Chapter 10: The New Territory

I stood at the gates of my new school, smoothing my uniform collar for the third time. The fabric felt stiff and unfamiliar, a constant reminder that I was officially the outsider here. I let out a long, ragged breath, still feeling the stress of this morning vibrating in my chest.

Elena was a complete mess. She stayed out late last night, and no one even knew where she had gone, but by morning she was already stressing me out. To make things worse, she had put on one of my old school uniforms, like she was actually coming with me. She stood by the door, waiting. If Grandma hadn’t distracted her, she would’ve followed me straight to school. I owed that old lady my life.

I glanced at my wristwatch and froze. I was late, and it was all because of that pervert. I muttered under my breath, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “If she hadn’t crossed my path this morning, I wouldn’t be dealing with any of this.”

I walked through the school gates. The campus was huge, filled with buildings and students moving in every direction. Everyone was busy, some rushing to class, others talking with friends, a few just standing around laughing. No one really paid attention to me, but I still felt out of place, like I didn’t quite belong there.

Remo, my friend who had been waiting for me near the entrance, nudged my shoulder. “Relax, man. Everyone’s just doing their own thing. You’re acting like something’s about to happen, it’s just a normal day.”

The air in the courtyard was thick with tension. A group of students were lined up in the center, holding grueling, low-squat positions while a teacher paced in front of them, barking orders like a drill sergeant.

I tried to walk past, keeping my head down, but the teacher stepped into my path, his eyes narrowing. "Who are you? I don't recognize you."

"I'm a transfer student," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the adrenaline.

The teacher sneered, pointing a bamboo stick toward the row of struggling students. "A transfer, eh? Then you’ll learn the discipline of this place immediately. Get in line!"

I didn't have a choice. I joined the group, my legs burning as I was forced into the agonizing squat. My friend was right there, whispering jokes to keep me from losing it. After what felt like an eternity, the teacher finally scoffed. "Get to your classrooms before I double the time!"

I pulled out the school map they’d given me at the orientation desk, tracing the path to the main building. I navigated the corridors with precision, finding my classroom without needing to ask for directions. By the time I reached the door, it was slightly ajar, and the room went dead silent as I stepped inside.

"Late on your first day?" the teacher asked, peering over his glasses. "Well, don't just stand there. Introduce yourself and go and find empty seat to sit."

I cleared my throat, feeling every single eye in the room on me. "I'm Liam. I transferred from the city. I hope to settle in quickly."

Before I could finish, a guy in the back row stood up and started a rhythmic clapping, his voice leading the others. "New student ritual! New student ritual!"

Within seconds, the whole room was singing, a loud, mocking chant that filled the air. Seeing the chaos about to erupt, the teacher simply sighed, gathered his papers, and walked out of the classroom, leaving us to it.

The moment the teacher crossed the threshold, the room erupted. A girl with sharp, perfectly styled hair stood up, blocking the aisle. She scanned the room with a look that dared anyone to challenge her.

"Just so you all know," she announced, her voice icy and authoritative, "this one is taken. He’s mine. If anyone thinks they’re going to stake a claim, they’ll have to deal with me first."

She marched over to my desk, leaning in close until I could smell her perfume. She brushed a stray hair from my forehead and cooed, “I’m Stacy, and you really are just as cute as everyone is saying.”

I was still reeling from the invasion of space when another girl from across the room blew me a dramatic kiss. I just stared at the desk, refusing to give them the reaction they wanted. I sat there in silence, enduring the glares of every guy in the room and the suffocating attention of the girls. I felt strange and like everyone was acting, and all I wanted was to disappear.

Just as the drama was reaching its peak, the door swung open again. The teacher stepped back in, his face stern, effectively silencing the room. The girls scattered, returning to their seats as if they hadn't just been marking their territory. The rest of the period was a grueling exercise in trying to look invisible.

By lunch, I had enough of the stifling atmosphere inside. I slipped away to the rooftop, the only place I figured would be quiet. I found a secluded corner, spread my books out, and tried to focus on my notes. The cool breeze on the roof was a welcome change from the claustrophobic classroom air. I breathed deeply, letting the silence settle around me.

Suddenly, a sharp grunt of pain snapped me out of my concentration.

I looked up and saw a group of boys, some of them are my classmates, crowded around a student near the edge of the roof. They were pushing him around and laughing while he tried to stay on his feet. My grip tightened on my pen. I didn’t like what I was seeing. I wasn’t the type to ignore bullying, no matter how the situation was.

I stood up, my heart beating faster, ready to step in. But before I could take even two steps, a voice cut through the air, low and bored.

"You're disturbing my peace. And by the way, the teacher is coming."

The bullies froze, looked toward the door, and scrambled away without a word, terrified.

I turned to see who had spoken. I expected a prefect or maybe a senior, but as my eyes landed on the person leaning against the rooftop railing, my blood ran cold. My breath hitched in my throat, and I felt the color drain from my face.

Standing there, looking completely unbothered, was the person I least expected to see in this school. I couldn't even find the words to speak; the shock hit me like a physical blow.

I stared, my voice barely a whisper. "You?"