kai Wendeston

In the sleek, glass-walled "Prime Take" studio, where LED lights glowed like tiny handmade stars, confident footsteps echoed across the polished walnut floor. The rhythm was steady, like the ticking of an expensive watch.

The host, Julian River—a man with legendary wit—stood on the stage, flashing a smile brighter than the studio lights themselves.

"Welcome, everyone, to Prime Take!" he boomed, as the studio shook with the warm, expected applause.

"Today, we have a guest—young, folks... but he scares the big Mr. Marker Poulins! Can you believe it?"

A wave of laughter, clapping, and whistles filled the room. The name Marker Poulins—the notoriously brilliant director who screamed at Oscar-winning actors—was always an inside joke.

Julian raised a hand to calm the noise, a smirk still playing on his lips.

"But don't worry, our guest is very sweet. He's at least the smallest 'man' I've ever met!" The crowd burst into laughter and applause again.

Julian gestured toward the curtains behind him, his tone shifting to a warm, ceremonial one—though a sharp eye could catch a glint of real respect, something he rarely showed.

"I think you all know him. Without further ado... please welcome the master of cameras, the record-breaker of views... the little stage monster... Kai Windston!"

An explosion of applause and whistles erupted, as if everyone had been waiting for that big name.

The heavy cherry-colored curtains parted, and Kai stepped out.

A ten-year-old boy with his hands behind his back, carrying a poise far beyond his age. He wore a perfectly tailored navy merino wool suit and a crisp white shirt. His golden-blond hair was styled with extreme care, just like his famous father's.

He walked forward, arms slightly open—not in a boastful stretch, but with the openness of a coach ready to receive the crowd's energy. His smile was bright and clear, reaching his blue eyes as they sparkled under the lights. He gave a slow nod, a masterful gesture of thanks and humility, as he made his way to the stage. With smooth, confident steps, he approached the host.

"Mr. River, it's a true honor to be here today," he said. His voice was clear, modest for a child so famous, without a trace of trembling or childish over-excitement. He shook Julian's hand firmly.

Kai sat down, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knee, taking the seat left of the camera, while Julian sat to the right—leaning in slightly, his right arm draped over the chair, with the table between them as they faced the camera and the audience.

Julian, warmly: "Kai, we're so happy to have you with us today. Thanks for accepting this humble invitation."

Kai replied cheerfully: "Thank you for having me. The honor is mine, Mr. River." He gestured with his left hand outward. "Your show only invites legends, and I guess I'm one of them, since you called me!"

Julian laughed and said, with animated hands: "Please, enough with the modesty! You've really made the big guys angry! No matter what they put out, your work just explodes no matter what. It's like you're the only one in the arena!" He jabbed a finger emphatically toward Kai.

Kai, with a sarcastic tone: "Well, maybe they should make better work!"

Julian burst out laughing, while Kai just smiled, holding his confident posture.

Julian: (calming down, wiping a tear) "It's like you're saying 'try harder, buddy'!" He composed himself. "Hmm... Okay, I have a question—let's say it's personal, not from the audience or critics. In the action movies you've been in, do you use stunt doubles, or do you actually do those jumps and dangerous moves?"

Kai: "To be honest, Mr. River... I really enjoy learning new things for my roles. Karate, archery, jumping... if the role will teach me something, I'm excited to learn it." He smiled. "Yes, I do them myself." He gestured toward the camera and audience. "My fans deserve the best."

The audience applauded and whistled loudly.

Backstage, at the same time: A woman in an elegant formal suit, with golden-yellow hair and forest-green eyes, wearing a silver ring with a night-blue stone on the index finger of her right hand, stood there—more nervous than the child on stage.

Julian placed his hand on his chin with a look of rare admiration and said: "Amazing! I mean, learning from every role you take—that's so mature. I'm impressed, Kai." He lowered his hand to flip the page for the next question, glanced at it silently for a moment. "Hmm. The second question is from the critics, Kai. It might be a bit heavy." He gestured with his hand.

Kai replied confidently: "I'm all ears."

