A Stranger, a Storm, and a Masked Plan

Ding dong… Ding dong…

The morning bell echoed across the empty courtyard of Seyon home.

Still rubbing his eyes, hair messy like a storm had passed through it, he shuffled toward the door. His phone buzzed.

> Sanima: “Hey, one of our relatives is coming to your house today. Be polite. It’s urgent.”

He blinked once. Then again.

His heart dropped a little.

“Why now?” he muttered.

He opened the door. A man in a formal coat stood with a gentle smile. Beside him—

—a girl.

Her eyes sparkled in soft caramel brown. Short straight hair framed her curious expression as she peeked behind the man.

She was… cute. Too cute to belong in his monochrome world.

“I’m your aunt’s brother-in-law. I’ll be staying here for a while. This here is my niece, Senra.”

Seyon heart screamed silently.

> Why… why would she send someone here? She knows… she knows I hate being around people. Especially strangers… Especially girls like her…

But all he said was:

“…Okay.”

The sky was grey. No sun. No smile.

He stepped into the school gate like a shadow. Today wasn’t just a regular school day.

Today, he had a plan.

And it started now.

> People only understand when they’re forced to confront their own reflection. You can scream all you want about justice or peace—but humans only listen when pain becomes their language.

> Psychology isn’t just a science. It’s survival. If you walk like prey, you’ll be treated like prey. But if you become the predator, even the worst beast in the jungle will hesitate.

He walked down the road, mask covering half his face.

Waiting.

Then he saw the first one—Bibhan, the one who mocked him for years.

He was alone, earbuds in, dancing slightly as he walked.

Seyon stepped out of the shadows.

One punch.

No warning.

Bibhan’s nose bled instantly.

“You forgot to greet me, Bibhan,” Seyon said quietly. “Let’s call this a reminder.”

Before the crowd gathered, he disappeared into an alley.

Next target: Dornil.

He found him near the overbridge.

This time, Seyon approached from the front. Dornil recognized him and instantly tried to flee.

Seyon ran.

Fast.

The chase lasted blocks. Dornil stumbled over a fruit crate and ran straight into a narrow forest trail.

Suddenly—

Vrrrooommm—

Motorbike lights blinked in the shade. A gang of boys in black jackets surrounded the area.

Gangsters.

They were friends of Dornil. Or worse, hired.

Seyon stopped, breathing heavily. Mask still on.

The biggest of them stepped forward. A scar ran across his eyebrow.

"You messed with the wrong people, kid," he growled.

Seyon didn’t flinch.

He removed the mask slowly.

> Society punishes the quiet. It praises the loud. But it fears the unpredictable. I’ll give them something to fear.

That evening at school…

Seyon came back covered in bruises. Uniform dirty. Late again.

His teacher didn’t ask much. Just ordered him to stand outside.

And after school…

Three classmates circled him in the field. They had seen what happened in the alley and thought he was weak now.

"Want to act cool, huh? Let’s see how cool you are now!"

One pushed him. Another grabbed his bag and threw it.

Fwssshh—

The lighter Seyon used to keep warm inside his bag lit up. Flames caught a paper.

His entire bag caught fire. His books. His journal. His world.

He watched it burn.

But he didn’t scream. He didn’t hit. He didn’t even blink.

He simply smiled—

like the calm before a storm.

> Let them destroy what I carry. They can’t destroy what I’ve become.

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