Amid the lively pub music and flashing lights, a thick tension hung in the air as all eyes were glued to the spinning roulette wheel. The metallic ball clattered around before finally landing in the black pocket with the number 20. A murmur of awe spread through the small crowd, and Alexa’s rival, wearing a self-satisfied grin, immediately stepped forward.

With a smug look, he slid Alexa's most prized possession, a Patek Philippe watch worth more than a small fortune, onto his wrist. He flexed it right in front of Alexa’s face, patting his shoulder with exaggerated condescension.

“I win the bet this time,” he declared, his voice dripping with triumph.

Alexa, ever composed, responded with a smile so sincere it almost seemed out of place. When the crowd dispersed, leaving the gambling table behind, he calmly made his way to the bar, his rival’s gloating long forgotten.

“Martini, please,” Alexa ordered, flashing a seductive smile at the bartender, who couldn’t help but blush slightly.

Within moments, a glass of martini was slid across the counter toward him. Alexa took a delicate sip, the bittersweet flavor sending a shiver down his spine. The warmth of the liquor was a welcome burn, and he savored it, taking another sip with a contented smile.

Just as he was beginning to enjoy the quiet moment, someone plopped down on the barstool next to him.

“A patient should be resting, not gambling away his life savings,” a familiar, rude voice chimed in.

Alexa didn’t even have to look to know who it was. “Let me guess—Mom sent you?” he replied, clearly annoyed.

“Actually, no. I decided to check on you when your mom mentioned you’d been out all day,” she said, casually sipping her own drink.

Alexa rolled his eyes. “So, what’s your point?”

Without warning, she smacked the back of his head with a beautifully wrapped gift box. Alexa rubbed his head, more surprised than hurt.

“I’m here to stop you from spiraling out of control. I heard you just bet and lost that favorite watch your mom bought you for your birthday. I get it—you’re upset. But this isn’t the way to deal with it,” she said, her voice laced with genuine concern.

Alexa went silent. She was right, of course. Losing the watch wasn’t just a loss of a material item; it was symbolic of something deeper. But even in his sadness, he didn’t need to throw caution to the wind just because of his diagnosis.

She softened slightly. “Look, just do whatever makes you happy. I don’t care. Just don’t go knocking up random girls, or your mom and girlfriend will kill you before the illness does,” she added with a laugh, breaking the tension.

Alexa couldn’t help but laugh along with her. The awkward moment was quickly dissolved, and the two friends found themselves joking like old times.

“Well, what about that gift? Is it for me?” Alexa asked, pointing at the now slightly dented box.

“No, it’s for your unborn kids. Of course it’s for you, idiot. Who else would I give it to?” she replied, feigning annoyance.

Alexa took the gift and set it in front of him, grinning as he opened it. They both laughed at the absurdity of the situation, the earlier tension long forgotten. The night ended with the two of them laughing and teasing each other, as they always did.

NOVEL

Alexa sat on the cold bathroom floor, the shower's relentless stream of water cascading over his trembling frame. His phone, precariously balanced on his knees, displayed the barrage of cruel comments from his university’s confession page. The words seemed to blur and twist into monstrous shapes, each one a dagger plunging deeper into his heart.

**[Loveless: Shameless faggots. Two-faced son of a bitch.]**

**[My Money Talk: Is he insane? What was he thinking, that senior would like him?]**

**[Ice Prince: What an @$$π0/€. He's a stalker. Report him to the police.]**

**[Bunny: I can't imagine a nerd having fantasies about a senior. God, it's disgusting 🤮🤮]**

**[User12345: +1 uekkr🖕]**

**[%©®: +1 get out of the uni... disgusting 🤢]**

The screen’s harsh light reflected the cruel reality of his shattered dreams. His crush on his senior, once a secret source of joy, had become a public spectacle of humiliation. Alexa had harbored these feelings since high school, and his admiration had driven him to follow his senior to Blue Horizons Institute.

But the fantasy had crumbled spectacularly. His senior had not only rejected him but had done so in a way that ensured maximum exposure and ridicule. Now, Alexa was the laughingstock of the entire university. He had become a target for the bullies, who relished every moment of his suffering. They threw rubbish and stale milk at him, their laughter echoing in his mind even now.

His tears mingled with the shower’s spray, hot shame and cold water merging as one. He clutched his phone tighter, scrolling through the relentless stream of venom. Each comment was a fresh wound, each “like” a twist of the knife.