Julian: "Some critics say you're 'flawless, perfectly made'—which is unnatural for your age. What's your response?"

Kai smiled. "Hmm... no one is flawless, Julian. The difference is that some people learn from their mistakes, and others get stuck on them." He looked at the camera. "I'm here because I chose this path. My parents opened the doors, and I loved what I saw." He turned back to Julian. "It's not because I'm perfect... it's because I chose to be here, and I acted on it. Perfection isn't the peak—it's a direction we walk toward."

(At that moment, the woman's ring backstage glowed intensely. She touched it from the top to calm it down, and it returned to normal.)

Julian broke the moment, returning to his playful host mode: "A direction we walk toward! I love that philosophy!" He turned to the audience. "See? This is why he's ahead! A kid talking like a philosopher!"

The audience clapped. Kai laughed at Julian, but his eyes now looked... a little tired. As if some hidden effort had drained him.

Julian caught the subtle fatigue but interpreted it his own way: "I can see you've put a lot of thought into this, Kai. That's admirable." He switched to a lighter question. "Let's change the mood. What do you do when you're not in front of the cameras? When you're just... 'Kai'?"

Kai: "You might be shocked, but... I study anatomy. And I dream of becoming a surgeon."

The shock in the studio was palpable. Julian raised his eyebrows to the max.

Julian: "A surgeon?! But... you have an extraordinary artistic talent! The audience loves you! Why would you want to hide in an operating room?"

Kai: (with a calm smile, uncrossing his leg) "It's not about hiding, Julian. It's that a surgeon saves people with their hands." He looked at his palms. "And I think that's the most beautiful thing hands can do."

Julian: "But you're a great actor! Why risk your talent?"

Kai: "Well... life is all adventures, I think. Acting teaches me life lessons, skills to save myself. But surgery... teaches me how to save others. That kind of understanding... makes me feel like I can fix what's broken."

(Silence fell heavy in the studio. Even the crew stopped moving.)

Julian: (still amazed, but noticing Kai's paleness, he turned to the audience with enthusiasm to break the seriousness) "A surgeon, people! That's ambition fit for a king!"

The audience clapped warmly.

(Here, the ring glowed a third time, but when the woman tried to suppress it again, it cracked. Backstage, she spoke rapidly into her hidden mic to the producer: "End the interview. Now.")

From among the audience, Dan Gerald—the brilliant director and rival to Marker Poulins—looked at Kai with a bewildered stare, filled with pity.

Julian: (catching the producer's anxious cue through his earpiece, he looked at Kai with genuine concern. He scrapped the next scheduled question about future films.) "Alright then, a surgeon-in-training... that's a bold and respectable decision." He tried to end the segment gracefully. "Does that mean we'll be losing our little star soon?"

Kai answered honestly, despite the exhaustion showing on his face after the last question: "Well, yes. Once I graduate middle school, I plan to stop acting for a while, even though I love it. But time doesn't wait."

Julian: (in a warm, tender tone, entirely free of TV theatrics) "Whatever person you choose to be, Kai, you'll be amazing. Thank you for sharing your dreams with us... and for all the joy you've given us. It was an honor."

Kai: "Yes."

Julian turned, pointed at the camera with his finger, and said in a high, cheerful voice: "And thanks to our wonderful audience too!" He lowered his hand, stood up, turned to Kai, and said:

"Mr. Windston!"

(Kai tried to get up. His small body wobbled slightly, very subtly, but the close-up camera caught it. Julian quickly reached out a hand to help him up.)

Kai stood, shaking Julian's hand amid the audience's roaring applause.

After the thunderous applause that seemed to shake the studio walls,

on the way to the luxurious dressing room, Kai suddenly turned toward a side door.

Inside the studio's service restroom, left deliberately dark, with only a sliver of light sneaking in from under the door.

Kai rushed to the sink, his small, trembling body bending over. The only sounds were his ragged breath and what followed.

The backstage woman rushed in after a long run through the studio corridors, panting from exhaustion. She found him sitting on the cold floor, leaning against the wall, his body tilted back.

She pulled out her phone with a trembling hand and called:

"Archer... Kai is in the back service restroom."

