He stepped back into his space, drying his hair slightly before pulling on his trousers, adjusting them as he reached for his shirt.
Then—
Footsteps.
Light.
Quick.
Not supposed to be there.
Matthew frowned slightly.
Before he could react—
The door opened at the same time someone pushed in from the other side.
Ava.
By Monday—
The school hadn't calmed down.
If anything—
It had gotten worse.
Corridors that were usually noisy were now crowded. Students leaned against walls, stood on tiptoe, or outright blocked pathways just to peek into one direction.
Class Two.
More specifically—
One seat.
Inside the classroom, Matthew's desk looked like it had been attacked.
Love letters—stacked.
Gift boxes—neatly wrapped, some clearly expensive.
Snacks, drinks, even carefully packed homemade food lined the edges like offerings.
It wasn't subtle.
It was a display.
Outside—
Girls gathered in clusters, whispering, giggling, pretending to pass by "accidentally" for the fifth time.
Some students in the class didn't even pretend to be unable to see them anymore.
Phones were out videoing the crowd.
Photos taken.
Videos recorded.
Within minutes, posts flooded the school page:
"What's the point of other classes when the eye candy is here?"
"Class Two winning without even trying."
"Matthew = Crownside's official heartthrob."
His reputation?
Confirmed.
Brain?
Top tier—he carried his class academically and left a gap wide enough to crush confidence.
Talent?
Proven—his dominance in sports spoke for itself.
Looks?
…No one even argued anymore.
"Out of my way—move!"
Philip's voice cut through the hallway chaos as he forced his way inside, squeezing through bodies like someone escaping a stampede.
He slammed the classroom door shut behind him.
Then immediately went to the windows—
And closed every single one.
The view from outside—
Gone.
"The hell, Philip?!" a guy complained, half-standing from his seat. "I was making a deal!"
Philip turned slowly. "What deal?"
The guy grinned, completely unashamed.
"If they want a good spot at the window to see Matthew, they pay me five thousand."
A pause.
"I already made fifteen thousand this morning."
"…Damn."
"Genius."
Laughter broke out across the class.
Someone clapped.
Another shook his head in admiration.
At the back—
Matthew didn't react.
He reached for the pile on his desk, clearly about to sweep everything into the trash—
But Felix was faster.
"Wait—wait—wait," Felix said, grabbing the gifts.
He separated them with practiced efficiency.
Letters?
Straight into the trash.
Gifts?
Kept.
He snapped a quick picture.
Then another.
Then posted it.
"So popular. Girls and guys are dying for me."
Replies came instantly.
Rick: since when does a monkey get gifts what show did you put on
Big V: let me guess Matthew was the one this belongs to and he gave you
Little Green: I also got gifts too if I put in a good word for them
Derek: throw them away who knows what's inside
Little Green: not happening
Jay: girls keep asking me for Matthew's number like I have it
Felix paused mid-scroll.
Then slowly looked up at Matthew.
"…Wait."
A beat.
"I don't have your number."
Matthew didn't even look at him.
"That's your problem."
Felix blinked.
"You're serious?"
Matthew leaned back slightly, voice lazy.
"You found my apartment, didn't you?"
A pause.
"Find my number the same way."
A marker flew across the room.
Thud.
Right onto Felix's desk.
"Enough!"
Philip stood at the front now, arms crossed, glaring.
"Pay attention!"
"It's only when you get scolded that you remember you're the class monitor," a girl said dryly.
Several students nodded immediately.
"Fuck off," Philip snapped. "I'm the coolest class monitor you'll ever have, so shut it."
A few snickers followed.
But he didn't stop.
"I have an announcement."
That got their attention.
Mostly.
"For those who haven't chosen a school club during the grace period—"
He paused.
"—you've already lost twenty marks."
The room groaned.
Some students slumped in their seats.
Others cursed under their breath.
"But," Philip continued, raising a hand, "you still have time to fix it."
He pointed toward the class.
"Join a club. Any club."
His tone grew more serious.
"It can be sports, cooking, singing, dancing, chess, drama, broadcasting—anything.