Alexa’s heart ached with a pain he could scarcely endure. The dream that had once guided him now lay in ruins, and he felt utterly alone in the world, drowning in a sea of cruelty.

With a shaky hand he slashed his wirsts. At that moment he couldn't fell the pain because there are nothing that more painful than his heart.

" Vincelo Valentine the moment I looked at you I fall for you. I naver asked for the best from but you gives me the worst. Ha ha ha ..." Alexa laughing and crying like a maniac. His wounded wrists keep on bleeding and staining the bathroom floor red.

The colder he felt the lighter his breath until he could not felt anything.

REALITY

"Tch! Are you cursing me?" Alexa muttered, flinging the novel across the room in frustration. He had read that wretched chapter over ten times, each read-through igniting his irritation further. It had been a week since Kate, the brain-dead fujo girl, had handed him the book, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She’d probably thought it was hilarious that a character shared his name. But this Alexa in the novel was nothing more than tragic cannon fodder, existing solely to complicate the main lead's life.

The cliched plot drove him mad. It revolved around a red-flagged male lead meeting a traumatized male protagonist. Because of Alexa's character in the story, the main lead became homophobic until he met the abused, tormented main character. The title "Still in Love" was as predictable as the plot. As the main characters struggled to understand each other, countless problems arose. The antagonist, who was Alexa's best friend in the story, continually tried to sabotage their relationship, driven by a twisted desire for revenge after Alexa’s death.

Sighing heavily, Alexa slumped back into his chair. "Why did she think this would help?" he mused aloud. His mind wandered back to his own life, where he was also tormented by unrequited love and relentless bullying. The parallels between fiction and reality felt suffocating.

Kate’s well-meaning but misguided gift had only highlighted the bleakness of his own situation. He couldn’t escape the feeling that he was living out a similarly tragic narrative. How much longer could he endure being the target of everyone’s scorn and derision? As the days dragged on, Alexa knew he needed to find a way to reclaim his story, to break free from the cycle of misery that seemed to trap him in both fiction and reality.

Text Exchange

**[Idiot: How's the novel? Is it good?]**

**[You: Yeah, thanks for your curse. I might die like the character, then you'll know it.]**

**[Idiot: Come on, bro, I just wanted to cheer you up. You've changed a lot since you got sick. You're colder now, I miss your silly self.]**

**[You: Don't cover your mistake by making me emotional. That's not acceptable. 😤]**

**[Idiot: Sorry, bro. I just think that character is really like you when you were chasing after your girlfriend before. If I hadn't been there, you would have ended up like that Alexa.]**

**[You: Haha. It's okay. Anyway, bro, are you free? Let's meet at six. The usual place.]**

**[Idiot: Okay 😘]**

Alexa smiled widely after texting his best friend. He got up from his bed, feeling a bit lighter. He took his clothes off and stepped into the bathroom. Slipping into the warm water of the bathtub, he began to sing softly, letting the soothing heat melt away his worries. It was a rare moment of relaxation, a brief escape from the harshness of reality.

After twenty minutes, Alexa finally got out of the bathtub. He grabbed a towel and began to rub himself dry. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, like his skull was splitting in two. His vision blurred and darkened as he clutched his head with both hands. The pain was unbearable, and his legs buckled under him. He collapsed onto the cold bathroom floor, unable to move, his illness attacking him with a vengeance. His breaths came in shallow gasps as he fought against the waves of agony, desperately hoping for the pain to subside.

"Mom!" Alexa's voice broke through the haze of pain and confusion, his cry as desperate as it was weak. His vision dimmed as darkness began to close in around him. "Mom, please..."

He collapsed onto the cold bathroom floor, his body succumbing to the relentless agony. The world around him grew indistinct, swallowed by shadows. He could barely make out the echo of his mother’s frantic cries and his father's choked sobs. "Lexi, please wake up, dear. Don't leave Mama. Please, dear!" His mother's voice, filled with terror and sorrow, pierced through the fog of his senses.

As he was wheeled into the emergency room, the last vestiges of his strength ebbed away. His body felt leaden, drained of energy, and every movement seemed to drag him further into a void. He could no longer see, only hear the anguished sounds of his parents’ pleas and the frantic beeping of medical equipment.

