Alex shoved Mila to the ground without warning, his face twisted in a mix of anger and panic. He spun around to Carsel, eyes wide as he saw the fresh scratch marks across Carsel’s cheeks. This was getting out of hand, and no one seemed to know how to stop it. Carsel just stood there, touching his cheek like he was checking if it actually hurt, confusion clouding his usually calm expression. Mila, still on the floor, blinked up at Alex, stunned, her hands gripping the tiles like she needed something solid to hold onto.

Meanwhile Arzen, clinging to the wall at a safe distance, watched the whole scene unfold. His heart pounded as Alex’s anger filled the hallway like a storm cloud ready to burst. He shrank back, wishing he could just blend into the bricks. His fingers tapped nervously against the wall, his mind screaming to get out, but his feet glued to the spot. Arzen’s eyes darted from Alex to Mila, back to Carsel, hoping he’d stay unnoticed in the background.

Alex’s rage was on full display, his fists tight as he marched toward Mila, looking like he was ready to make things a hundred times worse.

"Mila, you’re gonna pay for this!"

Alex snapped, his voice sharp and loud enough to make everyone flinch.

Carsel, normally the calm one, stumbled into action, reaching for Alex with a shaky hand. 

“Alex, stop! Just forget it, please! Don’t make it worse.” 

Carsel’s voice was shaky, almost pleading, but Alex was too far gone to listen.

Before Alex could act, Mila’s cousin rushed forward, dragging her up from the ground and shoving himself between her and Alex. He wasn’t about to let things slide. 

The hallway buzzed with whispers, students leaning in like they were watching the juiciest episode of a drama. Phones were out, thumbs poised to type the latest gossip into group chats.

"What the f*ck did you do to my cousin?!"

Mila’s cousin demanded, his stance defiant, eyes blazing with anger as he squared off against Alex.

“You should ask her what she did to my friend!” 

Alex shot back, pointing at Carsel, his finger trembling. 

The crowd’s whispers grew louder, fueled by the sudden drama.

"Look at his face! She attacked him!"

Alex’s voice echoed through the hallway, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to Mila’s cousin. 

"That’s just his karma for being a two-faced bitch and spreading rumors!"

Mila’s cousin shot back, teeth clenched, ready for whatever came next. The crowd around them grew louder, voices clashing like a sports game where everyone was rooting for a different team.

“Oh my God, did Mila really do that?”

“Carsel’s always been nice to her.”

“Well, she’s the illegitimate daughter, right? Guess that explains it.”

Mila’s face reddened at the cutting remarks, her anger mixing with the embarrassment of being called out in front of everyone.

Mila’s face flushed crimson, a mix of anger and embarrassment as the insults sank in. She bit her lip, trying to hold back tears, her gaze dropping to the floor.

Finally, a stern-looking teacher bulldozed through the crowd, clipboard in hand, her expression like she’d seen this kind of mess a hundred times before.

“Carsel, Alex, Mila, and you!” 

She pointed at Mila’s cousin, her authority clear. 

“Report to the teachers’ office tomorrow morning!”

The students scattered like leaves in the wind, the excitement deflating now that the adults were in charge. Arzen slipped away, weaving through the dispersing crowd, eager to distance himself from the chaos. He walked briskly back to the dorms, his mind buzzing as he tried to shake off the tension of what he’d just seen.

By Monday morning, the school seemed to have returned to normal, but the lingering awkwardness remained. Arzen moved through his morning routine, trying to keep his head down. Elden, noticing Arzen’s distracted demeanor, leaned against the doorframe of their dorm room.

“Hey, you coming to class?” 

Elden asked, his tone light but curious.

Arzen didn’t look up, his mind still preoccupied. 

“You go ahead. I’ve got some stuff to finish.”

"Alright, see you later. Don’t get lost!" 

Elden shrugged and left, not pushing it. Arzen appreciated the quiet, focusing on his work until it was time to go. When he finally made it to class, he noticed Carsel sitting quietly, unusually reserved. Raizel sat nearby, buried in his books, not engaging with anyone. The silence between them was almost tangible.

Arzen couldn’t understand why, no matter how hard he tried to stay out of Raizel and Carsel's business, he kept getting pulled into their drama. It was as if fate had a twisted sense of humor, ensuring he was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He sighed, trying to shove those thoughts aside and focus on his schoolwork. But the day seemed to drag on, each class feeling longer than the last.

When school finally let out, Arzen hung back, waiting until Raizel and Carsel had left before making his move. He slung his bag over his shoulder and headed for the information board, his mind drifting as he scanned the job postings. He needed more part-time jobs—something that can help him to save up for a phone so he could at least submit his novel online and scrape by.

The job postings on the board were impressive, reflecting how wealthy most of the students at the school were. High-end jobs that seemed out of reach for someone like him—a scholarship student who had to work just to get by.  There were positions like assistant at a high-end art gallery, junior analyst for a local investment firm, research assistant for a university professor, editorial assistant for a luxury lifestyle magazine, and event coordinator for an upscale events company.

Arzen was taken aback by the listings.

‘These are ridiculous! Do they really expect high school students to take on these roles?’

