The rain had stopped hours ago, yet the ground underneath Kelvin Lee was still soft and cold.
He sat in the mud, elbows resting on his knees, eyes empty—staring at nothing. A thin mist hung in the air, dampening his already tattered shirt. His lips trembled, not from the cold, but from the heaviness pressing down on his chest.
This was his life now—pitiful, quiet, and empty.
He had no one left but the memories of his parents, two frail souls who had loved him with everything they had. They weren't rich, they weren't educated, but they were his entire world. And then—just like that—they were gone. A car accident, caused by the reckless speeding of a rich elite who didn't even bother to stop. Kelvin was only eight. He had seen them lying there, bleeding, their hands twitching weakly.It had been ten years now — killed in that "accident".Before they died, with their last breath they made him promise one thing: "No matter what happens, go to school. Learn. Survive."It was their last wish. The last thing he could ever do for them.
So here he was, keeping that promise at fourteen, even if it meant walking barefoot into the richest school in the city"STARLIGHT ACADEMY" also known as Azure high school, wearing patched oversized clothes that still smelled faintly of his late father's cologne. They were more stitches than the fabric.
The moment he stepped through the gates, the felt it.
The stares.
Like invisible daggers piercing through his skin.
Students in polished shoes and pressed uniforms turned to look at him—some with disdain, others with thinly veiled disgust. Whispers spread like wildfire. Laughter followed.
"Who let this beggar in?"
"Is he here to clean the toilets?"
"Careful, he might have lice."
"Ewwww, he reeks of poverty"
One boy, not bothering to lower his voice, continued, "Look, a beggar's here for lessons."
Another snorted, "Maybe he's lost. Does he even know how to write his name?"he whispers continued like fuel added to fire.
He bit his lip, keeping his eyes forward. One step. Then another. If he turned back now, he'd never return. His fingers curled into fists, and he bit the inside of his cheek, trying to keep the tears from spilling. A single tear here would destroy whatever little courage he had left. He thought about turning around, running back to the safety of his decaying house where no one could see him… If he turned back he would never return.
A security guard moved to block him — but a tall man in a suit wearing simple glasses and a gentle smile, looked down at him. Stopped the guard with a simple nod. "Let him through. He's here for registration."
The man patted him gently.
"Go on," the man said quietly. "Don't let them stop you. You came here for a reason, didn't you?"
Something in Kelvin's chest eased. Maybe… maybe they weren't all bad.
Kelvin exhaled, grateful for the kindness. It was rare. Almost unnatural.
The school was meant for children of the wealthy—the kind of place where even the benches looked more expensive than his entire home. But the education here was the best in the city, and Kelvin had been saving for a month just to afford the registration fee.
His stomach growled loudly, an ugly, hollow sound that made several heads turn.
And then, laughter. Loud. Cruel.
"Did you hear that? He's starving!"
"Someone, feed the stray dog"
"Maybe he's here for free lunch!"
Hahahaha!
Kelvin felt the heat of embarrassment flood his face. He pulled on his new school uniform—a cheap one he had bought secondhand—and walked toward the classroom. But the whispers didn't stop.
Some students snickered behind him. Others parted the way as though he carried a contagious disease. He could feel their eyes burning holes in his back.
When he entered the classroom, the reaction was immediate. Huge disgust.
The boy in the front row pinched his nose. A girl in designer sneakers spat on the floor as he passed. Some students shuffled their chairs away like his shadow might stain them.
Several students covered their noses dramatically.
One spat on the floor.
Another muttered, "Smells like the slums."
" Don't breathe too close, he stinks!"
" Don't sit near me. He might have rabies"
Kelvin swallowed hard, pretending not to hear. His hands trembled as he gripped the strap of his worn bag. He took a seat at the very back, hoping to disappear into the shadows.He sat in the corner, gripping the edge of the desk until his knuckles turned white.
Endure. Just endure.
But just as he lowered himself to bring books from his bag, a shadow fell across his desk.
He looked up—and froze.
A tall boy stood there, his uniform crisp, his eyes sharp and filled with contempt. He leaned down until his face was inches from Kelvin's and said, in a low voice that sent chills down Kelvin's spine—
"You don't belong here. Rag boy!"
Kelvin's heart pounded in his chest. The boy's smirk widened, and without warning—