"Ma, Pa..." he managed to whisper, his voice barely audible. "Lexi is tired. I want to sleep. Don’t cry, Ma. Lexi loves you."

With those final, heart-wrenching words, his heartbeat began to falter, each beat slower and weaker. His vision faded completely, darkness enveloping him. The edges of his consciousness blurred, and he surrendered to the encroaching darkness.

"Yeah... This is the end of me," he thought, a tear escaping the corner of his eye as his last breath slipped away. The world fell silent, and with it, the remnants of his pain and struggle.

----

A sudden jolt of pain brought Alexa back to consciousness, the blinding white light of the room searing into his eyes. He blinked, trying to focus, and was greeted by an opulent, unfamiliar setting—soft leather furnishings, golden accents, and a serene view through floor-to-ceiling windows. It was a private hospital ward far beyond anything he could have imagined.

"He's moving! Call the doctor! My son is moving!" A woman's excited voice cut through the fog of his confusion. The voice was sharp and unfamiliar, not the comforting timbre of his mother.

As he attempted to shift, a stabbing pain shot through his wrists, causing him to gasp. "Ouch!"

“Don’t move, let me help you.” A cold, commanding voice responded. A figure, whose tone was unmistakably familiar but distant, helped adjust his position. Alexa’s eyes met those of the caretaker, and his breath caught in his throat.

"Kate?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

The woman’s piercing gaze was laced with both authority and indifference. Suddenly, Alexa became acutely aware of his surroundings. The people in the room were all strangers, except for the woman who had addressed him. The woman who had been his mother in his last moments was far younger than he remembered. The man who resembled his father was impossibly handsome, and two unfamiliar girls observed from a distance.

“Thank God you’re awake,” the man who looked like his father said, his voice a mix of relief and irritation. “If you hadn’t, I would have beaten those bastards. Forget about that idiot next time.”

His words hit Alexa like a tidal wave. The realization dawned upon him with devastating clarity: he had died and somehow found himself transmigrated into the novel he had been reading. He was now in the body of Alexa Oliver, the tragic figure whose life had been a series of misfortunes.

The weight of his situation crashed down on him. The thought of his real parents and Kate grieving his death filled him with overwhelming sorrow. His eyes welled with tears as the ache in his chest grew unbearable.

The woman, who was now his “mother” in this new reality, pulled him into a tight embrace. “How could you say that? He’s still sick… He’s stressed. You’re so thoughtless!” Her voice was filled with genuine concern as she gently patted his back.

Her tender gestures, the warmth of her embrace, and the tears in her eyes made Alexa’s heart break anew. His real parents were gone, and the family around him was nothing but a reflection of a fictional world. The overwhelming emotional turmoil caused him to sob uncontrollably.

The man who looked like his father approached, his anger softened by remorse. He gently patted Alexa’s head and murmured apologies. The collective care and concern from these new figures of authority only deepened Alexa’s sense of loss. As he clung to the embrace of the woman now pretending to be his mother, he felt a profound ache for his real family.

The comforting gestures from these strangers contrasted sharply with his memories of his true parents, who had loved him deeply. The emotional conflict left him feeling adrift, caught between two worlds: the one he had lost and the one he now had to navigate—a world where he was both a character in a tragic story and a living, breathing individual trying to reconcile his past with his present.

Alexa's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar, chilling landscape. He found himself wandering through a vast, eerie graveyard under a sky heavy with gray clouds. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he took in the somber rows of headstones, each one a silent testament to lives lost.

The atmosphere grew more chilling as he noticed a gathering of people clad in black surrounding a specific grave. The mourners’ sorrowful expressions and tear-streaked faces were a stark contrast to the desolate setting. His heart raced, a dreadful realization creeping into his mind.

“Mama… Papa…!” he screamed, his voice cracking with desperation as he sprinted towards them. His parents were there, along with Kate, Jane, and Brandon—his closest friends. His cries echoed through the cemetery, but their attention remained fixed on the grave.

“Ma… Pa… I’m here! Can’t you see me? Kate, why… why can’t you see me? Jane… Jane… Babe… Please look at me! Brandon… It’s me, bro. Come on, look here. Guys, hey. It’s me!” His pleas were frantic, his voice growing hoarse as he desperately tried to get their attention.

Alexa moved frantically around the gathering, waving his arms, shouting their names, but nothing changed. The mourners continued their grief-stricken rituals, oblivious to his presence. The pastor’s somber tone carried through the ceremony, but it felt distant and surreal to Alexa.

