pte

ANGELA F

he housekeeper as I descend

me with a smile before answering my q

st a week. Whe

I asked as I took a s

she replied while pla

eep sigh. He'

o clear his schedule this Monday," I instructed. "I don't want him

ry is always the one answering, saying he's

fferent from those people who stru

's what your father always instructs whenever there's a

mile. "But this is the last one because I'm graduating

t me. Just spend time with your family. One month isn't even eno

tarted, but

t," I said firml

"I'll inform your father as s

stened with emotion, p

g to be late for our thesis defense. I was already in

l, I felt my phone vib

lling-Aubrey,

dn't want to be even later. I was starving since I ski

ou slowpoke?" she

ating," I mumbl

re you a starving peasant? Swallo

ing. "Is it my fault you c

ady, and we're about to start

them t

differently when you

wasn't actually amused.

ple life-one where my fa

himself in work, probably to avo

t me? I was s

usekeeper standing nearby as I walked towar

replied. "Tak

straight to the garag

emy," I urged my driv

ivileges I have in life. I only ask peop

ubrey teased the moment I entered the

ayfully, making Seiji, our other friend

o happened that we were a group of four friends. Our last memb

oke. "Since you're all

ted sw

erious discussions. I've gained confidence over the years, but I'm still

standing in the center holding the projector r

uld even begin, S

So that means we can start later too? Time out first," h

ir heads in disbelief. Seiji was always like

th and casually whistle as he backed off. Ken and I ex

ut from the looks of it, she had zero interest in him. In fact, she seemed

Centenera. Allow me to introduce the group, starting with Ms. L

duced us

the Digital Frontier: Strategies for Busine

trepreneurship course. Since all four of us were heirs to our respe

rvousness. Aubrey was almost done, which meant it was my

I never let my nervousness show because

g, once agai

y obviously knew who I was. "At this point, I will be providing an

but in reality, my

en I was done, I braced myself for the possible quest

ise, the panel

so seemed unfair to my groupmat

ave any q

es and shook their heads.

o to continue," I said before quietly

ed my shoulder as I reached them. It didn'

ANGELA F

as we sat on the bench

ere now at the back of our building. After our defense, we went st

nce there were large trees providing sh

g?" Seiji asked. "

morning, and it seemed

Aubrey immediately retorted. "You practicall

nd your jokes funny, you wou

and I could only shake o

aking me turn to him. "

ed. "I

u d

t another case of special treatment. They

d everything clearly. So stop sulking

ms crossed. "We look away for one sec

otested. "I don't

ut he avoided my ga

, who was innocently

t, Se

d at Aubrey, his

f course." He an

but he didn't even look at me. His a

up wi

ig mouth. She ma

a familiar voice su

to see my driver appe

" I acknowledge

e asked you to come home as well-your gue

Contin