The afternoon sun cast its warm glow, painting one of the well-known university's corners in hues of gold. A college student lounged comfortably on a bench, his attention fully captured by the screen of his cell phone.

"Huh? Is that it? No more next page?" he muttered to himself, his brows furrowing slightly in disappointment.

His nimble fingers swiftly navigated back to the homepage of the material he had become engrossed in. "Oh, that's why the writer dropped the novel. Such a shame; it was still good," he commented softly, a hint of regret in his voice for the prematurely concluded story.

While perusing the writer's profile, he stole a glance at his cell phone's clock, realizing that his break time was drawing to a close, signaling the start of the last subject for his course. "I enjoyed reading that," he remarked wistfully, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the screen to prepare for his upcoming class.

Stretching his arms and mentally gearing up, Mike rose from the bench, ready to make his way to the assigned classroom. Three hours of intense discussion later, as the class hovered on the brink of dismissal, one of his classmates approached him.

"Mike, could you please send the chapter I requested for our final thesis to my Gmail?" his classmate asked, a hint of urgency in his tone. Without hesitation, Mike swiftly replied in the affirmative as he gathered his belongings, already mentally organizing his to-do list for the evening.

Navigating the lengthy hallway, Mike's attention was drawn to a group of classmates sharing laughter. Amidst them, one figure stood out, capturing his attention effortlessly. "She looks beautiful even from a distance," he whispered to himself, a soft smile gracing his lips as he allowed himself a moment of admiration for the girl who held a special place in his heart.

Lost in his thoughts, Mike suddenly noticed someone waving within that group. "Mike, come here," a familiar voice called out, breaking through his reverie. Curious, Mike swiftly made his way to Harold, wondering about the reason behind the beckoning gesture.

Upon reaching him, Mike was taken by surprise as his classmate embraced him from behind and guided him to a secluded corner, away from the group he was originally with.

Casually draping his arm over Mike's shoulder, Harold spoke up. "Mike, can you please draw this?" He then revealed a picture. As Mike accepted the image, a sudden question formed in his mind. To his astonishment, the subject he was tasked with drawing turned out to be none other than Lyn, his crush.

"I'll pay you now for half of the total amount," Harold said, pulling some cash from his wallet.

In a tight spot due to insufficient support from his parents, Mike found it difficult to decline. Reluctantly, he agreed. "I'll need it by tomorrow, and sorry for the rush; it's Lyn's birthday tomorrow," Harold informed him, urgency evident in his tone. Mike simply nodded in response, understanding the pressing nature of the request.

As he walked away, Mike couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. He had always admired Lyn from afar, and now he was tasked with creating a portrait of her for someone else.

In their section, he stood out as the sole possessor of a remarkable talent for drawing. As he walked away down the hallway, he stole a glance back at Lyn, watching her engage in a joyful conversation with Harold and their friends.

Strolling towards the train station, Mike unlocked his cell phone and plugged in his earphones, immersing himself in music while anticipating the train's arrival. Night had already fallen by the time he stepped off the train and made his way home.

As he retrieved Lyn's picture from his bag, he silently reflected, "Tomorrow is Lyn's birthday." A hint of melancholy tinged his thoughts as he unintentionally arrived in front of his house.

His family's two-story home appeared ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, signs of aging became apparent. "I'm home," he declared, removing his shoes and stepping inside, the wear and tear of time evident in the details of the dwelling.

Suddenly, his mother, looking weary from a day's work, greeted him with a tired but warm smile.

"Ah, it's good you're home. Come, rest, and have your meal," his mother warmly expressed, gently taking his bag. "Thank you, Ma," Mike replied with gratitude, appreciating the welcoming atmosphere.

Quickly, Mike made his way to his room to change into fresh clothes and grab a bite for dinner. Descending to the dining area, he suddenly halted as his father awaited him.

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"Mike, you're home. Come, have your meal," his father uttered, his gaze fixed on him. Hastening down the stairs, he settled into a seat.

"Father, you're home early. Is there something going on?" Mike inquired, concern evident in his voice. His younger brother Jun and his mother Emy stopped eating, diverting their attention to the unfolding conversation.

"Children, my dear wife, I am among those laid off from my job as a security guard at a construction site," his father revealed, carrying the weight of disappointment in his words. The news cast a solemn atmosphere over the dinner table as they processed the sudden change in their family's circumstances.

Emy promptly embraced her beloved husband, offering solace for his sadness. "My love, it's okay to lose a job rather than have something bad happen to you," she reassured him, her voice tender and comforting. Mike chimed in, his tone filled with optimism: "Dad, it's okay, and in a few months, I'll graduate from mechanical engineering." He expressed a sense of pride in his impending accomplishment, hoping to uplift his father's spirits.

