New Student
The cold wind howled through the empty courtyard, carrying with it the scent of rain and blood.
A man stood there, his long black hair swaying with the wind. His grey eyes, usually so calm, were now clouded with pain.
A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.
“So...”
“So that was it...?”
A few steps away, another figure reached toward him, his trembling hand frozen halfway.
“Please...” his voice cracked. “Eryx... put the knife down.”
His breathing had become uneven.
“I’ll explain everything. Please... just listen to me once.”
Eryx laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because he had already broken.
“Explain?”
His fingers tightened around the knife.
“What’s left to explain?”
“I saw everything.”
“I heard every single word.”
“...You were using me.”
“No!”
The other man took another desperate step forward.
“You’ve misunderstood—”
“Don’t come any closer.”
Eryx’s voice trembled despite his attempt to stay strong.
“I don’t want to live like this anymore.”
The cold steel rested against his neck.
A tiny crimson drop slid down his pale skin.
The man’s pupils shrank.
“No...”
Another step.
“No!”
His voice cracked into a sob.
“ERYX!”
Darkness.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
A sharp sting hit my forehead.
“What the—”
My eyes flew open.
A piece of chalk rolled across the classroom floor before stopping beside my desk.
The entire class was staring at me.
Some were already laughing.
Ms. Ben stood at the front with her arms crossed.
“Theo.”
Her voice was calm.
Almost too calm.
“This is a classroom.”
“...Not your bedroom.”
“Out.”
The class burst into laughter.
Especially the two idiots sitting three rows away.
Ren and Alex.
Traitors.
I let out a quiet sigh before grabbing my notebook and walking outside the classroom.
The cool breeze in the hallway brushed against my face.
At least it was quieter out here.
A few minutes later, the bell rang.
The classroom door opened, and students immediately began pouring out, talking over one another.
“You’ve all heard about the transfer student, right?”
Ms. Ben’s voice rose above the chatter.
“He’s joining tomorrow. I expect everyone to be respectful and help him settle in.”
Most of the class barely listened.
“A transfer student? Now?”
“But we’re already halfway through the semester.”
“He has to be rich.”
“Yeah, no way someone transfers this late otherwise.”
Ms. Ben sighed, clearly giving up, before leaving with her books.
I walked back into the classroom.
“Enjoy the fresh air?” Ren smirked.
I scoffed, dropping into my seat.
Alex stretched lazily.
“Why does it have to be a guy? It should’ve been a girl.”
Ren nudged him with a grin.
“So you could flirt with her?”
Alex rolled his eyes dramatically.
“Now every girl in the college is going to lose their minds over this transfer student.”
“They’re already saying he’s rich.”
I stared at them blankly before resting my chin on my hand.
“...Theo?”
Ren frowned.
“You’ve been spacing out all day.”
I blinked.
“Have I?”
He nodded.
I hesitated.
“...I think I had a dream.”
Alex immediately smirked.
“What? Finally kissed a girl?”
I rolled my eyes.
“I don’t remember.”
“...But it felt real.”
“So... what happened?” Ren asked.
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
My chest tightened again.
That dull ache.
The same one I’d been feeling for days.
Every now and then, it’d appear for no reason before disappearing just as suddenly.
Maybe I was just overthinking it.
“...Forget it.”
The bell rang again, ending the conversation before I had to explain something I couldn’t even remember myself.
I looked back at the blackboard, trying to focus.
But for some reason...
My hand unconsciously drifted to my neck.
The strange feeling lingered for a second before I quietly pulled my hand away and forced myself to focus on the lesson.
Soon, the final bell rang.
I packed my bag and walked out with Ren and Alex.
Alex stretched dramatically.
“Ugh... football practice again.”
Ren snorted.
“It’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Now go suffer.”
I couldn’t help letting out a small chuckle.
The two of them never changed.
After a few steps, Ren glanced at me.
“...You’re spacing out again.”
I blinked.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Alex pointed at me accusingly.
“You’ve looked like a lost puppy since morning.”
“I’m fine.”
They exchanged a look.
Neither of them looked convinced.
When we reached the college gate, Alex waved lazily.
“See you tomorrow, losers.”
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t collapse during practice,” Ren shouted back.
Alex simply raised a hand without turning around.
Ren and I continued walking toward the bus stop.
After a moment of silence, he spoke quietly.
“Whatever’s bothering you...”
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
“...don’t overthink it.”
I looked at him for a second before giving a small smile.
“I’ll try.”
His bus arrived a minute later.
“See you tomorrow.”
“See you.”
I watched the bus disappear before turning toward my tuition center.
The classroom was quieter than college.
The teacher had already started explaining the next equation.
Normally, I’d be the first to solve it.
My pen moved across the page almost on instinct.
One line.
Another.
Then another.
“Theo.”
I looked up.
“Hm?”
The boy sitting beside me pointed at my notebook.
“...You okay?”
“What do you mean?”
He gave me a strange look.
“You’ve solved the same question three times.”
“...What?”
I frowned and looked down.
My breath caught.
The exact same solution.
Written three times.
In the same handwriting.
On the same page.
I... didn’t even remember writing it.
A strange chill ran down my spine.
Was I really zoning out this much?
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Helloo Guysss, Its been a while! how are u all?(┬┬﹏┬┬) I been busy with my academics for a while, but yeah here I am, and I also have many pending stories to complete, I will.. soon I guess.... anyways enjoy this story and do react 👽(❁´◡`❁) And well I've updated the story a lil! Enjoyy!
