Forbidden love

The rain was hammering against the old school building, turning the crowded corridor into a chaotic river of students. Jow ran inside, completely drenched. His cheap white shirt was sticking to his body, his old backpack soaked, and water dripping from his jet-black hair onto the marble floor. He was holding his books tightly against his chest, trying to save them. He was the new transfer student. An orphan who lost both his parents in an accident, now living with his old grandmother in a tiny rented house. He got into this elite private school only because of his scholarship. He was already late, and already lost. In his rush, he didn't see the group standing in the middle of the corridor. He crashed. Hard. His books flew and scattered across the floor, and he collided directly with someone's chest. The entire corridor went silent. That someone was surrounded by four other boys in expensive uniforms, looking like a notorious high school gang that everyone feared. "Hey! Are you blind? Can't you see where you're walking? How dare you touch Teng?" one of the gang members snapped angrily, grabbing Jow's collar. The boy in the center was Teng. Tall, impossibly handsome, with sharp dark eyes and cold aura. The son of the city's most famous and influential billionaire. The class topper, the basketball captain, and the most feared bully of the school. He lived a life of extreme luxury where everyone bowed to him. And Jow had just bumped into him. "I'm so sorry, I really didn't see you. I just transferred here today. I'm so sorry!" Jow apologized in a soft, polite, trembling voice, bending down to pick up his books. His hands were shaking. Teng looked down at him coldly. He didn't say a word at first. He just watched Jow's wet hair, his pale neck, his frightened eyes. Then he sneered, a slow and dangerous smirk. "Oh, really? Let this be the first and last time you bump into me, new boy. By the way, what's your name?" Before Jow could answer, the loud school bell rang, echoing through the corridor. Everyone dispersed to their classrooms. Teng walked away without waiting for an answer, his gang following him. But he glanced back once, his eyes locked on Jow. As class began, Jow put his worries aside and walked into his new classroom, Class 12-A. But luck was not on his side. He had no idea that the top student and the most feared bully of this exact class was none other than Teng. The class teacher entered the room and called for silence. "Listen everyone, we have a new transfer student today. He got the highest marks in the entrance. Introduce yourself to the class." Jow stepped forward nervously and said politely, "Hello, my name is Jow. Nice to meet you all. Please help me from now on." The teacher nodded and pointed toward the back row, right next to Teng. "Alright, Jow. Go and take the seat right next to Teng. Teng is our class topper and class president. If you face any problems with your studies, you can ask him. He will guide you." Jow's blood ran cold. That seat... next to him? Over at Teng's table, his friends immediately started snickering. They whispered to each other in low voices, "Looks like Jow just walked right into his worst nightmare. Teng is going to be his biggest enemy. Poor boy." Teng leaned back in his chair, his eyes locked on Jow as he slowly walked over. A dangerous smirk appeared on his face as he muttered to himself, so low only he could hear, "Just wait and see... I finally found a new prey. This is going to be so much fun." The next day, the nightmare truly began. A loud slam of a notebook on Jow's desk shook the entire classroom. Jow flinched, his heart instantly thudding in his chest. Jow did not even need to look up to know who had arrived. The strong scent of expensive, cold perfume and that familiar, cold atmosphere of mockery could only belong to one person. It was Teng. "I see you are sitting here all alone, quite comfortably, Jow," Teng's deep voice dripped with mockery. He leaned down and placed both hands on Jow's desk, trapping him completely between his arms. The entire class was watching but no one dared to say a word. Jow kept his eyes fixed strictly on the floor. He gripped his pen so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Whenever Teng came near him, he secretly hated his own helplessness. "Look at me when I am talking to you," Teng commanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper. He reached out and tightly gripped Jow's chin with his rough fingers, forcing him to look up. When Jow's trembling, watery gaze met Teng's sharp, dark eyes, he could see a strange, mysterious spark hidden behind that cruel smile. It was not just cruelty, there was something else, something possessive. Jow swallowed hard. His voice was now so low that