The rain had stopped, but my head hadn't.
I walked home with a plastic bag over my head like an idiot, still hearing echoes of what I couldn't explain.
> "Push him. Just to see him fall."
"Look scared, loser."
They weren't voices in the air.
They weren't hallucinations either.
They were… thoughts.
But not mine.
Rakib never said those things out loud — he just smiled.
But I heard them. Clear as a text message read out loud in my brain.
---
I didn't sleep that night.
Not because I was afraid.
Because I was excited.
If this was real… I wasn't powerless anymore.
---
At school the next day, I didn't speak to anyone. I just watched.
Test 1.
In the hallway, our class monitor, Fariha, was scolding a boy for being late.
> "Ugh. I hate doing this. I just want him to smile at me…"
She was blushing. But her mouth was cold.
I blinked.
Okay. That was… weird. And kind of funny.
Test 2.
In math class, our teacher announced a surprise quiz.
Everyone groaned.
But the teacher? She smiled.
> "Let's see which one of these brats has been cheating."
I sat straighter. My pulse picked up.
This wasn't a fluke.
---
This is a power.
A dangerous one.
But like I said… I don't want revenge.
Not love.
Not popularity.
Just money.
---
Lunchtime.
I stood near the back gate, where the rich kids parked their motorbikes. I spotted Junaid — perfect hair, white sneakers, and always surrounded by laughter that wasn't his.
He once paid someone 3000 taka to do his homework for a week.
He also used to call me "Discount Boy."
Today, I looked at him a little longer.
> "I hope no one finds out about that phone. It's still in my bag…"
Phone?
I kept listening.
> "I recorded her crying that day. That could ruin her family if it gets out. But I need backup insurance."
My breath caught.
Blackmail material?
I didn't even need to know the details. I had leverage.
I walked past him slowly and mumbled, "Nice bag."
He looked confused. "Huh?"
I smiled. "Hope what's inside doesn't fall into the wrong hands."
He froze.
For a full second, he looked like a man who'd seen a ghost.
> "Does he know? Did someone snitch? Shit, did I leave it unlocked—?"
That was all I needed.
I walked away.
And for the first time in years…
I felt powerful.
---
I didn't need fists.
I didn't need status.
I didn't even need to lie.
I could sell truth.
And truth… is always in demand.
---
> Let them hide their secrets.
Let them rot under their masks.
I'll be the one who hears what they don't want heard.
And I'll charge them for silence.
---
[To Be Continued…]