She hung up quickly. The next moment, Kai lost consciousness. The last thing his eyes caught was the image of his mother standing at a distance, looking at him in silent helplessness.

His mother sat down near him. She dampened her handkerchief slightly from the faucet and wiped the sweat, tears, and traces of breakdown from her child's face with slow, careful movements. Her gaze at him was purely that of a mother—full of fear and tenderness.

To the sound of light, intermittent tapping on the window,

Kai woke up on a bed, covered in a torn blanket.

A worn wooden floor and a cracked wooden wall let in loud whistling sounds from the wind.

The tapping continued—it was a sparrow pecking at the dilapidated window.

It was tapping to get the attention of whoever was inside, to open it for him...

Kai opened the window, and the sparrow flew into the room. It started circling around him, attacking his head repeatedly.

Kai raised his arms, retreated, and pushed open a rickety back door—only to suddenly fall onto soft, white sand.

A wide, beautiful beach, eerily quiet. The sky was clear blue, the water almost translucent. No sound but a gentle breeze. Then... a low grunt from directly behind him. He turned. No one. Pure sand with no footprints.

At the same moment, a strange sensation in his hands—they felt cold. He looked down and saw them glowing with a bright, pale blue light, so strong he could see his own bones and veins through the glow.

He suddenly pressed his hands together, trying to suppress that strange feeling. The moment the light vanished under the pressure of his palms, he choked on a strange sound, and his mouth filled with a hot, metallic taste. He coughed once, twice... then spat a dark spray of blood onto the white sand. Each drop looked heavy and dark against the crystal sand.

Then he woke up with a start—but this time, he was lying in the back seat of a luxury car, a soft pillow and blanket covering him.

The driver sat in front, silent, back straight. It was the family driver, Luca—the man who drove him to schools and events.

He sat up, feeling the phantom blood from the dream on his clean hands, rubbing them to shake off the unpleasant sensation.

Luca noticed his movement in the rearview mirror.

"You're awake, Mr. Kai?"

His voice was calm and neutral.

Kai sat up and asked: "Where are my parents?"

Luca: "Mrs. Valeria and Mr. Archer said they needed to go somewhere. They told me to take you home to rest."

Kai looked at his phone and saw a message from his mother, Valeria: (Gone with your father for an important work meeting. Sorry.) He replied "I see."

Kai rested his elbow on the car door and propped his small chin on his hand, watching the city lights glittering cheerfully in the night.

Luca adjusted the mirror toward his young master.

Luca: (neutral yet gentle) "Sir... there's an ice cream shop on the way. What do you think about stopping?"

Kai replied with a sigh and a sincere, tired tone: "Thanks, but no. I'm tired... you go ahead and get some if you want."

Luca: "Should we stop by the pharmacy?"

Kai: "No need... I just want to sleep."

Back home...

The acting prodigy lay tiredly on his big bed in his vast room, filled with golden trophies.

He stared at the ceiling, brought his small hands up in front of him, and turned them over as if seeing them for the first time. He closed them just as he had in the dream.

Then he lowered them with a tired sigh.

And fell asleep.

Early morning at the Windston house. Dim light filtered through the tall windows of the luxurious dining room. The long, dark-wood table gleamed, set with plates of pure white porcelain.

Kai sat at the table, in his full school uniform. In front of him was a plate of perfect pancakes—thin, golden, with premium maple syrup—prepared by Mrs. Matilda. She stood almost motionless near the kitchen door, watching with silent attention, like part of the room's decor.

Valeria sat in the chair opposite Kai, wearing an elegant dark business suit. Sipping green tea, she scrolled through a set of model photos on her tablet.

"I think this summer is going to be hot. I'm thinking of adding white to the collection this season. What do you think, Kai?"

Kai replied: "It'll definitely be beautiful, Mom."

Archer sat to her right, at the end of the table, reading a printed report while eating methodically. He didn't look up from the papers.

"The new director for the 'Aurora' project wants to add a fantasy element. I submitted three promising actors from the discovery division. One has a background in extreme sports—might be a good fit."

