"What gives you the right?" Zak asked softly."Because I'm your... brother!" Juelz replied angrily, his mind entertaining the thought of dunking Zak's head into the bowl of instant noodles.Ignoring Juelz's outburst, Zak took a step back, holding the bowl of noodles, and began eating in front of him.The aroma wafted through the air, making Juelz's already grumbling stomach even more uncomfortable. He widened his eyes and started to say something, but stopped short.Feeling overwhelmed by embarrassment, exhaustion, and hunger, Juelz struggled to articulate his thoughts. He reached for the nearby hot water, almost splashing it on Zak, but managed to regain his composure at the last moment. With a sneer, he said, "You're so selfish, always eating alone. With so many of us hungry, how can you enjoy your meal alone?"Raising his voice, he added, "Let's go. My brother can be difficult. If we stay any longer, he might think we're after his things."Zak remained unfazed, his head slightly bo
Adan realized her thoughts were too peculiar, so she quickly looked away and retreated to her room, wary of delving further into them.In the early hours of the morning, around five o'clock, a few early risers excitedly gathered to catch a glimpse of the sunrise.However, the weather didn't cooperate; the sun only managed to peek out from behind thick clouds around six o'clock, quickly disappearing again due to gusts of wind.Disappointed murmurs filled the air among the surrounding individuals.Ms. Mcleod briskly clapped her hands, rallying everyone for a few group photos."Alright, it's time to head down the mountain; let's meet at its base." Ms. Mcleod put away her camera and commented, "Although we missed the sunrise, catching a glimpse of the mountain before the mist clears is equally rewarding."Despite their grumbling, most of the students reluctantly started their descent, voicing their discontent.As Ms. Mcleod prepared to put away her camera, she noticed Zak lingering by the
Zak subtly gestured with his hand. His expression remained unreadable, leaving Juelz unsure of his intentions. Nevertheless, Juelz assumed Zak wouldn't dare to play any tricks and approached without hesitation. "Go ahead, as long as we fulfill..." Before he could finish his sentence, Zak interrupted him. Without changing his expression, Zak suddenly shoved the bank card into Juelz's mouth, then tilted his head slightly and let out a soft chuckle. In that moment, Zak dropped his neutral facade, revealing a sinister expression beneath his usual mild demeanor. He even pushed the bank card further into Juelz's mouth to prevent it from being expelled. "This bank card isn't for me, but it suits you perfectly for keeping quiet." His words, delivered in a chilling tone with a hint of subtle amusement, sent shivers down Juelz's spine. Wide-eyed, Juelz finally reacted by spitting out the bank card, his mouth stinging as he rubbed it. Outraged and shocked, his immediate response was to co
"I won't regret this decision. If there's any regret, it's on your end," Zak said nonchalantly, "because I don't have anything to offer in return."The rain persisted, creating a heavy and chilly atmosphere, as if an unspoken agreement hung between them.Davis quickly got out of the car, opening the door to glimpse Camilla holding Zak's hand.Even though Camilla's interest in Zak was evident, the swift progression caught him off guard."Davis," Camilla's voice softly called out.Davis snapped out of his thoughts, took Zak's suitcase, stashed it in the trunk, and then returned to the driver's seat. "Where to now?" he asked."To the villa in the eastern suburbs," Camilla replied, closing the car door and draping a blanket over Zak.Zak sat still, his pale face and lowered gaze revealing no emotion.After a moment, he seemed to collect himself, grabbing the blanket with a hoarse voice, "Thanks.""Still planning to go to Carlos's school?" Camilla asked, handing him a tissue to wipe away t
"A plate of vegetables for eighty dollars is a bit steep for me."The people nearby were discussing the food container Zak was carrying until he chimed in softly, "My family... just carved on the food container for fun. It's not the one you mentioned.""Oh, I see now.""With the logo carved so accurately, your family could think about taking up carving.""Hahaha, I fell for it. If it were real, this meal would easily cost a few thousand."Zak took a seat and opened the food container, revealing three dishes, a modest portion suitable for one person.As Zak finished his meal, he felt his phone buzz with a message from Camilla: "Done eating?""Yep, all done," Zak replied."Take a photo," Camilla requested.Despite his uncertainty about the request, Zak complied and sent a picture.He only managed to eat some of the three dishes; the rest he couldn't finish, but he polished off all the soup."You've eaten too little," Camilla remarked.Zak was caught off guard and responded, "Next time,
The food suited Zak's taste perfectly, and Davis always managed the portions well to ensure Zak finished his meals. However, as time went on, Zak found himself becoming more particular about his breakfast choices, which was a cause for concern."If you need anything during your stay here, just let me know," Davis said, still typing on his phone. He glanced at Zak occasionally, then took the food container once Zak finished, smiling."I'm good, thanks for coming over every day," Zak replied with a slight grin."No problem at all," Davis blinked and chuckled. "Ms. Gilliam will be back in ten days. If you need anything during this time, don't hesitate to tell me."With ten more days left, almost half a month had already passed.Zak's phone buzzed several times in succession. He checked and saw it was a message from the casting director he had sent his information to earlier.It had been almost half a month since he had sent his details, and today, he finally received a response."Hello,
The corridor, usually buzzing with chatter, fell into an eerie silence as all eyes fixed on the woman seated in the chair, her demeanor as cold as the winter air.She remained still, a picture of perfection, exuding an air of authority that kept everyone at a distance, hesitant to disrupt her tranquility.Approaching cautiously, someone aimed for the seat beside her, but before settling in, her voice sliced through the silence: "Stand."Draven Mcintyre hesitated, torn between his urge to sit and the icy stare before him. With a sharp inhale, he straightened up and moved away."Um, sorry, I just wanted to ask for your contact info," Draven stuttered, his nerves betraying him.Ignoring his request, Camilla glanced at her watch, marking the passage of fifteen long minutes.The stillness was heavy, punctuated only by soft breaths. Seeing a slight softening in Camilla's demeanor, Draven let out a sigh of relief and mustered the courage to speak again, offering a tentative smile. "Are you h
The next day at noon, Zak received a call confirming his successful audition, though it was for a supporting role. Considering Zak's previous auditions for various roles, this outcome didn't catch him off guard. He acknowledged the news before ending the call. With high school graduation just two months away, even Saturdays were dedicated to preparation. Since his last encounter with Camilla, Zak hadn't crossed paths with her again. However, Davis remained a constant presence, faithfully delivering meals as usual. Zak handed the freshly laundered garment to Davis, hoping he could assist in delivering it to Camilla. However, Davis declined, simply flashing a smile and saying, "I think it would be better if you personally deliver it to her." Understanding the implication of that smile, Zak inquired, "Is she very busy lately?" "Indeed, she's busy with work," Davis replied, "but more importantly, she doesn't want to disturb your studies, fearing it might distract you." Zak nodded i