His heart pounded as he stumbled back, overwhelmed by the horrifying realization that he was witnessing his own funeral. The crushing weight of grief and disbelief settled over him. He watched helplessly as his loved ones mourned, unable to reach them or make them aware of his presence.

Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the falling rain, as the reality of his situation sank in. The cold ground beneath him seemed to mock his plight. The pain of watching his family and friends grieve for someone who was still alive—a spectral presence trapped in a nightmarish limbo—was unbearable.

The ceremony continued as if he were a mere shadow, an unseen observer of his own tragic farewell. The profound sadness in his heart was mirrored by the solemnity of the graveyard, a place that had now become both his prison and his prisoner's confession.

Alexa jolted awake, his scream still echoing in his ears. His heart pounded, and sweat coated his skin as he sat up, gasping for breath. The graveyard, the mourners, the overwhelming sense of loss—it had all been a vivid, nightmarish dream.

The room around him was dimly lit, the familiar contours of his own bedroom gradually coming into focus. The luxurious surroundings he had seen before were nowhere to be found. He was back in his own reality, but the terror and anguish from the dream clung to him like a suffocating shroud.

The vision of his own funeral was still fresh in his mind, and the thought of his parents—his real parents—living through such devastation was unbearable. The dream had been a stark reminder of the pain he would have caused them if he had truly died. His heart ached at the thought of them grieving for their only son, a pain he could scarcely imagine but deeply empathized with.

As he fought to calm his racing heart, Alexa realized the gravity of his situation. The dream had been a cruel reflection of his worst fears. He had to confront the reality of his life, not just the fantastical elements of the novel or the troubling dreams. The emotional weight of his family’s potential suffering was a harsh reminder of the responsibilities and connections that bound him to his own world.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The dream had been unsettling, but it was also a call to action—a reminder to cherish his loved ones and confront his own fears and challenges head-on. With renewed determination, Alexa resolved to face his reality with a clearer sense of purpose and to appreciate the precious moments he still had with those he cared about.

It was now a month and a half since he'd transmigrated into the novel, and he was living in a house with his best friends. He just opened his bedroom door and look around and froze.

His room was a shrine to Vincelo Valentine, the novel's male lead. Polaroids of Vincelo were plastered all over the walls, and posters covered every inch of space. The pièce de résistance? A pillow with Vincelo's face on it. The room resembled a fan's dream, but not in a good way.

Alexa stared at the pillow, then at the posters, then back at the pillow. "Seriously?" he muttered to himself. "I know Vincelo is handsome, but this is a bit much."

He shook his head, trying to banish the cringe worthy sight from his mind. "I mean, I get it. If I were gay, I’d probably have a major crush on him, too. But this is taking it to a whole new level of fanboyism."

He walked over to the poster-covered wall, peeling off a particularly large one with Vincelo's smoldering gaze. "Who needs this many pictures of a guy, anyway?" he chuckled. "I might as well start practicing my fan chants and figure out how to get a signature on this pillow."

He sighed and plopped down on his bed, the Vincelo pillow squishing beneath him. "Great. I'm living in a shrine to a fictional character. What’s next? A life-sized cardboard cutout in the living room?"

As he looked around, a smirk grew on his face. "Well, at least I’m living in a novel where the worst thing is my room looking like a fan club headquarters. It could be worse—like getting stuck in a plot where I’m just the guy who cleans up after the real protagonist."

Alexa laughed, shaking his head at his absurd situation. He decided to embrace the humor of it all. After all, if he had to live in a room dedicated to someone, it might as well be with a smile on his face and a joke in his heart.

“Guys, I need a favor,” Alexa announced as he walked into the kitchen where his housemates were enjoying their breakfast.

Julie, who resembled Kate, looked up with curiosity. “What is it?”

“Hmmm, I want to change my room decor. It looks uncomfortable,” Alexa said, casually munching on a tuna sandwich made by Chloe. His words caused Julie, Danelly, and Chloe to nearly choke on their food.

“Uhuk… uhuk… You want to throw away all those treasures of yours?!” Danelly spluttered, struggling to regain composure.

“Yeah, why not,” Alexa replied nonchalantly. The shock on his friends’ faces slowly turned into relief. They were visibly glad that Alexa was finally ready to move on from his obsessive Vincelo-themed room.

