"Jason! Jason!! Jason!!"
Lily called this time slightly louder from the door of his room.
"Wake up, you sleepyhead! You're going to be late for school. You don't want a bad reputation on your second day."
"Yeah, yeah… whatever," Jason replied, his voice still heavy with sleep.
He dragged himself out of bed and went off to take a shower.
A few minutes later, he stepped out and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He paused for a second, eyeing himself in the mirror. Lean build. Average height. Nothing about him really stood out.
"Still built like a stick, I see," his mom said casually from behind him.
"Seriously, Mom! I'm seventeen, for crying out loud. You keep invading my privacy," Jason replied, clearly annoyed.
"Just get ready for school. You don't want a bad reputation in your new school. By the way, your dad said he's going on a trip again today," she added.
"Okay, whatever. He's always like that… always so distant," Jason muttered.
Without another word, he shoved her gently out of his room and closed the door.
His school uniform was neatly hanging at the far end of his room. He picked it up, dressed quickly, and headed out for breakfast.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Mom was the one driving today. Lily stayed home, probably lazing around as usual, and his father had already left on one of his never-ending trips. He rarely stayed home long enough to feel present.
Jason leaned against the window, watching the world outside pass by.
Then, as always, his eyes drifted upward.
The gate floated in the sky—silent, massive, unmoving.
Just there above the city.
Jason had always felt something strange about it… like a connection he couldn't explain.
"We're close to school now, so heads up," his mom said, breaking his thoughts. "And remember to be a good boy."
"Mom…" Jason groaned.
"We're here now."
The car stopped.
Jason quietly slung his school bag over his shoulder and joined the crowd of students entering the school.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
The school gates were wide open, and students poured in like a moving river—some laughing loudly, others half-asleep, some already arguing about random things before the day even started.
Jason didn't really belong to any of those groups yet.
He just walked.
As he moved through the crowd, he began noticing things. Groups had already formed.
Loud boys joking and pushing each other around near the gate.
Quiet students walking alone, avoiding eye contact.
Girls standing in small circles, whispering and glancing at new faces.
Everyone already had a place.
Except him.
"Hey, watch it!"
Someone bumped into him.
Jason turned slightly. A tall student with a messy uniform clicked his tongue and walked off without apologizing.
Jason sighed.
Big guy energy already.
Inside the school compound, everything felt massive—multiple buildings, long walkways, bulletin boards filled with announcements, and teachers standing near corridors watching students settle in.
A bell rang.
Students started moving faster.
Jason found his way toward his classroom.
When he entered, the noise dropped slightly as some students looked up.
Not silence… just observation.
Like the room had already labeled him as the new guy. He ignored it and picked a seat somewhere in the middle.
A few minutes later, the classroom door opened again.
A girl stepped in.
For a moment, the room felt subtly different—not loud, not dramatic… just noticed.
The school wasn't exactly lacking attractive people. That wasn't what made her different.
What made her different wasn't her face.
It was her presence.
Calm and distant.
Like she wasn't part of the noise in the room at all.
She walked to her seat without looking at anyone. And no one tried to talk to her.
Not because she was unapproachable…
But because it felt like she didn't belong to their world.
Jason glanced at her once.
Then looked away.
"Hey man, new here?"
A skinny boy leaned toward him from the next seat.
"Not actually."
"I started on transfer yesterday, so technically it's my second day here," Jason replied.
"Cool. Try not to die of boredom… or get bullied by those guys."
He subtly pointed toward a loud group at the far end of the class—laughing too loudly, pushing chairs, clearly running the social space of the room.
"I'm Peter Norman, by the way."
"Jason."
"Nice. You'll need a guide if you want to survive this place," Peter said with a grin.
Jason stayed quiet, letting Peter keep talking.
The classroom door suddenly opened again. The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The teacher walked in.
"Alright everyone, settle down," Mr. Daniel said as he entered the classroom.
The chatter died immediately. Students straightened. Seats stopped moving.
Silence settled.
Jason leaned back slightly in his chair. Yesterday barely counted; today was the real start.
And already… he could tell.
This place had layers.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
The class had barely settled when Mr. Daniel paused mid-lesson.
"Which of you would be able to answer the question written on the board?" Mr. Daniel asked.
He glanced toward the front row.
Before anyone else could answer, a calm voice responded from the front row.
"Ah… Ms. Aurora," he said, adjusting his glasses slightly. "As expected."
A few students shifted in their seats.
No surprise.
She had answered again.
Correctly and effortlessly.
Jason's eyes drifted toward her.
Aurora.
So that was her name.
She didn't react to the attention. Didn't smile. Didn't even look around.
She simply sat there—calm, detached—like the answer had never mattered in the first place.
Mr. Daniel gave a small nod before turning back to the class.
