The two upstairs lackeys scrambled to their feet and ran down the stairs.
Their friends caught them as they stumbled.
Just then—
Jane returned.
With a bucket of filthy toilet water.
Without hesitation—
SPLASH.
The lackeys screamed and ran off.
Jane threw the bucket after them.
Matthew stood there quietly.
A few minutes ago he had been surrounded.
Ready to fight if necessary.
Now everything had escalated into… whatever this was.
"Handsome! I love you!"
Ava's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Matthew stepped back slightly.
She's crazier than them… he thought.
"Thank you," he said politely to the group.
Then he turned and walked away.
Before her friends could stop her—
Ava ran after him.
Matthew had already reached the small supermarket inside the school. The store mostly served dorm students who needed snacks or supplies.
He reached for a bottle of water.
"Handsome! What are you doing?"
Matthew flinched slightly and turned.
Ava stood behind him.
He frowned.
"Did you follow me?"
She nodded happily.
"What do you want?" he sighed.
"I want to chase you."
"…repeat that."
"I said I want to pursue you," she said seriously. "You know. Make you my boyfriend."
Matthew stared at her.
Then slowly looked her up and down.
She was beautiful.
Almost unreal.
Bright red hair.
Hazel-blue siren eyes.
Soft pink lips that looked enticing if he ki…
Matthew blinked and looked away.
What the hell was that thought…
"Sorry," he said calmly. "No."
"Why not?"
"What do you even like about me?" Matthew asked. "We met once when you showed me around school. How can you like someone that fast?"
"Your looks," Ava answered honestly.
Matthew scoffed.
"Looks fade. That kind of love is shallow."
"Nope."
She crossed her arms.
"You said we only met once. So what am I supposed to say? That your personality is amazing? That my heart skipped a beat?"
She snorted.
"That would be a lie."
"When people become friends, don't they start from first impressions?"
She pointed at him.
"I saw you. I liked your face. It's pleasing."
Matthew stared.
"I want to chase you. While chasing you I'll get to know you better. You'll get to know me too."
She shrugged.
"Maybe my obsession with your looks will turn into real love."
"And if it doesn't?"
She grinned.
"Then we go our separate ways. Simple."
Matthew looked completely speechless.
"Are you always this shameless?" he asked.
"I can be even more shameless," she said, leaning closer.
"Want to see?"
"Not interested."
Matthew walked past her and continued shopping.
"Handsome!" Ava shouted behind him.
"I'll take that as a yes! I'm chasing you now!"
The store worker looked up.
"Puppy love isn't allowed in school."
Ava turned to him.
"Is it puppy love if he doesn't love me back yet?"
The worker opened his mouth.
She cut him off.
"Keep the rules for when we start dating."
She grabbed a snack, paid for it, and walked out like she owned the place.
Matthew pushed the dorm door open and stepped inside.
Room 3-08 was far bigger than most dorm rooms in the school.
It felt less like a cramped student space and more like a shared apartment built for eight people who had learned how to live around each other.
Sunlight streamed in from the balcony doors at the far end of the room, falling across the polished wooden floor.
Closest to the balcony stood two bunk beds, placed beside the windows so whoever slept there would wake up with sunlight spilling over their blankets.
Between the two beds stood a pair of tall wooden wardrobes, thick and wide, dividing the sleeping spaces like quiet walls. Each wardrobe was shared by two students, one side usually stuffed with clothes while the other slowly filled with snacks and random supplies.
Across the room, facing those beds, stood another pair of bunk beds, arranged in the same way. They too were separated by another set of heavy wardrobes, creating four little sections in the room so no one felt like they were sleeping directly on top of someone else.
Each bed was wide and sturdy, built with a clever folding board that could slide out and turn into a small table so students could read or study without leaving their blankets. Beside every bunk sat a small desk and chair, along with a reading lamp for late-night studying.
Thick curtains hung from every bedframe. At night the students pulled them down, creating private little spaces protected by mosquito nets.
The room itself had air conditioning, but an old standing electric fan still waited in the corner, its metal head tilted upward like it had been there long before the AC was installed.
A few spare chairs were scattered around the room, dragged wherever someone wanted to sit.
Near the entrance, tucked into one corner, was a kitchen behind a narrow door. It was just big enough for two or three people to cook or heat noodles and move around at the same time.
And beyond everything else was the balcony, where laundry racks, detergent bottles, and washing machines were lined up against the wall. Some students used the machines, others preferred washing clothes by hand and hanging them on the railings to dry.
Right now the balcony doors were open, letting in a cool breeze that carried the faint smell of detergent and fresh air.
The dorm wasn't quiet.