Kai replied sarcastically: "Don't you think about investing in your own son? That hurts, Dad."

Archer looked at him with annoyance, then sighed and went back to reading the report.

After Kai finished his meal, he placed his cutlery on the plate.

Valeria looked up from her tablet and glanced briefly at Kai, then returned to her screen.

"Did you pack your school bag, Kai?" she said warmly.

"Yes, Mom."

Archer folded the report. "The driver will be outside in ten minutes."

"Yes, Dad."

Then Kai fell silent for a moment and said quietly, looking down: "Last night I had a strange dream. It felt so real."

Valeria and Archer glanced at each other, then looked at Kai.

Kai looked up at them, his voice full of confusion and amazement: "I saw... my hands glowing with a bright blue light... I was on a beach, and suddenly I vomited blood." He looked at them—both stared back in shock. Valeria had stopped chewing, and Archer's coffee cup froze midway to his mouth. "What?! Are dreams forbidden now or something?!"

Valeria resumed chewing, looking away, then at Archer.

Archer took a long sip of coffee while staring out the window, set the cup down, clasped his hands on the table, and looked at Kai.

"Alright... hmm... there's something about the Windston family... something some people can do, but we stand out at it." He paused, looked at the table, then leaned back, tapping his fingers on the table and pressing the inside of his cheek with his tongue before looking at Kai again. "You know what?... Maybe we'll talk more after you come back from school."

Kai looked at his parents with confusion at this strange response.

After breakfast...

Kai stood at the front door, wearing his school bag, hands clasped in front of his chest, surrounded by security guards, gazing thoughtfully at the garden: a water fountain, a huge flower garden, a white dove, clear skies, and...

"Good morning, sir," said a young guard standing to Kai's right.

The guard interrupted his peaceful contemplation. After a few seconds of silence...

"Good morning. Your name is..."

"Victor, sir."

"I think you're new here."

The guard smiled, surprised by the child's poise. "Yes, I was hired yesterday."

"Hmm... how do you like working here?"

"Well, they pay well..."

"No, I mean the work environmeand opened the door for his young master.

Kai got into the back seat, and Luca closed the door.

Kai arrived. The sleek black luxury car pulled up to the designated curb in front of the school. Luca opened the door for him.

He stepped out, straightened his school uniform, and Luca closed the door behind him.

He walked forward with confident, mature steps toward the main entrance.

He ducked his head to avoid a stray ball.

"Sorry, Kai!" a child shouted.

He passed by some girls playing with paper.

"Good morning, Kai."

"Good morning."

He entered through the main door and greeted the yard supervisor.

"Good morning, Ms. Elva."

"Oh, good morning, Kai!"

He entered the classroom early, ahead of his classmates.

He sat in the middle seat by the window, quietly contemplating for a moment, then pulled out his anatomy book from his bag, waiting for class to start.

He read the book, completely immersed, turning each page with care. Then... Brring, brring!

The bell rang, signaling the start of the first period.

Kai closed the book and put it back in his bag. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and smiled.

Amid the noisy entrance of children, the teacher walked in behind them—a young man in his twenties, wearing comfortable clothes and sneakers, dark hair styled neatly, and brown eyes.

"Good morning, everyone!"

"Good morning, Mr. Rion!" the children replied warmly to their favorite teacher.

"Okay, today we have a special session where..." (A whispering sound from the back seat cuts him off, forcing him to pause until it dies down.) Then he continues, "Well... I changed my mind! Today will be a pop quiz!" (He says it in a cheerful, sarcastic voice.)

A sound of shock rose from the whole class.

"No, Mr. Rion, please, I didn't study!" one of the kids replied sadly.

"I'm not the reason—someone was mumbling in the back while I was talking," he replied sarcastically, standing in the middle of the class between the kids, looking at a specific person with his hand on his hip, smirking.

Everyone turned to that same person... Erick Haywing. This kid had always been a troublemaker—black hair, dark green eyes, but with handsome features that didn't match his reputation at all.

"Sorry," he said, biting his lower lip and trying hard to hold back a grin.

