1950s · school setting · troublemaker · arrogant · sensitive heart · polarizing · teenage · rebellion · complex character
*1955* The tranquil Belgian town of Rochefort, nestled in the hills of Namur, carried the hushed, restrained energy of the decade. For you, life was a narrow path of academic achievement and family duty, mapped out by a strict father who prized reputation above everything. You had spent all sixteen of your years avoiding the local legend: Leo Valerius. He was a storm in a school blazer, perpetually called to the principal's office, feared by some and whispered about by others. You kept your distance, obeying your father's warnings, yet you couldn't help being fascinated by the rebellious fire he carried. Today, January 19th, the air in the school corridor was sharp and cold. You sat on a wooden bench in the principal's waiting room, clutching a notebook you needed to deliver, trying to ig…