The sky above Emerald High School was overcast, a dull gray that mirrored the monotony of Ochieng's daily life. With his hands tucked into his pockets and his uniform slightly wrinkled, he moved through the school gates like a shadow—unnoticed, unimportant, and completely ordinary.
At least, that's what he wanted them to believe.
Because beneath the surface, Ochieng was anything but ordinary.
They didn't know that the quiet, unremarkable student they ignored was the sole heir to a trillion-dollar empire—an empire so vast that kings and billionaires alike bowed before it. They didn't know that in the dead of night, he had been trained by a legendary grandmaster whose name sent chills down the spines of warriors.
If they knew… would they still look down on him?
Ochieng smirked faintly to himself. It didn't matter.
Right now, he was just another student. A nobody. And he preferred it that way.
For now.
---
The school buzzed with life—laughter, gossip, and the rhythmic chatter of students moving to their morning classes. Ochieng passed a group of girls huddled together near the lockers.
"Brian is so cool! Did you see his new car?"
"Ugh, I wish he'd notice me. A guy like that is a dream."
Ochieng barely spared them a glance. He had long since stopped expecting fairness in life. Here, wealth was the currency of respect, and background mattered more than character.
And he, by choice, remained invisible.
Until a voice shattered the usual morning hum.
"Ochieng!"
A hush fell over the hallway. Students turned, already grinning in anticipation.
Ochieng sighed inwardly. Here we go again.
From behind, Brian Makori approached, his designer shoes clicking against the tiled floor. Tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly confident, Brian was the school's golden boy. Rich, handsome, and admired. But beneath the charm lurked something cruel—something that made others admire him, but never truly challenge him.
Brian smirked as he slung an arm over Ochieng's shoulder. "Man, I keep forgetting you exist. Do you even speak?"
Snickers rippled through the crowd.
Ochieng didn't react. He never did.
Brian's grip tightened slightly. His voice dropped just enough that only Ochieng could hear. "Stay in your place, loser."
For a moment, Ochieng's fingers twitched.
If this had been anywhere else—if he weren't committed to living a quiet life—Brian wouldn't have even had the chance to finish that sentence.
But Ochieng had made a promise to himself.
Never reveal your true nature unless absolutely necessary.
He exhaled slowly, suppressing the instinct to shatter Brian's arrogance with a single move.
Instead, he gave a lazy shrug. "Sure."
Brian's smirk faltered for half a second. He had expected fear, maybe humiliation. But this? This calm indifference?
Before he could push further, another voice cut through the tension.
"Leave him alone, Brian."
A figure stepped forward.
Akinyi.
Emerald High's undisputed belle. Long dark hair, sharp eyes, and a presence that made even the most arrogant boys take a second look.
She wasn't just beautiful—she was powerful in her own way. And unlike most, she never treated Ochieng like a ghost.
Brian chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, babe. I was just having fun."
Akinyi's gaze remained firm, unconvinced.
But before the exchange could continue, the shrill sound of the school bell echoed through the halls.
Brian leaned in toward Ochieng, his smirk returning. "Remember, people like you don't belong in our world."
With that, he turned and walked off, his admirers trailing behind him like shadows.
Ochieng remained still for a moment.
He wasn't angry.
He wasn't hurt.
He was just… waiting.
One day, all of this—their arrogance, their ignorance—would collapse.
One day, they would look back and regret.
But today was not that day.
So, Ochieng turned and walked toward his classroom, still hidden, still unnoticed.
Still waiting.