Rooftop

Timeline: Present

He didn't understand why everyone was so caught up in their lives.

After all, life didn't mean anything to them.

And their death was just one among millions of deaths on Earth.

Nothing special.

He shook his head and gazed at the wide emergency bed, ready to catch his body if he were to free fall.

Actually, it would have been kind of exciting if he had done it.

"Hm, contemplating a leap, huh?" A voice unexpectedly broke the silence, causing Raven, a tall young man, to startled. He was crouched down, his gaze fixed on the growing crowd below.

Caught off guard, Raven almost lost his balance. "Damn, you really got me there!"

"Huh? Well, it wouldn't be the worst thing if you took a tumble," remarked the tousle-haired youth with almond-shaped eyes.

He lounged casually, as though oblivious to the gravity of the situation unfolding. "I mean, you were considering jumping anyway, weren't you?"

His nonchalant demeanor belied the seriousness of his words, adding an unsettling edge to the conversation.

Raven stared at him in disbelief. "But how did you even get in? I blocked the rooftop door with a chair!"

"Well, I've been sleeping here since morning, Bro. You're the one causing a ruckus and disrupting my afternoon nap," the youth replied casually.

Raven sighed heavily, trying to contain his agitation. He recognized the handsome young man with thick eyebrows as Alaric, his classmate.

Despite the tense atmosphere surrounding them, Alaric remained unruffled, lounging comfortably as if he owned the rooftop. His relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with Raven's growing unease.

Alaric was infamous for frequently skipping classes and dozing off in the middle of lessons without any teacher daring to reprimand him. His eccentricity made him a legend among the students.

As Raven observed Alaric's nonchalant attitude on the rooftop, he couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly Alaric seemed to defy the rules.

Despite the rumors and gossip surrounding him, Alaric remained unperturbed, embodying an air of rebellious charm that both intrigued and baffled his peers.

Whispers and glances exchanged among the gathering crowd below indicated that Alaric's presence hadn't gone unnoticed.

Some admired his audacity, while others shook their heads in disapproval.

Regardless of the opinions swirling around him, Alaric remained the enigmatic figure he always was, seemingly unfazed by the attention he garnered.

Raven couldn't help but wonder what it was about Alaric that allowed him to march to the beat of his own drum with such ease.

It was a question that had puzzled many, but as Raven watched Alaric recline against the rooftop's edge, a faint smile playing on his lips, he realized that perhaps some mysteries were meant to remain unsolved.

"So, you're the new kid, huh? What's your name?" Alaric asked, leaning against the edge of the wall and glancing down at the growing crowd below. "Wow, there are quite a few people down there."

Still taken aback by the earlier question, Raven responded hesitantly, "My name is Raven. Yeah, I just started at this school a few weeks ago."

Alaric smiled and nodded. "Raven, huh? A unique name. I'm Alaric, your classmate. But I'm sure you already knew that."

Raven nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the increasingly dense crowd below. His mind drifted to his sudden decision to find himself on the rooftop's edge.

The tall young man pondered for a moment, observing the increasingly crowded gathering below.

"Oh my, if I don't jump, wouldn't it be a waste for them? They've gone through all the trouble to prepare everything. Maybe it's better if I just jump so it wouldn't be all in vain," Raven mumbled, his confusion evident.

Alaric chuckled at his words. "So, are you really intending to jump?"

"At first, no, actually I just wanted to enjoy some alone time and feel the wind at this height," Raven replied earnestly. "But suddenly everything got chaotic, and the idea of suicide popped into my head. I don't know, I'm not so sure anymore."

Alaric shook his head, laughing. "Whether you're sure or not, I think your suicide attempt is already considered a failure in my book. Come on, maybe you can try it another time! Let's go, join me!" He grabbed Raven's arm firmly. "Oh, what's your name again. Raven. Yeah, come on, now you're joining my club!"

With a confusion, Raven allowed himself to be pulled away from the edge of the rooftop, his mind still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions and unexpected turn of events.

Raven was startled as he felt Alaric's grip tighten around his arm, the pressure more intense than it initially seemed. There was something off.

He sensed that Alaric wasn't as relaxed as he appeared. There was a force trying to prevent him from jumping, though it wasn't overtly visible.

Alaric tightened his grip even further as Raven attempted to free himself.

"That beautiful face would be wasted if you died. It's better if you just join my club," Alaric said, pulling Raven's arm roughly, causing Raven's tall frame to stagger backward.

"You know? There are several ways to prolong human life, and it's not always about medicine, mind you. My club operates in that field. We create anticipation for the future's wonders. Thus, clients often prolong their lives in anticipation of a future promise that... isn't always beautiful, mind you... but certainly valuable and special enough to be awaited," Alaric rambled on with persuasive hand gestures.

They walked towards the rooftop exit, which began to tremble as someone attempted to break through from the other side.