While the group of prospective heirs made their way to the cafeteria, some of them engaged in a discussion expressing their dissatisfaction with a previous encounter.
"Sophia, what were you doing with the trash?"
"She's right, I mean..."
"Seriously, you shouldn't have stopped me from beating him up," the man who had intended to harm Victor exclaimed angrily. He continued to vent his frustration to everyone, expressing how annoyed he was for not being able to unleash his anger on Victor.
The woman ignored their comments, showing no interest in their words.
"That's enough," a man standing beside Sophia interjected, his gaze fixed on the girl who appeared unfazed by the situation. He then glanced at the others, signaling their future plans.
In the meantime, Victor hurriedly made his way through the campus, oblivious to the presence of those around him. The recent incident had left his heart pounding, replaying the pleasant moment in his mind.
How I wish I could always see that smile, he thought, causing his face to blush crimson.
"Hey Victor," Amelia called out to him, noticing his approach but realizing he hadn't noticed her. She observed his hurried pace and wondered what had transpired. "I wonder what happened to him?"
"Mia?"
"Amelia?"
Lost in deep thought, Amelia's curiosity about Victor's distressed state caused her to become absent-minded, forgetting the people beside her.
A student tapped her on the shoulder, breaking her reverie. "Mia?"
She temporarily set aside her worries about Victor and focused on the task at hand. With a smile, she apologized and asked, "I'm sorry, what were you all saying?"
"We were wondering if you would like to join us for lunch."
"Is there something wrong?"
She smiled back at them and reassured, "No, everything is fine. Shall we go then?" She followed them, but couldn't forget about the earlier incident.
Finally, the day came to an end, and Victor began his journey home. However...
"Hey, Victor!"
Victor was taken aback when someone called his name, someone other than Amelia or the teachers. Curiosity sparked within him as he turned around to see who it was. To his surprise, the group of privileged heirs and their goons were making their way towards him.
As he pondered why they were approaching him, he noticed a familiar face among them.
Charles Chen? What was he doing here?
He feared that the appearance of such an elite would not bring any good news for him. Anticipating trouble, he humbled himself and avoided making eye contact.
"Master Chen, is there something I can assist you with?" Victor asked, his head bowed.
Charles approached the boy, whose body trembled in his presence. "What was your name again?"
"It's Victor."
"Ah, the one responsible for Mia's encoding?"
"Ah, yes, I did. Is there something wrong?" Victor inquired, cautiously raising his head to gauge the boy's expression.
Before Charles could respond, his attention was diverted by someone calling his name.
"Charles."
Both of them turned their heads, recognizing the familiar voice.
Approaching them was a group of girls, and among them was the young woman who had called out to Charles—none other than Sophia.
As the woman approached, Victor found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her. She was like his ray of sunlight. Never in his wildest dreams would he even look at a woman in this way.
Charles, noticing Victor's intense stare, maintained a stern expression. He was displeased with the way Victor was looking at Sophia. Observing the boy's admiration for the girl, he decided to further torment him.
"Soph," Charles called out, walking towards her and placing his hands around her waist. "Is everything alright?"
Sophia, delighted by the attention she was receiving from Charles, felt they were a perfect match, given their prestigious backgrounds.
"Everything's fine," she responded cheerfully.
"Charles, what are you guys doing here, we've been looking for you." Stated the boy with glasses.
Pretending ignorance, Charles asked, "Is something wrong?"
An African-American Asian woman approached him with anger, exclaiming, "The f*ck? Weren't you the one who said you'd treat us to dinner? Don't tell me you forgot already?" She appeared irritated and defeated, muttering, "Damn it. I should have just gone with my parents."
Amidst the commotion, he couldn't help but giggle, observing the frustration of everyone present. He noticed Sophia, who seemed displeased but kept her emotions to herself. "I was just kidding, relax," he reassured. With a final glance at Victor, who seemed like an unwelcome presence being ignored by everyone, he said, "Let's go then."
Witnessing everyone leaving him behind, Victor's frustration intensified. His jealousy towards them reached its peak.
I wonder what it would be like.
To be surrounded by such incredible people. To hang out and engage in conversations with them.
With this thought in his mind, he headed towards his destination.
To dine at the finest restaurant, drive luxurious and sports cars. To indulge in all of that without any worries.
Victor moved through the world like a ghost, invisible and indifferent to those around him. As he observed people passing by, laughing and chatting, he clenched his fist, bitter about the life he was leading.
Finally, he reached his destination, causing the people inside the store to wonder why he appeared so downcast.
"Victor, welcome."