The teacher went back to his designated spot, and everyone followed him with their eyes.

"Well, your classmate apologized... so I'll cancel the quiz." (A wave of joy filled the whole class.)

"Alright, as I was saying, today's session is special... of course we'll study math, but in a different way this time. You'll form teams of 5 members, so we'll have 4 teams... each team has a leader. The leader will go to the board, relying on their team to score points... Your leader will write 4 numbers on the board, one number every 7 minutes max... and you guys will try to reach that number using any possible math operation—addition, subtraction, division, or multiplication.... The numbers are in this container. The leader will draw a new number and write it for their team, and you'll try to reach the numbers.... You have 5 minutes to choose your teammates."

Many students crowded around Kai—he was one of the top students and famous, so everyone was waiting for a chance to talk to him. Then, from among the kids, a child shouted, catching Kai's attention: "Kai, join my team! It's already ready!" A direct invitation from Erick Haywing, cutting off any ready excuse.

Kai looked at him, then looked behind him. Three other kids stood behind Erick, looking like a very random group: Sara with long braids and glasses, Leo with curly hair and a cheerful personality, and Mark with messy hair but a quiet personality.

"Uh... okay," Kai replied, confused.

Rion clapped his hands: "Alright, alright, are you done?! Let the team leaders come forward... Kai Windston." (He walks up, adjusting his school uniform, standing straight with his hands behind his back.) "Luna Zeldik." (A beautiful girl with night-black hair and golden eyes steps onto the platform and smiles at Kai.) "Sara Gold." (A girl with fiery red hair and black eyes steps up, smiling kindly at both of them.) "Ian Leif." (A boy with dark brown hair and green eyes steps up, smiling.)

Each of these students stepped forward in front of the board—they were the top students among their classmates.

"Alright, each of you, tell us your team members. Let's start with Ian."

Ian replied, "Sir, I think we should start with the ladies—ladies first!"

Rion said, "Ian!"

"Okay, okay, sir!" he said nervously, laughing along with the whole class.

"Alright... I haven't chosen my team yet, and there's someone like me, so I think we'll make a good team—Eve Sand, Mia, Ronald, and Adam."

"And now Sara," the teacher said.

"Ahem... my team is Diana, Katie, Halen, and E. Martin."

"And now, Miss Luna," Rion said in a kind tone.

"Uh... okay, hmm... ah... Riley, Hain, Julia, and Nara."

"And Kai."

"Right, so... Erick Haywing, Sara King, Leo Cheng, and Mark Rodriguez. We're a team, and we'll do our best."

"Yes!" Erick replied happily that his team included the person he wanted.

Mr. Rion placed four small wooden bowls in front of each leader, each containing folded papers with numbers on them. "Remember: the leader draws the number and writes it on the board, and the team tries to reach it using only basic math operations. You must use at least two different operations, and you can't just add or subtract from zero, or multiply or divide by one. The first team to reach the number gets a point. Four rounds, the team with the most points wins!"

Round 1:

Kai draws: "138". A tricky prime-like number.

Erick whispers, "This is hard!"

Sara analyzes: "138... we need two different operations. We can't use 1 in multiplication or division."

The other team (Sara Gold) draws "88".

Erick thinks fast. "We divide it: 100 + 38. But how do we get 100 with a valid operation?"

Leo: "25 × 4 = 100! Multiplication."

Mark: "35 + 3 = 38. Addition."

Sara: "But those are two separate operations. We need two operations in one expression."

Erick: "Let's combine them: (25 × 4) + (35 + 3). That's multiplication and addition—two different operations in one expression?"

Kai: "Math accepts that! We'll write it fully."

But time passes. Sara Gold's team shouts: "We got it! (10 × 8) + (4 + 4) = 88!"

A point for them.

Mr. Rion clarifies: "Their expression has multiplication and addition—two different operations. Correct."

Round 2:

Kai draws: "64".

Erick: "Easy! (5 × 10) + (2 × 7) = 50 + 14 = 64. Addition and multiplication."

Sara: "Yes! Two different operations."

But Ian's team shouts first: "(8 × 7) + (4 × 2) = 56 + 8 = 64!"