There are over three hundred options."
He glanced down at his notes.
"Out of forty-five students in our class…"
A pause.
"Only twenty-five have chosen."
More groans.
"Compare that to others," he continued sharply. "Class One—only three haven't chosen out of 40. Class Three—everyone has chosen out of fifty. Class Four—only fifteen left out of fifty five. Class Five—twenty left out of sixty."
He looked up.
"We are behind."
His gaze swept across the room.
"And it's embarrassing."
A beat.
Then—
He pointed lazily toward the back.
"Take Matthew, for example."
All eyes turned.
"He joined the drama club, dance club, basketball club, and the brainiac club."
Silence.
Then—
"…Show-off," someone muttered only for someone to hit his head.
Philip ignored it.
"You see? That's initiative."
A pause.
"Be useful. Pick something four or three club maximum minum three maximum 5."
"The class competition is over—thank goodness," he muttered, then straightened, raising his voice. "Now we can finally focus on what actually matters."
A pause.
"Studying."
A few students groaned immediately.
Someone at the back dropped their head onto the desk dramatically.
"Yes, I heard that," Philip shot back. "And no, I don't care."
He picked up a marker, tapping it against the board as he spoke.
"Studying is the main reason you're here. Which brings us to—"
He turned and wrote in bold strokes:
SCHOOL DIVISION
Some students leaned forward.
Others narrowed their eyes.
Matthew didn't even look up.
"I've said this before," Philip continued, turning back to the class, "but I'll say it again."
He pointed the marker toward them.
"A school division is basically a study group system."
He paused.
"Every student must be in a group of five."
Murmurs spread.
"Five?"
"Again with this thing…"
Philip ignored them.
"That's the basic rule," he continued. "But what makes this different—what makes it division—is competition."
He paced slowly now, energy building.
"Each group competes against other groups. First within your class… then across classes."
That got more attention.
Students straightened slightly.
"But that's not all," Philip added, raising a finger. "There's another layer."
He tapped the board again.
"The real division."
Now the room quieted.
Even the ones pretending not to listen glanced up.
"This one is based on the entire Grade 12 rankings."
A beat.
"The top ten students…"
He let that hang for a second.
"…get to pick their teams."
That fully grabbed the room.
"Wait—so they just choose whoever they want?" someone asked.
Philip smirked slightly.
"No."
He shook his head.
"It's not that simple."
He began explaining, slower this time, making sure it landed.
"The top ten cannot form groups together."
A few students nodded.
"Only three of them can be in the same group."
"Ahhh…"
"That makes sense…"
"And they don't just pick anyone," Philip continued. "They have to choose from different ranking ranges."
He started counting on his fingers.
"Top twenty… top thirty… and so on."
"So it's balanced?" a girl asked.
Philip pointed at her.
"Exactly."
He nodded.
"The whole idea is to mix strong and weak students."
He leaned slightly forward.
"So someone ranked 250 can end up studying with someone in the top 50."
The class went quiet for a second.
That part—
Hit.
"I think I get it," a girl near the window said, sitting up straighter. "So it works in two ways?"
Philip gestured for her to continue.
"In each class, everyone forms groups of five and competes internally and with other classes…" she said, thinking it through. "And then the division groups are formed across classes based on rankings."
She paused.
"Like a second layer of competition."
Philip nodded immediately.
"Correct."
A few impressed murmurs followed.
Then Philip clapped once.
"But that's not the only thing."
Groans returned.
"Relax," he said dryly. "This one is easier."
He leaned against the desk casually.
"Student groups."
That got mixed reactions.
Some interested.
Some confused.
Some completely uninterested.
"These are different from study groups,"
Philip explained. "They're formed by students—for students."
He gestured vaguely.
"They focus on school… and outside school."
"Like clubs?" someone asked.
"Not exactly," Philip replied. "Think bigger."
He tapped his temple.
"Connections. Influence. Social circles."
That got attention.
Real attention.
"These groups interact with each other," he continued. "They organize activities, events, networks…"
A pause.
"And yes—status matters."
