Everyone was struck by how bold and courageous Kai was when they heard how he greeted Khai and spoke to him. However, Khai completely ignored Kai, treating him as if he were invisible, as though he didn't even exist.
Noticing that Khai hadn't responded to his greeting, Kai decided to approach him directly. He stood up from the bleachers and started walking toward Khai.
But before he could get very far, someone suddenly grabbed him and pulled him to the farthest corner at the back of the bleachers.
"Huh? What are you doing?" Kai asked, his face filled with confusion.
"What do you mean, what am I doing!? Are you trying to get us all killed!?" Shawn snapped at Kai, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Kai couldn't help but think, 'Birds of a feather do flock together,' as he looked at the six scholarship students, still 'clueless' about the situation.
"What? I was just trying to greet him," Kai replied, his voice calm and sincere, unable to understand why his innocent attempt at conversation had caused such a commotion.
Shawn let out an exasperated sigh and ran a hand through his hair.
"You really don't get it, do you? You can't just walk up to Khai like that! He's not like the rest of us. He's... different. You can't approach him and start talking like you're friends. You're putting yourself in serious danger, Kai."
Kai frowned, still not fully grasping the severity of the situation.
"But I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just trying to have a conversation."
"You still don't understand," Shawn said, his voice growing more urgent.
"This isn't a normal school. The top students, especially Khai and the others like him, they run things here. If you keep acting like this, you're going to get yourself into deep trouble. And we—" Shawn glanced at the other scholarship students, "—we don't want to get dragged down with you."
'Dragged down by me?' Kai thought, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. 'I was just being nice.'
"Didn't we tell you about the rules? Why did you break all of them? The more we warned you, the more you kept putting yourself and us at risk. It's like jumping from a pot into a fire! Don't you value your life!? Even if you don't, we do!" Shawn continued, clearly baffled that someone could be so reckless with their safety.
Kai stood there in silence for a moment, trying to process Shawn's words. 'What BS!' he thought.
The atmosphere around him felt thick with tension, the murmurs and whispers of his classmates amplifying the weight of the situation.
Kai couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with this group of students, all of them seemingly eager to suck up to the wealthy elite.
Yet, despite the discomfort and unease settling in, part of him still couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right about the entire situation. Something was off, and he was determined to uncover it even when the pieces weren't fully wrapped around his finger.
"Look," Shawn continued, his voice growing more serious, "next month there will be a party for the students at the top of the pyramid. They keep it exclusive. You do not want to get involved. Do you understand? Don't ever attend. Got it?" Shawn's tone was intense, almost desperate.
Kai nodded slowly, though he wasn't fully convinced by Shawn's warnings. One thing was clear—this Academy was far from the picture it projected to the outside world. There was something darker, something hidden beneath the surface.
"Why? Is—" Kai was about to say but was soon cut off by a familiar voice.
"Why shouldn't he attend? Isn't it a party for him? What, are you planning to sabotage him on his special day?" Arlo suddenly chimed in, a playful grin on his face as he casually held Shawn's head in a mock headlock, as if the whole situation was nothing more than a joke to him.
"N-No, that's not what I—I'm trying to say," Shawn stammered, struggling to regain his composure, but his words came out in a stutter, clearly rattled by Arlo's sudden shift in tone.
"What party are you all talking about?" Kai asked, unable to sit idly by as he watched the scholarship students being pushed around like pawns in someone else's game. It really wasn't his concern, and, truth be told, he wasn't the least bit worried about them or what might happen to them.
Still, something about the whole situation felt off, and he couldn't resist probing further.
"No rush. I was getting to that," Arlo replied with his usual playful smirk, clearly enjoying the chaos unfolding.
His eyes danced with amusement as he watched Shawn squirm, while Kai's confusion seemed to fuel the drama even more.
"There's a party next month," Arlo continued, lowering his voice slightly, as if savoring the suspense.
"The top ranks throw it every year. It's exclusive. And it's not exactly a place for someone like you to just wander into, especially when you're still figuring out the ropes."
His gaze flicked between Shawn and Kai, the implication clear: Arlo wasn't just talking about a party; he was delivering a warning.
"However, we made an exception this year. You were voted in as an attendee, so you get to tag along. So don't miss it, alright?" Arlo added, his grin wide and mocking as he turned and walked away, leaving the group behind.
'A party? How could I miss it?' Kai thought, watching Arlo's retreating figure. His mind raced with possibilities, and an amused smile slowly spread across his face.
The idea of stepping into a world filled with dangers and hidden agendas, pushing him further into a tangled web of secrets and dark truths, intrigued him. And the biggest truth he sought was right ahead, more tempting than ever—like a game he couldn't wait to dive into.
'Brother, wait for me,' Kai thought with a melancholy grin.