June 10, 2025, Wednesday, 12:30 PM
"There's physical education after lunch break. Did you bring your sports clothes?" Can asked Aras.
Aras merely nodded. The classes until lunch break had gone smoothly. Unlike the math lesson, Aras focused on the teachers in the other classes, managing to get through them without issue. Can was used to Aras's behavior by now, so he didn't say anything. Then it occurred to him and he said to Aras:
"Lunch at-"
"Aras, would you like to have lunch with us?"
Can's words were cut short by two girls who were looking at Aras with admiration. Aras looked at the girls with an indifferent expression, but his eyes suddenly filled with a strange astonishment for no clear reason. He quickly gathered his bag and turned to the girls, saying;
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm going with Can."
The girls, with a visible hint of sadness in their eyes, said;
"No problem. See you later, Aras."
Aras nodded in agreement and quickly stood up. Can also quickly packed up. As they stepped into the corridor, Can turned to Aras in surprise.
"Wow, you... I mean, I thought you didn't really talk to people much,"
he murmured. Then he remembered the momentary astonishment on Aras's face.
"What happened for a second there? You looked weird when you saw those girls."
Aras had put his usual indifferent expression back on his face. His steps quickened and he started walking ahead.
"Nothing,"
he said in a flat tone.
"I was just in a hurry."
Can frowned as he walked behind Aras. Aras's quick reaction and sudden change of plans seemed strange. Normally, he would ignore offers and keep to himself. Those girls... What could have surprised Aras about them? They just looked like ordinary, popular girls. As they headed towards the cafeteria, the corridor was filled with the noise of students. Laughter, chatter, footsteps... In a corner of Aras's mind, these sounds suddenly turned into echoes, taking on the rhythm of patrol steps in a narrow, dark corridor. As he passed through the crowd, every movement felt like a potential threat. He unconsciously left a space for every student who passed by his shoulders, always trying to keep his back to a wall or a visible area. These habits were so ingrained that they automatically kicked in even in a normal school corridor. Can caught up with Aras.
"They have meatballs for lunch today, do you like them?"
he asked cheerfully. Aras's gaze momentarily became blank, his mind involuntarily drifting to another 'mess hall', to the colorless slop served on metal trays, to the silence and the constantly watching eyes of the overseers. A lump formed in his throat. He quickly shook his head and returned to the present moment.
"It doesn't matter,"
he replied, his voice a little lower than usual. As they joined the lunch queue, Aras's eyes were still scanning the surroundings. Can couldn't help but worry when he saw his friend like this.
"Are you really okay, man?"
"I'm fine."
Can didn't dwell on the matter further. After getting their food, they sat down at one of the empty cafeteria tables. Can was talking to Aras about something, but Aras seemed to be elsewhere. June 10, 2025, Wednesday, 1:10 PM Can and Aras finished their meal and went to the changing room for the PE lesson. As they entered the room, all eyes were on Aras. Can whispered to Aras;
"I guess you're popular among the guys too."
Aras agreed, but he didn't seem bothered by the stares. He put his bag in an empty locker and started to change. When he took off his top, the boys' faces filled with astonishment. Thanks to his past experiences and genetics, Aras had a body that would rival that of Greek gods. Seeing this, the envy in the boys' eyes grew even bigger. Aras wore a sleeveless hooded t-shirt and black shorts. The sleeveless t-shirt made his already defined muscles even more prominent. When he finished getting dressed, he left the room without waiting for Can. As soon as Aras left the room, the people inside started talking.
"I seriously can't stand this kid. I bet he thinks he's better than us."
"Me neither. And those eyes that look like nothing can affect him just drive me crazy."
"Kerem, totally humiliate him in basketball today. Let's see if he can still look with those eyes after being shown up by a school team basketball player!"
A black-haired, green-eyed, relatively handsome boy nodded in agreement with his friend's words.
"Don't worry, guys. I'll make a fool of him and see if my girlfriend still looks at him after that."
When they went out to the basketball court, Aras had already started his warm-up exercises. Even during the stretches, it was clear that every muscle was being stretched for a specific purpose. As Kerem and his friends entered the court, they cast mocking glances at Aras. On the court, there were areas not only for basketball but also for volleyball and other activities. As Aras and Can headed towards the basketball court, a group, including the two girls who had offered them lunch, was gathered around the volleyball net on the adjacent court. As Aras passed by, the girls briefly looked at him, a trace of disappointment still visible on their faces, but Aras was as usual, unresponsive. The PE teacher blew his whistle and gathered the students around him.
