NOVEL WEB Chapter 1: The Weight of Expectations
"Adii… adii… Adam!"
Adam jolted awake, eyes blinking as he focused on the stern face of his teacher towering above him.
The once-quiet classroom now buzzed with curious stares from his classmates, each of them watching him with a mix of amusement and surprise.
He quickly glanced to his side, feeling his cheeks heat up as he spotted Ani, his crush, who was looking directly at him.
Her eyebrows were slightly raised, her lips pressed together to suppress a smile. Everyone was staring, and the humiliation crept through him like wildfire.
Swallowing hard, Adam stood up on his desk, managing a shaky voice as he apologized, "I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again." The class burst into laughter, the sound echoing around him as he slumped back into his seat, even more embarrassed.
Even Ani was laughing, her eyes sparkling with amusement, and Adam couldn't help but mentally kick himself. 'Shit, I accidentally fell asleep in class.'
With a disappointed shake of his head, the teacher motioned for Adam to sit down and resumed the lesson.
Adam tried to focus, but his embarrassment lingered, and he was painfully aware of every chuckle and whisper around him.
When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the school day, he grabbed his things and moved toward the door, hoping to disappear.
As he was about to leave, he heard a familiar voice calling from behind, "Hey! Where are you going? You're not gonna wait for Ani today?"
Adam turned to see Leo, his best friend, who wore his signature mischievous grin. Unlike Adam, Leo was the popular one—athletic, charming, with a girlfriend from another class. He was everything Adam wasn't, and sometimes, Adam wondered why Leo even bothered with him.
"Not today, Leo," Adam sighed, glancing back at Ani from the corner of his eye. "She's out of my league anyway."
Leo rolled his eyes and patted Adam on the shoulder. "You'll never know if you don't try, man."
But Adam barely heard him. He was already walking away, his mind clouded with thoughts he didn't want to voice. Without turning, he called back, "Easy for you to say. You're good at everything—grades, sports, and you've got a girlfriend too."
"Why do you always get stuck on this?" Leo called after him. "I've told you a thousand times, I'm just like you!"
Adam didn't reply. He just kept walking, hoping to leave the embarrassment of the day behind.
Little did he know, though, that someone else was watching him as he left. Ani's gaze followed him, her expression thoughtful as he walked away.
At home, Adam felt a surge of relief to find the house empty. He tossed his backpack onto his bed and headed straight to his desk, powering up his computer.
This was his sanctuary, his escape from the pressures of school, family, and everything in between. Here, in the world of his favorite PC games, he could forget it all.
The graphics pulled him in, vivid and immersive. Adam loved the control, the thrill, and the escape it offered.
He lost track of time, engrossed in the game's challenges, when suddenly, the room light switched on, shocking him out of his digital world.
"Mom!" he yelped, turning to see his mother, Rachel, standing behind him, her arms folded and her expression unmistakably displeased.
Without a word, his mother reached over and powered down his PC. "No, no! All my progress…" Adam muttered, cutting himself off as he noticed the glare in her eyes.
"Downstairs. Now." Rachel's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
With a sigh, Adam followed her to the dining room, feeling the tension increase as he saw his father already waiting for him, arms crossed, a scowl etched deep on his face.
He glanced at the clock—9:00 PM. 'Oh no', he thought, realization dawning. 'I was playing for hours.'
He took a seat, his eyes downcast as his father began, "Do you know how long we've been calling you down for dinner?"
Adam tried to explain, "I just lost track of time today, Dad. I was just…"
His father cut him off, his voice as sharp as ever. "Your teacher called today, Adam."
Adam's stomach dropped. He felt the blood drain from his face. 'Why would they call for something so minor?' He forced himself to keep a straight face, listening as his father continued.
"They said you were sleeping in class. Do you think that's acceptable?"
Adam scrambled for a response, his voice defensive. "I don't sleep every day. I've just been tired lately…"
"Don't lie to me," his father interrupted, slamming his hand on the table. "Do you think your teacher would lie to me?"
The accusation stung. Adam could feel his eyes welling up with frustration.
He fought to keep his voice steady as he responded, his voice breaking, "Do you trust them more than me?"
With those words, he stormed out of the dining room, ignoring his mother's soft, "Adam, wait…" She started to follow, but his father stopped her, shaking his head. "Let him be for now. Maybe some time alone will cool him down." But even as he said it, a flicker of regret crossed his face.
Adam fled the house, his steps taking him to Leo's house, his closest refuge. But as he peeked through the window, he saw Leo surrounded by his family, laughing and enjoying dinner together.
A pang of loneliness hit him, and he backed away, deciding not to intrude.
He walked in the direction of the park instead. The place was officially closed for the night, but Adam knew a hidden entrance, a gap in the fence he'd discovered years ago.
By the time he reached the deserted park, it was past 10 PM, the world around him quiet and still.
The solitude of the park enveloped him as he wandered aimlessly. Eventually, he sat on one of the old carousel seats, leaning his head back as he let his thoughts drift.
"Why can't anyone understand me? Why does everyone just assume I'm the problem?" he whispered into the night, the weight of his frustrations pressing down on him.