Another day, no different from the one before—lifeless, sleepless... as if everyone around me were walking corpses. All they needed was a short break to become human again.
I knew this was just school... but my class? It felt like a slice of hell.
Don't think I'm exaggerating. Our day starts at 8 a.m. and doesn't end before 5 p.m.
Am I insane? Maybe. A slave to whoever built this place? Most likely.
Thankfully, I had one friend I could trust, even though he always looked like a prisoner in some tightly sealed admin cage.
"Abdelhakim, are you even listening to me?"
Badro raised his voice and waved his hand in front of my face, trying to snap me back to reality.
I blinked twice and sighed.
"Sorry... What did you say again? I zoned out for a second."
He groaned dramatically and said in a sarcastic tone:
"Ugh... I said the exams are just around the corner."
My eyes widened in shock.
"Wait, what?! We just finished assignments last week, and now—exams?!"
He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Obviously. And don't pretend to be surprised. You didn't even show up for the assignments. Remember what you kept saying? 'Let things go as God wills, I'll keep sleeping.'"
I lowered my head with a smirk.
"Yeah… Let me at least pretend this is a comedy show."
[Internal monologue – Hakim]
This is Badro… my dear friend. I met him on the first day of our third year in high school. I remember it like it was yesterday. He was sitting alone in a corner, a year older than us because he had repeated the final grade. No one knew him or dared approach him… so I broke the silence.
Honestly? Even he looked shocked.
How could a total stranger sit next to him and start talking without any intro or greeting?
The answer's simple: I looked different.
Though he was older, I looked way more mature.
Age? Seventeen.
Appearance? Mid-twenties.
With my height of 196 cm, weight around 79 kg, a deep voice, and a thick beard, I'd looked like a grown man since before I turned fifteen.
Yeah, it's funny. But this mismatch between how I looked and how old I was helped me blend into any conversation with ease… especially with a bit of sarcasm.
Pedro suddenly raised his head, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Hakim, did you bring your English notebook? The teacher said she wants to check it. If we don't, she might kick us out like she did before!"
I chuckled lightly as I grabbed my bag.
"Oh… I completely forgot. Let's go."
Pedro clutched his bag nervously.
"Go home? No way. If I go back now, I'm dead."
I smiled reassuringly.
"Relax… as long as we don't get hurt, we're fine. And if we do get kicked out? At least we'll laugh about it. I'm heading to the door."
Badro rushed after me.
"Wait up! Where are we going? The park?"
I smiled confidently.
"It's obvious… Let's go before things get worse."
We left that miserable school like we were tearing ourselves out of a gray prison that had drained our souls.
Why do I hate it? I don't know… all I know is that the hatred runs deep.
We slipped out like hair from thick dough. I can't explain the feeling…
I just know I despise that place with no clear reason.
When we reached the university dormitory, Badro broke the silence with a sudden change of topic:
"Hakim, I dreamed last night that we were fighting zombies together. I died at the end and left you in charge. Hope you didn't regret it."
I smirked as I adjusted my bag.
"Don't worry… But if we're talking about saving people, I don't think I'd do it. Nothing in this world comes without a price."
Badro furrowed his brows sadly.
"Oof… You just made me feel guilty."
I laughed and waved my hand.
"Heh… What do you expect from someone who almost grilled his hand out of hunger? If I don't even spare myself, how would I spare others?"
Badro's eyes widened.
"Wait—WHEN did you almost grill your hand?!"
I took a deep breath, recalling the memory.
"Ah… I never told you. I was grilling meat once, and in my excitement, I spilled seasoning all over my hand. It looked so tasty I actually thought about tossing my hand into the fire… Thankfully, my dad slapped me and yelled, 'Aren't you ashamed?!' and I snapped out of it."
A moment of silence passed before I muttered to myself:
"Honestly… if I'd felt pain, I would've stopped. But what if I didn't feel it?"
Badro shook his head with a laugh.
"You're like a younger brother, but with a skull of steel... maybe too much steel."
I laughed again and said:
"But it's a great story. If that dream ever comes true, we'll make it into the perfect action-comedy adventure!"