Jun, sensing the need to contribute to the moment, approached his father with enthusiasm. "Dad, I'll also graduate from elementary school with honors," he announced, his voice filled with joy as he aimed to bring a smile to his father's face.

Upon hearing the encouraging words from his family, Sonny felt a renewed sense of hope amidst his sadness. "Don't worry, my children. I will apply for a new job," he declared, his voice filled with determination and resolve, showcasing his commitment to overcoming the challenges that lay ahead.

"Alright, let's eat before the dinner that your mom prepared gets cold," Sonny suggested, trying to lighten the mood. They responded warmly and resumed their meal, the aroma of home-cooked food filling the air. After a few minutes, Mike excused himself from the table, heading to his room to tackle the drawing assignment he had been given, his mind filled with a mixture of concern for his family and determination to support them in any way he could.

The night before he began drawing, Mike noticed his younger brother, Jun, peeking through his door. "Jun, why are you still awake? What do you need?" Mike inquired, curious about the interruption to his solitude.

"Brother, can you teach me how to play the flute?" Jun asked, pointing to the flute displayed alongside his anime drawings.

Surprised by the request, Mike's eyebrows rose in interest. "Oh, you want to learn. What's it for?" he asked, genuinely intrigued by Jun's sudden interest in learning a musical instrument.

Jun explained, his eyes shining with determination, "Brother, we need to showcase talents for the talent show at our school's year-end party before we graduate. I don't have any talents except for academics, so I thought of trying something different."

"Please, can you teach me?" Jun pleaded with his brother, his eagerness evident in his voice. Mike couldn't help but smile, touched by Jun's determination to step out of his comfort zone.

"Of course, Jun," Mike replied warmly, grabbing his flute from the display. "Brother, what kind of flute is that? I've never seen one like it before," Jun said in amazement, his curiosity piqued by the unique instrument.

"Oh, this? It's a Chinese flute. I bought it in Chinatown near our place," Mike replied, handling the delicate instrument with care. "Don't worry, I have another one. Just wait a moment; let me get it from under my bed." He quickly bent down and retrieved another flute from its hiding spot.

"Take care of that, okay?" he said with a smile as he handed the flute to his little brother, who eagerly accepted it, his eyes shining with excitement.

Jun was about to start playing his flute when Mike gently stopped him. "Mom and Dad are already asleep; we might disturb them. Let's just continue this lesson tomorrow, alright?" he suggested, mindful of their parents' rest.

He nodded understandingly, disappointment flickering briefly across his face before determination replaced it. "What time are we starting?" he asked eagerly, his determination evident in his voice.

"Hmm... when I get back from school, maybe a little before nightfall, I'll be home," Mike replied, considering their schedules. "I'll wait for you, brother," Jun declared, his enthusiasm undiminished as he left the room clutching the flute he had given him.

After he left, Mike immediately set about preparing his drawing materials. He flicked on the desk lamp near his table, casting a warm glow over his workspace, and began meticulously working on the drawing. Hours passed, and it was already late at night when he finally completed Lyn's portrait. He carefully examined his work, scrutinizing every line and shading for flaws or imperfections.

As he gazed at the finished drawing of Lyn's face in his hands, a bittersweet feeling washed over him. "You're beautiful. If only we were wealthy, or if I were handsome, would there be a chance for us to be together?" he murmured softly, his thoughts drifting into contemplation.

"The one who excels in academics or is talented in an instrument can still find a way through practice and learning, but becoming wealthy? It's a long process. Being handsome, though, that's a different story," he added, a hint of wistfulness coloring his words.

With a sigh, Mike stood up from his seat, carefully hanging the drawing alongside his collection of anime drawings on the wall of his small room. As he prepared himself for sleep, he couldn't shake off the lingering thoughts and emotions that the evening had stirred within him.

The next morning, Mike hastily got dressed, skipping his usual shower and brushing his teeth, having stayed up late finishing the drawing. "Mom, I'm leaving. I'll be late," he called out to his mother, who was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

"Wait, my child. Drink some milk and have at least a slice of bread before you go. It's not good to go out without eating. You might get sick," Emy advised, her voice filled with concern.

"Okay, Mom," he quickly agreed, following her instructions. He gulped down the milk and grabbed a slice of bread, eating it quickly to save time.

"I'm leaving now, Mom," he said after finishing, heading for the door. As he departed, he heard his mom call out, "Take care, my child." Her words brought a smile to his face, a comforting reminder of her love and care, as he hurried away to start his day.