A point for Ian's team.

Rion: "Both solutions are correct, but Ian's team was faster."

Ian's blue bracelet glows, and he quickly puts it in his pocket.

Round 3:

Kai draws: "213".

Ian's team draws: "50".

Erick: "213 = 200 + 13. But 200 = 20 × 10, and 13 = 8 + 6."

Leo: "So: (20 × 10) + (8 + 6). Multiplication and addition."

Mark: "But 20 × 10 is just one multiplication inside the brackets..."

Sara: "Brackets first, then addition. We have multiplication inside the brackets, then addition between the results. That's two different operations."

They write the solution. But Sara Gold's team finds a solution for "81": (9 × 9) = 81.

Rion: "Remember the rules! Two different operations!"

Sara Gold's team redoes it: "(8 × 10) + 1 = 81!"

But... Kai's team was correct. A point for Kai's team.

Before Round 4: Sara Gold's team: 1 point, Ian's team: 1 point, Kai's team: 1 point, Luna's team: 0.

Erick, excited: "We have to win!"

Round 4:

Kai draws: "1".

The class goes silent... the number 1 is almost impossible with these rules!

The other numbers: Luna 100, Ian 20, Sara 56.

Erick: "Impossible! How do we get to 1 without using 1 in multiplication or division?"

Sara (teammate): "And we can't add or subtract from zero!"

Leo: "Even if we try (2 - 1) = 1, that's only one subtraction operation."

The team falls silent in frustration and fear, and then...

Kai shouts from the board: "Listen! (5 - 4) ÷ (4 - 3) = 1."

The team calculates.

Erick: "But... dividing by 1!"

Sara: "No! We're dividing by (4 - 3), which equals 1, but the operation is dividing two expressions resulting from subtraction. The rule forbids dividing directly by the number 1, but it doesn't forbid dividing by an expression that equals 1!"

Mark: "And we have two operations: subtraction and division."

They quickly write the answer.

Ian Leif's team solves "20": (8 + 2) × (5 - 3).

Rion: "Two different operations!"

Ian Leif's team is faster.

A point for Ian's team.

Final Score: Sara Gold's team: 1 point, Ian's team: 2 points, Luna's team: 0, Kai's team: 1 point.

Mr. Rion: "Ian Leif's team wins!" (Applause) "But I want to point out that Kai's team's solution for the number 1 was brilliant and met all the rules. You all did great!" (Warm applause) "And since you were all so creative, today's session ends early!" (The class cheers for what their teacher decided.)

"Okay, okay, little ones!" (He claps twice.) "There are 10 minutes left until the end of the period. Let's arrange the seats as they were before Mr. Solomon comes and scolds us all."

Ian puts his bracelet back on and slips his hand into his pocket...

The kids start cleaning the classroom. As Kai moves his chair back into place, Ian approaches, and their eyes meet.

"Kai!"

"Hello, Mr. Winner," Kai replied in a mature tone.

"Hmm... honestly, I expected you to win," Ian said, teasing him.

"I consider myself a winner—we solved all the questions," Kai replied calmly.

"Hmm... point of view... but I'm the winner."

"That's fine, I've won plenty of times before," Kai said, dusting off his hands after putting the chair back.

Ian noticed his bracelet glowing in his pocket.

"But I beat you," he said sarcastically.

"It's not like you won a gold medal," Kai said, smiling, with his hands clasped at his chest.

The bracelet glowed brighter. Ian decided to suppress it.

"Hmm... I guess you're right, but why are your powers leaking? Were you trying to embody the answer in class or what? Or do the Windstons not follow the rules?" Ian asked, in a tone of surprise and sarcasm.

Kai replied in confusion too: "What do you mean?"

Ian fell silent.

Then he continued: "Never mind. What do you think about coming to my place later?"

"Sorry, but I have a commitment. I need to rehearse some lines for a new series," Kai replied in a mature tone.

"Hmm... still, I really want to spend some time together."

"Alright, how about I invite you to my place? I don't think your family would worry if you told them it's the Windstons," Kai said, in a tone mixed with pride and modesty.

