The next day, everything felt… different.
Not loud. Not dramatic. Just slightly sharper.
At school, the other boy sat at his desk like always.
But I noticed how people looked at him differently now.
Not in a bad way.
More… curious.
I could feel it too.
The subtle weight of attention.
During class, the teacher asked a question I hadn't expected.
Everyone looked around, unsure.
I hesitated for a moment.
Then I raised my hand.
My answer wasn't perfect.
Not the smartest.
But honest.
Some students nodded.
Some looked surprised.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:
You acted. That is the point.
I smiled quietly.
Acting, not hiding, I typed back.
No reply.
That was fine.
After school, I saw the other boy near the gate.
He didn't smile at me this time.
He didn't wave.
He just… existed.
Calm. Alone. Refusing the pressure silently.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:
Do you see now?
I read it.
I didn't type anything.
Because yes.
I saw it.
The system wasn't about punishment.
It wasn't about control.
It was about attention, choice, and consequence.
I walked home slowly, thinking about my own decisions.
Every little action mattered.
Every choice shaped what came next.
And for the first time, it didn't feel scary.
It felt… alive.