"Alright young people, we're going to be a bit free today. Work on shooting in pairs, then we'll decide on the teams for the match."
While the basketball groups were being determined, those playing volleyball were also organizing themselves. The two girls were in the volleyball team. Aras and Can joined a team to play basketball. Kerem was on the opposing team. When the match started, Kerem specifically positioned himself opposite Aras to defend him. As the basketball game began, the volleyball game on the adjacent court had also started. Initially, the girls were focused on their own game.
However, the buzz from the basketball court and a player's extraordinary moves began to attract their attention. This was Aras. Every time Aras got the ball, he showed that he was the fastest and most agile player on the court. His dribbling was fluid, his passes accurate, and his defense impenetrable. Whenever Kerem tried to get past him, Aras would incredibly quickly step in to steal the ball or block his shot with unpredictable speed. It was as if he knew everything happening on the court seconds beforehand.
The girls playing volleyball had started looking at the basketball court out of the corner of their eyes during their game. Every ball stolen, every accurate pass, or every shot sent towards the hoop by Aras caused whispers among them. Their surprise at the impressive performance of this cold and distant boy, who had rejected their lunch offer, was turning into admiration. Especially the blonde girl, who seemed bolder, momentarily forgot the volleyball in her hand and watched Aras. He moved so quickly, so controlled, and so powerfully, as if he wasn't an athlete but a perfectly functioning machine. The expression on his face was still just as indifferent, but his body told a completely different story.
Kerem was becoming increasingly frustrated by Aras's overwhelming performance. In one play, he threw a sharp elbow to get the ball away from Aras. Aras, with reflexes honed by his training at the facility, narrowly avoided the blow but stumbled slightly. At that moment, his eyes met Kerem's, and that familiar cold, analyzing, and momentarily flashing "danger" look froze Kerem for a second.
The girls playing volleyball saw this rough contact and were momentarily concerned. But they relaxed when they saw Aras quickly recover and continue the game as if nothing had happened. The match continued with Aras's team's overwhelming dominance. Kerem's plan to "humiliate" Aras had completely backfired, instead highlighting how talented Aras was.
When the match ended, Aras cast a brief glance towards the volleyball court. He noticed that the girls were still there and some of them were looking at him. There was only admiration in their eyes now. There wasn't the slightest change in Aras's face; he turned his gaze elsewhere. Shortly after the final whistle of the basketball game, the girls playing volleyball had also finished their game. As they were gathering the net, Elif, the blonde girl who had offered lunch, turned to her friend Zeynep. Her face still held a mix of surprise and admiration caused by Aras's performance on the basketball court.
"Did you see, Zeynep? That boy... Aras... He was incredible!"
Elif said, with an excitement she couldn't hide in her voice. Zeynep nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the direction where Aras had entered the changing room.
"Yeah... I didn't even understand how he ran so fast or stole the ball like that. He totally embarrassed Kerem!"
Elif smiled.
"And he's even on the school team. That kid is not normal."
Zeynep frowned.
"But think about it... He rejected our offer. He always walks around with a cold and distant attitude. I wonder why he's like this?"
"I don't know,"
Elif said thoughtfully.
"But... That physique, that speed, that composure... That bright mind in class... When it all comes together, it's very strange and... attractive, isn't it?"
Zeynep giggled.
"Attractive? A bit scary, I think. And his eyes... Sometimes he looks like he's not even here. Or like he sees everything but doesn't care."
Elif looked towards the door where Aras had entered the changing room. His rejection of the lunch offer had bothered her, but now she was even more curious about him. What lay beneath that cold demeanor? Why did he try to be so invisible when he was so talented?
"I don't know why,"
Elif said determinedly.
"But I want to find out."
Zeynep looked at her friend's face. There was not only admiration in Elif's eyes but also a glint of challenge. Aras's distant attitude only attracted someone like Elif more.
"What are you planning to do?"
Zeynep asked cautiously. Elif shrugged, but the smirk on her face gave away her intention.
"Nothing... For now. But maybe next time he won't be able to refuse our offer, who knows?"
As they left the gym together, their minds were occupied with Aras and the mystery waiting to be unraveled. An unexpected talent and the wave of curiosity surrounding him had already begun to spread through the ordinary day at Atlas College.