[Internal monologue – Hakim]
Because the soul-crushing routine repeats every day...
I've grown sick of it.
Day follows day, and nothing ever changes.
It's like I'm trapped in a loop...
Looking for a ray of light in a place where not only is it dark — the darkness is the place.
And darkness never becomes light.
But light? It can become darkness at any moment.
When you try to rise toward the light?
Everyone holds you down.
When you stray off course?
They cheer you on.
And if you go too far and become dangerous?
They abandon you.
Screw this society.
That's why I decided to follow what I want… when I want.
This is your life, your choices.
Make it yours alone so you never regret it.
And trust me…
You won't regret it — even if it costs you your life.
We later sat in the dorm's back courtyard, chatting about anime and games like Genshin, until evening fell and we reached the electric train station.
Badro turned and smiled.
"See you tomorrow, God willing."
I waved back.
"See you."
[Internal monologue – Hakim]
"Ah… finally."
Even though I still had a long way to get home, just escaping that soul-killing routine gave me a strange sense of peace.
I think... I won't study tonight.
Which isn't strange — I never really studied anyway.
The fact I even made it this far in school is a miracle in itself…
No point overthinking things.
I followed my usual route after getting off the tram.
The street was almost empty, with streetlights casting small halos on the cold sidewalks.
Suddenly, something strange caught my eye:
A man in his twenties driving slowly behind a girl walking briskly, shouting:
"Don't go! I just want to talk!"
The girl responded with a trembling voice:
"Leave me alone! Stop following me!"
I tried to ignore the scene, especially when I heard his name on her lips:
"Hamad…"
I put my earbuds back in and resumed my music.
But what happened next made my heart pound violently...
An old man — maybe in his sixties — stepped in, trying to intervene:
"Leave her alone!"
But Hamad screamed at him and shoved him hard:
"Mind your own business, old man!"
I quickly pulled out my earbuds, rushing toward them.
I grabbed Hamad's shoulder, my voice sharp and firm:
"Stop. You're wrong."
Before I could finish, he turned and slapped me — hard.
For a second, the sky spun.
But I didn't fall.
I grabbed his collar and dragged him down with me.
We hit the ground together.
I was on top of him.
My fists landed blow after blow.
Once… twice… three times…
He didn't flinch.
I exhaled sharply, channeled my strength into my elbow, and slammed it down hard.
[Internal monologue – Hakim]
Some say using elbows is brutal…
I don't care.
I'm just a kid against a grown man.
This fight was unfair from the start.
I kept hitting until I felt his body go limp.
He'd lost consciousness.
I stood, panting.
The old man behind me muttered in a hoarse voice:
"You're not human…"
I was stunned.
I didn't understand what he meant — but suddenly, I was angry.
I didn't want thanks…
But I sure didn't expect that.
I left without a word.
I put my earbuds back in, resumed my music, and muttered under my breath:
"Damn it… I completely lost control…"
I reached home exhausted, but weirdly at peace.
I opened the door and shouted:
"Peace be upon you! What's for lunch today?"
My mother's voice came from the kitchen — warm yet firm:
"Shakhshoukha with meat… your favorite."
I grinned, unable to hide my happiness.
"Thank God! Finally, real food!"
Moments later, my younger brother Hamza — the household troublemaker — appeared, yelling excitedly:
"Mom! Is lunch ready yet?"
She replied firmly but kindly:
"Out of the kitchen! Let me cook in peace."
[Internal monologue – Hakim]
Honestly?
My mom becomes terrifying when she's got kitchen tools in her hands.
After lunch, I prayed, then spent the evening relaxing and playing games.
At night…
Finally came the moment I'd been waiting for all day.
Sleep.
Yes, I admit it — I'm lazy.
But I have a valid excuse:
Tomorrow, the whole family's going out for a while, and I'll be completely alone.
In other words…
The best day ever to binge anime on the TV without a single interruption.
I closed my eyes with a smile…
and drifted off early — ready to wake up fully recharged.
"But what I didn't know... was that this ordinary day would be the last peaceful one of my life."