"Gramps, I'm sorry I'm late," Victor replied, extending his greetings to the customers in the store as well.
The elderly man didn't bother to inquire about what was troubling Victor because he knew the boy would respond in his usual manner, keeping his feelings to himself.
"Oh, Mia is already here; she's in the back. Go and help her out," his grandfather instructed.
"Okay."
Victor made his way to the back of the store and found Amelia diligently washing dishes. Compared to Sophia, Amelia was a simple girl with no extraordinary qualities, except for her academic excellence.
"Mia, let me help you," he offered, grabbing an apron and tying it around his waist.
Amelia noticed the ominous clouds encircling them, prompting her to reflect on recent events. Concerned, she asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Huh?" Perplexed by her question, he turned towards her, uncertain of her concern, and replied, "No, everything is fine. Why?"
Without further inquiry, the young woman proceeded to the front to assist the old man in managing the store, leaving Victor to complete the remaining tasks in the back.
As Victor concluded his duties, he stowed his apron away and ventured outside to dispose of the garbage. While depositing the trash into the large bin, an unexpected strike caught him off guard.
Unprepared for the assault, he crumpled to the ground, bewildered by the unfolding situation. All he could perceive were the various blows raining upon his body.
"You piece of sh*t."
"What should we do now?"
"Let's leave him to rot."
Victor's vision blurred, yet he could still discern the figures standing before him. Though his sight was dimming, he managed to approximate their number.
Ha- this is it then. I'm really about to die, ha. I haven't even done anything worth being proud of with my life.
"Trash, why don't you just die already."
"Come on, hit him more."
Victor recognized some of the voices, but he couldn't be certain.
Why is this all happening, when I finally got close to her?
If you can hear me, why are you making me suffer?
They showed no concern for the boy drenched in blood. They spat at him and continued to taunt him while delivering more kicks.
Summoning his last ounce of strength, Victor clutched onto one of the feet that was assaulting him. He longed to beg for mercy, but instead, he received further punishment.
"You stinking b*stard, you just ruined my pants."
"Sh*t, he got blood all over you."
The entire group halted their actions as the figure drew near the fading Victor. Without uttering a single word, the figure simply gazed at him.
Gasping for his last breath, Victor made a feeble attempt to discern the identity of the individual before him. However, his vision was fading rapidly, and his breathing had become shallow.
"Is he dead?"
"Check him?" Stated one of them.
As one of the goons checked, he declared that the boy was no longer breathing.
Seeing the situation had come to an end, all of them slowly walked away.
Hmm, I guess I'm dead now. Life sure is unfair.
Victor thought were still lingering around as his body was already stone cold.
"That right, life is never fair."
"Who's there?" "You need not fret, for I am a friend." The voice spoke much clearer and sounded almost like a child. Victor became even more curious of the owner of the voice and asked. "Who are you?" "I'm the Watcher." "Watcher?" "How should I explain this? Well, I'm just like you. However, I have been around for a long time. I see everything in this world, I also have the ability to control someone's time in this world." The voice continues to explain everything to Victor. "Sometimes, I help those who are lost and help them find their way. Those who linger because they feel like they need more time, so I come to take them with me." Victor was speechless for a moment as he pondered on what the Watcher was saying. He soon realized this and replied in a depressing tone. "So you're saying I'm dead." "Yes, you are, and I'm sorry about that…" "So what's next?" Victor asked, as he now knows his time has come and since the Watcher is here, that means he must go with him as well. "We
On a dark and stormy day, people dressed in black gathered at the gravesite. Some had already paid their respects and were leaving, while others remained, waiting for the young man who stood silently before the grave. Amelia, Gramps, and Victor's son observed from a distance as Victor stood in the rain, his gaze fixed on his mother's tombstone. They worried about him, as he hadn't shown any emotion or uttered a word since the visit from the officers. "Should we go and check on him?" Amelia asked with concern. She had been visiting him every day, but he remained unresponsive, staring blankly out of the window during her visits. "Leave him be; he just needs some time," Gramps advised, recognizing the extent of the child's shattered state. To their astonishment, Victor suddenly dropped to his knees and wept uncontrollably. It was the first time in a long while that he had screamed, and the pain he expressed broke Amelia's heart. "Mother, I'm sorry for being so weak and unable to prot
