The Boy Everyone Feared
1345 Words
The first day of college always looked magical in movies.
Soft music. Cute friendships. Accidental romance. Sunlight hitting pretty buildings.
Reality?
Sweaty students dragging luggage. Parents giving emotional speeches. Seniors hunting freshers like hungry wolves.
And somewhere in the middle of this complete disaster—
Viola was chasing a pigeon.
"STOP EATING MY ADMISSION FORM!"
The pigeon flew across the huge entrance gate of Westbridge International College while holding a corner of her paper in its beak proudly.
Students turned to stare.
A boy whispered, "Bro… first day and she's already fighting birds."
Viola pointed angrily at the pigeon.
"Give it back, you flying thief!"
The pigeon landed on the college statue.
"You humans are so dramatic," it said.
"You literally stole my future!"
"I thought it was food."
"That paper cost my mental peace!"
The pigeon finally dropped the slightly torn paper dramatically.
Viola picked it up with a deep sigh.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Also don't trust men with pretty eyes."
Viola froze.
"…What?"
But the pigeon had already flown away.
"Fantastic," she muttered. "Even birds are giving relationship advice now."
A group of girls nearby giggled.
Viola smiled awkwardly and quickly entered the campus before anyone could question why she looked personally betrayed by a pigeon.
The moment she stepped inside—
her eyes widened.
Westbridge International College was massive.
Huge glass buildings reflected the morning sunlight while fountains sparkled near the entrance. Students walked around confidently like they owned the world.
Luxury cars lined near the parking area. Music blasted from somewhere. Basketball players shouted across the court. Couples already sat dramatically under trees.
"This doesn't look like a college," Viola whispered.
A sleepy orange cat sitting near a flower pot yawned.
"It's not. It's a zoo."
Viola smiled instantly.
"Finally someone sensible."
The cat narrowed its eyes at her.
"You're the new animal girl?"
Viola almost choked.
"…Excuse me?"
"The crows told us."
"Crows gossip too much."
"Obviously. They have wings and no responsibilities."
Viola laughed softly.
Talking to animals had always been the strangest and most normal part of her life.
She didn't know why she could understand them.
She just could.
Birds. Dogs. Cats. Even parrots with anger issues.
As a child, she once accidentally exposed her neighbor because his dog told her he secretly ate everyone's birthday cake at night.
After that, her mother strictly warned:
"Beta, animals se baat ghar ke andar karna. Bahar log psychiatrist bula lenge."
So now Viola tried her best to act normal.
Keyword: Tried.
The orange cat suddenly sat up straight.
"Oh no."
"What happened?"
The cat's tail puffed slightly.
"He's here."
Before Viola could ask—
A loud roar echoed near the college entrance.
A black motorcycle entered the campus at terrifying speed.
Students immediately moved aside.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Whispers spread everywhere.
"Ash."
"He came today?"
"I thought he skipped orientation."
"Don't stare too much."
"Why?"
"You new or stupid?"
Viola turned toward the bike curiously.
The rider removed his helmet slowly.
And for one second—
the entire world genuinely felt cinematic.
Black hoodie. Dark messy hair. Sharp jawline. Cold eyes. Silver rings on his fingers. Dangerous calm expression.
He looked less like a college student and more like the reason crime documentaries exist.
Ash.
Even his name sounded dangerous.
Girls stared openly. Boys moved out of his way automatically. Some juniors looked genuinely terrified.
Viola blinked slowly.
"Why does everyone look like he owns their souls?"
The orange cat whispered dramatically, "Because nobody knows what he actually does outside college."
"Oho. Secret criminal vibes?"
"Maybe mafia."
Viola snorted.
"Relax. Real mafia people don't attend college."
The cat looked at her with pity.
"You are going to suffer here."
Ash parked his bike casually and walked through campus.
No friends. No smile. No interest in anyone.
Yet somehow everyone noticed him.
A football accidentally rolled toward his feet.
The player shouted nervously, "Bhai— sorry!"
Ash simply kicked the ball back perfectly without looking.
The player looked relieved like he survived death.
Viola frowned.
"Okay that's dramatic."
Then Ash suddenly stopped walking.
His eyes slowly shifted toward her.
Directly toward her.
Viola froze.
Why was he staring?
