He cleared his throat and tried to regain his dignity.
"Anyway…"
"Just remember that the five classes don't get along very well."
"So the school holds small competitions between the classes."
"Competition pushes us forward… or something like that."
He stretched his arms lazily.
"And this week's competition is sports."
"So everyone should start preparing."
"Swimming, basketball, tennis, archery, gaming, horse riding, racing, long jump, relay race…"
"There are many events."
"This is your chance to shine."
"And if you're good enough, some universities might even offer sports scholarships."
He yawned halfway through the sentence.
"If you want more explanation, go ask your sports teacher."
"I've done my job."
Then he pointed at the class again.
"And listen carefully."
"It's mandatory to choose a club."
"A sports club or any extracurricular club."
"You must have at least one talent."
"And you must also join a student group."
"We have ten student groups created by the student committee."
"They exist so students can relax, have fun, and enjoy fresh air."
"Not just study until your brain melts."
A few students laughed.
The class monitor leaned forward slightly.
"And let me give you one honest piece of advice."
"Choose your group wisely."
"It's basically a social status."
"A small preview of society."
"A place to make connections."
He shrugged.
"Not all groups are equal."
"Some groups think they're superior and look down on others."
"So try your best to join the best clubs."
He pointed lazily toward the class again.
"And don't come crying to me saying someone is bullying you or that another class is causing problems."
"These groups are mixed with students from all classes."
"So I can't fight your battles for you."
He stretched again, looking completely tired.
"Oh, and there will also be study divisions."
"Each class will be split into study partners."
"And sometimes those partners will work with students from other classes depending on their academic performance."
"So yes."
"Fun is allowed.
"But studying is still the main goal."
The moment he finished speaking, the classroom exploded into loud boos.
"Boooo!"
The class monitor placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
Then he bowed deeply in mock politeness.
"Thank you, thank you."
Before casually walking back to his seat.
Felix leaned slightly toward Matthew and nodded toward the class monitor who had just finished speaking.
"That guy," Felix said, lowering his voice, "is also one of our roommates."
"His name is Philip."
Matthew glanced briefly in the direction Felix pointed. The class monitor was already back in his seat, stretching lazily as if he had just finished a long performance.
Felix turned back to Matthew, curiosity lighting up his face.
"So," he said, leaning his elbow on the desk, "which club are you joining?"
"And which student group?"
"And for the class sports competition, which activity are you doing?"
The questions came out one after another without pause.
Matthew looked at him for a moment.
Then he simply shrugged.
"I don't know anyone fate choose," he said calmly.
"I guess."
He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen as if the conversation wasn't very important to him.
Felix didn't seem bothered by the indifferent response. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully.
"That's actually good."
"We haven't decided which groups to join either."
He leaned back in his chair, swinging it slightly.
"It would be fun if we roommates joined the same clubs and student groups."
He began counting on his fingers.
"We're allowed to join three clubs and two student groups."
"So I was thinking maybe we could all choose the same club first."
"Then for the other clubs we can just pick whatever we personally like."
"And the third club isn't even mandatory."
He waved his hand casually.
"The same goes for the student groups."
Then he suddenly leaned closer again.
"But for the class competition, we should probably choose different activities."
"That way we won't end up competing against each other."
Matthew nodded slightly, still looking at his phone.
"You can choose for me."
Felix blinked.
"Really?"
"I still have things to do," Matthew said calmly.
"I need to go home and pack the rest of my stuff."
Felix straightened in surprise.
"You're not a full-time dorm student?"
Matthew shook his head.
"Not exactly."
"I stay in the dorm one week, then go back home the next week."
Felix's eyes widened slightly.
"Wait… really?"
Matthew slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"I have to pay double the dormitory fees though."
Felix stared at him for a moment.
Then he whistled softly.
"Wow…"
"Rich guy life, huh?"
Matthew simply looked at him quietly without answering.
Matthew just shrugged and went back to his book. After school, he left without a word, the weight of routine settling around him like a familiar coat.
The next morning, the moment he stepped into class, whispers ricocheted across the room. Students leaned toward each other, eyes darting toward him. Felix practically skidded across the aisle.
"Bro, you wanna play a quick match?" he blurted out, almost tripping over his words.
Matthew blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"
"One of our classmates—yeah, someone from Crownside Elite—got into it with another school.
Things got messy. We need to settle it with a game," Felix explained, his voice rushing like he had no time to breathe.
Matthew frowned, still processing. "You mean… a basketball game?"
Felix nodded furiously. "Yeah! You didn't stay for extra evening class yesterday, so you missed the chaos. Some of the day students had to stick around after study hall, and we ended up at that internet café—another school was there. Things got heated. Everyone fought. Philip managed to calm it before the cops were called. No side wants to back down now, so… match it is. But we're one short. That's where you come in."
Matthew raised an eyebrow, flipping a page in his book without lifting his gaze. "Aren't you asking a little much?"
