CHAPTER ONE: Introduction of a Genius

I stood on top of my schools quadrangle proud, with my hands open for the whole world to see. The crowd cheered for me, I could hear my name being chanted from throughout the school grounds.

"They love me!" I thought

For many years, I reigned upon my school academically, The only competition I had was me, myself and I. I was the best bar-none and for many years it stood that way, I felt untouchable, Praise felt like a common necessity I had.

"You there! Red hat!" I called out, pointing to a kid near the back. "Come on up! Got something to say? You’re fine with me being school board president, riiight?"

The kid wore a read hat, he walked up hesitantly and our eyes met. Before giving him the microphone, I whispered "Go on, Don't be shy!"

He whispered in my ear, "You should be more careful."

I was taken aback, "What?" I replied

He didn't reply, His lips formed a grin, and he turned around to face the crowd "LETS GO PRESIDENT MIKE!!!" he yelled out, his voice cracking from enthusiasm

"This guy's a total tool-bag" The secretary chuckled under his breath

I decided to shake it off and went back to my calm demeanor. Weird though.

I walked down from the stage and I was immediately swarmed by the students trying to get a lick of my attention.

"Hey! What do you think about this?" 

"Look here, Look here!"

I continued walking onward, turning around to the crowd to say "Look! Look! We'll all talk later, I need to catch the air for a minute." I said walking out of the crowd

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"Heading home early today?" My classroom advisor asked

"Yeah," I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Figured I’d give everyone a break from asking for my autograph."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You really think everyone here loves you, huh?"

"Don’t they?" I grinned. "What’s not to love?"

He hesitated, then sighed. "You’re smart, Mike, but pride blinds you. Not everyone’s got good intentions."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

He waved it off, turning back to his desk. "Just... keep your eyes open."

I walked outside of my classroom on the way outside the school. Weird though, First that kid with the red hat and now even my classroom advisor is acting funny, It must be best not to dig my nose any deeper.

I bumped into someone running the other direction, I snapped, yelling "Watch where you're going!"

By the time I had turned around they had already disappeared. Weird, But I didn't think much of it and kept at my usual pace

My schools known for egg-heads like me who excel academically, I just happen to be the first. We've got kids with riches I could only dream of but heritage doesn't mean anything when you're trying to compete with me.

I scratched the back of my neck and while on the walk I overheard chit-chat from my peers

"I've heard all about it but it's crazy that someone would go to such lengths!"

"I know right? Apparently they've been planning for months! We should do something about this, maybe tell a teacher... orr... tell him directly?"

their voices were barely audible over the sounds of traffic but I managed to hear the feint noise of "No... We should stay out of it, that's how we stay safe, Yuni."

"Right."

My paces slowed and my stomach twirled "Who could they be referring to?" I asked myself. "What plan? Who's they?"

"This day had already been awfully weird, Red hat kid and now this? This can't be a coincidence."

I turned around to face the noise but when I looked they were already gone, I checked my phone, "8:53PM". "I should get home quick." I told myself, something shady was going on and I didn't want to be in the middle of it

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[ Elsewhere... 10 Hours Earlier]

"People wanna be led, I wanna be in charge. It's a win-win!" beamed across the school hallways

"What a total prick." I thought

"Get a load of this guy!" 

"People wanna be led? Never said anything about wanting to be led now did I?" 

A glass bottle was thrown at one of the speakers, "Jeez dude it's not that bad" I said

"That guy over there's living the good life while we stay cooped up down here!"

"Calm down, Calm down." I replied trying to ease his temper

 "How can I calm down?? The whole school board has been filled with that guys face, like come one! I can't even walk in peace!" He pointed towards a poster that said "Mike for President! 20-- (the last two digits being scratched out.)"

"Calm down, like every kingdom, a revolution is bound to start."

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[ The Next Day ]

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The air conditioning was cold in the boardroom, our secretary just walked in while we were setting everything up. I sat at the head of the table, skimming through weekly reports. The rest of the council members remained unfazed, waiting for the time to pass by.

I started the conversation; "You're late Jouce."

Our secretary wore his usual sunglasses, against the dress code but he seems to slip by under the cracks, he was a tall lanky guy with a mole under his eye, his posture was silk, like a zombie that gained conscience.

"Woops, I didn't notice the time and I had some important things to deal with. Come to mention it... Our Auditor hasn't even arrived so why are you getting mad at me?"

Our Vice-President cut in; "You do know this is the fifth meeting you've done this? What do you plan to do in the next student council election? Get booted off because of your insolence?"

Our Vice President, a well-mannered but self-centered narcissist,she does do everything for the interest of our school at the end of the day she chooses choices that only benefit herself, with the slim exception of us from time to time

"Woah, hey there lady! I'm not all bad! Remember when I had to print all those election posters for all of you! Hmph, My hard-work doesn't get appreciated around here."

"What a drag." I thought

Then, Vice President Liora Crane cleared her throat. Her voice was calm but carried a weight that made the room still.

“There’s talk spreading in the hallways. Not the usual petty grumbling. It’s... organized.”

Jouce finally sat down at the table,

"Ooooh I got ears sister, as younger than all of you I swear to tap that the earliest opportunitist!--"

I butt in the conversation "You're being vague, Liora"

“Some of the class reps are meeting after hours. Not for council business. They're speaking about elections. About change.”

I scoffed  "Change is inevitable? but a revolution? They're often led by idiots with a bruised ego."

Liora scrunched her expression "But a fool with numbers can become dangerous."

I smirked, "Let them try. There's a reason I'm sitting in this chair. If they truly want war they'll learn that order doesn't bend."

I added "Where is our treasurer anyways? I haven't seen her today, not even at the meeting the avance."

Jouce replied "This whole underlying scheme thing has been a problem for a while, I'm surprised your big-head-underdog-ass figured it out just now, She's probably out for revolutionaries."

"Jouce Lance, you being late is bad enough but speaking back to our president is a whole new problem."

"Crazy..." Jouce mumbled under his breath

I butt in "You didn't think to tell me?"

"Well you never asked" He replied crunching his look

"Wouldn't you think it's important? Yesterday I barely caught wind of students talking about a plan to foil someone, I don't like to take risks, while I didn't hear of any name its best to assume its me. I don't want to take the risk of it not being  me."

"Pshh and you wonder why." Jouce murmured under his breath "Besides," Shifting to his regular tone "I feel like you would have found out sooner or later."

Liora whispered under her breath "God I hate you."

Liora added "Back to the topic, We should devise a plan to stop these revolutionaries before they do anything to to us, to you Mike."

I leaned forward putting down the weekly paper reports "I'm not scared, I've been president since my first year of high school, before any of you even met one another-- I've had my fair share of betrayal and revolutionary."

Jouce looked at me like I was some sort of mad-man "I trust you."

"Firstly, You mentioned class representatives were it? are plotting behind me after classes?"

Liora nodded

"What about you Jouce?"

Jouce grabbed an empty cup "I don't know much" He said, holding empty cup high up while looking inside it "I'm on the same page as Liora where I know that some class representatives are talking about a mutiny after class hours... But, every time I get close they spread out like a bunch of ants."

"It's expected." Liora replied "Your stupid sun glasses stand out and you're part of the student council, why wouldn't they be cautious?"

"I don't know anymore man this is such a pain in the head..."

"People just haatee to see us win don't they?" I added "But, as I said, I'm not scared... What ever is coming towards me, I'm prepared to fight and defend my role for it."