Alexander sat in his usual spot by the classroom window, nose buried in his favorite book, Evil Dead Rise. He loved horror books, and this one had him hooked. Next to it on his desk was Squid Game, another story of survival and deadly games. Alexander marveled at the characters' will to live, how they fought against impossible odds. He often wondered if he could be as strong as they were.
He was a tall guy, his long blond hair falling messily over his temples. His sharp gray eyes were hidden behind thick glasses that covered half his face. Despite his height and striking eyes, Alex always seemed invisible to everyone around him, except to those who wanted to hurt him.
Ethan, his only friend, walked over with a grin, plopping down beside him.
"What are you reading again, man?" Ethan asked, his tone playful.
"Something about how to conquer the universe," Alex replied with a small smile, trying to joke.
But his smile quickly faded. He heard the familiar sound of heels clicking against the polished school floor. His stomach clenched as he glanced up.
The figure that appeared was none other than Bella, the queen bee of the school. Her Sunshine International uniform hugged her frame perfectly, a plaid skirt paired with a white blouse and tie, a standard uniform that looked far from ordinary on her. Her walk was like a model's on a runway, her steps sharp and commanding, the heels accentuating her perfect posture. Everything about her screamed perfection.
Alex found himself staring, his heart racing. She was everything he admired but could never have. His mouth hung open slightly in awe, and Ethan waved his hand in front of his face.
"Alex, snap out of it, man! You know what happens if anyone finds out you're crushing on Bella," Ethan warned, his voice low.
Alex scoffed. "I'm human, aren't I? Don't I have feelings too? Why can't I like someone? And I think that person is Bella."
Before Ethan could respond, a smooth voice cut through the air.
"Did someone just say love?"
Alex's body tensed. His heart dropped into his stomach. He knew that voice.
It was Oliver—the class prince.
Oliver strode toward Alex with a grin on his face, his dark hair styled perfectly, as usual. His uniform was immaculate, and his mere presence made the girls in the room giggle and blush. Some even whispered his name in unison, their voices giddy with admiration.
Then, a sharp voice rang out. "Enough."
The whole class turned toward the sound. Another figure entered the room—Chloe. She was stunning, with her raven-black hair falling in waves down her back. Her black boots clicked against the floor, but her style, though fashionable, wasn't as flashy as Bella's. Chloe, however, didn't need flashy—her attitude commanded attention.
Chloe walked straight to the front of the class, her eyes locking with Oliver's. With a dramatic clasp of her hands onto his, she declared in a proud voice, "Oliver Johnson is mine. We are officially dating."
The class erupted into cheers. Everyone clapped and praised the new couple, but Alex remained silent. His stomach churned. He couldn't stand Oliver. He was the embodiment of everything Alex hated—a walking nightmare.
But Oliver wasn't done. He sauntered over to Alex's desk, his infamous smirk plastered on his face.
"Well, well, well... If it isn't my favorite little errand boy."
The room fell silent. Everyone watched, eager for the next scene to unfold. Alex was Oliver's personal victim, forced to run his errands, do his homework, and endure endless bullying—all because he was a scholarship student among the elite.
Oliver leaned in closer, pushing Alex on the chest. "Did you say something, dog?"
Alex clenched his fists under the desk. His heart raced, but fear held him in place.
Chloe, still standing by Oliver, sneered at Alex. "Isn't he supposed to be talking to you, dog?" Without warning, she slapped Alex hard across the face, sending him tumbling to the floor. "Know your place, you pig."
Laughter echoed through the classroom, but Bella, standing near the back, looked on with boredom, as though this scene was something she had seen a thousand times before. To her, Alex was a loser, and this was just another routine.
Isabella, known for her icy demeanor, watched with a flicker of disdain. She didn't care much for Alex, though he was one of the brightest students in the school—his competition, in fact. But Alex was still just another scholarship kid, much like Jessie, the loner who always wore white despite it being against the rules. Even her school uniform was white, and only her influential parents kept the school from forcing her to comply.
Evelyn and Lily, identical twins but not in looks, whispered from their seats.
"I feel sorry for Alex," Evelyn murmured, her face twisted with concern. "Oliver's really going to kill him one day."
Lily scoffed, flipping her hair. "I don't care what happens to him. He's weak, a poor church rat. I honestly think the world would be better without him."
Evelyn shook her head, worried, while Lily watched the scene with pleasure.
Before Alex could even get up from the floor, Ethan stepped in. He knew he had to do something.
"Hey, Oliver, that's enough. He's learned his lesson, right?" Ethan said, trying to sound calm.
But Alex had reached his breaking point. His face was red with anger, his body trembling. He shot to his feet, glaring at Oliver and the others around him.
"Enough already!" Alex shouted, his voice shaking with rage. "You think because you're rich, you're better than everyone else? You're fools! All of you! Money isn't everything. It just proves how pathetic you really are!"
For a second, there was silence. The air felt thick, charged with tension.
Then Oliver snapped. His fists flew, and he tackled Alex, knocking him back to the floor. Punch after punch landed, and soon Alex was bleeding, barely able to defend himself. The class watched, some in shock, others in amusement.
Ben and Samuel, two of Oliver's friends, rushed forward, pulling Oliver off Alex. "That's enough, man," Ben said. "You're going to get in trouble."
But Oliver wasn't done. He glared down at Alex, his eyes full of malice. "No one needs you here. You're worthless. You should just die."
As Ben and Samuel dragged Oliver away, Chloe delivered one last slap to Alex's bruised face. "Wretched fool," she hissed.
The room buzzed with whispers, but as always, no one helped Alex. He was invisible again, the same as always. Tears welled up in his eyes as he pushed himself to his feet, barely able to walk as he headed for the bathroom. He locked the door behind him and finally let the tears fall, crying out in frustration and anger.
Ethan started to follow Alex, his heart aching for his friend, but a voice stopped him.
"Leave him," Isabella said softly, her long blonde hair cascading down her back. She leaned against the doorway, her voice calm but firm. "He needs to be alone right now. It's better this way."
Ethan hesitated but nodded, watching as she walked away. He felt helpless. He couldn't protect Alex, no matter how hard he tried.
Meanwhile, at the back of the classroom, a boy sat quietly, observing the whole scene. His eyes, cold and filled with disdain, followed Alex as he left the room. Without a word, he stood up and walked silently toward the boys' restroom.