At 10:40 a.m., the metro station was crowded. Some elders, workers, and a majority of students wearing blue jackets filled the platform. Everyone seemed tense and nervous, constantly looking at their smartphones. None of them were related, yet they hesitated to start a conversation with each other.
Amidst the crowd stood a tall boy, calm and sharp-eyed, quietly observing everyone around him.
Suddenly, an announcement echoed through the station:
"Metro number 720 is arriving shortly. Kindly be present on your respective platforms. Thank you."
The crowd immediately gathered near the edge of the platform, where the metro was about to arrive. But the boy didn't move. He remained still, his expression unchanged.
Then, a sudden noise broke his focus—a metal bottle fell nearby. He glanced toward it, then stepped forward slightly.
Within moments, the metro arrived. Everyone rushed inside, their footsteps blending with another announcement:
"Kindly offer your seat to the elderly and pregnant women."
The boy stepped in calmly. He didn't rush for a seat. Bad timing, I guess, he thought. He held onto an overhead handle and stood still as people pushed around him. Despite the chaos, his expression remained the same.
A girl sitting nearby noticed him standing and offered her seat.
"Excuse me, you can sit here," she said, pointing toward her seat.
The boy looked at her. His face showed no emotion, but his sharp eyes met hers.
"As you wish," he replied.
The girl was taken aback for a moment. She had been observing him since he entered the station.
"This guy… is different".