It was a bright Friday morning and King felt like he was walking on clouds. A wide grin stretched across his face as he moved through the school corridors with a light bounce in his step. His shoulders swayed with each movement, and he hummed a cheerful tune, catching glances from confused students and irritated teachers. But nothing could ruin his mood. Not today. Not when life was finally going his way.
He had a reason to smile like that. Her name was Ratel. Ever since she came into his life, everything had changed. She was like a spark that lit a fire inside him. She didn't just give him attention, she gave him purpose. He wanted to be better for her. He wanted to impress her, to rise above the ordinary and become someone worthy of standing beside her. That desire had driven him to do more than he ever thought he could. It wasn't just about feeling good. It was about doing good. For her.
That was why he had started a hustle. Not something ordinary. He began a small business in school where he helped other students with their homework in exchange for cash. At first, it was simple. A few assignments here and there. But King had a sharp eye. He noticed patterns in how teachers structured their tests. He paid attention to the way they explained certain topics and which questions they recycled. He started using that knowledge to predict test questions, and to everyone's surprise, he was hitting the mark most of the time. Not just fifty percent. Not even sixty. He was accurate up to eighty percent or more. That level of precision didn't go unnoticed.
Soon enough, word spread like wildfire. Students were whispering in classrooms, in the cafeteria, in the school yard, even in the bathrooms. It was as if the entire school had discovered a hidden treasure. Some were amazed. Some were suspicious. Some were straight-up jealous.There were those who thought he had some kind of secret arrangement with the teachers. A few even believed he was sneaking into the office at night to steal test papers, claiming that he was pretending to predict the questions just to cover up his crimes. The rumors poured in from every direction like rain falling through a cracked roof. No hallway was quiet. No conversation was without his name. The school had never buzzed this much about one student. And for the first time in his life, King was the center of attention.
The nickname "IQ Spy" started circulating. It stuck like glue. Students said it with admiration, fear, and confusion. The name carried a sense of mystery and danger, like he was a secret agent hiding his true intelligence behind a mask of laziness and sleepiness. It was a huge upgrade from the name he used to carry.
Back in the day, people used to call him "Drizzle." It was a cruel joke. When he slept during class, which was often, a line of saliva would trickle from his mouth and stain the desks. Bullies would laugh and nudge each other, pointing at him and saying, "Here comes Drizzle, hope you brought your umbrellas." He had been a joke for years. Something to laugh at. Something to ignore. But now, that same boy had flipped the script and become the most talked-about student in the entire school.
One student sat back in his chair and said with disbelief, "Man, I can't believe King, of all people, was a genius the whole time. Dude had us all fooled."
His friend nodded slowly, staring down at his book with guilt. "That's probably why he always looked so bored in class. He already knew all this stuff. We thought he was dumb, but he was just miles ahead."
Another girl leaned against the wall dramatically, gripping her hair in fake distress. "How can someone score a ninety-eight average in every subject? What even is that?"
A student sitting beside her looked just as overwhelmed. "It's not human. It's scary. I swear he's got to be doing some kind of witchcraft."
All around him, the air was filled with speculation, disbelief, and awe. But King didn't react. He walked through the halls like everything was normal. People stared at him, whispered his name, some even smiled and waved like they had always been friends. Others tried to strike up conversation and suddenly remembered they had his number. But he wasn't paying attention to any of it.
His mind was somewhere else entirely. Or rather, with someone else.
He was thinking about Ratel. Her smile, her voice, the way she made him feel like he mattered. That's where his attention was. The rest of the world was just background noise. Nothing else really existed to him in that moment. He had made a promise to himself. Since she had asked him for a designer bag, he had decided he would do whatever it took to get it for her. Even if it meant saving up for weeks. Even if it meant running himself ragged doing extra work. But until he could afford the exact one she wanted, he thought it would be nice to get her something else in the meantime. A small gift. Something pretty. Just to show he was serious about her and that he was thinking of her. Something to hold her over until the real deal arrived.
As he left the school building and headed toward the main road, students continued pointing and whispering. Some treated him like a celebrity, calling out his name, trying to get his attention. But he didn't slow down or even glance in their direction. His mind was locked on one thing. Her.
Turning the corner, he noticed a boutique that looked promising. The window display showed handbags, purses, and accessories that resembled the kind of things Ratel liked. He didn't waste any time. He stepped into the shop, letting the scent of leather and perfume hit him in the face. The store was neatly arranged, soft music playing in the background, and the lighting made everything look even more expensive than it already was.