THE RETURN OF KYLE

The rise

Kyle couldn’t believe the turn his life had taken in the span of a few hours. His mind was still reeling from the conversation with his grandfather, the lavish surroundings, and the promises of wealth that had been dropped on his lap like some fantastical dream.

"Take over the consortium after graduation..." the words echoed in his mind. A business empire would be his. And as if that wasn’t enough, the sleek, black card his grandfather handed him had enough money on it to support ten lifetimes. Kyle stared at it, dumbfounded, the weight of it heavy in his hand.

"Use it wisely, Kyle. You’ll need it for the future ahead of you," his grandfather had said.

Before Kyle could process the magnitude of what was happening, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a call from his best friend, Zack. The urgency in Zack's voice immediately set off alarms.

“Kyle! Get back to school now! Your grandmother—she’s here. She found out about your suspension and she’s begging the director to reconsider. But, bro, that’s not the worst part. Tara and Stephan are at the gate... they’re making things worse. Stephan told her that if she wants you to be allowed back, she needs to—” Zack's voice faltered, a mix of anger and disbelief. “They’re telling her to kneel down and beg them.”

Kyle felt his blood run cold. His heart pounded as Zack's words sank in. His grandmother, the woman who had raised him with so much love and sacrifice, was being humiliated because of him. The image of her standing before those monsters—Tara, the girl he had once loved, and Stephan, the arrogant boy who had tormented him—made Kyle’s vision blur with fury.

“I’m coming,” Kyle said, his voice hard. “Don’t let them hurt her.”

Kyle snapped his phone shut and turned to his grandfather’s assistant, who stood by the door like a statue.

“I need to go back to school,” Kyle said sharply. “Now.”

Without hesitation, the assistant opened the door to the luxurious car parked outside. As Kyle slid into the plush leather seat, he couldn’t help but marvel at the vehicle’s grandeur. The seats were smooth, the scent of newness filling the air, and the car’s dashboard gleamed with futuristic displays. It was a far cry from the battered bus he used to take to school every morning.

But now wasn’t the time to admire the opulence of his new life. His grandmother needed him.

The driver sped toward the school, the hum of the engine barely audible as they moved through the streets. Kyle’s thoughts raced, his emotions a mixture of guilt, rage, and worry. How had everything spiraled out of control so quickly? How had he gone from a quiet, bullied student to the lost heir of a powerful family—and now this?

As the car neared the school, Kyle leaned forward. “Stop here,” he said abruptly.

The driver looked confused but complied, pulling over a few blocks from the school gate. Kyle didn’t want to make a scene. He wasn’t ready to reveal his new identity. Not yet. There would be a time for that, but now wasn’t it. He needed to handle this as the old Kyle—the one they thought they knew.

He got out and rushed toward the school on foot, his heart hammering in his chest. The sight that greeted him as he reached the gate was enough to make his blood boil.

There, standing in front of the imposing school entrance, was his grandmother. She looked small, frail, and out of place amidst the grand architecture of the school. Her hands were clasped together, her face pale with worry. Tara stood beside her, her arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips. She was just as beautiful as Kyle remembered, but the cruelty in her eyes tainted everything. SM1 towered over his grandmother, a sneer plastered on his face as he taunted her.

“If you want him back in school, old woman,” Stephan was saying, his voice dripping with mockery, “you’ll need to get on your knees and beg. That’s the only way we’ll consider it.”

Kyle’s fists clenched. How dare they?

His grandmother shook her head, her voice trembling. “Please... don’t do this. Kyle didn’t mean to cause any trouble. He’s a good boy. We don’t have the money to pay for another term... please, just let him take his exams.”

Tara let out a laugh, her voice sharp and cruel. “It’s simple. If you really want to help Kyle, then you’ll do what Stephan said. Kneel, and maybe we’ll talk to the director on your behalf. Isn’t that right, Steph?”

Stephan grinned, clearly enjoying the spectacle. “That’s right. All you have to do is kneel and beg, and I’ll make sure your little grandson gets back into school.”

Kyle’s vision blurred with rage. His body moved on its own as he stormed toward them, his voice ringing out before he could stop himself.

“Leave her alone!”

The words sliced through the air, and the crowd of students who had gathered at the gate turned to look at Kyle in surprise. Stephan and Tara both froze, their eyes widening slightly as they saw him approaching.

“Kyle,” Tara said, her smirk returning. “You’re back just in time. Your grandmother was about to show us how much she cares about you.”

Kyle’s grandmother looked over at him, relief flooding her eyes. “Kyle... I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make things worse. I just wanted to—”

“No, Grandma,” Kyle said firmly, walking to her side and gently taking her hand. “You don’t have to beg these people. You don’t have to beg anyone for anything.”

Stephan’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, look, the hero has arrived. What are you going to do, Kyle? Fight me?”

Kyle’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Stephan stepped forward and spat at his feet, his eyes cold. “You’re nothing, Kyle. You’re a loser. And no matter how much you try, that’s all you’ll ever be. Kneel and beg for my forgiveness." he said with a grin look on his face.