Morning sunlight spread across the quiet street.Students were leaving for school and everything looks so peaceful.
Lin Thit stood in front of the mirror, fixing his messy hair with one hand while checking his backpack with the other.
Books,Notebook,Pen case.Everything seemed to be there.
"Good enough."He zipped the bag and slung it over his shoulder.When he walked into the living room, his mother was already busy in the kitchen preparing the fish that she bought yesterday.
"I'm leaving."Lin Thit said while putting on his shoes."Alright" she replied without turning around. "Don't be late."
Lin Thit waved casually before stepping outside.The morning air felt cool but not bad because Myanmar is a hot country.In these morning,Lin Thit regularly see old man and women running around the streets.
Since his house was extremely close to the school, he never had to rush like other students.He walked down the street lazily.
But before he reached the school gate, someone suddenly shouted his name.
"LIN THIT!"
A boy came running toward him at full speed.
Lin Thit didnt even need to look who that was.
"Aung San."
Aung San skidded to a stop in front of him, slightly out of breath."Why didn't you join the game last night? "he demanded immediately.
"I was waiting for you."
"I even stayed online longer than usual!"
Lin Thit scratched the back of his head.
"Oh that."
The truth was simple.He forgot,completely.But of course, he couldn't say that."My mom was disciplining me, "Lin Thit lied smoothly."She said I've been too lazy lately."
Aung San stared at him for a moment.
Then he sighed dramatically.
"Man....Auntie is really unlucky."Lin Thit raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Aung San pointed directly at him."Because she has such a stupid kid."Lin Thits eye twitched at his bluntness.
"What did you just say?"
Aung San grinned as he backed away from Lin Thit."I said youre an idiot."
Then he immediately ran toward school.
"HEY!"Lin Thit lunged after him."GET BACK HERE!"
The two boys chased each other down the street like little kids,not caring by others eyes looking at them like monkeys.When they finally arrived at school, they slowed down, breathing heavily.
But something strange immediately caught their attention.A crowd had gathered in front of their classroom.Students were whispering and pushing each other to see inside.
"Whats going on?" Aung San asked.
Lin Thit removed his arm from Aung Sans neck and stepped forward.
"Lets check."
Inside the classroom
A tall boy stood in the middle of the room.It was the same boy who was surrounded by people yesterday.But he looked like a insane person here as his clothes were full of crinkles and there was a visible bandage on his head.
His hand shot out suddenly.
Smack!
The sound echoed across the classroom.Another student staggered backward from the slap.The tall boy grabbed the front of the other students shirt.
"What?"
His voice was full of anger."You looking down on me?"
Lin Thit recognized him immediately.
Aung Ko Ko.
A well-known troublemaker in the school.He had a bad reputation for constantly breaking rules.Some people even whispered that he was connected to gangs outside school.
Lin Thit felt a strange emotion rise inside him again.
Damn....
I'm jealous.
Standing beside him, Lin Thit tapped another students shoulder."Hey.What happened?"
The student turned around and grinned.
"Oh, you didnt hear?"
"Aung Ko Ko got beaten last night."
Lin Thit blinked."What?"
The student continued excitedly.
"Yeah, someone apparently beat him up.
So now hes trying to save face by bullying Thura."
Lin Thit glanced toward the victim.
Thura.
A quiet boy with no close friends.He looked like the type who would never fight back and apologized even if it was other fault.Still, Lin Thit frowned slightly.A doubt appeared in his heart and couldn't helpvbut asked again.
"But if Aung Ko Ko got beaten
Shouldn't he try to hide it?
Why make a scene like this?"
The student beside him shrugged confidently."Who knows."
"Maybe he wants to prove hes still strong."
Lin Thit suddenly realized something far important.He slowly turned his head and looked straight into the student eyes.
"Wait.How do you know all of this already?"
The student pushed up his glasses proudly."Information network."
Lin Thit sighed.
Of course.Because of the situation he forgot who he was talking to.
Saw Paing.Also known as:Mr. All-Knowing.
Lin Thit rubbed his forehead.He dare that the one to spread the rumors about Aung Ko Ko must be him too.Seriously,where did he just keep getting those information.
Beside him, Aung San was already getting excited.
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
He was practically cheering.
Lin Thit sighed again.Why is everyone around me so energetic?Is it because as his mom said,that he was a child different from others.
Meanwhile, the tension in the center of the classroom kept rising.Aung Ko Ko raised his hand again.This time, he was ready to hit harder.And the entire classroom watched silently.Something was about to happen.
But no one knew yet—
That this small moment...
Would soon drag several students into a much bigger world.