The sun rose over Aurelia Academy like it had no shame.
Golden, beautiful, cruel.
Students bustled through the gleaming hallways, laughing, talking about the upcoming prom, about expensive gifts, luxury cars, extravagant parties.
Elian walked through the crowd like a ghost.
His clothes were slightly cleaner today — thanks to borrowing some forgotten items from the lost and found.
They didn't fit well.
His pants were too short, and the sleeves of his shirt hung awkwardly over his hands.
But he didn't care.
His eyes were set firmly ahead.
He was determined not to show weakness.
Not anymore.
---
"MOVE, TRASH!"
A harsh shove from behind sent him sprawling across the floor.
Books scattered.
Laughter erupted like a bomb.
Elian didn't even look up.
He stayed on the ground for a few seconds longer, letting the laughter die down.
Then he gathered his books slowly, mechanically, and stood up.
No words.
No reaction.
Just silence.
That was his only weapon now.
---
"HEY!"
A voice rang out.
Elian flinched instinctively.
But when he turned, he saw a familiar figure weaving through the crowd toward him.
It was Maya Chen.
The girl with the lucky cat keychain.
Today, she was dressed slightly differently — her uniform neater, her hair tied into a simple ponytail.
Her glasses slipped down her nose as she rushed over.
"Are you okay?" she asked breathlessly.
Elian nodded stiffly.
He didn't trust words anymore.
Words were knives hidden behind smiles.
---
"You shouldn't just let them do that to you," Maya said fiercely, pushing her glasses up.
"They'll never stop if you act like it's okay!"
Elian gave a hollow smile.
"I know," he said.
"But if I fight back... it'll only get worse."
Maya opened her mouth to argue — but suddenly her face froze.
Elian followed her gaze.
Behind them, a group of girls stood watching.
The Golden Roses.
The most popular, richest, most feared girl clique in the entire academy.
And at their center — wearing a smirk that could cut glass — was Liliana Frost.
---
Liliana's silver hair shimmered under the fluorescent lights.
She wore a designer version of the school uniform, custom-tailored to show off her perfect figure.
Tall, slim, and devastatingly beautiful.
Her icy blue eyes were locked onto Elian.
But it wasn't hatred in them.
It was something else.
Something dangerous.
Something hungry.
---
The girls around her whispered and giggled.
One of them — a redhead named Clarissa — leaned in and said something to Liliana.
Liliana laughed — a cold, musical sound — and then began walking toward them.
Maya backed up nervously.
Elian stood still.
His heart pounded, but he refused to show it.
---
Liliana stopped in front of him.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Just looked at him — slowly, from head to toe, like she was examining a bug.
Then she tilted her head and smiled sweetly.
"Elian, right?" she purred.
He nodded warily.
"I heard you're good at cleaning," she said, twirling a strand of her silver hair around her finger. "And my car... well, it's absolutely filthy."
A ripple of laughter spread among her followers.
Liliana leaned closer.
"So how about it?" she whispered, so only he could hear.
"Kiss my shoes clean, and maybe I'll let you sit with us at lunch."
The words hit Elian like a slap.
---
Maya gasped.
"You can't be serious!"
But Liliana ignored her.
Her cold eyes stayed locked on Elian.
Waiting.
Testing.
Around them, students began to gather, sensing blood in the water.
Phones were raised.
Recording.
Always recording.
---
For a moment, Elian just stood there.
The humiliation burned under his skin.
His fists clenched at his sides.
He could hear the laughter swelling around him.
He could feel a thousand eyes drilling into his soul.
And for one terrifying second, he almost — almost — dropped to his knees.
Almost gave in.
Almost let them break him.
But then he remembered.
The keychain in his pocket.
The memory of Maya stepping forward when no one else had.
The image of his destroyed dorm room.
And the silent promise he made to himself.
---
Elian raised his head.
Looked Liliana straight in the eyes.
And smiled.
A slow, dangerous smile.
"Sorry," he said calmly.
"I'm allergic to trash."
---
The crowd gasped.
The Golden Roses stiffened.
Liliana's smile cracked — just slightly.
The icy mask faltered.
And for the first time, real emotion flickered across her perfect face.
Rage.
Humiliation.
Shock.
---
"You'll regret that," she whispered, her voice shaking with fury.
She turned on her heel and stalked away, her army of girls following like vultures.
The crowd dispersed, disappointed there was no blood.
Maya let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"You're insane," she said, wide-eyed.
Elian shrugged.
"Maybe."
"But I'm not their dog."
---
That night, as he sat on the cracked remains of his mattress, Elian allowed himself a small, bitter laugh.
He had won a battle.
A tiny one.
But it still felt like a mountain moved.
He didn't know what consequences tomorrow would bring.
But for now, for tonight...
He was still standing.
---
Across campus, Liliana Frost smashed her designer mirror with a single punch.
Blood dripped from her knuckles.
"I'll make him pay," she whispered to her reflection.
"I'll destroy him."
---
Far above them all, in a penthouse no one knew existed, the shadowy man smiled as he watched the surveillance footage.
"Good," he murmured.
"Good."
"The boy's spine is stronger than expected."
"Let the games begin."
---