Victor The letter was addressed to him and was written by his mother. He wondered when his mother wrote him a letter and why hadn't she just told him about the content of the letter. A lot of things were bothering him; more importantly the identity of the man earlier concerned him the most. He pulled out the letter inside and sat on the sofa as he read through the letter. Dear Victor, my dearest son. I've written this letter a thousand times and I thousand times how I wish I could just tell you everything. However, I didn't have the courage to tell you. If ever you do get to read this, it just means something happened to me and I was unable to tell you the truth. As the day passed by and you grew up into the man who I loved so dearly, not a day past, I worried that I couldn't give you the life you were supposed to have. What I'm about to say might be a great shock, but please be calm. I have loved you and protected you all this time from the truth, for I fear that once you know t
The hotel was beyond description, its grandeur rivaling the European castles seen in movies. Every corner exuded meticulous craftsmanship, and the ceiling painting alone was worth millions, resembling the priceless artworks showcased in museums. Victor stepped inside, awestruck by the breathtaking interior, oblivious to the curious stares cast his way. "Has the hotel lost its standards?" "Why would they allow someone like him inside?" "Perhaps he's here for a job application?" "Even cleaning the toilets here requires a college degree!" The discontent murmurs filled the air as guests began complaining to the staff. Yet, Victor, captivated by the surroundings, continued searching for the reception desk, heedless of the judgmental gazes. Before he could even take a step towards the reception, the guards intercepted him, halting him near the entrance. The realization of the stares finally dawned on Victor as he stood frozen, uncertain of what had attracted such attention. "Unless you'r
"Well, before we discuss anything further, shouldn't you take a shower and change first?" Nicholas chuckled slightly, observing that the boy had become so engrossed in his parents' past that he had forgotten about his disheveled appearance. "Oh?" Victor's face turned red with embarrassment as he realized his oversight. "Is it..." "Follow the servants; they'll take you to your room," Nicholas instructed the elder butler, signaling him to escort the young man. Victor made his way to his room, still trying to grasp the drastic change in his life. In the blink of an eye, everything had turned upside down. However, it came at the cost of the lives of the people he cherished the most. "So, are you happy now?" Victor looked around, wondering where the voice was coming from. He checked outside his door, but there was no one in sight. "Seems like you've already forgotten about me." "Watcher?" "Hmm, how are you, kid?" Victor was greatly surprised to realize that his encounters with the
Early the next day, before the sun had even risen, Victor found himself wide awake, lying in the plush bed and staring blankly at the ceiling. The comfort of the bed had made it difficult for him to fall into a deep sleep. "How does one sleep in such a soft bed?" he mused to himself. 'They can just.' A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "Watcher, you're awake," Victor exclaimed with a laugh. The room filled with the echo of his laughter. "I never would have expected you to greet me. Very well, good morning to you too," the Watcher responded. Curiosity sparked within Victor, and he couldn't help but ask, "So, do you rest? I mean, do you sleep?" The Watcher chuckled softly. "I do rest, but I can't recall the last time I truly slept. If I have, it must have been a long time ago." "Watcher, what are you? Will I ever see you someday?" Victor inquired, captivated by the mysterious being's abilities and ever-changing voice. "You will see me, but the time is not yet right," the W
A woman dressed in a white dress, with a black blazer draped over her shoulder, emerged. She wore vibrant red heels and her makeup was simple yet stunning. "Anyway, don't you think I look pretty, boy? Wouldn't you want a guardian like me?" KO approached Victor, who was still shocked and struggling to comprehend her new appearance. She stood by his side, enveloping him in a warm embrace. "Who would have thought that guy would have such a handsome son like you? If I had known his genes were this good, I would have kept some for myself." Nicholas coughed, finding the situation inappropriate for the young man. He wanted to prevent any misunderstandings about Victor's father. "Don't worry, she's just joking around." "What joke? I'm serious. I want him as my son. Should I just adopt him?" KO's excitement was evident as she continued to affectionately embrace the child. "That's enough," Nicholas intervened, unable to tolerate the situation any longer. He pulled KO away from Victor, his an
Instead of heading back to the hotel, Victor decided to roam around the city while KO returned alone. When she arrived, she immediately sought out Nicholas to discuss some matters. "How was it? Did he do something to make you look so distressed?" Nicholas asked sarcastically, finding KO's anxiety peculiar. Even if Victor had confronted the old man, she was more than capable of handling the situation. With her connections and resources, there was no problem she couldn't solve. "It's not that. The kid did well. He didn't do anything," KO sighed, turning to one of the housekeepers to request a bottle of wine. "So, what's the problem then? If he didn't do anything, why do you appear so worried? Did he curse the old man?" Nicholas inquired, trying to make sense of KO's behavior. "He didn't even go to see him," she replied, taking the bottle of wine from the housekeeper and drinking straight from it. "What? Then what did you do there? If he didn't go, why do you seem so troubled?" Nicho