The three friends exchanged relieved glances and nodded. “Alright, let’s do it,” Chloe said, still recovering from her surprise.

After several hours of intense redecoration, Alexa’s room had transformed from a shrine to Vincelo Valentine into a much more tasteful and functional space. The walls were no longer covered in posters and polaroids; instead, they sported calming, neutral colors and minimalistic decor.

“Wow, this looks amazing,” Alexa said, surveying the new look. “Thanks, guys. I didn’t realize how much I needed a change.”

Julie grinned. “We’re just glad to see you finally living in a room that doesn’t scream ‘obsessed fan.’”

Danelly chuckled. “Yeah, it’s nice to see you so... normal.”

Chloe laughed, giving Alexa a playful nudge. “Welcome back to reality.”

As they admired their work, Alexa felt a wave of relief. His room was now a peaceful retreat rather than a tribute to a fictional character. The makeover had not only improved his living space but also his mood.

Alexa lounged on the sofa in the living room, engrossed in his laptop while his friends huddled around, absorbed in a horror movie.

“What are you looking at?” Julie asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“I’m waiting for an email from the university about my appeal to change my course,” Alexa replied, his fingers nervously tapping the keyboard.

“They’ll approve it. You don’t need to worry. You passed the entrance exams, after all,” Chloe reassured him.

Alexa nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. Though he knew his parents’ connections would likely make the change easier, he still had that nagging anxiety.

“Honestly, I’m curious why you suddenly want to switch. If it’s just to avoid Vincelo Valentine, I’m telling you, business and economics are farther from engineering than medical sciences,” Danelly said, raising an eyebrow.

Caught off guard, Alexa blinked. “Well, I just feel like studying business isn’t really my thing. Becoming a dentist seems like a better fit for me.”

Danelly nodded, accepting his answer. Julie and Chloe, however, exchanged puzzled looks.

“Are you sure it’s not just because you’re trying to dodge someone?” Julie asked, her curiosity piqued.

Alexa smirked, thinking, “Well, if you must know, I used to be a dentist before."

 " Honestly I can’t stand business management. It’s like trying to sell ice to Eskimos.” he said.

His friends burst into laughter, the tension around his course change easing. As the horror movie’s suspenseful music swelled, Alexa felt a bit more at ease, realizing he’d probably made the right choice—even if his reasons were a bit more personal than he’d initially let on.

The morning sunlight streamed into the room, casting a warm glow over everything as Alexa slowly woke up. Still half-asleep, he made his way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face to shake off the last remnants of sleep. He reached for his glasses on the bedside table and slipped them on, squinting at his reflection in the mirror.

A groggy chuckle escaped him as he took in his appearance. There he was, with his thick glasses magnifying his eyes and his bowl-cut haircut doing him no favors. "I look like Pororo," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. No wonder Vincelo seemed to want to avoid him sometimes. Honestly, if he were in Vincelo's shoes, he’d probably punch himself too if some guy looking like this chased after him.

Alexa sighed and removed his glasses, trading them for a bunny headband that pushed his hair back as he began his morning skincare routine. Once finished, he paused to really take in his reflection. Without the glasses, it was like he was seeing himself for the first time.

Sure, he might’ve looked like a total nerd a minute ago, but now? Now he could appreciate the features that were, frankly, quite stunning. His skin was flawless—fair, light, and practically glowing, even more radiant than white pearls. His cat-like eyes, no longer hidden behind thick lenses, were sharp and captivating, drawing attention without effort. And those love-shaped lips? They were almost too pretty for his own good.

Even with his soft, feminine features, there was no denying that he still had a handsomeness to him. Alexa found himself grinning. There was really no need for those glasses; they just hid how good-looking he truly was.

"Why am I making myself look worse on purpose?" he wondered aloud, shaking his head at his own reflection. A new resolve sparked within him—he was done with those glasses. It was time for a change. He decided right then and there that he would switch to contact lenses and get a new haircut. Something that would do justice to his face, not hide it.

Feeling a surge of excitement, Alexa looked at himself one last time in the mirror, a smirk playing on his lips. "Let’s see how they handle the new me," he thought, already imagining the reactions he’d get. This was going to be fun.

As Alexa prepared to leave, Julie called out, “Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m getting a haircut. Next week we’re going back to school!” Alexa replied, slipping on his shoes with enthusiasm.

