10 Haziran 2025, Pazartesi, Saat: 07:30
"Huh! Yeni bir yer ve yeni bir okul." Aynanın önünde duran yakışıklı genç bir adam, 16 yaşından büyük görünmüyordu, sanki bir sanatçı tarafından yontulmuş gibi keskin yüz hatları, düz bir burun, kiraz dudakları, güneşten öpülmüş sarı saçları ve delici yeşil gözleri vardı. Yaklaşık 1.90 m boyundaydı. Yoğun bir antrenmana işaret eden kaslı bir fiziği vardı.
Çocuğun içinde bulunduğu odanın duvarları açık maviydi. İki kişilik bir yatağın yanında büyük, altın varaklı bir ayna vardı. Aynanın sağında ve solunda bulunan oymalı sandalyeler sanki bir konuşma yeni kesilmiş ve sahipleri kısa süre sonra geri dönecekmiş gibi bekliyor gibiydi. Tavandan sarkan kristal avize, zarif tavan kornişlerini ve duvarlardaki pastel mavi panelleri tamamlayarak odanın asaletini mühürlüyordu. Her kristal damla ışığı yakalıyor ve odaya binlerce minik gökkuşağı yansıtıyordu. Oda her bakımdan bir saray odasını andırıyordu.
Çocuk kapıyı açtı ve arkasında onu bekleyen hizmetçiye baktı. Hizmetçi klasik bir hizmetçi üniforması giymişti. Siyah saçları sırtına kadar uzanıyordu ve mavi gözleri ışıkta parlıyordu. Onu gören her erkekte koruma arzusu uyandıracak tatlı bir yüzü vardı. Çocuk oda kapısını açtığında hemen eğilip onu selamladı.
"Günaydın Bay Aras. İzninizle içeri girip odayı toparlayayım."
Aras başını salladı ve merdivenlerden inmeye başladı. Hizmetçi onayını aldıktan sonra odaya girdi ve ortalığı toplamaya başladı. Aras merdivenlerden aşağı indi ve muhtemelen evin yemek odasına yöneldi. Odanın ortasında etrafında dört sandalye bulunan büyük bir cam masa vardı. Bir kadın ve bir erkek iki sandalyede oturuyordu.
"Günaydın oğlum."
Masanın başında otuzlu yaşlarda, Aras'ın güneşte parlayan sarı saçları, Aras'a benzeyen ama daha olgun bir ifadeye sahip, yüzünde hafif kırışıklıklar olan ciddi ve yorgun yeşil gözleri olan ciddi bir adam oturuyordu.
Adamın sağında, omuz hizasında sarı saçları, gençlik ateşiyle dolu parlak okyanus mavisi gözleri ve mankenlerle yarışacak bir yüzü olan, 15 yaşlarında görünen genç bir kız, Aras'a şöyle dedi:
"Günaydın abi."
"Günaydın herkese. Baba, annem nerede?"
"Bugün erken ayrıldı çünkü şirkette özel bir toplantısı vardı. Ben de yakında gidiyorum. Yemeğini çabuk ye ki seni okula bırakabileyim."
Aras karşılık olarak başını salladı ve babasının solundaki masaya oturup yemeye başladı. Aile yemek yerken çeşitli konulardan konuştu ve yemek bittikten sonra Aras okula hazırlanmak için yukarı çıktı. Elbette hizmetçi ona yardım etti. Aşağı indi ve lüks bir arabaya binmek için evden çıktı.
No one spoke in the car, and after 30 minutes, the car stopped in front of Atlas College, a private high school. As soon as the car stopped, the attention of the students around turned towards it. When Aras got out of the car, people around began to whisper.
Aras ignored the sounds. The car window opened, and his sister, with her angelic appearance, leaned her head out and smiled at Aras:
"Good luck on your first day at school, big brother!" she said.
Aras smiled back in response.
"Thank you, Esra," he said.
Esra's smile grew even wider, and after waving goodbye, the window closed, and the car began to move away. Seeing the car drive off, Aras also started walking towards his new class.
On the way, the female students who saw him looked at him again and again. The male students had jealousy in their eyes. When Aras arrived at his class, 9/B, he saw that the time was 8:26 and entered the classroom. The lesson was scheduled to start at 8:30, so most students were already seated. The students who saw him looked at him with a mix of surprise and admiration in their eyes. Aras ignored the stares and looked for a place to sit. Since Aras had arrived exactly on time for the lesson, most desks were already full. He sat down at one of the empty desks he found and waited for the lesson to begin. When it was 8:30, a man looking around 60 years old, holding a literature book, entered the class and greeted them.