Rick was lying upside down on the bunk bed one bed space one the upper bunk near the balcony, playing a game on his phone while his legs swung lazily over the side.
Outside on the balcony, Felix stood with half his body leaning over the railing, carefully hanging shirts one by one so the wind wouldn't blow them away his bed was bunk bed one bed space four the lower bed.
On the upper bunk of the first bed bed space two , Big V had a comic book spread open across his chest, turning pages slowly.
Below him sat Big Baldy, chewing snacks while leaning against the bed frame. His hair was cut so short it almost looked shaved and he rocked the look his bed was bed space three.
Next to him was Little Green, who had earned his nickname from the messy green dye in his hair.
Little Green's own bed was across the room on the lower bunk bed space six of the third bed.
Above him, Philip leaned over the railing of his upper bunk bed space five , casually talking with Jay.
Jay sat cross-legged on the top bunk of the last bed bunk bed four , looking like he had absolutely nothing better to do.
The lower bunk beneath him belonged to Matthew bed space 8.
The moment Matthew stepped inside the dorm, the conversation stopped.
Every head turned toward him.
Philip broke the silence first.
"Well well… look who's back."
He smirked.
"The champion."
Rick immediately paused his game and started clapping.
"Wow. I already knew you were the best," he laughed. "I'm making you my role model from today."
Big V lowered his comic slightly and studied Matthew.
"So this is the new guy?"
Little Green stared openly.
"Damn… he's handsome."
Big Baldy nodded in agreement while chewing.
Jay suddenly leaned toward the balcony and shouted,
"Hey Felix! Come pay your debt!"
The whole room burst into laughter.
Matthew didn't react much.
He walked calmly toward his bed, the plastic bag of provisions rustling in his hand.
Opening his side of the wardrobe, he began placing the food inside. Each wardrobe was shared between two people, with enough space for clothes on one side and supplies on the other.
His own clothes were already arranged neatly, organized by color and purpose.
Felix walked back in from the balcony just in time to see it.
"I know how to keep my word," he said quickly. "Didn't I promise to sponsor his food?"
"For three months and three days," Matthew replied calmly as he continued arranging the groceries.
Felix froze.
Then his face slowly collapsed into a pout.
He dragged a chair across the floor and dropped into it right in front of Matthew.
"I didn't know you were that good at sports," Felix complained. "The moment you left the court everyone started asking me for your number."
He leaned forward dramatically.
"The video is already in the school group. People are calling you the school prince."Felix leaned back in the chair, pointing a finger at Matthew like he had just remembered something important.
Rick immediately sat up on his bunk.
"Wait really?"
Little Green whistled.
"Damn. One match and the man already stole half the school."
Philip leaned forward from his bed rail.
"So which student group is he joining? And which school club too?" he asked. "With that kind of talent you should take at least five activities in the class competitions."
Felix waved a hand.
"He doesn't know what to join yet," he said. "So he told me to help him pick. I was thinking… why don't we all choose together?"
Rick's eyes lit up immediately.
"That would be fun. I want to follow Matthew," he said happily, swinging his legs off the bed.
Little Green laughed.
"Wow. Aren't you switching sides a little fast? What happened to Jay?"
Rick giggled shamelessly.
"Jay is old news."
Jay placed a hand dramatically over his chest.
"Ouch. All our love… gone just like that." He shook his head with fake sorrow. "My poor heart."
The room chuckled.
Philip climbed down from his bunk and sat on the edge of the bed, stretching his arms.
"Well," he said, "since the new guy is here, I should explain the school properly."
Matthew continued arranging his things but didn't stop listening.
Philip started counting on his fingers.
"First, the dormitories. There are two dorms for night students."
He gestured around the room.
"This one is Dormitory One. The better one."
Rick nodded proudly like he personally owned the building.
Philip continued.
"It has three floors, and we're on the third floor. Each floor has its own bathroom, toilet, and study room. There's also a small store that sells daily stuff—snacks, toothpaste, soap and also street food yummy and it also you can order stuff and pay the workers in the store to give you but it only opens four times in two week."
He pointed vaguely toward the distance outside.
"The second dormitory is different. Four floors. Twelve students in each room."
Little Green made a face.
"Nightmare."
Philip nodded.
"They have a kitchen on each floor instead of inside the rooms like ours. But the biggest difference is the bathroom."
Rick shuddered dramatically.
"They have to share one giant bathroom and toilet."
Jay laughed.
"Imagine waking up with twenty people fighting for the sink."
Philip shrugged.
"As for studying, they either do it in their room or go behind the peach tree building."
Matthew finally looked up slightly.
Philip noticed and explained.
