"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
Erik's heart raced with fear at the thought of someone returning unexpectedly. He hastily closed the notebook and slid it back into place before settling into his own seat.The classmate who had borrowed Zak's notebook returned, sensing something was wrong. He rose abruptly and slammed his palm onto the desk. "Who messed with my notebook? The layout is all off. If you need to check it, ask me. What's the point of snooping?"Erik's grip tightened around his pen, almost tearing through the pages of his notebook, his face drained of color, fearing Zak might speak up.However, the classroom remained eerily silent, with no one daring to break the tension.As school ended at noon, Erik intended to approach Zak for a conversation. Observing Zak's direct stride towards the school gate, Erik's curiosity got the better of him, prompting him to follow. He watched as Zak climbed into a sleek black car.The driver flashed a smile and passed a food box to Zak, who nonchalantly began to eat.Though
The principal was taken aback by the revelation that the seemingly compliant student in front of him had secretly recorded their conversation. After the initial shock subsided, the principal's concern lessened, and he responded with a knowing smile."Mr. Vanderose, my position remains unchanged. With the end of the school year approaching, it wouldn't be ideal if you or Mr. Swanson to transfer to another school. What are your thoughts?"The implications of the principal's words were clear - if Zak refused to address the issue, he would face expulsion.Zak raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged. "Are you absolutely sure about that?"Despite speaking only two sentences since entering the room, Zak's calm demeanor left an unsettling impression on the principal.The principal's gaze returned to Zak, this time with a hint of scrutiny.Zak's features were striking, his fair complexion immediately captivating. While he exuded a relaxed aura devoid of aggression, his penetrating and icy
The young man donned a black duckbill cap, keeping his head tilted down to obscure his face completely. His attire, a white short-sleeved shirt, contrasted with Juelz's typical style, giving off an air of indifference and detachment. As the florist handed over the wrapped flowers, Zak accepted them and spoke in a chilly tone, "If you doubt me, you can reach out to the person you mentioned." With this prompt, the girl finally realized and dialed the number on speakerphone, her eyes fixed on Zak. However, he remained unmoved until the call was answered. "Hello?" came the voice from the other end of the line. The girl finally looked away and inquired, "Juelz, where are you now? I'm at the Elevent Flower Shop." "I'm in the shop next to you," Juelz replied. "What's up? Anything wrong?" "Nothing," the girl said, swiftly dismissing the matter from her mind, choosing her flowers and leaving to meet up with Juelz nearby. ... "Morning! Come grab some breakfast," Camilla called out cheer