These jobs were just another reminder of how different his life was from his classmates. For them, work was about gaining experience or padding a resume. For him, they were a necessity—a means of survival in a world that didn’t feel like his own.

Arzen took a deep breath, pushing down the frustration. It didn’t matter if it seemed unfair; he had to keep going, keep finding ways to fit in without drawing attention. After all, he wasn’t here to stand out—he was here to survive.

The last job caught his eye: scriptwriter for the drama club.

‘Scriptwriter for the drama club?’

Arzen was confused. Did the club have that much money to hire a scriptwriter? He wondered about the details and what the job would entail.

Deciding to investigate further, Arzen headed to the school's wing where the various club rooms were located. As he walked through the halls, he passed several club rooms.

Each club room seemed more impressive than the last and while Arzen couldn’t help but notice the sheer talent and resources on display, it all felt a bit overwhelming. 

'This is on a different level.' 

Arzen thought as he quietly appreciated the dedication these students had. But admiration aside, he knew he didn’t belong here. These rooms were for people who had a place in this world—his job was just to stay unnoticed and get by. Still, he couldn’t deny feeling a small sense of awe as he walked past.

Finally, he found the drama club's room. He knocked on the door and waited, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. After a while with no response, he knocked again, this time a bit louder. Still, there was no answer. Growing impatient, Arzen knocked once more, this time with more force. The sound echoed through the empty hallway, but there was still no response.

Just as Arzen was about to give up, a strong hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back with more force than necessary. Arzen spun around, startled, to find himself face-to-face with a tall guy who looked like he was auditioning for the role of "School Bully #1."

The guy’s name was Cain, one of the big shots in the drama club with a reputation for being intimidating. He was tall with broad shoulders, short brown hair parted to the side, and always had a stern look on his face. His black eyes drilled into Arzen’s blue ones, and his grip on Arzen’s shoulder was tight, almost bruising.

“Who are you, and what are you doing sneaking around here like a rat?” 

Arzen flinched, a sharp tingle running up his arm as he tried to pull back. Cain’s gaze ran over Arzen from head to toe, taking in every inch before snorting, like Arzen wasn’t even worth his time. Arzen straightened, trying to stand his ground, but his pulse quickened under Cain’s cold stare.

Arzen tried to recall if this world’s Arzen had ever met this guy, but found no such memory.

'What’s wrong with this guy?!' 

Arzen thought, swallowing his discomfort. He didn’t want any trouble, but at the same time, he couldn’t just ignore the anger creeping up inside him. Keeping calm was all he could do—there was no sense in escalating the situation.

"You must be lost. The dormitory is that way."

Cain sneered, his lips curling slightly as he pointed down the hall, eyes narrowing with clear distrust. It was as if Cain had already made up his mind about Arzen, pegging him as another stray trying to slip into places he didn’t belong.

"I'm not lost."

Arzen took a step forward, squaring his shoulders as he met Cain's gaze. His blue eyes flickered as he tried to stand his ground.

"I'm here for the scriptwriter position for the drama club."

"Hah... yeah, no, rejected. You better scram."

Cain stepped closer, his voice low and sharp, the kind that didn’t leave much room for arguments. 

"Who knows how many things will go missing if we accept people like you?"

"I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm here because I saw the job posting."

Arzen stood firm, refusing to let Cain’s dismissive attitude push him away. 

"I earned my place at this school, just like everyone else."

Before the situation could get any worse, a girl appeared from around the corner, her steps light and quick. She was pretty, with long golden hair that swayed as she moved and bright eyes that sparkled like she was always in on a secret. She seemed completely unfazed by the tension in the air, like she was walking into a much friendlier scene.

"Hey, what's going on here?"

She stepped closer, her cheerful voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere like it was nothing. She looked between Cain and Arzen with an easy smile that somehow made it clear she was used to handling situations like this—Cain’s scowl included.

Cain turned, his scowl deepening. If his frown had any more weight, it would’ve hit the floor. He crossed his arms, not thrilled to have his moment interrupted.

"Nothing, Yuna. Just dealing with a lost kid."

Arzen’s patience was running thin. 

“I’m not lost. I saw the job posting for the scriptwriter position and came to ask about it.”

Yuna's eyes widened in genuine surprise, and she lit up like someone had just told her the best news of the week. 

"Really? That's fantastic!"

She clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on her toes, her bright smile lighting up her face.

“We’ve been waiting for someone to apply for that position for so long! I was starting to think we’d be stuck without a script forever.”

She glanced at Cain, completely ignoring the stormy look on his face. 

“See? Told you someone would come eventually!” 

Her tone was teasing, but there was no mistaking the satisfaction in her voice.

Cain's sneer faltered, but he quickly regained his composure, crossing his arms tighter across his chest. 

Yuna turned back to Arzen, extending her hand with a bright, welcoming smile.

"I'm Yuna Ranstar, Class 2-5, the drama club president. It's so nice to meet you!"

"I am Arzen, Class 2-4."

Yuna’s eyes widened even more. 

“Wait, are you the Arzen who won first prize in the literature competition last year?”