"Well then… let's make things a little more interesting."
A faint murmur spread across the room.
"Oh yes? We have a new student."
The class's attention shifted almost instantly.
To Jason.
Jason straightened slightly.
Here we go.
"Jason Thorn, correct?"
"Yes, sir," he replied.
"Jason…" the teacher repeated. "Since you joined us recently, let's see where you stand."
A few students leaned forward. The noisy group at the back smirked.
Peter muttered under his breath, "You're finished…"
Mr. Daniel wrote something on the board.
A question.
Not simple, and clearly not beginner-level either.
"Answer it."
The room went quiet. Jason looked at the board, thinking.
He could feel it—everyone watching.
Waiting.
Judging.
For a brief second, his eyes flicked toward Aurora.
She wasn't looking at him.
But somehow…
It felt like she already knew whether he would get it right.
Jason let out a quiet breath as he sat back down.
Correct.
He got it right.
A few students clicked their tongues. Others looked mildly impressed. The noisy group at the back didn't look as amused anymore.
Mr. Daniel gave a small nod.
"Good."
And just like that, the session continued.
The bell rang.
Break time.
Students poured out of the classroom, their energy instantly shifting from controlled silence to loud chatter.
Jason stepped into the hallway, now more crowded than before, and made his way toward the open cafeteria area.
Rows of tables filled the space. Groups had already formed—laughter, gossip, and the clatter of trays filled the air.
Jason grabbed a simple meal and scanned the area.
No familiar faces.
Guess I'm sitting alone again.
He picked a quiet table at the far end and sat down.
For a moment, it was peaceful.
Just him… and the noise of everyone else.
"Uh… is this spot free?"
Jason looked up.
Peter.
Tray in hand. Slightly awkward stance.
Jason nodded. "Yeah."
Peter let out a small sigh of relief and sat down across from him.
"Man, I was hoping you'd say that," he said, adjusting his tray. "These guys act like seats are reserved or something."
Jason gave a faint smirk.
"Looks like they are."
Peter laughed lightly.
"You're not wrong."
He took a bite of his food, then leaned forward slightly.
"So… second day, right?"
"Yeah."
"How's it feeling so far?"
Jason shrugged.
"Normal… I guess."
Peter raised a brow.
"Normal? You answered Mr. Daniel's question like you've been here for years."
Jason didn't respond immediately.
Peter lowered his voice a bit.
"You might not realize it yet, but… people notice stuff like that here."
He glanced briefly across the cafeteria.
"Especially them."
Jason followed his gaze.
The same loud group from class.
Laughing. Confident. Untouchable—for now.
Jason looked back at his food.
"I'm not trying to stand out."
Peter smirked.
"Yeah… nobody ever is."
A brief silence settled between them.
Not awkward.
Just new.
After a moment, Peter spoke again.
"So… you noticed her, right?"
Jason didn't need to ask who.
"Aurora," Peter added anyway.
Jason took a sip of his drink.
"Yeah."
Peter leaned back slightly.
"She's always like that. Quiet. Always right. Doesn't talk to anyone."
A pause.
"People don't hate her… they just don't get her."
Jason's eyes drifted slightly across the cafeteria.
Aurora sat alone.
Just like him earlier.
Calm. Distant. Unbothered by everything around her.
"…Or maybe she just doesn't care," Jason said.
Peter shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then he grinned slightly.
"But hey… at least you're not sitting alone anymore."
Jason glanced at him.
A small pause.
Then—
"…Yeah."
The cafeteria noise continued—laughter, chatter, trays clinking.
Peter was halfway through his meal when his voice dropped slightly.
"…Don't look now."
Jason didn't react.
"Too late," Peter muttered.
Footsteps approached.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Deliberate.
A shadow fell across the table.
"Well… if it isn't the new guy."
Jason looked up.
The same guy from earlier stood there—but now he wasn't alone.
Behind him stood two others.
One leaned slightly forward, a grin already forming like he'd been waiting for this moment.
The other stood back, arms crossed, watching… but not really saying anything.
The one in front spoke again.
"Darius."
He said it simply.
Not introducing himself.
Just stating it.
Jason didn't reply.
The loud one stepped in before the silence could settle.
"Kane," he said with a smirk. "And yeah, we've heard about you."
A small chuckle came from the third guy.
"Yeah… answering questions like you own the place already," he added.
"Leo," he threw in quickly, almost as an afterthought.
Peter shifted uncomfortably.
Jason remained still.
Darius' eyes stayed on Jason.
"Heard you impressed Mr. Daniel."
Jason took a calm bite of his food.
"Just answered a question."
Kane laughed.
"Just answered, he says…"
Leo snickered.
Darius raised a hand slightly.
Silence.