The orange cat immediately hid behind her leg.
"DON'T LET HIM SEE ME."
"He's not a monster."
"He once stared at a Doberman and the dog apologized."
"What?"
"I'm serious."
Ash's sharp gaze remained on Viola for one strange second.
Then—
a tiny injured puppy limped near him.
The crowd expected him to ignore it.
Instead Ash crouched immediately.
His expression softened slightly as he touched the puppy gently.
"You fought again?" he murmured quietly.
The puppy wagged its tail.
"He smells scary but nice," the puppy whispered to Viola.
Viola stared.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Ash checked the puppy's injured paw carefully before signaling one of the guards nearby.
"Take him to the vet."
The guard instantly nodded.
"Yes bhai."
Bhai?
Viola noticed it immediately.
Not "sir." Not "Ash." Not "bro."
Bhai.
Like people feared and respected him at the same time.
Ash stood up again.
Cold expression back.
Like the soft moment never happened.
Then his eyes met Viola's once more.
This time—
his gaze narrowed slightly.
Almost suspicious.
Viola instantly looked away.
"Nope," she muttered. "Not getting involved with mysterious emotionally unavailable criminals."
The orange cat sighed.
"Too late. He noticed you."
"That means nothing."
"Trust me. Ash notices nobody."
Before Viola could respond, a loud announcement echoed through the campus.
"ALL FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS REPORT TO THE MAIN AUDITORIUM!"
Students rushed everywhere immediately.
Viola quickly grabbed her bag and followed the crowd.
Inside the auditorium, chaos had already started.
Freshers nervously searched for seats while seniors watched them like entertainment.
Viola found an empty seat near the middle row and sat down thankfully.
Big mistake.
Three senior boys immediately sat behind her.
One leaned forward with a grin.
"Freshie."
Viola ignored him.
"Freshieee."
She sighed and turned around.
"Yes?"
"Introduction."
"Viola."
"Oho. Stylish name."
"Thanks."
"Single?"
"Financially unstable."
His friends burst out laughing.
The senior smirked wider.
"Attitude bhi hai."
"One hundred percent."
Another senior leaned closer.
"You know college rules?"
"There are rules?"
"Freshers have to impress seniors."
Viola crossed her arms.
"How?"
"Sing."
"No."
"Dance?"
"No."
"Say 'I love you' to random student?"
"That sounds like unpaid embarrassment."
The boys laughed again.
Then suddenly—
their expressions changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
One of them straightened instantly.
"Oh shit."
Viola frowned.
"What happened?"
A calm deep voice answered behind her.
"They troubling you?"
Viola turned.
Ash stood there.
The entire row went silent.
The senior boys immediately stood up.
"N-no bhai."
"We were joking."
Ash looked at them silently.
No anger. No shouting.
But somehow the silence felt terrifying.
"Move," he said calmly.
That one word was enough.
The boys disappeared instantly.
Viola blinked.
"…Did you just scare them away using eye contact?"
Ash ignored the question.
Instead he looked down at her calmly.
"You should avoid idiots."
Viola crossed her arms.
"I was handling it."
"Hm."
"Hm matlab?"
Without answering, Ash sat in the empty seat beside her.
And the auditorium EXPLODED with whispers.
"Oh my god."
"Ash sat beside someone?"
"Who is that girl?"
"Freshie survived tutorial level."
Viola looked around awkwardly.
"This is weird."
"You get used to it," Ash said calmly.
She stared at him suspiciously.
"You know everyone here is terrified of you?"
"That's their problem."
"Are you secretly in mafia or something?"
The entire nearby row froze.
Absolute silence.
One girl even dropped her pen.
Viola looked around confused.
"…What?"
Ash slowly turned toward her.
For one second, his expression became unreadable.
Then unexpectedly—
the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
A tiny smirk.
Dangerous. Beautiful. Terrifying.
"You ask too many questions," he said softly.
Viola opened her mouth to reply—
when suddenly a crow landed outside the auditorium window.
And screamed loudly:
"VIOLA HE HAS A g*n IN HIS CAR!"
Viola's soul left her body.
Ash's eyes slowly shifted toward the crow.
Then toward her.
Silence.
Complete silence.
The crow panicked.
"…I think I ruined something."
- Writer
