Chapter 1 The Transfer
It was a Monday morning where the sun seemed to be working overtime. The heat was so intense that vapor rose from the concrete ground. Inside the teachers' lounge, which should have been cool and comfortable, there was only a sluggish breeze from a ceiling fan spinning wearily.
Tonhom stood motionless in front of an old wooden door. His fair, handsome face was stoic, devoid of any emotional ripples, and his narrow eyes gazed forward aimlessly.
He was often branded as "cold" or even a "robot," simply because he wasn't skilled at crafting fake smiles. But who would have known that beneath that calm exterior lay the self-defense mechanism of someone who had made a habit of suppressing his feelings?
"Tonhom, I have a favor to ask."
The voice belonged to the homeroom teacher of the Diamond Class the room that gathered the school's elite. Her tone was laced with hesitation, yet her eyes were so serious that Tonhom could feel the weight of her words.
"Yes?" Tonhom raised an eyebrow slightly, the only reaction he allowed himself to show.
"I want you to move to the 'Bottom Class'... to help pull up the GPA of your peers there. Would you be willing?"
The words 'Bottom Class' were like a small grenade tossed into the middle of the conversation. Vivid images of that room immediately flashed in his mind the place notorious as the "Danger Zone." Shouts echoing through the hallways, constant news of physical brawls, and exam scores so low they were disheartening.
"You want me to... move there permanently?"
"Yes. I want you to be a role model for them. I know it will be exhausting and perhaps uncomfortable, but I believe your quiet strength can tame them."
Tonhom fell silent for a moment. The faint scent of paper and printer ink in the lounge seemed to intensify in his senses. He wasn't afraid of the chaos, but he was worried about adapting to a place where he didn't belong. Ultimately, however, the hidden soft-heartedness deep within made him nod in agreement.
"I'll do it... if it will help my classmates," Tonhom replied softly but firmly. He didn't answer just to please the teacher; deep down, he knew that the loneliness in a "perfect" room like the Diamond Class could sometimes be just as suffocating as the chaos he was about to face.
Later that morning, Tonhom walked toward the building at the back of the school, clutching his favorite notebook and pen.
The closer he got, the clearer the sounds of shouting and boisterous laughter became. The subject teacher, who was struggling to supervise the class, let out a long sigh before spotting the newcomer.
"Class! Quiet down right now. We have a new student today."
Silence fell for a brief second. Dozens of eyes fixed on the slim figure in the pristinely ironed uniform. Every inch of Tonhom looked out of place compared to the room, which was covered in graffiti-laden desks and littered with scrap paper.
"This is Tonhom. He's transferred from the Diamond Class to be your new classmate."
"Hello. Please take care of me," Tonhom said, bowing slightly in a polite greeting.
There was no verbal response only the irritating rhythm of a pencil tapping on a desk and whispers that sounded decidedly unfriendly.
"Go sit over there... the empty spot by the window."
Tonhom's gaze followed the teacher's finger, and that's when he saw the "Landlord" of the corner. A tall, large-framed boy was slumped over a rickety wooden desk. His white shirt was messy, the top buttons undone to reveal a glimpse of his chest. His shorts were improperly high, and his buzz-cut hair gave him a fierce look.
That was Ter... the leader everyone feared. Rumors of his aggression on the football field were as famous as the heavy punches he had used to send students from other schools to the hospital.
Tonhom took a deep breath, walked to the side of the desk, and placed his bag down as quietly as possible. However, the slight sound of the chair moving caused the deep sleeper to look up. Sharp, obsidian eyes met his with irritation. Thick eyebrows furrowed as if his private sanctuary had been violated.
"Why are you sitting here?" a deep, raspy voice snapped.
"The seat was empty," Tonhom replied as calmly as he could.
Ter raised an eyebrow, scanning the person in front of him from head to toe. A gaze like a wild animal eyeing its prey made Tonhom swallow hard, yet he maintained his stoic composure.
"Fine... just don't annoy me." With that, he slumped back down, leaving Tonhom to sit amidst a tension that only slightly began to fade. Tonhom neatly arranged his notebooks and pens. A faint scent of fabric softener from the person beside him drifted to his nose a scent that was strangely at odds with his fierce appearance.
Lunchtime arrived with multiplied chaos. The bell signaling the end of morning classes sounded like a signal to release wild animals from their cages. Most students rushed out to claim seats in the cafeteria. Tonhom sat still, choosing to wait for the crowd to thin out to avoid the crush.
As he leaned down to put his stationery in his bag, a mocking laugh from a group of back-row students who hadn't left yet erupted over his head.
"Hey! Look at that. The nerd is sitting next to the Tiger. Careful, or the Tiger might eat you up!" one of them shouted, slamming the desk and triggering a wave of laughter from the gang.
"Or he might pay the rent with a kick! Hahaha!" another added, spitting on the floor provocatively, eyes locked onto
Tonhom's back.
Tonhom turned a deaf ear. He was used to sarcasm. But as he was about to step through the door, a group of tall boys from another class blocked his path, their expressions clearly threatening.
"Hey, what's your name... Tonhom? That's a tasty-sounding name. We forgot to bring money today. How about lending us a hundred or two?" The leader of the group stepped closer, forcing Tonhom to recoil. He mockingly brushed dust off Tonhom's shoulder with a sneer.
"I'm sorry, I won't lend you any," Tonhom replied shortly, his voice level. He tightened his grip on his backpack straps, preparing to sidestep them.
"You wanna defy us!?" A roar erupted as a heavy hand grabbed Tonhom's shoulder, squeezing hard enough to make him wince in pain. His pencil case nearly slipped from his hand.
"You got a problem with my person?"
A low, pressuring voice vibrated from behind. Everything went dead silent. Tonhom turned to see Ter leaning against the doorframe with a lazy posture. One hand was tucked in his pocket, the other spinning a football, but his eyes were so cold they sent shivers down the spine.
"N-no, Big Brother Ter. We were just playing with the new kid." The bullies quickly let go and scrambled away.
Ter shifted his gaze to Tonhom. His fierce eyes softened for a split second, so briefly it was almost unnoticeable.
"Go buy your food," he said, leaving it at that before walking off.
Tonhom stood frozen. A warm, fluttering sensation spread through his chest. His heart, which usually beat in a steady rhythm, skipped a beat.
'My person'... The words echoed in his ears.
Tonhom didn't know if it was shock or a new feeling he had never experienced before. But for the first time, he felt that this chaotic Botto
m Class... might have a scent that was more captivating than he ever imagined.