The room grew quieter.
"Choose your group carefully," Philip said, his tone more serious now. "This isn't just about fun."
He pointed around the room.
"This can affect your future. Your connections. Your opportunities."
He smirked suddenly.
"And don't come crying to me if you mess up."
A boy raised his hand lazily.
"What if the group doesn't want you?"
A few students laughed.
Philip shrugged.
"Then improve yourself."
A beat.
"Or stay group-less."
"…Harsh."
"But not hopeless," Philip added. "Even if you don't belong to a group, you can still participate in activities."
He crossed his arms.
"The school is even planning to build a space for it."
That sparked interest again.
"So you won't be completely left out," he finished.
Then—
He straightened.
Eyes scanning the class.
"As for the student groups…"
A pause.
He held up both hands.
"There are ten."
The room leaned in.
Curiosity rising again.
Philip stood at the front, both hands raised, ten fingers spread wide like he was about to cast a spell.
Philip dropped one finger.
"First—The Student Council."
His tone changed immediately—more serious.
"The big one."
He tapped the board once.
"You need brains for that. Top twenty in the entire grade, strong academic records, competition wins…"
He glanced around.
"That kind of thing."
A few students groaned quietly.
"Yeah, not me."
"Leave that one."
"Like they would choose you guys"
Second finger.
"The Legion Group."
His lips curled slightly.
"They're like the council… but less stiff."
A few chuckles.
"They handle the fun stuff—sports captains, event leaders, activity heads."
A pause.
"And they rival the council a lot."
"Of course they do," someone muttered.
"Always fighting…"
Third finger.
Philip didn't even try to hide his expression.
"The Third Group."
He tilted his head slightly.
"…for entitled brats."
The class burst into laughter.
"Rich families. Famous families. Powerful families," he continued dryly. "If your surname can open doors and you've got some talent—"
He shrugged.
"That's where you go to show off."
"Money too," someone added.
"Especially money," another replied.
Fourth finger.
"The Popular Group."
Philip gestured vaguely like he didn't need to explain.
"Influencers. Performers. School celebrities."
He glanced toward a few students.
"The ones everyone knows even if they don't want to."
Some girls giggled.
Someone flipped their hair dramatically.
Fifth finger.
"The Adventure Group."
He raised a brow.
"These are the crazy ones."
A pause.
"Hiking, extreme sports, dangerous challenges…"
He shook his head.
"Basically people who don't value their lives."
"Sounds fun," someone said immediately.
Sixth finger.
"The IT Group."
Now his tone dropped slightly.
More cautious.
"They're the information people."
A few students straightened.
"Secrets. Rumors. Data."
He tapped his temple.
"If something happens in this school…"
A pause.
"They already know."
"…Creepy."
Seventh finger.
"The Extra Group."
Philip sighed like he was already tired of them.
"Students who do too much."
Laughter.
"They host everything," he continued. "Drama shows, singing contests, sports events, random games—"
He waved his hand.
"If there's chaos, they're behind it."
"Sounds like my kind of people," Felix muttered.
Eighth finger.
"The Activity Hosts."
He pointed toward the class.
"They create events."
"Big ones."
"Horror nights. Romance games. business fairs. money challenges…"
He smirked.
"If you like drama—you'll find it there."
"Nah, I'd get exposed," someone whispered.
Ninth finger.
"The Game Lovers Group."
He didn't even pause.
"Self-explanatory."
"Finally, something I qualify for."
"Same."
Then—
The last finger.
Philip paused.
Actually paused.
Like even he wasn't sure how to explain it.
"And the tenth group…"
Silence stretched.
Students leaned forward.
"…honestly," he said finally, "no one really knows what they do."
A beat.
"…What?"
"I'm serious," Philip said, shrugging. "They exist."
"But no one understands them."
"That's suspicious."
"That's definitely suspicious."
"They're either useless…"
"…or dangerous."
Philip dropped his hand.
"So—those are the ten student groups."
The classroom buzzed instantly.
And you can join more than one Philip added.
