May'

k, campus life gradual

like wildfire, becoming the most explosiv

as mentally unstable, and Kiana wa

udent union building, sipping a

asked, lowering his voice conspiratorially

eyebrow. "Wh

ches and student startup seminars. Last night, he even tried to sneak into an alum

, biting ba

sk. He said they'd be fools not to hand over fifty million dollars right on the spo

illion? He was completely detached f

g back. He even managed to call tech mogul Mr. Henderson at his private r

musement wa

with the police, he was still spewing his "future billionaire" rhet

my father in our past life, utterly

making, had simply hung up on him and blocked his number. Then Diego ch

ces I had previously provided, D

was flailing, desperate to replicate a past success without und

, adding, "He's telling anyone who will listen that your family is 'conspiring

nsive but understated smartwatch. "I'm building tangible

nly gasped, nudging me

na were standing by a food stall,

talking a mile a minute to a

he looked thinner, her clothes shabbier than before. She seemed to be trying to pull D

d, pulling me behind a large pillar.

a greasy little paper tray

al nearby students turned to stare. "This is garbage! My palate demands only the absolute best! Fro

hot dog around in a ge

please. You haven't eaten all day.

is a temple, a vessel for future innovation! It deserves better!" He threw the hot dog onto th

ce flushing red. "Hey, buddy! You got a problem with my food? P

-billion dollar corporation! I'll buy this entire university-including your pathetic little stall-and turn

whispering frantically, "Diego, st

a fit of laughter. He clamped a hand

o find the source of the disrespect. That was when his gaze

ndor, he began shoving his way through the scatt

sake," I muttere

into the crowd, but his eyes were l

hink you can pretend I don't exist? I know exactly what you're doing! You're trying to

fantasy. I have absolutely zero interest in you, your 'empire

austion washed over me.

! You just won't admit it! You want me, you want my genius, and y

na is my true partner! My mus

as standing there looking totally be

than you!" With that, he leaned in closer. "Stay away from us, Av

genuine

pointed to the squashed bun on the floor. "The vendor is staring right at you, and so is half the student un

dog, then over to the vendor, who

rse. He had been secretly snacking on them himself, yet earlier he v

was starving to death, but his

placed his prior fury. "I... I just... I'm not hungry!" he st

sneaking those chips. Starving, but too prou

his fist heavily against the wall beside him with a dull

a wall isn't going to solve your problems, Diego. It's just going to ad

of terror and hatred. "You think this is over? This is just the begi

so I knew exactly what word

changed." I replied, my tone flat and