Even a Scream Has A Musical Scale - Chapter 7

In the dazzling world of Eratum, many children stood out with their luxurious backgrounds. Kids whose last names alone could replace lengthy explanations. They wore designer clothes and jewelry that cost as much as a house, and they enjoyed their privileges so effortlessly that they had become numb to them. These kids all believed they would naturally attend the top universities, just like their parents, and saw themselves as future leaders.

Yet, some had to fight fiercely to get into these elite schools—kids who couldn’t benefit from family legacies. Most relied on financial aid and continued to do so throughout college. Despite their different backgrounds, these children were also considered ‘elite.’ Being at Eratum was undeniable proof of that, and it was clear they were on the ladder to higher social echelons.

However, an invisible wall existed among them. It was as if made of solid glass, unbreakable. The students quickly scanned each other’s status, pretending not to notice but to be highly aware of it. It was as if they followed an unwritten manual.

Especially revered were the royal dormitories, like Dani’s dorm, Strawberry Hill, and Udolpho House, where Remington and others lived. This reverence was almost religious. Dani too enjoyed the benefits of this adoration, but the constant ‘differentiation’ suffocated her.

“These days, you can’t even tell who’s on a scholarship,” someone once said.

The revelation that Terry was a scholarship student had caused quite a stir at Eratum.

“I don’t mind if he gets support, but he shouldn’t hide it. He tried to blend in with the royal dorm kids. It’s creepy.”

“Even his sneakers were fake. Creepy.”

Terry, who had been hanging out with Eleanor’s group, was completely ostracized after that. The entire school seized the opportunity to ridicule him. Obscene photoshopped images of Terry appeared on bulletin boards, covered in crude remarks written in red marker. Dani tore them down and crumpled them before going to find Terry.

“Hey, Emma, have you seen Terry?”

“You’d better not. If you want to, check the gym.”

Following Emma’s suggestion, Dani headed straight to the gym. It was a terrible choice. What she saw there was a sickening sight.

“Come on, Terry! Crawl all the way here!”

“That’s right! Good job!”

The basketball court was crowded with students. Big guys were waving their shoes, taunting Terry, who was on all fours, surrounded by a circle of kids. His face was bruised and covered in red and blue welts, and his uniform was filthy with footprints. But no one helped. They all just watched, clapping and laughing.

Kids approached Dani as she stood frozen.

“Oh, Dani.”

Girls whose names she didn’t know came over and hugged her.

“Upset because of Terry? Don’t worry about him anymore. His father is a shoemaker. How dare a kid like that bother you? He has no fear.”

“……”

Dani stared at her reflection in their colorful eyes. The world was cruel. The weak were devoured by the strong, and the useless were discarded. Though she knew this well, an unexpected fear washed over her as if she had been unaware. What was she so afraid of?

Was it the thought of what might have happened if she weren’t a Roderson? If she were still the chauffeur’s daughter?

If Terry had been the rich kid? Would she have been the one in Terry’s place then? That day, it wasn’t just Terry who humiliated her. Eleanor was there too. Yet, Dani said nothing to her. Perhaps she was just as cowardly. At that moment, she realized she would never truly fit in with them.

After that day, Dani chose to be alone even more. She ate lunch alone, buried herself in books at the library after classes, or did homework in the study hall. Aside from the twice-weekly dinners with the teachers, she ate alone. She didn’t join any clubs. The fortunate thing was that she wasn’t afraid of being alone. Isolated from everyone’s attention, she felt a strange sense of relief. It was comfortable. But Eratum, whose mission was to nurture students for top-tier universities, wouldn’t leave her alone.

“Is something wrong, Roderson? I’ve heard you’re having trouble adapting to school life.”

The principal’s question made Dani smile awkwardly. The principal’s office was as immaculate as it had been on her first day. She folded her hands neatly on her lap, trying to appear as polite as possible.

“I’m doing fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“I’ve heard you always eat lunch alone. It also seems you haven’t joined any after-school activities yet. And there was a minor incident with Terry, wasn’t there? Am I right?”

“Well….”

“Be honest. What do you think is the reason you’re struggling to adapt to school?”

Dani’s first exam results at Eratum had been excellent. Yet, she was being told she wasn’t adapting simply because she ate lunch alone. She couldn’t show her frustration. Taking a deep breath, she continued.

“There’s nothing wrong with my school life. It’s Terry who’s having trouble. He’s being bullied.” Principal Lester chuckled softly at her words.

“Dani, there are no incidents of bullying at Eratum.”

The principal’s voice was firm. “There are just small conflicts between students.”

“But what I witnessed was far too one-sided to be called a conflict.”

At that moment, a look of pity flashed across the principal’s face. She gently patted the back of Dani’s hand.

“Dani, I understand you’re on psychiatric medication. I get that you might be more sensitive to things. It’s okay.”

Her soothing tone made Dani’s skin crawl. Suddenly, she was just a girl on meds, prone to delusions. The more she spoke, the deeper she sank.

“How are things with Nick? I heard he tried to talk to you but got harshly rebuffed. Same with Shalyn and Rufus.”

“…I just had a lot of homework.”

“Hmmm.” The principal’s expression remained unchanged. She glanced at the door, shuffling through papers as if waiting for someone. Honestly, Dani couldn’t even remember who Nick or Shayslyn were. Too many kids had approached her with strange, forced friendliness like they were part of some challenge. Dani started to fidget anxiously, worrying that the principal might contact her father about her so-called maladjustment.

“Dani, everyone has things they learn easily and things they find difficult. Do you know how to make the hard things easier to learn?”

“…Maybe trying harder?”

“That’s how you eventually succeed at difficult things, not how you make them easier.”

She picked up her fountain pen and wrote something lengthy on a document. Dani watched her hand, nervously picking at her cuticles, unable to guess what she was writing.

“The way to make difficult things easy is very simple.” Finally, she put the pen down. “You get help. You seek help from someone who excels at what you find hard.”

Her pale blue eyes held Dani’s reflection, which felt oddly distorted. Just as she finished speaking, two neat knocks sounded from behind Dani. Knock, knock. Despair washed over her.

She recognized that rhythm.