Julie’s curiosity piqued. “Are you sure you can drive yourself, or do you want me to take you? You’ve changed a lot since coming back from the hospital. I’m a bit worried.”

Alexa waved her off with a grin. “I’ll be fine. Just need a change of scenery, you know?”

As he hopped into his Porsche and drove off, Julie watched with a mix of concern and confusion. The memory of his car crash shortly after getting his driving license flashed in her mind. Shaking her head, she hoped for the best.

Meanwhile, Alexa was reveling in the joy of driving his Porsche, a luxury he could only dream of in his previous life. “Being a rich kid really is a dream,” he chuckled to himself. “And this is just the cheapest car in my garage!”

Arriving at the salon, Alexa was greeted warmly. He explained the hairstyle he wanted, and the hairdresser immediately got to work. While getting a haircut, Alexa requested a hair treatment as well. The relaxing scalp massage was blissful, and he enjoyed every moment.

The salon staff complimented him on his looks, and Alexa couldn’t help but feel pleased. “This new style is perfect,” he thought, admiring his reflection in the mirror. The transformation made him feel even more confident and ready to face whatever came next.

After getting his haircut, Alexa decided to hit the mall for a shopping spree. He was on a mission to revamp his wardrobe, so he was browsing through racks of clothes with great enthusiasm.

As he was trying on a particularly flashy shirt, he accidentally bumped into someone. Startled, he turned and immediately apologized, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”

The person he bumped into looked at him with a mixture of confusion and amusement. “Oh… it’s fine. Really, it’s okay.”

Alexa flashed a sincere smile and continued on his way, heading to the checkout with his new clothes.

Just as he was about to leave the store, Vincelo walked in, his eyes scanning the crowd. He noticed his friend standing there, frozen and looking dazed. Curious, Vincelo approached him and asked, “What’s going on? Why are you just standing here?”

“It’s him,” the friend replied with a deadpan expression.

“Who?” Vincelo asked, peering around. When his friend gave him a meaningful look, Vincelo’s eyes widened in recognition. He grimaced as he realized the “him” was Alexa, the person he wanted to avoid the most in the whole world.

Feeling a sudden urge to flee, Vincelo decided he wasn’t in the mood for shopping anymore. He quickly headed toward the exit. As he was about to leave, he saw Alexa walking past, now stylishly decked out in his new clothes. Alexa didn’t even glance in Vincelo’s direction.

Vincelo’s heart sank a little. He couldn’t quite figure out why, but seeing Alexa looking so different and confident stirred something in him. “Why does this feel like a soap opera moment?” Vincelo wondered, feeling an odd mix of confusion and frustration.

As he left the store, he muttered to himself, “Great. Just great. Now I’m feeling all dramatic and stuff. Shopping just got way too complicated.”

Vincelo parked his car in the dimly lit garage and headed upstairs to his room, the weight of the day pressing heavily on his shoulders. He was exhausted from the grueling esports tournament and dreading the start of the new semester. Stripping off his jacket, he collapsed onto his bed, desperate for a moment of reprieve.

His phone buzzed with a notification:

**[Azure TV: Hello! Congratulations on Dark Myth’s victory at the DBG Championship! We’d love to feature your team in an exclusive interview on our live channel.]**

He let out a frustrated sigh, tossed his phone aside, and made his way downstairs to his personal gym. As he entered, he saw Mike furiously pounding the punching bag, sweat glistening on his skin.

"Rough day?" Vincelo asked, tapping Mike's shoulder.

"Yeah, a bit. You want to throw down?" Mike replied, his voice dripping with challenge.

A smirk curved Vincelo’s lips as he grinned and started stripping off his shirt, his eyes locked onto Mike's.

"Don’t think I’ll go easy on you," he said, his voice low and confident as he slid on his boxing gloves.

Mike’s eyes sparkled with competitive fire, and the tension in the room thickened as they prepared to unleash their pent-up energy on each other.

"Morning!" Alexa chirped brightly, her enthusiasm a stark contrast to Julie’s battle with the breakfast skillet. Julie barely looked up, nodding in acknowledgment. After some time and a few smoky puffs, Julie placed two plates of pasta on the dining table. Alexa eyed the pasta with a look that could only be described as cautious skepticism. The overcooked, gooey mess was a dead giveaway to Julie's well-known cooking disasters.

