Oak Tree
1004 Words
AIDEN
I stared at my phone, Kaito's message clear on the screen: "Oak tree. Now."
I was supposed to be studying for an exam, but now my attention was fixed on the message. What did Kaito want? Was this about the notes?
I glanced at Liam, who was busy gaming on his laptop. "Hey, Liam, I gotta go out for a bit," I said, trying to sound casual.
He looked up, curious. "What's up?"
I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just Kaito wants to meet up. I'll be back soon."
Liam's expression turned serious. "Be careful, Aiden. We don't know what's going on with those notes."
I nodded, tucking my phone into my pocket. "I'll be fine. I'll text you if anything's off."
With that, I slipped out of the dorm, my heart racing as I headed towards the oak tree. What was Kaito's game?
I approached the oak tree, my heart beating faster with every step. The dim campus lights cast long shadows, making the tree look eerie. As I got closer, I saw Kaito leaning against the trunk, dressed in black from head to toe. His eyes gleamed in the dark, fixed on me.
He didn't say a word, just pushed off the tree, and nodded towards the shadows. "Let's walk."
Kaito stopped walking and let out a short laugh, rubbing a hand over his face. “Wow. You really thought this was some conspiracy thing?”
I frowned. “You literally summoned me like a movie villain.”
“Yeah, because that’s how the dare notes work,” he said. “Drama is part of the tradition.”
“The… dare notes?”
He turned to face me fully now, the tension gone, replaced with something annoyingly smug. “Congrats, Aiden. You picked up a binding note .”
My stomach sank. “A what.”
“Old school thing,” Kaito said. “Whoever finds the note owes the owner. One week. No backing out. Campus rules.”
“…owes them what ? " I asked carefully.
Kaito grinned. “Slave is a strong word. Think more like: runner, errand guy, personal assistant. You do what I say—within reason. No illegal stuff. No getting expelled. It's mostly embarrassing.”
I stared at him. “You could’ve just said you wanted help with your laundry.”
“Oh no,” he said. “Tradition says I had to be mysterious. Oak tree. Black outfit. Menacing aura.”
I groaned. “Liam thought I was gonna get framed for academic fraud.”
Kaito snorted. “Please. This school barely enforces parking rules.”
“So… let me get this straight,” I said. “The notes weren’t dangerous. You just wanted to activate some ancient campus dare ritual.”
“Correct.”
“And now I’m… what. Your servant?”
“For seven days,” he said cheerfully. “After that, you’re free. Scout’s honour.”
I crossed my arms. “What’s the first task, oh mighty note-owner?”
Kaito’s eyes sparkled. “Tomorrow morning. 7 a.m. You’re bringing me coffee. From the place across campus. The one with the stupid long line.”
I stared at him in silence.
“…I hate this tradition,” I said.
He clapped me on the shoulder. “See? Harmless. Now relax. Go text Liam you’re alive before he files a missing persons report.”
As I walked back toward the dorm, the phone was already out, I had one final thought.
If this was day one, what kind of nonsense was he saving for day seven.
I pushed the dorm door open and stepped inside, the warm air fogging my glasses for a second. Liam was exactly where I’d left him, lounged back in his chair, game paused, like he’d been waiting.
He looked up immediately. “So?”
I dropped my bag by the bed. “You were right. But also… you were wrong.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Explain.”
“The notes are legit,” I said. “Not shady. Not academic misconduct. Just the old dare tradition.”
Liam relaxed a notch. “Yeah, figured. That thing’s been around forever.”
I blinked. “You knew ?”
“Bro,” he said, incredulous. “Everyone knows about the dare notes. I just didn’t know you did.”
I shot him a look. “That would’ve been nice to mention before I went into the woods at night.”
He winced. “Okay, fair. But still—those notes only matter if you know who planted them.”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah. And now I do.”
Liam leaned forward. “Oh?”
I hesitated, then said it. “Kaito.”
Liam froze.
“The very same.”
A slow, knowing grin spread across Liam’s face. “Ohhh, that changes things.”
“I don’t like that tone.”
“He’s infamous,” Liam said. “Not for being cruel—just creative. The guy treats traditions like performance art.”
“Great,” I muttered. “So I’m not a servant. I’m a prop.”
Liam laughed. “Pretty much. How long?”
“One week.”
“And first task?”
“Coffee. 7 a.m. Across campus.”
Liam whistled. “Classic opener.”
I dropped onto my bed. “You couldn’t have warned me that the tradition involves theatrics and oak trees?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he said. Then, more seriously, “But hey—you’re fine. If it were anyone sketchy, I’d be worried. Kaito plays fair. Mostly.”
“‘Mostly’ is doing a lot of work there.”
Liam stood and clapped me on the shoulder. “Just keep me looped in. Half the fun of the dare tradition is surviving it with witnesses.”
I groaned. “So I’m entertainment now.”
He grinned. “Always have been.”
I stared up at the ceiling.
A week.
Owned by Kaito’s sense of humour .
- Writer
