IN THE TEACHER'S ROOM
The room was quiet, filled with the soft ticking of a wall clock. Papers were stacked neatly on the desk. James sat across from the teacher, trying to hide the nerves dancing in his chest. His hands were folded tightly in his lap.
The teacher looked up from the documents and smiled kindly.
"James, you're a good student. You fulfilled your duty perfectly," the teacher said.
James's eyes lit up. "So... does that mean the club is doing well now? I'm the permanent president, right?"
The teacher nodded. "Yes. Henry's grades have improved, and you also resolved the club's issues. So, according to our deal, if you tutored Henry and his grades improved, you would become the president."
James let out a soft sigh of relief, his heart finally calming.
What he didn't know was that outside the door, just around the corner, Henry was standing in silence. His back pressed against the cold wall, he had heard every word.
Henry blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears that suddenly filled his eyes. Every word felt like a cut.
"So I was just a project? A deal? A step on the ladder?"
He couldn't take it anymore. He turned and ran, letting his tears fall freely. They streamed down his face like silent whispers of pain. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, but his cries were swallowed by the emptiness.
IN THE CLASSROOM
James stepped out of the teacher's office, completely unaware of what had just happened. He walked through the hallway, heading to his classroom with a soft smile. The badge of the Black Club president sat neatly on his chest.
He paused at the classroom door and asked politely, "May I come in?"
The teacher gave a small nod.
James entered quietly, eyes scanning the room until they landed on the empty seat beside his.
He walked over and sat down without a word, opening his notebook.
Then he looked over.
"Henry... Henry?" he called softly.
No answer.
"Henry!!" he said louder, a little concerned.
Still nothing.
"Is the machine broken? Did your brain shut off? Hello? Earth to Henry?" James tried to joke.
But Henry didn't respond. He stared at his desk, eyes cold, jaw clenched.
James' smile slowly faded.
AFTER CLASS
The bell rang. Students filed out, chatting and laughing, but James didn't move. He kept his eyes on Henry, who silently packed his bag and stood up to leave.
"Henry! Wait!" James called, rushing after him.
Henry walked away as if he didn't hear anything. As if his ears had dropped. As if the bond they once had meant nothing anymore.
James ran after him, his footsteps loud behind.
"Henry! Stop! Why are you ignoring me?! What did I do? Just tell me what's wrong!" he shouted, voice breaking with desperation.
He grabbed Henry's wrist.
Henry froze.
The hallway was empty now. Just the two of them. Just their breath. Just the silence.
Henry slowly turned around, his eyes full of something James had never seen before — not anger, not sadness... but betrayal.
He pulled his hand away sharply and snapped,
"Nothing happened, James. I just opened my eyes. You were never my friend. Everything you called friendship... was a lie."
James took a step back, as if those words had slapped him across the face.
"What? What are you talking about? You're my best friend! I helped you, I wanted you to do well, I—"
Henry laughed bitterly.
"No. You didn't help me. You used me. You only tutored me because of some deal you made. You wanted to be president, and I was your ticket in."
James shook his head. "No! It's not like that! I... I wanted to become president, yes. But I also cared about you. You're my friend. I thought I could do both."
"You thought wrong," Henry muttered. "You could've just told me. Instead, you pretended. You smiled, joked, acted like you were nervous, when in reality, you had a secret the whole time."
"I didn't know how to say it," James said, voice low. "I didn't believe I was good enough to win on my own. I thought if I helped you, it would prove I deserved it."
Henry shook his head in disbelief.
"You didn't need to prove anything to anyone but me, James. And you failed."
He turned and walked away.
James stood frozen in the hallway, his chest tight, his hands trembling.
"I just wanted to do the right thing," he whispered to no one.
But maybe, sometimes, the right thing done the wrong way... still feels like a betrayal.
That day, two friends who once stood side by side became strangers walking opposite paths.
James remained the Black Club president.
Henry became his silent rival.
And the school? The school watched it all unfold.
The broken bond. The lost trust. The quiet war.
EPILOGUE SCENE: The List on the Board
The corridor was packed. Students pushed and whispered, all crowding around a large notice board near the office. On it, a fresh white sheet was pinned neatly — the final university selection list.
Henry walked up slowly, his hands in his pockets, his heartbeat calm but heavy. He wasn't expecting much — but his eyes scanned anyway.
Then he saw it.
#17 - Henry Walters
#18 - James Hunter
He froze.
Right beside his name… was James'.
For a second, everything went silent around him.
Then, like a breeze, James passed by him. He didn't stop, didn't say a word. Just looked at the list, gave a small satisfied smile, and walked away.
Not proud. Not arrogant.
Just quietly… complete.
Henry watched him go.
He wanted to call out.
He wanted to say something.
But nothing came out.
Their eyes never met.
They stood beside each other… but they were worlds apart now.
No longer friends.
Not enemies either.
Just rivals with history.