"There's a big study building behind the peach trees. Dorm students go there at night. It's supposed to be quiet…"
Rick snorted.
"…but it's actually where a lot of things happen for lovers and more."
Philip ignored him.
"We also have a girls' dormitory, but I don't know anything about that one."
Jay nodded seriously.
"Tragic. Truly tragic."
Little Green threw a pillow at him.
Philip cleared his throat and continued.
"Now the student groups. There are ten of them."
Everyone looked at him now.
He held up one finger.
"First, the Student Council. The big one. You need brains for that. Top twenty ranking in the entire grade, strong academic record, competition wins… that kind of thing."
He raised another finger.
"Second is the Legion Group. It's kind of like the student council, but more relaxed. They handle fun stuff—sports captains, event prefects, different leaders for activities. They also rival the council a lot."
Third finger..
"The Third Group… that's basically for entitled brats."
Rick burst out laughing.
Philip shrugged.
"Rich families, famous families, powerful families. If your family name carries weight and you have some talent, that's where you go to show off brains, talent… and money."
Fourth finger.
"The Popular Group. Influencers, famous students, the people everyone knows. Performers, entertainers, school celebrities."
Fifth.
"The Adventure Group. People who like crazy stuff. Hiking, extreme activities, weird challenges."
Sixth.
"The IT Group."
His tone changed slightly.
"They're the information people. Secrets, rumors, data. If something happens in the school, they usually know first."
Jay nodded slowly.
"Never mess with them."
Seventh finger.
"The Extra Group. Students who do… too much."
Little Green laughed.
"They host everything. Drama shows, singing contests, sports events, random games."
Eighth finger.
"The Activity Hosts. They create events for everyone. Horror nights, romance games, business fairs, money-making challenges… things like that."
Rick looked interested
.
"Ninth is the Game Lovers Group. Pretty self-explanatory."
He lifted the final finger.
"And the tenth group…"
Philip paused.
"…honestly no one really knows what they do."
The room laughed
.
Philip grabbed the water bottle beside his bed and took a long drink before finishing.
"The point is, these groups are just for fun. Anyone can join. Classes don't matter."
He lowered the bottle.
"And every once in a while, the groups host activities. The whole school shows up to see which group is the most fun."
Rick leaned forward excitedly.
"So… which one are we joining?"
Felix leaned back in the chair, still watching Matthew arrange the food inside the wardrobe.
"Oh right," he suddenly remembered. "You should also know something."
He pointed around the room as he spoke.
"You, me, and Philip are all in Class Two."
Philip raised his hand lazily in confirmation.
"Rick is in Class Five," Felix continued, jerking his thumb toward the boy on the bunk.
Rick saluted from his bed dramatically.
"Big Baldy and Big V are Class Four students."
Big V didn't even look up from his comic while Baldy simply raised his eyes for a second before returning to his snacks.
"And Little Green and Jay…" Felix paused.
"They're Class One students."
Little Green leaned back against the bed frame.
"Wait," he said suddenly. "Isn't the class competition only one month away?"
The room went quiet for a second.
Matthew closed the wardrobe door and looked directly at Felix.
"I'm hungry."
Felix stared at him.
Then he rolled his eyes so hard it almost looked painful.
"Fine. Fine. I'm going."
He stood up and headed toward the door.
"Buy food for me too," Philip said immediately.
Felix didn't even turn around.
"Of course you would say that."
Little Green suddenly leaned forward.
"Oh! Can you stop by the supermarket too? I ran out of snacks."
Felix snorted.
"Maybe that's because you keep hiding your snacks in Derek's wardrobe."
Rick blinked.
"Oh right… Derek is Big Baldy Damm it feels weird calling you your name as it would be weird if you grow hair opps you have hair just low cut ."
Big Baldy slowly lifted his head and glared at him.
Rick instantly looked away.
Little Green burst out laughing.
Meanwhile…
Ava jumped onto her bed the moment she got home, the mattress bouncing under her weight.
She rolled onto her stomach, grabbed her phone, and opened her messages.
Her fingers quickly started typing.
Ava:
Not hearing from you for a long time. What's up?
The reply came almost immediately.
Online Friend:
Just moved to another city. Busy settling down.
Ava's eyes brightened.
Ava:
Really? Good for you, little hybrid.
The typing bubble appeared again.
Online Friend:
Stop calling me that.
Ava grinned.
Ava:
Nope. Sigh… come to my city. I'll take care of you.
Online Friend:
I'll pass.
Ava:
Why? Are you scared of me? It's not like I'll touch your cute ears or tail…
She paused for a second before typing again.
Would they be fluffy? I want to hug you to death.
A long pause.
Then the reply came.