Title: The Silent Secret of D.P.S No. 1
It was a quiet night on the 1st of July when the tragedy occurred. The students were oblivious to what was about to unfold, until they woke up to a chilling shock. The school had always been a place of pride, a fortress of learning for the wealthy and powerful, but that night, it became a site of sorrow.
A student, barely noticed by his peers, had taken the ultimate step—he jumped from the roof of the school. The morning news spread like wildfire. The whispers of his death soon reached every corner of the institution. In the face of this tragedy, the chairman, cold and calculating, quickly put an end to the matter, declaring it a suicide. His reasoning? The boy had been taking depression pills, a convenient explanation to close the case.
Yet, not everyone believed it. Some students quietly debated the truth, unsure of the real cause. The air was thick with suspicion, but the chairman's words echoed in their minds, and life carried on—until one year later.
New school year
The morning of the new school year arrived, and the gates of D.P.S No. 1 opened to welcome a new student. His appearance was far from what the other students expected. Dressed in simple, unbranded clothes, he walked through the school's grand entrance as if he belonged, yet something about him seemed out of place. Whispers spread through the crowd.
"Who is he?" one student asked.
"How did he get in? This school is only for the elite. The uniform alone costs a million!" another replied, eyes wide with disbelief.
Indeed, D.P.S No. 1 was a prestigious institution, known for its exorbitant fees and strict standards. It was a place where only the wealthy and influential could afford to study. So, who was this boy, and how had he gained access to such an exclusive institution?
The new student's name was Lumen, and he was about to make waves in a way no one could have predicted.
Lumen Entry
Lumen walked confidently into the chairman's office, his movements calm and deliberate. A few curious students sneaked peeks from the hallway, exchanging glances. "Why is the chairman giving him a uniform?" one whispered. "Who is this kid?"
Inside the office, the chairman looked at Lumen with an intensity that seemed to pierce through him. "Remember," he said quietly, "do not speak of that night—ever. What happened on 1st July stays between us."
Lumen nodded, understanding the gravity of the words. The chairman then handed him the school's official uniform, the symbol of power and privilege. But to Lumen, it wasn't just a uniform—it was a key to uncovering the mystery that had haunted the school for a year.
In a high school classroom, a group of students continuously bullies one of their classmates, and this behavior goes unchecked. The reason no one steps in is because one of the bullies is the child of the school owner, and the rest come from wealthy, influential families. Because of their status, even the teachers refuse to intervene. There was a time when some teachers tried to stand up against this injustice, but eventually, no one had the courage to take a stand for long. This situation reflects a society of privileged individuals who are self-centered, lacking empathy and dignity.
One day, Lumen walked into the classroom and saw everything unfolding. He quickly took it all in.
A few minutes later, the room fell quiet as the teacher entered. She introduced a new student to the class.
"Lumen, why don't you introduce yourself?" she asked.
Lumen stood up, his voice steady. "Hi, I'm Lumen, and I'm the new student here."
The teacher nodded. "Alright, Lumen, take your seat. Last desk on the right."
Lumen sat down, glancing at the desk partner next to him. It was Sky.
Sky sat in the quiet of his own mind, contemplating the bustling life of the school around him. This place, a symbol of order and discipline, had always stood as an unreachable dream for so many students. Every student he knew once dreamed of walking through its gates, where knowledge and excellence were said to thrive. Yet, here he was, staring at the truth, the reality that always had a way of slipping into the cracks of the ideal.
The grand walls, so meticulously painted, were now filled with whispers of unspoken tensions. The perfect corridors that once shined with the polish of ambition now echoed with footsteps that seemed to carry the weight of expectations too heavy to bear. The classrooms, once filled with the anticipation of learning, now had the scent of routine, the familiar tick of time moving a little too fast.
It wasn't as Sky had imagined. Every student, with their bright eyes and hopeful hearts, had painted their own version of success when they first dreamed of this place. But here, in the now, the dream was made of too many broken pieces, too many unsaid words between lessons and the unacknowledged burdens behind each smile.
