Prolouge
Mark gently dipped his pen into the ink cartridge, sifting out a small amount of ink. He glanced at the ticking expensive clock on the wall as its short hand struck 11. He groaned, cursing at whatever god made time move so fast. He should’ve been asleep an hour ago. Mark could already imaginel Alice’s face if she found out an early bird like him slept so late.
“I miss printers…” Mark mumbled. He felt bitter when he noticed that even after being reborn, he still couldn’t improve his sloppy handwriting. The words he wrote down were beyond bad, touching the realm of being illegible, making Mark sigh.
Mark’s eyes skimmed over the various terms and conditions presented in the document lended to him. The merchants were already requesting to set up shops for the new year, booking new places to sell their products. The terms and conditions weren’t as obnoxious as what Mark was used to, but it was still a tedious task. He quickly trashed merchants who wouldn’t sell well in his region, and kept those who had promising products.
After stamping the last documents from the hundreds, Mark could finally focus on the final task he had been saving. There was a large printed lion logo on top of the sheet.
“...These bastards again.” Mark clicked his tongue. This time, he carefully studied and read all the terms and conditions. Line by line, word by word, he scrutinized every possible loophole the company could abuse. The Sevtech were notorious for their outlandish deals and incredible promises of cheap energy. Mark had seen some nobles and houses went as far to give their employees living spaces and setting up facilities in their land. At some point, the Noble’s house had come under almost direct control of the company. The house may not have noticed yet, but Mark has seen something similar happen before, and he would not allow it to happen again.
Even if he didn’t have the final say on the matter because he was still young, Mark had earned the trust of his father and brother on his talents to see manage the deals coming to the house. He could at least openly suggest and add his own terms and conditions.
After inking the blank paper on his desks for another couple of minutes, he finally breathes a sigh of relief. At the same time, The clock struck 11:30pm.
Wobbling towards the bed, Mark did one last stretching exercise before collapsing onto the fluffy sheets.
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Part 2
“So, what are you intending to study in Uni?”
Being asked that question, Akrawit started to ponder for a while. Lee was in front of his seat, talking without even bothering to turn his face toward
“Probably biology… and maybe also politics. Anything to help with global warming.”
Lee nodded while mumbling ‘I see’, Lee was aiming for computer science, and Akrawit could understand why. Ever since Akrawit got to know Lee, Lee has always been ahead of him in most ways.
“You could still change your mind y’know. You sure you want to give up your CS certificates?” Lee asked, truly worried.
“I could use them as my activity on the common app. And I didn’t even make it to the international stages anyways.” Akrawit shrugged. Lee could only sigh at his friend’s 10th attempt to downplay his achievements. It was true that Akrawit didn’t manage to enter the big stage, but what he does was already a huge achievement in itself.
“Entering a degree to ‘save the globe’? Look man, we’re just individuals. We can’t make change alone with just that. I think it’ll be better if you-”
“Well, if no one’s doing it, nothing is going to get better.” Akrawit shrugged, grinning lightly. Even though they were regarded as one of the school’s brightest in academic sessions, Akrawit knew how superior Lee was to him. Nevertheless, it didn’t make him feel a slightest bit of envy.
Akrawit was about to continue elaborating his point, when Lee’s smartphone vibrates.
“Oh, Rosine’s calling. I gotta go!” Lee glanced at his phone’s screen, waving goodbye to Akrawit. Akrawit remembered back when Lee kept repeating on how he’ll never have a girlfriend. Then when Rosine came along he just never seems to mention about it again.
“Yeah good luck.” Akrawit waved lightly.
As Lee walked off alone, Akrawit recalls the fateful day where he got invited by Lee to the CS tournament. One thing led to the next and then they became the talk of the school. Akrawit doesn’t think he quite deserved the praise with Lee being the main person leading the charge, but he kept it to himself.
Hmm? Akrawit’s eyes caught the red pouch on the ground. He opened it up to see many weird orbs packed inside. He was curious at first, but then his eyes landed on a peculiar black card with Lee’s name on it.
Akrawit stood up, walking towards the road. It didn’t really matter when he should return it to Lee, maybe tomorrow or the week after. Whenever he met him then. Akrawit wasn’t quite particularly concerned.
Akrawit took the usual route back home from the park, turning around the fast food corner and down the alley shortcutting onto the big road. He waited patiently for the sign to turn Green, when a familiar face came into view.
Lee was on the opposite side of the road, sweat covering his face and hands. Akrawit noticed this abnormality right away, but unable to quite explain why Lee is so panicked. When Lee’s eyes met with Akrawit’s, color seem to seep away from his face.
Akrawit couldn’t quite comprehend what had happened next that eventually led up to his death, he could recall some weird sounds floating around at the moment Lee ran towards him. There were 3 birds chirping on the leylines, Lee running towards him, and a big, red truck growing larger and larger. Before he knew it, a sharp spike of pain came through his stomach, and he simply stops remembering.