"Okay, great idea! I'll call my brother during break," Ian replied happily.

Erick came hopping over, put his hand on Kai's shoulder, joined their conversation, and looked at Ian.

"I want to come too! Kai, can I?" he asked, in a pleading tone.

"Alright, fine, you can come too, Erick," Kai replied.

"What's your intention?" Ian asked provocatively.

"What? He's my teammate. Actually, what's your intention?!" Erick said firmly.

"Well, I've always wanted to be friends with Kai, and I found a chance to talk to him, so I did," Ian said confidently and sarcastically.

"You're lying," Erick replied angrily.

"Mr. Haywing, don't call others liars—that's rude," Kai intervened, wiping his hands with a sanitized tissue.

"Hah, he's in my class," Ian replied provocatively.

"Mr. Leif, don't upset your friends with false statements—that's also rude," Kai replied calmly.

Ian and Erick looked at each other.

"I think you're right, Kai," Ian replied with a smile, looking at Erick.

Erick glared at Ian.

Ian, looking at Kai: "Honestly, Kai, I expected you to be hard to reach. You're always alone and quiet, but today... well... you were kind."

Erick sat on the seat opposite Kai and said sarcastically: "Honestly, me too. I saw you confused and nervous for the first time today." (He smiles.)

"O...kay, guys!" (The teacher claps twice.) "Everyone in your seats... the period is over," the teacher said, smiling.

After the fourth period, it was time for recess. Kai sat in the yard in a shaded, secluded spot, alone, eating his lunch carefully prepared by Matilda.

These moments were Kai's favorite—the quiet, the gentle breeze, and the sound of his classmates playing in the distance.

Kai ate with all the calm and elegance befitting the celebrity aura everyone expected from him.

Suddenly, a man stood over him, casting a shadow over his food. Kai looked up. It was Dan Gerald, the brilliant director.

"Well, hello Kai!" he greeted him after tossing his cigarette away in the yard.

"Really? Here in school? Mr. Dan! I think if you had work with me, you should contact my dad—he's my manager and handles all my affairs."

"I already contacted him, but he refused. But I think the role really suits you—it'll blow up the cinema, believe me!"

"I prefer to trust my dad's instinct. Thanks for your time. Can you give me my personal time?"

"Look, I know my methods are a bit roundabout, but if you don't like the role, you can refuse. No harm in listening, right?"

Kai fell silent for a moment, looking at him with annoyance.

"Ugh, fine. Go ahead."

"Hehe, trust me, you won't regret it. Here, take a look at the script!"

Dan sat beside Kai and handed him the prepared script, titled: The Black Goose.

"What? The Black Goose? Do you want me to play some ominous role?"

"Your role will be the one who saves this goose!"

"Do you mean it's a romantic script?"

"Yes! A lot of girls already like you. If you do a project that brings in a new demographic of fans, you'll be even more famous!"

Kai looked in disgust and bewilderment at that forty-something man beside him, who was looking at him with a gleam and anticipation.

"Are you serious? Do you think I need to be more famous? I'm already blowing up the box office!"

"Just, uh... okay, listen... working with you will wipe away the bad rumors about me. You know how important reputation is in this field! I mean, doing a nice project with a nice actor will make me look like a nice director too, right?"

"Okay, I see you as nice, so stop this—it's unprofessional, you know!"

"I mean, come on, just take a look. Besides, the lead actress will be Miss Luna Midas!"

"And do you think I'm a fan of Miss Luna?! I mean, sure, she's known as the prettiest kid, but unfortunately, I'm not interested in those things," Kai said firmly, with a hint of anger.

"Hmm, so then... you won't take a look?"

"No, thank you very much. My schedule is already packed, and I think my dad understands me well since he refused." (Kai returns the script to Dan.)

"Alright, as you wish! Hmm... I thought you'd agree if you knew Luna was in it."

"Maybe I would have if the project had action scenes."

"But it does have action scenes!"

"I thought you said it was a romantic drama."

"I mean, you'll fight for your beloved Luna! Isn't love a battle?"

