The High School Bad Boy
Chapter 41. Bittersweet Seventeen.

STALINGRAD, GERMANY.

The light show at the top of the Eiffel Tower that is clearly visible from the rooftop of the building where Max sits is unable to distract him from a cigarette he is smoking carefully. And on a can of beer that accompanies every gust of smoke.

While Etienne is sitting next to her, looking calm enjoying two boxes of salmon en papillote, grilled salmon meat studded with pieces of zucchini, fennel bulb (sad), dill, lemon, lemon, and a little bit of olive oil, which Max brought a moment ago before taking him to his best friend's hideout.

"Mmmm .. tre's tre's bon (so good)." Etienne spoke with her mouth full. "You bought this expensive food? Or did someone give it to you?"

"I bought. You know, the Governor of Paris bought my painting for five thousand euros" Max said, smoking his cigarette.

"Drawing?" asked Etienne while frowning.

Max chuckles. "I'm sorry I never told you that I'm a painter."

"Putain (fucking), I know you like drawing but I never thought you were a painter." Etienne was cracking down hard. "Maximilian Guillaume the bengal of Jean-Bapstiste Say turned out to be a painter." Laughter. "But, did you say that? The governor of Paris bought your painting for five thousand euros? Putain ta mere (motherf ucker)!" it means not believing.

Max grimaced showing his neat teeth.

"By the way, it's your birthday, right?" ask Etienne while gently hitting Max's shoulder.

"Oais (yeah)," Max answered lazily.

"Bon ben, bon anniversary, Mon Pote (then, happy birthday, guys)" he said, chuckling. He didn't really say it. More to mock his best friend.

"Merci," said Max as he sucked back his shortened cigarette. Then throw it under the building.

"Hey, you're still after Miss Wulan?" ask Etienne while nudging Max's shoulder.

Max took his breath. "I'm thinking."

"You mean?"

"Yes, it's hard to get her heart. I'm feeling tired right now. I want to rest for a while. And think of a new strategy, maybe." He laughed blandly.

Etienne patted Max's shoulder slowly. "Maybe you can't love your own teacher. So complicated. Moreover, it was clear that later he would definitely get into trouble."

"Oais, peut etre (yeah, maybe)."

"Here you go, forget about Miss Wulan, Max." Etienne thrusts a piece of salmon meat directly into Max's mouth. He lazily bit and chewed it.

He raised his face to the sky of Paris is orange due to the bias of the sea of city lights that spread along 105.4 km².

Bittersweet seventen (the bitter seventeenth birthday), as in previous years.

Ah, at least the five thousand euros earned today can be a little entertaining.

***

JEAN-BAPTISTE SAY, SURESNES.

Max, who had just walked out of the classroom, frowned when he saw two policemen passing through the corridor and became the center of attention of the students there. The two policemen walked into the Teacher Guides room.

Fifteen minutes later, the two left with Damien Arsenault following them from behind.

When passing Max who was stepping into his locker, Damien looked at him sharply.

"Review you!" The soundless movements of his mouth gave Max a warning.

Max smiled at her side. Then with his palm he made a gesture as if he was slashing his own neck. "T'es mort (die you)!" whispered.

He walked cheerfully towards his locker without caring about Damien who was burning with anger. There was Etienne there and some students whispering to each other as they looked towards Damien and the two policemen who were walking out of the school building.

"So Mr. The Arsenault that caused Nadia to commit suicide?"

"What is Mr. Arsenault?"

"Maybe."

"Will he be in jail?"

"I don't know, maybe just be questioned."

Max and Etienne glanced at each other at the endless corridor talk. Apparently the rumors have spread quickly throughout the school.

"You already know about Nadia and Mr. Arsenault before?" ask Etienne while putting her jacket in the locker.

Max turned his shoulders. Then lean back against the door of his locker while tying his hair. It was then that he saw the figure of Wulan from a distance walking over. Get Etienne to elbow Max's arm with the intention of teasing him.

When Wulan flashed in front of him, Max only smiled faintly and nodded his head. Then turn around to open his locker and put the bag in there.

.

.

Wulan put the books on the table and supported her chin. He was thinking of something that disturbed his mind. Last night he was over-reacting to Max. He's pissed. Inexplicably seeing Eloise treat Max like her lover makes Wulan a whiff instead of playing.

Maybe he was upset with himself. Because he was not young enough to accept the love of the boy. Or because he made a mistake by nurturing his feelings. Until now, he had trouble lying to himself. But if conscience speaks, what can it do.

Max looks ordinary. The boy just smiled faintly and nodded. Not aggressive as usual. Not chasing after him like he had been doing if he saw his figure passing.

Has he changed and decided to forget? That fast and that easy? It's probable. Max is just a unstable teenager who can change his mind at any time. No matter how hard life taught him to be precocious, in him, he was only a sixteen-year-old.

Wulan took a deep breath.

Why would he not be willing if Max decided to stop chasing him.

Oh, my God, I must be crazy.

.

.

"I happened to pass by this area, so I decided to wait for you to finish teaching."

Christophe said as Wulan met him outside the school gate. The man was waiting for him. Lean on the car door and sparkle when you see it.

"You don't have to wait for me" he said. He looked around him. Looking for the figure of a bengal boy who began to make him miss.

"C'est pas grave (it's okay). Come on, Wulan," Christophe said, opening the car door for Wulan.

Wulan nodded. Just as he was about to enter the car, the corner of his eye caught the figure of Max emerging from within the school gate. He walked leisurely while embracing Etienne's shoulders. There was the sound of laughter of the two young men. I don't know what they're talking about.

Max glanced at Wulan, but he just threw a faint smile and resumed his steps without looking back at the Mother Teacher. It seemed that he was not affected by Christophe's presence there.

Wulan got into Christophe's car with an erratic feeling. He rests his back on the back of the chair while looking at Max's back from the rear-view mirror.

"Ca va toi (are you okay)?"

Wulan nodded slowly and forced her smile to Christophe who had been sitting behind the wheel.

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