Felix leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Bro… the dude who's gonna get trashed is my cousin. No one else wants in—they just wanna watch. Plus, the other school's top student? His dad owns the best car club in the city. They've got insane perks: racing, exclusive clubs, you name it. Everyone's scared of him. And, uh… yeah, our class five leader has a connection there. Nobody wants to mess with him. But help me out, and I'll grant you two wishes. Anything. You just need to join to round out the team."
Matthew finally looked up, expression calm as a lake. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "And if I score points?"
Felix's grin widened, disbelief in his eyes.
"Then I'll cover your cafeteria meals for a whole week. One score, one week—each score. Can you even imagine?"
Matthew nodded, serene.
A cheer erupted outside the classroom due to his smile, a wave of murmurs turning into excited whispers. Rumors of the new school heartthrob had spread fast—Crownside students were mesmerized. Matthew didn't notice; he wasn't here for attention.
He simply walked beside Felix, earbuds in, calm, untouchable.
By break time, Felix led him away from prying eyes to an abandoned building tucked in the far corner of the school compound. Its windows were cracked, paint peeling, graffiti streaked across concrete walls. Inside, the basketball court was vast and empty, the floor scarred and dusty, the hoops hanging like forgotten sentinels.
Shafts of sunlight cut through the broken windows, spotlighting patches of dust dancing in the air.
A small crowd of Crownside students had bribed security for secret entry. Across the court, the rival school's team lounged, smirks on their faces, waiting. Felix guided Matthew toward Philip, Jay, and Rick, who stood with other students from class two and a few casual spectators, eager for the spectacle.
Philip's eyes narrowed at Felix. "What's he doing here?"
Felix scratched the back of his neck. "Philip… this is Matthew, my our roommate."
Rick grinned, stepping forward. "I don't think you play games, huh? Handsome and good at sports… my heart's racing just looking at you," he said, forming a heart shape with his hands.
Jay smacked the back of Rick's head lightly while Philip rolled his eyes.
"Anyway," Felix continued, whining under his breath, "we need one more player. Jay doesn't want to, Rick's in, two of class two students are in one athlete in class four too and I've already convinced Matthew."
Philip shrugged. "Fine. But if we lose, it's your cousin who gets beaten, not mine. Consider yourself warned."the he turned to Matthew" after the game we could hang out "
Matthew's calm gaze swept over the scene: the dusty bleachers, the scattered spectators, the rival players pacing with overconfidence. He didn't flinch. He didn't rush. He just nodded, stepping onto the court.
Felix cousin glared . "Hey, loser! Don't screw this up for us!"
Felix kicked his cousin back lightly.
Matthew's eyes didn't betray a hint of nerves. He adjusted his stance, the worn court beneath him, the sun streaking through the broken windows, the smell of old concrete and dust filling his senses. He was calm. Focused. Ready.
The game was about to begin.
"Pretty boy, let me take charge—don't get in the way. I know the only pretty, more athletic one in the team is you," class four boy muttered with a sigh. Matthew just rolled his eyes.
The game started.
The court wasn't crowded. Only sixty students were there, including players. Half of the spectators were Crownside students, curious and cheering quietly, while the other half were from the rival school, confident and sneering.
The abandoned court smelled of dust and old paint, sunlight streaming through the broken windows, illuminating every scuff mark and crack on the floor.
From the first possession, the rival team was in control. They moved fast, blocked every pass, and lunged aggressively to steal the ball. One jealous rival threw the ball straight at Matthew's face—but he leaned back smoothly, letting it bounce harmlessly to the side.
Another tried to push him off balance, stepping on his shoes repeatedly, but Matthew sidestepped each attempt as if the court were an extension of his body.
"Put some weight behind it! Move!" shouted the athlete from Class Four, frustrated, lunging at every opportunity. "Matthew, stop being lazy!"
Matthew didn't argue. He weaved around, dodged rough contact, and kept his balance effortlessly, though he still hadn't touched the ball. The rival team laughed at his apparent "inactivity," while some Crownside teammates cheered him on, and others groaned in disbelief. Rick and the fourth teammate managed to score, keeping Crownside in the game.
Score: Crownside 15 – Rival 20.
"Damn, I can't watch," Philip muttered, covering his eyes but leaving a slit to spy.
Jay leaned toward Felix's cousin. "They're going to beat the crap out of you—get ready!," he taunted.
"Matthew, remember the bet!" Felix yelled.
Matthew's jaw tightened as he took a deep breath. He hated close contact and he managed to avoid that in the game but like they have problems with his shoe keep stepping on him.
A girl whispered, "Handsome"
"but what use is handsome if he's trash?"class five leaders said.he glanced at the school beauty sitting nearby, calm and composed. Matthew caught her gaze, then turned his focus back to the game
.
Finally, he took the ball from Rick. The court went silent.
Matthew single-handedly controlled the game: dribbling past defenders, spinning under blocks, shooting with perfect precision.
Point by point, the score climbed. Ten points… fifteen… thirty-five. The rival team was stuck at twenty-five, stunned by his control. The bleachers were quiet, the only sound the echo of bouncing balls and sneakers scraping the worn floor.