it could barely be heard, "What do you want from me, Teng? Why are you doing this?" Teng leaned in even closer, his shadow looming over Jow, his lips almost near Jow's ear. "I want your undivided attention only on me. Don't look at anyone else. Don't talk to anyone else. Is that clear?" Those last words from Teng hit Jow's mind like a violent storm. Jow hid his trembling hands under the desk and clenched them into fists, desperate to hide his weakness. "Why so quiet, Jow? Where did that brave look go?" Teng whispered coldly, his thumb stroking Jow's chin slightly. Jow swallowed hard and tried to glance at the classroom for help. But the other students were looking down at their books in fear. No one dared to help him. Feeling completely alone, Jow bit his lip and said in a low but firm voice, "Teng... please stop. You have said what you wanted to say. Please let me go." Seeing this slight resistance, Teng's eyes darkened and he smiled cruelly. He picked up Jow's homework notebook from the desk. "You worked hard on today's homework. Three nights, right? But I don't think it will be of any use to you today." Before Jow could realize it, Teng ripped the page right from the middle. The sharp sound of tearing paper echoed in the silent room. He tore it again and again. Jow looked at Teng with eyes full of tears, but Teng just looked on in satisfaction. Teng threw the torn paper onto the desk and stood up. "Do it again before the next class. And don't make any mistakes this time, my new prey." He placed his hands in his pockets and walked out of the classroom, leaving a heavy silence behind. Even after Teng walked out of the classroom, Jow remained frozen in his seat for a long time. The rest of the students slowly began to whisper among themselves. Some looked at Jow with mocking smiles, while others showed pity. But none of that mattered to Jow at this moment. He could only stare at the torn pages of his notebook scattered across the desk. He had stayed up late for the past three nights working on this single notebook with his grandmother's old table lamp, and Teng had ruined it in just one second. Just then, the heavy sound of boots echoed at the classroom door. Mr. Steven, the strict chemistry teacher, entered the room. He held a thick lecture book in his hand and wore thick glasses. As soon as he entered the class, he said in a serious voice, "Everyone, take out your homework notebooks on your desks. I will check them one by one." Hearing the teacher's words, Jow's heart instantly thudded. He tried to gather the torn pages on the table with his trembling hands, but there was no way to put them back together. Mr. Steven began walking past everyone's tables one by one. Finally, he stopped in front of Jow's desk. Seeing the pile of torn papers on the table, his eyebrows furrowed in anger. He shouted furiously, "What is this, Jow? Is this a classroom or a dustbin? Where is your homework notebook? Is this how a scholarship student behaves on his second day?" Jow kept his head down. If he told the teacher Teng's name now, the bullying would only get worse. And if he did not mention his name, he would have to face the teacher's harsh punishment. He was trapped in a painful dilemma. Jow managed to say in a low voice, "Sir... actually, the notebook got damaged by mistake." "What do you mean by mistake?" Mr. Steven yelled, slamming the desk. "You will clean the entire library room after class today. And if I don't get this homework freshly done by tomorrow morning, I will report this to the Principal and cancel your scholarship!" The whole class laughed silently at Jow's humiliation. Jow just closed his eyes to hold back his tears. He felt a deep sense of injustice. In the afternoon, the college ended. While everyone else was heading home, Jow walked alone toward the huge, old library room. Between the large bookshelves, there was a strange play of light and shadow. The surroundings were completely silent. Jow took a deep breath and picked up a broom and a piece of cloth. He began wiping the tables one by one. Although his hands were moving, his mind was stuck on Teng's cruel behavior. Why did Teng torment him so much? Out of all the students, why did Teng make only him his target? Suddenly, there was a soft sound of the huge wooden door of the library opening with a creak. Jow flinched and looked toward the door. Seeing who was standing at the entrance, the piece of cloth fell from Jow's hand onto the floor. It was none other than Teng. He was standing there with that familiar, arrogant, dangerous smile, his hands in his pockets, looking at Jow like he owned him. Teng walked slowly toward Jow, step by step, and said in his deep, possessive voice, "How does it feel to clean the library all by yourself, my new prey?"