born to die

Chapter 1: Detention Kings The bell rang, sharp and unforgiving, but no one in the class bothered to settle down. Because Ken was already standing on his desk. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, bowing dramatically, “today’s lesson is how to survive math without losing your soul.” The class burst into laughter. A paper ball flew across the room. Someone whistled. And right on cue. A chalk piece smacked Ken straight on the shoulder. “Get down.” The voice was calm. Too calm. Ken turned slowly, grin still plastered on his face. “Aww, Lin. You care about my safety?” Lin leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, expression bored. “No. I care about not getting blamed when you fall and c***k your head open.” The class went “oooh.” Ken jumped down, grabbing a chair and spinning it around before sitting backwards on it, facing Lin like they were about to duel. “You’re just jealous,” Ken said. “People laugh at my jokes.” Lin raised an eyebrow. “They laugh at you, not because of you.” Another round of “oooh.” And just like that, the air shifted. Everyone knew this pattern. Ken vs Lin. The two most popular troublemakers in school. Same grades, barely average. Same number of warnings from teachers. Same ability to charm their way out of anything. But they couldn’t stand each other. No one even remembered how it started. All they knew was that if Ken was fire, Lin was ice. and every time they collided, something burned. —————— “OUT. Both of you.” The math teacher didn’t even try anymore. Ken stood up with a lazy stretch. “Sir, you’re breaking our hearts.” Lin grabbed his bag, already halfway to the door. “You don’t have one to break.” Ken scoffed. “Says the guy who looks like he eats sadness for breakfast.” “Better than eating attention like you do.” They walked out together, still arguing, like it was a routine they had perfected. Detention room. Again. Ken dropped into a chair, tilting it back dangerously. “You ever think we’re wasting our youth in here?” Lin sat opposite him, pulling out a notebook he had no intention of using. “You ever think you’re wasting oxygen?” Ken smirked. “Wow. Creative.” Lin didn’t reply this time. For a moment, it was quiet. Too quiet. Ken noticed it first. “You’re not gonna insult me again? What, ran out of material?” Lin didn’t look up. “Maybe you’re not worth it today.” Ken blinked. That was new. He leaned forward slightly, studying Lin. “You sick or something?” Lin finally looked up, eyes sharp. “Why? Planning to celebrate?” Ken shrugged, but something about the way Lin looked.. pale maybe, felt… off. “Just asking,” Ken muttered. Lin stood up suddenly. “I’m leaving.” “Detention’s not over.” “Neither is my patience.” Lin walked out without another word. Ken watched him go, frowning. The next few days were… strange. Lin wasn’t in class. At first, no one noticed. Then people started asking. “Where’s Lin?” “Sick, I think.” “Still?” Ken pretended not to care. “Good,” he said when someone mentioned it. “Peace at last.” But the classroom felt… different. Quieter. And somehow, more boring. ———— A week later, Lin returned. The moment he stepped into class, heads turned. Same messy hair. Same cold expression. But something had changed. He looked… thinner. Tired. Ken noticed immediately. Of course he did. “Look who’s back from the dead,” Ken called out, leaning back in his chair. “Miss me?” Lin paused at the door. For a second, just a second. his expression flickered. Then it was gone. “As if,” he said, walking to his seat. But his voice was softer than usual. Things didn’t go back to normal. Lin didn’t argue as much. Didn’t start fights. Didn’t even react when Ken threw a paper ball at him. It bounced off his shoulder and fell to the floor. Lin didn’t pick it up. Ken stared. “Wow,” he said. “You’ve gone boring.” No reply. Ken clicked his tongue. “What, silent treatment now?” Still nothing. Something twisted in Ken’s chest.. annoyance, probably. Yeah. Definitely annoyance. It happened during lunch. Ken was laughing with his friends, mid-story, when someone gasped. “Lin-!” Ken turned. Lin was standing near the corridor, one hand gripping the railing. Then. He collapsed. Just like that. The laughter died instantly. Ken was already on his feet before he realized it. “Move!” Students crowded around, whispering, panicking. Lin wasn’t moving. His face looked… too pale. Too still. Ken’s stomach dropped. “Hey,” he said, kneeling beside him. “Lin. This isn’t funny.” No response. For the first time ever, Ken felt something close to fear. The ambulance came fast. Teachers rushed. Students were pushed back. Ken stood there, frozen, watching as they carried Lin away. His hands clenched into fists. “Just pretending,” he muttered under his breath. “He’s just… messing around.” But the words didn’t sound convincing. Not even to himself. The next day. Lin’s seat was empty. Again. But this time, no one joked about it. And for some reason, Ken couldn’t stop staring at that empty chair. ———————————— to be continued...