The auditorium lights flickered once before fully turning on.
Rows and rows of new high school students sat in complete silence, and the air filled with whispers, cheap perfume, and the scent of nervous sweat. Some students are chewing gum like it was armor and others fiddled with holo-screens. Riven sits straight, arms crossed and Mira is sitting beside him, leaning into his shoulder like a sleepy cat.
Microphone screeched then the student council president stepped forward. She wore the standard blue-black blazer, shiny badges, and a perfectly rehearsed smile. Her voice is sharp, crisp, and terrifyingly serious.
"Good morning, new students of Ashfield High." Then she take a pause.
All students are silent. "This year is a little different. Your batch will be remembered. Maybe for your brilliance." She leaned closer to the mic. "Or maybe... for being the last."
Whispers starts among students and Riven blinked.
She continue, "The news is everywhere, The rumors, the threats and the political games. The world is close to war, a real one or i say final one. They're calling it World War 3."
She looked at all of them and her face has no smile now.
"Maybe it won't happen or maybe it will. But whether this world lives or dies, I expect you to study, to work and to live like the world isn't already on fire."
Then she smiled again. "Welcome to Ashfield."
A single clap started then others followed and That moment passed like a cold wind.
Back in class, Room 1-C.
The teacher wasn't there yet and all The desks are chaotic and the Students are loud.
Riven sit in the back row near the window and Mira is beside him, chewing her pen. On the next row: his friends — Juno, a kid who wore chains over his uniform for no reason, and Kai, the class clown with a sharp tongue.
"Dude," Juno said, leaning back, "you think she was serious? That war talk?"
"Of course she was," Kai said. "They always are serious before they start launching nukes."
"This is Great maybe we'll get out of exams."
Riven looks outside and his face is calm, but his eyes are heavy.
Mira speak, "It's stupid. Why do they even fight? Don't they know how much people will die?"
Juno chuckled. "You think leaders care about us? They press a button and sit in bunkers made of diamond."
Riven finally spoke and his voice was quiet but strong. "They'll care when the sky burns. When their children cry and don't know what hunger is."
His tone makes everyone silent.
"My dad told me," Riven continue, "if you ever have power, even just a little — use it to protect, not to hurt. And my mom… she told me love means nothing if it doesn't make you gentle."
Mira turn toward him and her eyes are soft.
Juno said, "That's… idealistic, man and The world isn't made for people like you."
"Maybe," Riven reply, "but if the world isn't made for people like us… then someone has to make it."
Silence spread again. Now even Kai didn't joke this time. The bell ring and School ends for today. The hallway buzzed with voices, shoes squeaking, lockers slamming. Riven and Mira walked together, under a grey evening sky.
He held her hand lightly.
"I'll walk you home," he said.
But Mira said "let me go. I… I need to do something first. Can you go ahead?" Her voice was soft but quick.
Riven smiled. "Sure but be careful, okay?"
"I will." She said.
She leaned in, kissed his cheek, and turned the other way.
Then Riven start moving towards his home. Then he reach his home. Riven opens the door and doesn't even get time to breathe because his mother Seren, comes rushing towards him like a tornado wrapped in love. She crushed him into a hug and it is so tight he almost dropped his bag.
"I missed you, my baby!" she cried, her voice is trembling. "The house was so empty without you. I—I walked into your room ten times and I touched your pillow. I—I thought maybe if I waited long enough, so you would be home sooner."
Riven laughed awkwardly but hugged her back. "You're so dramatic, Mom."
"Because I love you too much," she sniffed, wiping her nose on his school blazer. "Let's eat. Your father's already home."
They sit at the dinner table. Doran served rice. Seren placed soup.
They are laughing together and eating food. Seren start crying again during dessert. Riven rolled his eyes, but smiled like the sun still rose just for them.
Meanwhile… In a narrow alley, a dull yellow lights flickering above.
Mira is standing with her arms around someone else. That person is not a friend nor a stranger. This is someone familiar. She clutched that person's coat tightly. Her face pressed into that person shoulder.
"I hate him," she whispered. "I hate how he looks towards me. I hate his eyes. I hate his smile. I don't want him near me anymore…"
The other person stayed silent.
Mira kept repeating. "I hate him."
To be continued…