Philip walked over to Matthew and casually sat on his desk, already reaching for a chocolate from the pile of gifts on Felix's table.
"So… we're joining the same class club," Philip said, unwrapping it. "That means we still need two more people."
"I'll ask one of my friends," Felix added, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Philip smirked. "Then I'll pick someone with an actual brain."
Matthew didn't even look up, quietly flipping a page of his book.
Felix leaned forward slightly. "So… which division are you choosing? And who are you picking?"
"Yeah," Philip added, glancing at him. "Are you going to pick Ava? You know for the bet stuff she made with Sophia friend"
Matthew paused mid-page, his fingers stilling for a second before he finally looked up at them.
"I don't know yet," he said calmly. "I'll just go with people I'm close to."
It wasn't a yes. But it wasn't a no either.
Philip shrugged and took another bite of his chocolate. "Well, rankings are already out anyway. Kai is fifth, Jay is sixth. I'm eighth."
He pointed lazily as he listed. "Matthew is first, obviously. Rick got fifteenth, Felix twelfth, Derek fourteenth, Big V sixteenth…
"
Felix rolled his eyes but let him continue.
"Aiden is third, Sophia second, Jake fourth. Seventh is one of Sophia friend, ninth is some guy. Jordan is tenth, Jane eleventh…"
Philip continued, counting on his fingers. "Luna got nineteenth, Ava twentieth… seventeen and eighteen, I don't even know them. That's all I remember—from one to twenty."
Felix leaned back with a small smile. "Then we just wait for the division results today. No need to rush."
Matthew gave a small nod and returned to his book.
After a moment, he spoke again, "So… who are you inviting?"
Felix grinned immediately. "Ella. She's the class beauty—and she ranked third."
Philip snorted. "I thought she liked Matthew."
Felix shot him an annoyed look. "And this is why your crush, Oliva, doesn't want you. You're such a killjoy. Add more girls—too many guys is boring."
"Fine," Philip said, rolling his eyes. "I was thinking of asking the guy who got fifth… or the girl who got sixth. I'll see if they've already joined a group."
Matthew didn't respond this time, already immersed in his book again.
Philip and Felix continued dividing the pile of gifts between themselves like it was their rightful treasure.
Meanwhile, in Ava's class—Class Three.
Ava had just settled into her seat when her phone buzzed.
Luna: Come to my class.
Ava raised a brow and typed back lazily.
Ava: You attend school?
A reply came instantly.
Luna: The hell, Ava. Of course I do. Do you even know my class?
Ava smirked slightly.
Ava: Nope. I know Jordan and Jane are in Class One, and Jake is in Class Five. No idea about you… Class Four?
There was a short pause.
Luna: Hell no. Wow, you suck at guessing. I'm in Class Two I told you guys I'm transferring after punching a student to the hospital in class four.
Ava leaned back in her chair, unimpressed.
Ava: Big deal.
A few seconds passed.
Luna: …
Then another message popped up.
Luna: You do know Matthew is in Class Two too, right? Same class.
Ava froze.
She sat up straight immediately, her expression changing.
Ava: …Really? Hell no.
Luna replied almost instantly, clearly enjoying this.
Luna: Girl, duh. I'm heading there right now.
Ava clicked her tongue, already grabbing her bag.
Ava: I'll come during break.
During break time, the entire class gathered in the auditorium.
Murmurs filled the space as everyone waited, eyes fixed on the front.
The Head Teacher of Student Affairs stepped forward, scanning the students.
"I know you're all waiting for the division results," he began. "But the divisions won't be finalized yet. We can't rely on the test rankings."
A wave of whispers spread through the crowd.
"We'll wait for the upcoming exams instead," he continued calmly. "For now, you're free to join any division you like… but it won't officially matter yet."
A few students exchanged looks.
"So don't stress too much. Enjoy your break."
With that, he turned and left.
The moment he was gone, tension shifted.
Sophia stood up.
"I think those ranked one to ten should group together," she said confidently. "Since this doesn't count yet, we can use the time to understand each other's study methods.
That way, when the real division happens, we'll work better together."
The room quieted as people considered her words.