"If anyone ever finds out who I really am, my life will be over."

I tightened my grip on the pen, my knuckles whitening. Sweat slicked my palms, dampening the surface. The dull ache in my chest, persistent and familiar, lurked like an undertow beneath the calm. I'd learned to live with it—not sharp, but relentless—a constant reminder that I couldn't let my guard down. Not even for a second.

"Myles Shiao, stand up and answer the question."

Professor Kai Chow's voice broke the stillness, calm yet commanding. My hand froze mid-motion. Slowly, I lifted my head to meet his gaze, sharp and expectant. He stood tall at the podium, his hands behind his back, as if passing judgment.

A sudden tightness clenched my chest. "Yes, Professor," I murmured, gripping the desk as I forced myself to my feet. The classroom fell silent—so silent that the faint rustle of the trees outside seemed a distant memory. Every pair of eyes turned to me, their stares pressing against my carefully constructed facade. I steadied myself, but my trembling hands betrayed me.

"The circulatory system, under extreme conditions, responds through vasodilation of peripheral blood vessels and…"

My voice faltered. The blackboard blurred, the words smudging like ink spilled on wet paper. The ache in my chest grew sharper, heavier, like an invisible hand closing around my heart. Each beat pounded louder, until it drowned out the world around me.

I reached out, desperate to steady myself, but my legs buckled. The desk slipped from my grasp, and the world disappeared into blackness.

"Myles!"

Renata Ye's voice broke through the haze, her tone sharp with panic. I felt her hands gripping my arm, steady yet trembling.

"Myles, can you hear me? Say something!" she pleaded, her voice cracking with urgency.

I tried to respond, but the weight on my chest was suffocating. The sounds around me faded into muted echoes, as though I were submerged underwater. My last coherent thought spiraled relentlessly: They can't know. No one can ever find out I'm a Shiao.

"Myles, stop playing dead!"

Leo Wang's voice jolted me like a slap—half annoyed, half panicked. I tried to open my eyes, but my body refused. Each limb felt impossibly heavy.

"Raise his legs," Professor Chow commanded, his tone calm yet resolute, like a surgeon in an emergency room. "Leo, find something to elevate them. Blood flow to the heart is the priority."

"Got it!" Leo muttered, scrambling to comply. "Myles, you better not pull this again. Seriously, we're not cut out for this kind of stress."

"Quiet," Justin Chen said, his voice cold and precise. He crouched beside me, his fingers pressing against my wrist. "Pulse is irregular but stable. Professor, he may need an ECG to monitor his condition."

Slowly, I forced my eyes open. The blurry outlines of the ceiling sharpened, revealing faces hovering over me. Their concern was etched into furrowed brows and tightened lips.

"You're awake." Professor Chow's tone was calm, but his expression remained stern. He knelt beside me, his gaze sharp as he assessed my condition. "How do you feel?"

My throat felt parched, and my voice came out as a hoarse whisper. "I'm fine, Professor."

"Fine?"

Leo scoffed, crossing his arms. "You just passed out. Maybe next time, give us a warning before you scare us all half to death."

"Enough," Professor Chow cut in, motioning for Justin and Leo to help me up.

With their support, I managed to stand, though my legs felt like paper, shaky and unreliable. My hands clutched the back of the chair as I tried to steady my breathing.

"Professor, I'm fine. Really," I said again, though my voice wavered, and I avoided his gaze.

His voice sharpened. "No more." He stepped closer, his words cutting through my weak excuses. "Pretending it doesn't exist won't change reality, Myles. Ignoring your condition only makes it worse."

The room fell silent again. My shallow breaths were the only sound. Professor Chow crouched once more, reaching into the first aid kit for his stethoscope. My heart seized in panic. He can't hear it. He can't know.

If he listened, he'd hear it—the irregular rhythm, the faint murmurs. All the signs of a heart that wasn't normal. My fingers tightened around the chair's edge, slick with sweat, as my pulse roared in my ears.

"Professor Chow!"

A voice from the doorway broke the tension. A student stood there, bowing slightly, their tone apologetic but urgent. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the student council urgently needs the projector for a meeting."

Professor Chow straightened, irritation flashing across his face. "Now? This couldn't wait until after class?"

"Apologies, Professor Chow," the student said, bowing again. "The meeting is starting, and we need it immediately. We'll make it quick."

Professor Chow's jaw tightened as he turned back to me for a brief moment. His gaze lingered, sharp and calculating, before he stepped toward the door. "Fine. Be quick," he muttered, his irritation clear.

Relief flooded through me as he stood and closed the first aid kit. His gaze swept over Justin and Leo. "Take him back to the dorm tonight. Keep an eye on him. If anything happens, report to me immediately."

Justin nodded, his expression unreadable. Leo, however, let out a dramatic sigh. "Myles, seriously. Can you stop doing this? You're going to give me a heart attack one of these days."

Ignoring him, Professor Chow grabbed his bag, his tone firm as he added, "A medical student's first responsibility is to their own body. If you can't do that, you have no right to hold a stethoscope."

The room remained silent as he left, his words echoing in my mind like a warning. I exhaled shakily, my damp shirt clinging to my back. Thank God he didn't listen. Thank God.

But before I could fully collect myself, Renata remained rooted in place, her arms crossed and her gaze piercing. Slowly, she stepped closer, her voice low but steady.

"Myles," she said softly, her tone probing yet gentle. "What are you hiding?"

I forced a weak smile. "Nothing."

"You might fool others," she said, her voice cutting like a needle through my defenses, "but you can't fool me."

Her words struck deep, unraveling the fragile walls I'd spent so long building. I avoided her gaze, allowing Justin and Leo to guide me out of the classroom.

Yet deep down, I knew the truth. My secret, like dust carried by the wind, couldn't stay hidden forever.