Júlia Passos School was one of those imposing institutions, full of rules, known for producing great leaders of São Paulo society. A traditional school responsible for the education of state governors and even presidents of Brazil. Students from other cities and states would relocate just to study at Júlia Passos. Founded over 50 years ago, the school was named after its founder, whose portrait was displayed at the entrance.
A young woman from the São Paulo elite who died at the age of 25. To honor their daughter, her parents created the school and established the scholarship program. At its core, the school was not very different from other traditional schools in São Paulo. Its high walls and vast courtyard had been the backdrop for student interactions since the 1970s.
Hugo and his friends had earned their scholarships just over a year ago. Although the school maintained the scholarship program, many recipients ended up leaving the institution either due to lack of adaptation or being asked to leave.
In the past year, after losing his father, Hugo had seldom attended school. Post-It was often unnoticed by the others. Feijão, being one of the few black students at the school, suffered the most from the other students' persecution. However, his perseverance was admirable; despite the provocations, he always stood firm.
"Welcome, my dears! This year I have big news for you," said Professor Amanda.
Amanda was a young literature teacher, always very kind and ready to help her students. Her classes, always very fun, were one of the few times Hugo could disconnect from his problems.
"We are going to produce a musical!!!" announced the teacher. Post-It's eyes almost popped out of his face. How could he participate in a musical if he never spoke in public? Post-It was one of those shy, frail, and pale boys who avoided all activities where he could be noticed. His parents had already taken him to several doctors, psychologists, and even psychiatrists, but no one knew the cause or motivations for his behavior. Immediately, Post-It handed Hugo one of his colorful notes.
Hugo tried to dispose of the note by throwing it into the trash can at the front of the room, but as he passed through the door, the note hit the face of Director Alceu, who was arriving at that moment.
The director was not a well-liked man at the school, always with a stern expression and harsh, non-pedagogical attitudes. He was the students' terror. Under the pretext of preparing students for society, he treated them with an iron fist, especially the scholarship students.
"Who is the delinquent?" asked the director, scratching his long mustache and trying to hold up his loose pants.
The class was paralyzed. "If the responsible party for this mess does not step forward, the entire class will be SUSPENDED!" shouted the director. Everyone was stunned by the threat of the cruel director and were surprised by the teacher Amanda's shout. "It was me!"
Professor Amanda very kindly apologized and explained that in a burst of joy for the class accepting to do the musical, she had thrown the paper in her hand into the trash can. The students, apprehensive, did not dare to argue with the teacher; after all, doing a musical was better than being suspended.
"In any case, what brings you here, professor?" asked the nervous teacher. Director Alceu went to the center of the room as if still looking for the delinquent who had hit him with the paper since he did not believe a word from the teacher. The director had been at the school for so long that it was said he knew the founder, as old as he was.
"I would like to once again clarify that any student organization, whether it be a club, fraternity, or whatever, is strictly prohibited!" the director said slowly.
The clubs, as the high school student organizations were known, were the dream of all Júlia Passos students when they reached their first year of high school. Although officially banned, every year students gathered in their fraternities, secretly inside and outside the school. They were groups that shared ideologies and attitudes, often reinforcing prejudices and social class division. But there were also clubs that just wanted to have fun, like the Heirs Club, or those that focused solely on studying, like the Nerds Club. The most feared was the Ravens Club, a club led by Luca and extremely selective with its members.
One thing all clubs had in common: they rejected any student who did not belong to their circle of relationships or social level, with some rare exceptions, as some students subjected themselves to the clubs' hazing to be accepted. Most scholarship students were not accepted.
Director Alceu concluded by saying that if the existence of any club was proven, the members would be severely punished. After the first classes, Hugo and his friends were in the courtyard and, as always, sought the most distant places to avoid being seen. Laughter, shouts, and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the environment. There was something strange in the air.
"Have you noticed that everyone has these strange envelopes?" Feijão asked, observing the situation closely.
"Clubs," wrote Post-It on his paper, visibly agitated. "It looks like only the popular and rich kids are getting them," commented Hugo, flipping through a comic book.
Feijão, sitting on the ground, frowned and said, "I wonder if any of these clubs are about cooking? I'd love to try some secret recipes."
Suddenly, a group of girls distributing the envelopes dropped one on the ground. Post-It looked around, discreetly curious. The invitation slid to Hugo's feet. He looked at his friends, who returned the gaze with the same mixture of anxiety and excitement. Feijão picked up the invitation as if handling a rare artifact and handed it to Hugo.
"So, let's open it already!" said Feijão, his eyes shining. Hugo carefully tore open the envelope, revealing a card with golden letters. He read aloud, "You are invited. Meet us in the library at noon."
Then, old Ulisses, the school janitor, appeared, pushing his cleaning cart. He stopped next to them, glancing sideways at the invitation in Hugo's hands.
"Ah, those secret clubs again, huh?" Ulisses commented, shaking his head. "Every beginning of the semester, it's the same thing," grumbled old Ulisses. Curious, Hugo asked:
"Have you heard about them, Mr. Ulisses?" "Heard about them? I've been seeing this for years," Ulisses replied, his voice hoarse and laden with wisdom. "These clubs are banned, but every year this excitement starts again. You youngsters get all excited, but if you knew half of the stories..." Feijão widened his eyes.
"Stories? What kind of stories?" Mr. Ulisses sighed deeply, looking into the distance. "Deaths have even occurred because of these clubs. If you knew what I know, maybe you wouldn't be so excited."
The light atmosphere among the friends became tense for a moment. Hugo swallowed hard, holding the invitation a little tighter. Post-It was going to write something but dropped his pen. Ulisses walked away slowly.
"Stay alert, boys. Not everything that seems exciting is worth it," advised the janitor.
The three friends remained silent as Ulisses continued on his way. The initial excitement gave way to unease, but the curiosity still burned within them.
"So... library at 12?" Feijão asked, trying to regain the light tone. Hugo looked at his friends and, despite the ominous warning, smiled. "Yes. Library at 12. Let's find out what this club is all about."
Feijão and Post-It nodded in agreement, and the three, though a bit more apprehensive, knew they couldn't resist the adventure that awaited them.