In the hallways, students walked past him—some with their heads bent in thought, others in deep conversation. Each had their own version of the reality Sky had come to know all too well. The boy in the corner, gazing out the window, seemed lost in his own world of expectations. The girl at the lockers, trying to pull her books together with trembling hands, carried a load that no one could see but everyone could feel.
This wasn't the dream they all once thought it would be, and Sky could sense the weight of it in the air. It wasn't a place of ease or peace. It was a place that shaped them, but sometimes, it seemed more like a forge, turning dreams into something else entirely.
As the bell rang, signaling the start of the next class, Sky walked forward. No matter how imperfect, this place—this school—was where his story would unfold, with all its contradictions and complexities. There was no denying it: the dream, now shattered, was still the reality. And in this mix of shadows and light, he was determined to find his way.
Nori introduced
A few minutes later, the English teacher began the lesson promptly at 9:00 a.m. In the classroom, there were 19 students, but this was no ordinary class. It was notorious for its unruly behavior and lack of discipline. Among the students, four stood out for their aggressive and violent tendencies. William, Lery, Ally, and Smith were the troublemakers, often tormenting weaker or new students. However, it was William who held the reins, commanding the group with a silent but firm authority. His position as the head of the group was cemented by the fact that his father was the director of the school.
Nori, a kind-hearted student seated at the back of the room, was aware of the toxic dynamics and quietly observed everything. Nori's role as the class president's assistant gave him a certain sense of responsibility, and he had a reputation for being friendly and approachable. He leaned over and quietly introduced himself to Lumen, his new deskmate.
"Hello, I'm Nori Shaku, the assistant to the class president. Sky is our president," Nori said with a warm smile.
Sky, seated at the front of the class, glanced back over his shoulder, locking eyes with Nori for a brief moment. There was something unsettling in his gaze. His face was inscrutable, as though he preferred solitude over socializing, and his demeanor was distant, almost cold. His silent aura was enough to make Nori feel a chill, as if Sky's presence carried an air of mystery that no one dared to challenge.
As the teacher left the room, a tense silence fell over the class, only to be broken moments later by the unmistakable footsteps of William and his gang. They slowly made their way to Lumen's desk, their presence suffocating the space around him.
William, his tone dripping with condescension, leaned in closer to Lumen, a smug grin playing on his lips. "So, you're the new student. Our new toy, huh?" His words hung in the air, laced with malice.
When William's hand brushed against Lumen's, his touch was deliberate, almost possessive. Yet, to his surprise, Lumen didn't flinch. His expression remained eerily calm, as if the encounter meant nothing at all. The steady gaze Lumen held suggested a deeper strength, one that was unshaken by such petty displays.
In the quiet of his mind, Lumen's thoughts drifted back to a time—one year ago—when he had found himself in a similar confrontation. It was a flashback to a brutal fight with another boy. The face of his opponent was a blur, shrouded in memory, but Lumen knew the confrontation had been fierce. Despite the chaos, it was clear: Lumen was skilled. His every movement had been precise, calculated, a warrior's instinct at play. But the face of his opponent—someone who had once been a friend—remained hazy, leaving only the echo of the fight behind.
As the flashback faded, Lumen's attention snapped back to the present, but before he could respond, a figure stepped in between them. Sky. His gaze, sharp and focused, was locked on William and his group, his posture unyielding.
"Enough, William," Sky's voice was low, commanding, as though it could cut through the tension in the room. He moved in front of Lumen, effectively blocking any chance for further confrontation. His cold, almost unreadable face gave no hint as to why he had intervened, but his presence alone spoke volumes. The room seemed to hold its breath, awaiting what would happen next.
Lumen stood still, his mind racing, but he said nothing. He couldn't help but feel the weight of Sky's intervention, sensing that there was more to the enigmatic class president than met the eye.