Ethan took his seat in the far corner of the classroom, an intentional vantage point. To his left, a boy leaned over, offering a bright smile and an energetic wave.
"You really moved here all the way from Russia?" the boy asked.
Ethan turned his head. His gaze was steady, his expression an unreadable mask as he sized the stranger up. After a beat of silence, the boy's smile faltered slightly, but his enthusiasm won out.
Ethan nodded.
"Wow! It's always been my dream to visit Russia. Anyway, I'm Finn. Nice to meet you."
Ethan gave a single, curt nod and offered a hand. "Nice to meet you, too."
Ethan's eyes drifted toward the back of the room. Two desks sat isolated from the rest, looking abandoned. Finn followed his gaze. "Oh, those? Those belong to two students who are currently on leave. Study abroad program, I heard."
Ethan nodded slowly. Two students. Abroad. He filed the information away.
And Daisy, she is in first year. I should wait for her if I want to reach home. Ethan thought.
The lesson began, but the subject matter was the least interesting thing in the room. Throughout the lecture, Ethan felt the teacher's eyes lingering on him. It wasn't the look of a curious educator; it was something heavier, more scrutinizing. Ethan felt a prickle of unease but forced himself to remain still.
When the bell finally rang, the teacher gathered his papers. Before stepping out, he shot one last, piercing glance in Ethan's direction. Ethan didn't look away, meeting the man's stare until the door closed.
"Hey, Ethan! I'll show you around, okay?" Finn chirped, breaking the tension.
Before they could leave, a crowd of students swarmed Ethan's desk, buzzing with questions.
"Is it true you're from Russia?"
"What's it like there?"
"It's colder," Ethan replied, his voice flat. "Much colder than here."
"Why'd you come back?" someone else asked.
"My father was transferred," Ethan said simply. "I go where he goes."
Across the room, a group of older students watched the commotion. Harvey, a broad-shouldered boy who looked like he'd spent more time in the gym than the library, scowled.
"Look at this guy," Harvey muttered. "Thinks he's special because he's from Moscow?"
"Angry about the new kid?" Albert, his friend, asked with a smirk. "Maybe we should teach him a lesson after school. Remind him how things work around here."
Harvey cracked his knuckles. "I don't need help. I'm more than enough for a loser like him."
Finn and Ethan sat at a corner table, their lunch trays between them.
"So, Ethan," Finn said between bites. "Since you spent your whole life in Russia... what do you think of this place so far?"
"It's fine," Ethan said.
Finn laughed, shaking his head. "You know, I'm starting to notice a pattern. You aren't much of a talker, are you? It's all one-word answers with you."
"I apologize," Ethan said, though his tone didn't suggest he felt particularly sorry.
"Hah, no worries! It makes you look mysterious."
As they finished their meal, Finn stood up. "Come on, let's see the rest of the grounds."
As they stepped out of the cafeteria, Ethan's internal alarm went off again. A third-year student was sitting on a bench nearby, perfectly still, watching Ethan with a focused intensity. There was something "off" about him—an aura of stillness that matched Ethan's own.
The student stood up and walked toward the café without a word, but the weight of his gaze remained.
The final bell signaled the end of the day. Ethan waited by the main entrance for his sister, Daisy. He leaned against the brick wall, unaware or perhaps indifferent to the lingering glances from several girls walking past. His tall, lean frame and quiet intensity made him hard to ignore.
"Brother! Why are you waiting for me?" Daisy called out, jogging toward him.
"No particular reason," Ethan said, pushing off the wall. "I just don't know the routes around here yet. I didn't want to gett lost you know, I am new here."
Daisy nodded, smiling. She was a first-year, still full of the nerves of a new school, while Ethan handled his second-year transition like a tactical mission.
Together, they turned away from the school and began the walk home.
On the way, Ethan knew that someone was following. But Ethan didn't pay it mind because of Daisy.
"How was your day brother?" Daisy asked.
Ethan said with a smile, "It was good. I made a friend."
"Wow! A friend on first day. That's very good." Daisy said.
Ethan looked at her, "Was something wrong?"
"I thought you'll be all alone. But I was wrong." Daisy said.
Ethan patted Daisy's head and said, "I am the elder one, I should be looking after you not the other way around."
Daisy nodded.
As they walked, a female voice came "Oh, it's Daisy."
"I told her to clean the class." Another girl said.
"Look who is she with." A few students from Daisy's class were sitting nearby. They saw Daisy and started talking nonsense.
Ethan stopped and stared at them. But Daisy, she tried to pull Ethan.
A few big men were also standing with the girls. They were triggered by Ethan's stare and started shouting.
"Who do you think you are?" One of the man said.
"Boy, your good looks won't save you." Another one said.
The boys walked towards Ethan, And Ethan turned towards them.
As Ethan took his first step, Daisy caught his hand. "Let's... go... brother" Daisy was trembling.
Ethan noticed it and backed off. He smiled at Daisy and said, "Let's go."
The boys tried to walk after him, but a glare by Ethan spotted them in their tracks.