Alexa tried to summon a smile as she scooped up a forkful. She took a bite, bracing herself for the worst. To her shock, her taste buds did a double-take, recognizing a familiar flavor. Alexa’s mind raced—was this a culinary disaster she’d somehow grown accustomed to?

"Hmmm. Where are Danelly and Chloe?" Alexa asked, hoping for a diversion from the culinary catastrophe. They were the usual chaos makers of their mornings.

"Danelly is at her parents' house, and Chloe is with her boyfriend, celebrating his tournament win," Julie replied, almost too quickly. Alexa nodded, trying not to think too hard about the pasta’s questionable origins.

As they finished their less-than-stellar breakfast, Julie grew serious. "Are you sure you're okay alone? You don't want to come with me?"

"I'm fine," Alexa insisted. "If anyone tries to mess with me, I'll give them a piece of my mind."

Julie’s eyes narrowed with mock seriousness. "If they do anything, call me. I'll show them what happens when you mess with my friends."

Alexa gave a thumbs-up, and Julie, satisfied, headed to her car. As Alexa watched her leave, he couldn’t help but chuckle. He’d survived Julie’s breakfast and a possessive declaration. What more could the day throw at him?

Alexa's heart raced as he approached the Blue Horizons Institute, his eyes wide with awe. The grandeur of the building matched every glowing description he had read—it was even more impressive in person. The sprawling campus, with its sleek, modern architecture and meticulously manicured grounds, seemed like something out of a dream.

After a few minutes of navigating the maze-like campus, he finally arrived at the Medical and Health Science department building. It loomed before him, an imposing structure that dwarfed the campus of his previous university. He parked his car in the spacious parking lot and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.

As he walked toward the entrance, he noticed the bustling activity around him—students hurrying to their classes, faculty members engaged in animated discussions, and state-of-the-art facilities visible through the glass walls. Every step he took toward the building solidified his excitement and apprehension about starting this new chapter. The sheer scale and prestige of the place were overwhelming, and he couldn’t help but marvel at the opportunity that lay ahead.

As Alexa walked down the hallway, he felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety. At first, the people around him seemed to be admiring his presence. However, their expressions quickly soured once they noticed his ID tag. The admiration turned into disdainful glances, and he could feel the shift in atmosphere as he passed by.

Entering the lecture room, the situation grew even more uncomfortable. Everyone seemed to be staring at him, and whispers floated through the air—clearly directed at him. The familiarity of their sneering faces only added to his discomfort. Choosing to sit as far away from the gossiping crowd as possible, Alexa tried to shrink into his seat, hoping to escape the scrutiny.

His misfortune seemed to compound when a figure clumsily took the seat next to him. Looking up, Alexa's heart sank as he recognized the main protagonist from the stories he had read—the one who had always seemed to have everything go right.

"Why is my luck so terrible?" Alexa’s mind whispered in frustration. "I knew he was in this faculty, but I didn’t expect to face him so soon. Just ignore him and keep your head down."

For the next three hours, Alexa struggled to focus on the lecture, trying to block out the constant reminder of his previous life and the dismal reality he now faced. The subject matter, once a source of irritation in his old life, felt even more unbearable now. The weight of his situation seemed to press down on him, making every moment in the lecture room feel like a test of endurance.

After a grueling lecture, Alexa headed to the cafeteria, eager for some peace and a chance to escape the chaos of the morning. The place was packed, so he took a seat at the farthest table, hoping to avoid trouble.

As he was digging into his lunch, a group of students approached, and Alexa's instinct about impending disaster kicked in. One girl from the group plopped down in front of him and slammed her hand on the table, nearly sending his drink flying.

"Wow, look who’s sitting here. Wait... OMG, you look different. Finally, you're not ugly anymore!" one of the girls said with a voice so sweet it made Alexa want to gag. He pretended not to hear her and focused on his food.

Another girl, clearly vying for the title of "Queen of Mean," piped up. "Do you think a makeover will make seniors like you? Shameless frog. Haha..."

Her comment was like a match to dry tinder. Alexa's eyes narrowed, and he gave her a look that said, “Really? Is that the best you’ve got?”

"How dare you look at me like that?" she snapped.

With a smirk, Alexa responded, "I’m just appreciating your look. But honestly, you’re uglier inside and out."

The girl’s face turned an impressive shade of red. "At least I didn’t shamelessly chase a guy who doesn’t like me. And I’ve never had surgery just to chase a man."

