Liam woke up determined. Today, everything would change. He knew his name would spread, his face would be recognized, and life as he knew it would never be the same again. But underneath all the uncertainty, there is always an opening. No matter how small it is-there's always a chance.
"This Game. I have to be the winner."
Liam began to strategize. He predicted various possibilities, estimated reactions, and most importantly-prepared an alibi. He knew he would be caught. It was no longer a question of 'if', but rather 'when'. But if arrest was inevitable, then there had to be something he could win from her.
Words and assurances-those were the only weapons he had.
And when time and circumstance finally opened a crack-even if it was as narrow as a pinhole-he would be ready. To get out. To escape.
Before I knew it, dawn broke. As usual, Liam got ready for school. He wore black cufflinks given to him by his father and softlens to cover his red eyes. This Friday was going to be the decider for him. Without breakfast, he hurried to leave the house, taking a deep breath as he locked the door.
"Dear God... Please make this day smooth and easy. I believe You are the owner of this destiny."
Arriving at school, Levi and Kael were waiting at the school gate.
"Yoooo, Liam!" Kael shouted, his voice loud enough to attract attention around.
"Woi, shame weh! People are staring at us, you sound so loud!" Levi muttered in a slightly loud tone, trying to remind Kael.
Liam, who was still quite far away, only smiled slightly as if answering Kael's greeting without saying anything. They then walked together into the classroom, with the gazes of the other students beginning to turn towards them. And behind his calm steps, a sense of apprehension and shaky confidence still loomed over Liam.
"By the way, UAS is coming up soon... Do you want to join my business?" Kael again offered his idea with his usual enthusiasm.
"Hohoho, I officially stopped being your customer. Now I have Liam~" Levi said in a mocking tone, making Kael pout in annoyance.
But their conversation was suddenly cut short by the excitement in the classroom.
"Uh, look!" exclaimed one of the students sitting near the window.
Instantly all the students turned their heads towards the window. The classroom, which was on the second floor, directly overlooked the school grounds-and the view there made everyone pause for a few seconds.
"Woi, is that... a reporter? Why is it so crowded?" asked a student in a panicked tone.
"Look at those cars... they have the Nexaris logo!" said another, her face pale.
"Seriously? Nexaris? Isn't that an organization that's really viral these days?"
"What are they doing in our school?!"
Liam who heard the name immediately froze. His breath caught, and his heart skipped a beat.
"It's already started..." He muttered to himself.
Outside, several elegant black cars bearing the Nexaris logo were seen pulling up to the field and parking area, accompanied by journalists who began to set up cameras.
The crowd was getting more and more frantic.
"Is there going to be an inspection today?" whispered one of the students.
"I heard... they say they can detect 'weird kids'. Maybe..." muttered another, softly.
Liam could only grasp the edge of the desk, trying to look normal - even though in his heart, a storm of anxiety had begun to roll in.
The commotion in the classroom was getting worse. The students were asking each other questions, but no one really knew what was going on.
"Why is Nexaris here anyway?" a male student whispered, his voice nervous.
"This isn't a normal school event, is it? There's never a car like that parked here..."
Things were getting out of hand until the school speakers suddenly turned on, cutting through all the commotion.
"Good morning. All students in grades 10 through 12 are notified to immediately gather at the main field. We ask for your cooperation to remain calm and follow instructions from the school. Thank you."
All the students fell silent instantly. The announcement was repeated many times. The sound filled the hallways.
Liam froze in place. Levi turned to him, a serious look on his face.
"I don't think this is an ordinary event, Li..."
Kael, who was usually joking, stiffened as well. "Don't you feel bad too? I don't think our school will get any...."
Several teachers began to appear in the corridors, knocking on classroom doors, giving instructions for all students to come down to the field immediately.
"Liam..." Levi whispered while looking at him, "you're okay, right?"
Liam just nodded slowly, though he was already preparing for any eventuality.
One by one, the classes began to fill the main field. The cloudy sky added to the tense atmosphere that surrounded the morning. Teachers stood at the sides of the field, most of them looking nervous, as if they themselves didn't know exactly what was going on.
In the center of the field, a portable podium had been set up. Behind it stood several people in neat black suits, Nexaris badges clearly pinned to their chests. Their faces were flat, expressionless.
The speakers came on again, clearer this time, and there was a heavy but firm male voice.
"Good morning students. We ask for your attention and cooperation.
Currently, in coordination with the school and international organizations, there will be global-scale precautions against potential biological anomalies.
We urge all students to remain calm, not leave the area, and follow the officer's directions. This procedure is preventive and not dangerous. Please do not cause a commotion."
The voice stopped, leaving a small buzz among the students.
"Biological anomaly? What the hell does that mean?" muttered one of the students with a furrowed brow.
"Is this serious? How scary is that language..." whispered another while glancing nervously at the row of Nexaris cars lined up in the parking lot and partially on the field.
Liam stood between Levi and Kael, but his mind was drifting. There was a strange sensation in his chest, and a faint pain began to creep up the side of his eye.
Without realizing it, his left hand slowly clenched, as if his own body was preparing to face something.
Kael nudged Liam's arm lightly. "You okay, bro?"
Liam nodded slowly, though in his heart... something dark and unfamiliar began to stir.
After a few minutes, one of Nexaris' officers came up to the podium. He wore a white lab coat over his black uniform, with a digital tablet in hand. His voice was calm but firm, as if he was used to dealing with situations like this.
"Attention all students."
"Introducing myself, I'm Rhea Erlic. Today I will be assisting with the examination."
"As part of the global-scale prevention protocol against potential biological anomalies, we will be carrying out a series of established procedures simultaneously in various regions."
"This step is part of the effort to maintain the stability and health of the adolescent population at a productive age. We hope that all students will cooperate and follow directions in a calm and orderly manner."
He looked at all the students who were now standing in a line, some starting to show anxious expressions.
"The examination will be conducted in three stages."
"First, is the initial blood test. Each student will have a blood sample taken and put into a biological reagent solution-a special type of liquid designed to respond to non-standard contents in human blood."
Another officer began distributing small boxes of rapid blood draw kits.
"If your blood reacts normally, then the examination is considered complete. However, if the blood shows abnormal signs such as blackening, curdling, or producing other visual effects, then the student will be directed to the second stage."
The students began to stare at each other. Some gulped, while others tried to act casual.
"The second stage is a systemic examination. We have devices that can scan and analyze key biological parameters such as extreme emotional levels, the immune system, and the body's regenerative capabilities. The goal is to detect deviations from the usual human biological standards."
Liam looked down slowly. His heart started racing. The words regeneration and extreme emotions hit him directly.
The officer spoke again, this time more seriously.
"If the two stages show anomalous tendencies, then the student will be taken to the nearest facility for further evaluation. We ask for your cooperation. Remember, this is not a punishment, it is a form of protection for you and your surroundings."
"To avoid panic and maintain order, the examination will not be conducted on the field."
He paused for a moment, making sure all the students were listening.
"Instead, our team will visit each classroom in turn. All students are requested to remain in their classrooms until they are briefed by the officers."
The atmosphere slowly changed. Whispers began to be heard, some students looked uneasy, while others tried to look calm.
"Once again we emphasize, this is part of a global-scale precaution against potential biological anomalies. Not to punish, but to protect public safety."
The teachers began to guide the students back to their classrooms. Along the hallway, several Nexaris officers stood guard, some carrying large metal suitcases and diagnostic tools.