AGAINST HIS NAME
Ch-01
Prof. Min
The results have been finalized.
Bren Hayes
No way that's not possible, Professor Min.
Prof. Min
Everything is possible, Bren.
Bren Hayes
I’ve won this for two consecutive years.
Prof. Min
And this year, you didn’t.
Bren Hayes
There has to be a mistake, Check the scores again.
Prof. Min
There is no mistake.
Prof. Min
(He sighs and says)
Prof. Min
Adrian ranked first.
After a significant period of silence
Prof. Min
The scholarship student who transferred in six months ago.
Bren Hayes
Mr. Min, you’re telling me a transfer student took my place?
Prof. Min
No one took your place, Bren ,You simply didn’t earn it this time.
Prof. Min
Now leave my way I have a lecture to take
The door opens, the conversation ends. But Bren doesn’t move.
He reads the ranking sheet again.
On the other hand at the library
Rose Cole
Are you kidding me?
Rose Cole
You didn't check the leaderboard did you?
Adrian
Not yet but why do I need to check that?
Rose Cole
You've won the ANNUAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Adrian
Oh... wait... I actually won!?
Adrian
I heard they give some funds to the person who wins How much money do they actually give?
Rose Cole
You applied only for the money?
Adrian
Yeah, solely for the money… it’ll help fund my project for the kids
Rose Cole
(chuckles) You really think small amounts can make a difference, huh?
Adrian
Every dollar counts
Adrian
But I'm also comfortable with the responsibility that comes with it.
Rose Cole
You are really something Adrian
Rose Cole
Sorry Mr. President
author
How's the first chapter?
Ch-02
Bren reached home earlier than usual. The house was quiet; the house lights were already on.
Bright. Controlled. Perfect.
Nothing in that house ever looked messy.
Dinner is at 7
It is always at 7
Liam Hayes
I saw the university announcement
Bren Hayes
It was a close evaluation
The sound of cutlery against porcelain filled the silence.
Noah Hayes
The panel was stricter this year, I heard
Kylie Hayes
Second isn’t bad. It’s still visible
Bren Hayes
Of course (His tone was even, his eyes weren’t)
Liam Hayes
Visibility must lead to power otherwise it fades
Edna Hayes
Who even remembers the second?
Edna Hayes
But I suppose consistency matters more than rank… sometimes.
Bren Hayes
(His grip on the glass tightened)
Liam Hayes
Come to my office after dinner The investors from Singapore confirmed the call.
Noah Hayes
I’ll bring the projections.
Liam Hayes
And Kylie I want you to handle tomorrow's meeting
Kylie Hayes
Okay don't worry father
Liam Hayes
That will be all then
Dinner ended at exactly 7:35.
Like a corporate meeting, chairs shifted in near unison.
Everyone rose.
And walked to their respective rooms. But Bren remained seated a second longer.
Just one second.
Long enough to feel the silence settle.
Bren closed the door to his room quietly and loosened his tie, letting it fall against the chair. The silence of the house pressed in again—controlled, polished, unaffected. As if nothing significant had happened tonight. As if second place were simply a statistic.
His phone vibrated.
Once.
Then again.
And again.
He looked down.
47 new notifications.
University portal. Campus forum. Social feed.
He opened it.
@CampusInsider
Adrian wins this year’s Leadership Program.
—
@financecircle
Unexpected shift in rankings.
—
@meritfirst
So talent > legacy after all.
—
@econmajor_24
Wasn’t Hayes supposed to sweep this?
—
@lawstudent98
Money can’t buy strategy.
—
@campusvoice
Interesting how the “future CEO” couldn’t secure first.
—
@anonymous_user
Imagine having every resource and still coming second.
—
@marketwatchclub
Maybe pressure finally caught up.
—
@whispers
The Hayes name doesn’t sound as untouchable anymore.
—
@bizinsight
Adrian earned it. No connections. Just merit.
—
@truth_teller
Second place with a silver spoon still tastes the same, right?
—
@campusconfessions
Bet his father’s thrilled.
—
@curiousbitch
Lol a transferred scholarship student has set some rich bratty guys fielding
—
@noonegivesafck
Someone got a reality check lmao
Bren’s thumb slowed.
Untouchable.
Legacy.
Silver spoon.
They weren’t discussing the competition. They were dissecting his surname. Measuring him against an expectation he hadn’t created but had always carried.
More notifications appeared—group chats lighting up, private messages dressed as concern.
“Didn’t expect this.”
“You good?”
“Tough headline, man.”
No one said congratulations.
They said shock.
They said finally.
They said deserved.
His name appeared less than Hayes.
He locked the screen.
The room fell silent again, but the noise remained—sharp, echoing, invasive
Bren Hayes
I won’t forget this
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