"Good morning, everyone. Today, we have a new friend joining us. Aras, please introduce yourself," he said.
Aras nodded. He looked at the class with cold eyes and said:
"I'm Aras. It's nice to meet you. I hope we get along well."
Aras's short and concise introduction caused a slight murmur in the class. Eyes were still on him, scrutinizing him with a mixture of curiosity and a little shyness. Aras seemed unaffected by the attention, his eyes scanned the class, and he turned back towards where he was sitting. The literature teacher smiled as he placed the book in his hand on the desk.
"Thank you, Aras. I hope, as you said, we will get along well. Now, let's continue from where we left off, children."
The lesson began. Although Aras seemed to be listening to the teacher, his mind was focused on the new world outside the room. This place was very different from his previous life. The luxury and ostentation he saw were the complete opposite of the simplicity he was used to. Nevertheless, there was no sign of emotion on his face. His posture was erect, and his gaze sometimes drifted out the window, sometimes to the topic the teacher was discussing.
A tall, brown-haired boy sitting in the row next to him looked at Aras several times hesitantly during the lesson. Aras seemed not to notice. The boy finally mustered the courage and whispered:
"Hi. I'm Can."
Aras slowly turned his head towards Can. His green eyes briefly swept over Can's face.
"Aras,"
he replied simply. His voice was calm, neither friendly nor off-putting. Can, despite Aras's short reply, didn't give up.
"Are you new here? I haven't seen you before."
"Yes, new,"
Aras said, turning back to face forward. Can understood that Aras wasn't very eager to talk but still didn't give up trying.
"How do you find the school? Atlas College is a bit... different."
Aras didn't answer this time. He seemed focused on a point the teacher was explaining. Can shrugged and returned to the lesson. When the first lesson finished, the bell rang, and the classroom suddenly came alive. Students rushed out of their seats and flooded into the corridor. Aras sat in his place without hurrying. He was waiting for the crowd around him to disperse. Can approached Aras's desk.
"It's break. Shall we go outside?"
Aras nodded.
"Okay."
They left the classroom together. The corridors were as crowded as the classroom. Curious eyes were still on Aras. Some groups of girls giggled as they passed, while some male students subtly observed him. When they went out into the schoolyard, they saw a large area and students standing in groups around. Can directed Aras towards a quieter corner of the school.
"We can talk a bit more comfortably here,"
Can said.
"What was it like in the classroom just now? Everyone was looking at you."
Aras shrugged.
"I guess I'm used to it."
Can was surprised by Aras's casual attitude.
"Used to it? Where did you come from?"
Aras evaded the question and surveyed the yard.
"It's not important. What kind of place is this?"
Can noticed that Aras avoided answering personal questions but didn't push it.
"This is Atlas College. It's mainly a school where rich kids come. The quality of education isn't bad, but... the students are a bit showy."
As Aras listened to Can, a slight expression appeared on his face, resembling contempt, but it quickly vanished.
"I understand."
"So why did you come here?"
Can asked again, this time asking a more general question. Aras turned his green eyes to Can. In his eyes, there was an expression more mature and deep than his age suggested.
"A change was needed."
Their conversation was interrupted by the loud talking of a group of students passing by. The group glanced sideways at Aras as they walked away. Can looked after the group and turned back to Aras.
"For some, newcomers are always the center of attention,"
Can said.After the group passed, Aras focused on Can again.
"How long have you been here?"
"I've been here since the beginning. Since elementary school,"
Can replied.
"So I know this place like the back of my hand."
Can gülümsedi. Aras gülümseme belirtisi göstermedi ama en azından konuşmaya devam etti. Bu Can için iyi bir işaretti. İlk gün yeni ve gizemli arkadaşıyla ilginç olacak gibi görünüyordu. Zil tekrar çaldığında, teneffüs bitmişti. Aras ve Can birlikte sınıfa doğru yürüdüler. Koridorda, Aras'ın etrafındaki fısıltılar ve bakışlar devam etti. Ancak Aras, sanki görünmez bir kalkanı varmış gibi, tüm bunlara kayıtsız kaldı.