February, 2010
A small suburban house with white and brown walls, a decent-sized lawn, and inside lived a relatively small family of 3, A man(Julian Merrin) with blonde hair, brown eyes, and a broad body, sitting on a recliner chair reading a newspaper, a woman(Luna Merrin) with brown hair, brown eyes and a short body packing lunch.
[Thud][Thud]
Luna Merrin: Luci... Your lunch is on the living room table.
A boy in his teens stepped into the room.
Light blonde hair. Brown eyes. Slight frame.
He wore a graphic tee, blue jeans, and slightly scuffed sneakers. He grabbed the lunchbox without pausing.
Lucian Merrin(son): I am leaving... Mom.
And just like that, he was gone — the door shutting behind him, routine intact.
Running down the street, Lucian stopped right before the bus stop.
As in a matter of minutes–A school bus hissed right in front of him
He stepped on board, gave a silent nod to the driver, and made his way to the third empty seat — sliding in beside a familiar face.
Lucian: Yo... Adam!
The boy next to him, wearing a plain yellow T-shirt and black jeans, turned away from the window sharply.
Adam: Hoo...God, Lucian did you study for the Mock?
Lucian: Yeah, a bit.
Adam: Oh, thank God, revise with me, man, you know mom'll ground me if I fail, like midterms are in 3 weeks.
A bit later,
Ashgrove High School,
Lucian and Adam grabbed their books from the lockers.
Lucian: Oh right! I will be staying for a bit longer today, I have to work with Miss Gardner after classes.
Lucian said as he looked at Adam who stared at someone else...
Tapped Shoulder–
Lucian: Adam!
Adam(turned): Yeah... Yeah, stay after class, I know.
Lucian: What are you...?
Lucian looked behind Adam as he saw a relatively tall girl wearing a blue checkered shirt and a white oversized shirt talking to someone.
Lucian: She is– not in our grade, A Senior.
Lucian turned immediately as he saw Adam walking fast opposite...
(Lucian follows)
Lucian: Hah...You like her?
Adam: Don't say it loudly. Moreover, she has a boyfriend.
Lucian: Like that mattered, you don't know how to talk–
Adam: Like you do! I don't even know if I like her.
[Scoffs]
Lucian: Huh? How do you not know whether you like someone or not?
Adam: You know, like whenever I see her, something just grows in me.
[Smirk]
Lucian: Right– Grows!
Adam: Fu*k You.
They both started smiling as the smile soon turned into laughter...
After School,
Standing in the corridor–
Adam: So how long are you going to stay?
Lucian: She said I have arranged some notebooks that's it.
Adam: Did she tell you anything about the midterms?
Lucian: nah!
Adam(Smirks): Being a teacher's pet hasn't helped.
Lucian: Just go Man.
Adam: See ya... Tommorow
Seeing off Adam Lucian turned back as he sighed to himself and ran towards Mrs. Gardener's room.
[Heavy breathing][Heavy breathing]
Lucian: Holy– just 2 floors... I need to join a Gym.
Entering Miss Gardner's room Lucian slowly peeked.
Lucian: Miss Gardner?
A middle-aged woman with fluffy brown hair that framed her round face like a soft halo. She wore circular glasses perched low on her nose and dressed in classic teacher attire — a beige cardigan over a patterned blouse, and a long navy skirt. There was a certain neatness to her, the kind that came from decades of routine — but not without warmth. Her eyes, though half-shielded by glass, missed very little.
Gardener: Oh... Lucian come on in.
[Lucian enters]
Gardner: Thank you, Lucian. They're arranged by class, and there are some on my desk here too. Then you can go.
Lucian, looking at the books, sighed internally as he started arranging them.
Lucian: (Come on, Tsk– at least give me something for all this work.)
Lucian reluctantly still arranged, but from the inside, he cursed Miss Gardener.
15 minutes later,
After completing the ground ones, Lucian stood beside Miss Gardner as he started arranging the books on the desks
Lucian: Miss Gardener, did you start taking freshers classes too?
Gardener: Huh? Yes, it has been a week since the previous teacher left.
[Ring][Ring]
Mrs. Gardner picks up the phone, and she seems pretty excited...
Gardener: Sorry, Lucian you continue the work.
Mrs. Gardener left the room... As Lucian still worked.
Lucian: Almost done...(Glance at the computer) Hmm, I wonder what she was doing.
Lucian leans–
Lucian: School website... Why would she open this?
Lucian tilts his head, trying to see what Mrs Gardner was doing as he saw a white background and multiple texts like some notes.
Lucian: Is this the school website? (Looks at the link) Ashgrove.edu/teacherspanel.
Lucian's eyes widened as he immediately leaned towards the computer staring at the screen.
Lucian: Holy... This– huh? When we students access the student portal, we are given different IDs, so why am I seeing this, do all the teachers have the same IDs? According to the sections, I can access all the teachers...
An inner laugh bubbled in Lucian's mind — a rare thrill. But it faded fast, replaced by disappointment. Even if he did find the midterm paper, what could he do with it now? Not enough time.
While glancing and reading through the sections and categories, Lucian saw something in the background. Notepad was open, but only the title was visible.
Lucian: She is creating notes? Passwords.txt!
Flinging the mouse, Lucian clicks the notepad as he sees multiple passwords and user IDs.
____________
Staff: 2010 (School website password)
M.garderner@ashgrove.edu: 123456789abcd(Mail)
Gardener.M: 123456789abcd1234(SpaceL)
____________
[Gulps]
Lucian: Holy fuk... I need to copy this.*
(Frantically pats his pockets)
Where's my phone? –Sht… It's in the locker.
His breath hitched. Eyes darting—he spotted a stack of notebooks on the desk.
Lucian moved without thinking.
He yanked one out, tore a page with a jagged rip, and grabbed the nearest pen. The silence around him only made the sound of the tearing louder—more dangerous.
Fingers trembling, he began copying the passkeys from the notes tab.
One after another.
Usernames. Emails. Passwords.
He didn't stop to read—just wrote. Fast. Sloppy. But clear enough.
[Click][Creak]
The door opened.
Mrs. Gardener stepped back in, holding her phone against her ear. She looked over at Lucian, who was standing near the desk, rearranging the last stack of books.
Gardner: Are you done? Lucian.
Lucian: Huh! Yes, Miss Gardener.
Gardner: You can leave...
Lucian immediately picks up his bag as he starts leaving suddenly.
Gardner: Lucian! (Lucian turns) Thank you.
Lucian smiled back, pulled the door closed, and the moment it latched — he ran. Not from fear, but with something buzzing in his chest. A grin carved its way across his face.
To be continued~