Instant.
That alone said enough.
"You're new," Darius said. "So I'll make this simple."
A pause.
"People here… have their place."
The cafeteria noise felt distant now.
Eyes were watching.
Waiting.
Jason wiped his hand calmly.
"I'm still figuring mine out."
That answer lingered.
Kane scoffed.
"Better figure it out fast—"
Darius didn't even look at him.
And Kane stopped talking.
Darius' gaze sharpened slightly.
Then—
A faint smirk.
"Good."
He straightened.
"Just don't take someone else's place by mistake."
He turned.
The others followed.
Kane gave Jason one last look.
Leo laughed again, quieter this time.
And just like that—
They were gone.
Peter finally exhaled.
"That's Darius…"
Jason didn't respond. He was slightly annoyed by the encounter with the school bully, but he still wanted to stand his ground.
Across the cafeteria, Aurora sat in the distance, watching them closely.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Lunch ended, and the rest of the classes passed by faster than he expected.
By the time the final bell rang, the day already felt behind him.
Jason headed out of the school alone. Most of the kids at school were from rich homes, so technically they had rides.
Well, not everyone.
His house was a fair distance away, too far to walk comfortably. He reached into his bag and pulled out his electric scooter.
He hadn't brought his skateboard today.
The streets outside the school were busy—students heading in different directions, small groups forming and breaking apart as they went their separate ways.
Jason stepped onto the scooter and pushed off.
The quiet hum of the motor carried him forward.
The farther he got from the school, the quieter things became, the hum steady beneath him as he rode down the unfamiliar road.
The afternoon was quieter than usual.
Or maybe…
He just noticed it more now.
A figure stood ahead.
Jason slowed slightly.
An old man.
Standing by the side of the road.
Not unusual.
But—
He wasn't moving.
"…You feel it too."
Jason stopped.
Slowly, he turned.
The old man was looking directly at him.
Jason frowned.
"Feel what?"
The old man raised a hand and pointed toward the sky.
The gate.
"Everyone can see it," he said quietly.
A pause.
"But not everyone notices."
Jason's expression tightened slightly.
"…What are you talking about?"
The old man's lips curved faintly.
"It came once before."
"And when it opened…"
His voice dropped.
"Tragedy struck. Those who felt it…"
A pause.
"…were taken."
Jason's grip tightened.
"…Taken where?"
The old man looked past him.
"…To where it leads."
Jason turned instinctively—
Nothing.
When he looked back—
The old man was gone.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
The quiet hum of the scooter faded as Jason pulled up in front of the house.
He stepped off, folding it without much thought.
For a moment, he just stood there.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Jason shook his head lightly and headed inside.
The door creaked open.
"Jason?" his mom's voice came from the kitchen.
"I'm back."
The smell of food filled the house—warm, familiar.
Comforting.
"You're late," she called out. "Wash up first. Food's almost ready."
"Yeah."
Jason dropped his bag by the side and headed to the sink.
Cold water ran over his hands.
He stared at it for a second longer than necessary.
That moment on the road…
The flicker.
He clenched his hand slightly.
Probably nothing.
"Oi."
A voice snapped him out of it.
Lily leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching him.
"You've been zoning out a lot lately."
Jason dried his hands.
"Have I?"
"Yeah," she said. "Since yesterday."
Jason didn't reply immediately.
Lily tilted her head slightly.
"…Is it the gate?"
That made him pause.
"…No," he said.
Too quickly.
Lily raised a brow.
"Didn't say it was."
A brief silence settled between them.
Jason walked past her toward the dining table, settling down in his chair close to the one his dad usually sat in whenever he was home.
Jason sat down.
Didn't argue.
They ate in silence for a while.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… familiar.
"So," his mom said eventually, trying to lighten the mood, "how was school today?"
Jason paused.
"Fine."
Lily scoffed lightly.
"That's it?"
Jason shrugged.
"Met some people."
"Friends?" she asked.
"…Maybe."
"Maybe?" Lily repeated, amused.
Jason ignored her and continued eating.
Across the table, his mom watched him carefully.
Not pushing.
Just… observing.
"Just be careful," she said softly.
Jason looked up slightly.
"Of what?"
She hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…Nothing," she said. "Just school stuff."
That didn't sound convincing.
Jason leaned back slightly in his chair.
His eyes drifted toward the window.
The sky was dimming now.
Evening settling in.
The night sky looked bright and cool, almost peaceful—
Except for the giant gate suspended above it.
"I'm going to my room," he said, standing up.
"Don't stay up too late," his mom called after him.
"No promises," he replied.
Lily watched him leave, her expression shifting slightly.
"…He's acting weird," she muttered.
Their mom didn't respond immediately.
Deep down—She knew something was wrong.