"I think I'm starting to lose my appetite. I'm going inside." (Kai puts his lunch back in its container and stands up.)

"Haha, Kai, you're still innocent! ... Wait, wait, there's something else that brought me here besides this script."

(Kai listens while packing his food.) "And what might that be?"

"Listen, haven't you been feeling exhausted lately when you talk too much? Like right now!"

"... (Kai looks at the lunchbox without agreeing or denying, but with anticipation.)"

"Maybe you feel like there's something repressed inside you, bothering you!"

"I'm not like that. I think you knocked on the wrong door. I'm not interested in cults!"

"Haha, listen, I'm serious! There is something! Something that some people can do!"

"What could that be?" Kai asked sarcastically after finishing packing his lunchbox and standing up.

"Because on the day of the interview, you walked out tired, right? And because of you, my ring cracked—look!"

"And what does your ring have to do with me!"

"Hmm, of course you wouldn't know what I expected!"

"....."

"I mean, no one will tell you, and they don't want to. You're precious to them, and that's why they protect you."

"What are you getting at, Dan?"

"Hmm... not here. I'll tell you about your feeling of tiredness, but there are ears around. Besides, my appearance is starting to look suspicious—like an adult stalking a kid in school." (Dan stands up.) "Here's my business card. I'll be at the Stars Cafe at 9 PM. I'll wait for you until midnight."

(Kai takes the card silently, full of doubts and thoughts flooding his mind all at once.)

"Okay, Kai! It was great seeing you! See you later."

Dan Gerald walked away back to his car, lighting a new cigarette...

Kai watched him from a distance, his eyes filled with freshly planted suspicion.

The school day ended. The kids walked out through the main gate. A sleek black luxury car for VIPs stood in front of the school curb, with an elderly driver—completely white-haired—in a black formal suit and white gloves. It was Luca, waiting for his young master to open the car door for him.

Kai approached, with his companions Erick and Ian behind him. "Hello, Luca."

"Hello, sir. Please, get in," Luca said.

"Thanks. Oh... we have guests today," Kai replied.

"Welcome," Luca said.

"Hi, I'm Erick Haywing."

"And I'm Ian Leif."

Luca looked at them with a momentary shock, then composed himself. "Hmm, hmm... Pleased to meet you both, gentlemen. Please, come in."

Luca parked the car in front of the main entrance of the house.

He opened the back door, and the kids got out.

They walked up to the entrance, and Victor opened it for them.

"Whoa... no kidding, Kai, you're rich!" Erick said, after spotting the fancy entrance, the hanging crystal chandeliers, and the royal staircase.

"I think you're the poor one, Erick. My house isn't any less impressive," Ian shot back.

"Ha ha... I almost laughed. No one is as rich as the Windstons," Erick replied, mocking Ian.

They went upstairs. In the hallway leading to Kai's room, they walked on a red carpet, with hand-painted oil paintings on the right side and tall windows overlooking the garden on the left. At the end of the hallway stood a big white door.

They walked into the room...

"Whoa, you really are rich. Your room is twice the size of mine, dude!" Ian said after seeing the room.

"Huh... and you said you were just as rich as the Windstons," Erick replied sarcastically.

"Okay, I take it back. And seriously... whoa!" Ian said, spotting the golden trophies that filled the shelves covering an entire wall of the room. "You're really famous."

"I know. That's why I don't have any friends," Kai replied, taking off his school blazer. He opened his walk-in closet and pulled out some casual clothes to give to his friends. "Here, you might feel more comfortable in these. Plus, we should keep your school uniforms neat."

Erick and Ian glanced at each other after that cold remark.

They stepped closer to Kai and took the clothes from him.

Erick slipped an arm around Kai's neck and said, "Well, not anymore, right, Ian?"

Ian shoved his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, for sure! We're going to be your best friends!"

Kai was taken aback. His face flushed slightly as he pressed his lips together, staring at Ian in surprise at how easily those words came out, and at Erick hugging him like he was a lightweight doll.

Then Kai burst out laughing. Ian laughed along with him, and Erick just smiled.