Episode 1: A New Beginning
My parents are the type of people who were born with a silver spoon — successful, respected, and always aiming for perfection. They've always told me I'm destined for greatness, even promising to send me abroad after secondary school. On the surface, it sounds perfect. But what they don't know is… I'm not ready.
I'm in SSS2 now, and if I'm being honest, I don't even fully understand the basics of education. I procrastinate. I fake confidence. I act like I have it all under control, but deep down, I often feel lost — like there's no light at the end of the tunnel.
Recently, my dad made a huge decision: he transferred me to a new school — Hillcrest Academy. A strict boarding school. A place where discipline is serious and expectations are even higher.
The funny thing? At Hillcrest, many people look up to me. They assume I have it all because of how I dress, the way I speak, the name my family carries. But inside, I'm still that same confused student, trying to figure out who I am.
I'm easily influenced. I pick up the language and behaviors around me — especially the bad ones. I use negative words without thinking. I joke too hard. I talk back to teachers. And now, it feels like I've become a version of myself I can't escape. Almost everyone in school dislikes my attitude. Some fear me, others just avoid me. And sometimes, I can't even blame them.
But then there's Tope.
She's nothing like me. She speaks her mind, never sugarcoats anything. She doesn't care about status or background. She corrects people — especially me — even if it makes her unpopular. She's from a humble background, but she shines in a way I've never seen before. Smart. Focused. Brave.
Every time she speaks up against me in class, it stings. But part of me respects her for it. Another part of me... wishes I could be closer to her.
I want Tope to be my friend. I don't even know why exactly — maybe because she's the only one who sees past the fake image I've built. She sees me. And though she keeps her distance, I know there's something I can learn from her.
I've never met anyone like her. And maybe — just maybe — this new school, this "Hillcrest life," is the beginning of something deeper: not just a second chance in education, but a chance to find myself.