? They're just probably shocked from their defeat.

"What did he just say anyway?" An old woman asked them.

"He just said 'Oh, my cow!'"

W—what the F?

Shit! Alright I was among the best French speakers back in 6th grade!

I was the only French speaker in 6th grade.

Actually, I only studied some phrases to show my teachers that I'm superior from others by knowing foreign words so they'd let me off the hook when I sleep on their classes. But heck, I don't even know what those words meant up until now! So do my teachers.

But it doesn't matter anymore, I totally screwed up.

Come on, I know my mind's literally empty! But at the very least I can think of some decent excuse.

Black suit, sunglasses, and strange looking people…

"Look! An alien!" Of all things, why say that!

Aliens and Men in Black are the only things going on in my head, aside from James Bond.

"Where?"

…

Why do I get this feeling of a cliché scene in animes and mangas? More importantly I was surprised to see it worked. Are they really from the MIB?

"Arriving at xxxxx Station." The PA announced to the whole train.

I'll take this chance.

This is a matter of life and death. Things around me started to look very slow as I raised my concentration.

I took a step back with my right feet and mustered all my strength. I narrowed my eyesight and looked closely on my target, resembling a tiger's eye. I can feel my own heart beating hard down to my feet.

I took one deep breath. With all my concentration, might, and for my love on my life, I put everything I have on this single move. I took a full swing and landed it straight to his…

"ARGH!" The brown haired man behind me was twisting in pain on the ground.

He was holding onto his crotch. His face showed the perfect description of Agony and Torment. His eyes rolled and tears of manliness coming out. He dropped flat on the floor, both hands still in his…

He was knocked out completely.

Stay aggressive. I never thought that psycho's advice would be this useful.

This is what I call "The Nut Cracker".

There were only two emotions to be seen in the people's faces.

Pain.

Pity.

Maybe I did go a little too far.

I'm sorry to your sons to be.

May your ancestors forgive me for ending your family blood line.

…

[Ding Ding Ding]

As the door's alarms sounded, I suddenly remembered what I really planned before.

If this door closes, we're DEAD.

Without wasting any time, I grabbed onto the girl's hands and dragged her quickly out of the train and got out in the nick of time.

It was visible from the railcar's glass windows that the two giant men ran after the door, but were trapped inside as the train started accelerating slowly.

I can't believe I really did something like that.

[Noise of glasses shattering]

What the heck?

I can't believe what I'm seeing.

The two giant men were rolling on the ground, along with shattered glasses. Apparently, they broke through the window and jumped out of the train.

Are they crazy? Up to what extent are they willing to do just to catch me?

They hit the wall and finally made a full stop. Shaking their heads, trying to get up, they wore their sunglasses and looked at my direction. No matter how strong and fit their body is, they're still humans and that impact must have hurt.

But it doesn't look like it. What the heck are they? Super humans?

I haven't even let go of the girl's hands but we have no time to waste here. I turned around, not planning on looking back at them anymore

I started running to the exit as fast as my feet can bring me, while dragging this yellow haired stranger behind.

Just what did I get myself into?

This story is of pure FICTION. Any resemblance to real people, dead or alive, is purely coincidental.

THIS IS A REWRITE! I'll be re-uploading the next chapters in the next few days.

Again, this is a REWRITE but the story is NOT YET COMPLETE :D

Keywords

MIB - also known as the Men In Black in popular culture and in UFO conspiracy theories, are men dressed in black suits who claim to be government agents who harass or threaten UFO witnesses to keep them quiet about what they have seen.

An American fictional movie about aliens starred by Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in 1997.