Matthew passed to Rick once, then casually walked off the court. Nobody stopped him. In just two minutes, Crownside had overtaken the elite number one school by ten points.
"damm " muttered Philip, covering his mouth in awe.
"He's… really good. Very good," Jay added, eyes wide.
"My… feeding money!" Felix muttered, realizing he had promised a week of meals for each score—fifteen points. That meant three months and three days of free food.
The Class Five leader's noticed the school beauty staring at the spot where Matthew had been standing. She blushed, realizing Matthew had her attention, he galnce at his lackey who rushed out.
Five of the lackeys finally caught up to Matthew at the back corridor that connected to the main school hallway.
"Damn it," the first lackey snapped, breathing hard. "I had to run to catch this fucker and he's treating me like air."
He grabbed Matthew by the wrist and slammed him against the wall roughly.
The other four quickly surrounded him, blocking the exit.
"Who told you to play that game?" Lackey Two said, jabbing a finger toward his chest.
"He just came back and doesn't know the rules," Lackey Five said with a grin, cracking his knuckles loudly. "Why don't we teach him?"
Their intentions were obvious.
Matthew glanced at them calmly. His shoulders were still relaxed, but his eyes had sharpened slightly.
Upstairs, on the first floor, Ava was sitting on the windowsill, legs swinging lazily outside the window while she munched on snacks.
Behind her, her friends were dragging mops across the floor.
They were doing punishment duty — cleaning the entire backyard.
Suddenly the shouting from downstairs echoed up the corridor.
Ava leaned forward, half her body hanging out the window as she lazily looked down.
Then she saw it.
Five guys surrounding one.
She scoffed.
"Damn. Don't these people get tired of bullying?" Ava muttered. "What do they think they are? Power Rangers?"
"Coming from you?" Jack shouted from behind her while scrubbing the floor. "Aren't you bullying us into cleaning for you?"
Ava leaned back into the classroom and glared at him.
"Did I force you, idiot?" she snapped. "You owe me money. I said pay or clean. And you're complaining when I already cleaned almost everything."
She threw the snack bag at his head.
Her other friends chuckled.
Ava turned back toward the window again.
"Who are they even bullying…"
Her eyes suddenly widened.
"…handsome," she muttered.
Before anyone could react, she jumped down from the window into the classroom.
Her friends froze.
"What the—?!"
Ava ignored them completely.
She grabbed two buckets of dirty mop water, marched into the corridor, and stood at the railing overlooking the scene below.
"HEY, IDIOTS!"
Her voice cut through the hallway.
The lackeys paused and step back few steps and looked up.
The moment they did—
SPLASH!
A bucket of filthy gray water crashed down on them.
"What the fuck,are you crazy?!" Lackey Four shouted, wiping dirty water out of his eyes.
Before he could finish—
SPLASH AGAIN.
The second bucket came down, soaking them completely. Some of the water even splashed into their mouths.
Matthew had already stepped aside, avoiding the splash.
"I'm watering your brains," Ava said lazily, leaning over the railing. "Who told you idiots to be so loud? Trying to deafen this princess?"
She brushed her red hair out of her face and rolled her eyes.
"If you've got guts, come up here."
Behind her, Jake, Luna, Jane, and Jordan stepped into the corridor.
"Go bring a bucket of toilet water," Ava said, handing the empty bucket to Jane.
Jane blinked.
Then grinned.
"Got it."
She ran off toward the backyard toilets.
"Damn bitch!" Lackey One shouted angrily. "Do you know who the fuck I am?!"
He shoved past his friends.
"Hold him! I'll deal with this bitch!"
Three lackeys stayed downstairs to block Matthew.
The first two charged up the stairs.
Their footsteps thundered up the staircase.
The moment they reached the first-floor corridor and rushed toward Ava—
WHACK!
Jordan swung the broom he was holding and smashed it across their legs.
Both of them collapsed to the ground instantly.
"Ahh—!"
Lackey One crawled forward and grabbed Ava's ankle.
She didn't even flinch.
Instead—
STOMP.
Her foot came down hard on his back.
He screamed.
Ava grabbed his hair and dragged him toward the railing.
Before he could react—
She shoved half his body over the edge.
The lackey screamed and grabbed her arm desperately.
Below, the remaining three lackeys froze.
Matthew watched silently.
Ava smiled.
But the smile sent cold chills down their spines.
"If I drop him," she said softly, tilting her head, "do you think he'll die?"
The lackeys' faces went pale.
"If he dies… what do you think the school will do?" Ava continued lightly. "No cameras here. No proof. And honestly…"
She glanced at them lazily.
"Who would believe you?"
"We could just say he slipped and fell."
The boy dangling from the railing started sobbing.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't! Please!"
Ava leaned close to his ear.
"If you ever touch my handsome again…"
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"I'll kill you."
Then she threw him back onto the floor.
He slammed against the wall.
Ava dusted off her hands.
"What are you waiting for?" Jake shouted from behind her. "Scram!"