Alexa, seizing the moment, stood up. "Well, if you’re so into surgery, maybe you should get some for your brain." He then executed a dramatic turn, adding, "Oh, and if you have spare cash, get your eyes fixed—they seem blind to beauty."

The girl, now vibrating with rage, charged at him with a food tray. Just as she was about to swing, someone pushed her aside with such force that she crashed to the floor, spraining her ankle in the process. Alexa watched in disbelief as the new hero of the hour pulled him to safety.

"Don’t mess with him again. Leave now, or I’ll show you what a real food fight looks like," the stranger said with a menacing grin.

The girl and her entourage fled, leaving the cafeteria buzzing with the aftermath. Alexa turned to his unexpected savior and whispered in shock, "Brandon?"

"Are you okay?" Bryan asked, his concern evident as he checked on Alexa. Alexa managed a somewhat awkward smile, feeling a wave of emotion because Bryan resembled his best friend so much. It made him want to give Bryan a big hug, but he held back.

Bryan’s eyes widened in panic as he noticed the tears welling up in Alexa's eyes. "My god, I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?" He immediately released Alexa’s wrists, his face full of worry.

"I'm fine," Alexa reassured him, though the lie barely masked his frustration. "They just pissed me off."

Bryan's anger flared even more at the thought of what Alexa had endured. "I can’t stand people like that. I’m going to report them. They’ve crossed the line."

Without waiting for a response, Bryan firmly grabbed Alexa’s arm. "I’ll get you out of here," he said, his tone brooking no argument as he led Alexa toward his car. The two of them navigated through the cafeteria, Bryan’s protective demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos that had just ensued.

"Wow... I never knew our uni had a place like this. It’s beautiful," Alexa marveled as he gazed around the cafe, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and joy. His smile was like that of a child discovering a new toy, and Bryan couldn’t help but laugh at his infectious enthusiasm. Alexa chose a table by the window to admire the Japanese-style orchid garden outside. He couldn’t resist snapping numerous photos and sharing them on social media, his smile broadening with each click, as if he were in love with the scene.

Bryan, seeing Alexa so happy, approached their table with a warm smile and placed a cup of ice cream in front of him. "You know, you’re breathtaking right now. You're so enchanted by the flowers, and everyone here is enchanted by you."

Alexa’s eyes twinkled as he glanced up at Bryan. "So... are you charmed?" he asked with a mischievous smile, noticing a few people taking pictures of him.

"Red bean ice cream!" Alexa exclaimed, clapping his hands like a delighted child. The treat brought back fond memories of his previous life when Brandon had done something similar to lift his spirits. Brandon had taken him to a quaint countryside cafe and bought him red bean ice cream after he learned of Alexa's leukemia.

Caught up in the nostalgia, Alexa accidentally knocked his hand on the table. "Ouch!" he winced, rubbing his hand.

Bryan immediately reached out, gently taking Alexa’s hand and soothing the spot where it had hurt. Alexa tried to pull back, but Bryan held on firmly, his fingers tenderly tracing the scars on Alexa’s wrists.

"Can you promise me you won’t do anything like that again?" Bryan’s voice was filled with deep concern. "When I heard you were feeling so low, I nearly abandoned a multimillion-dollar project to come to you. My secretary had to stop me."

Alexa’s smile faded slightly at the somber turn in the conversation. "I promise. I won’t do it again," he said, making a solemn gesture. He gave Bryan a sweet, reassuring smile.

Bryan’s stern expression softened, but Alexa was quick to lighten the mood. "Come on, accept my promise now. I want to eat my ice cream!" he urged.

Bryan chuckled. "So, the ice cream is more important than your sworn brother?"

"Of course! This ice cream can make me happy, while you can’t do anything," Alexa teased, sticking out his tongue playfully.

Bryan found his antics endearing. He decided to have a little fun and grabbed Alexa’s arm, stealing a bite of the ice cream.

"Haaaa... How dare you! You ate it!" Alexa whined, but Bryan just laughed at his reaction.

As Alexa pouted and playfully swatted at Bryan, the latter deftly dodged his attempts. Bryan, amused by Alexa’s adorable sulking, relented. "Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I’ll buy you more ice cream."

The promise made Alexa’s face light up with excitement again, and he laughed joyfully. "Really? More ice cream?"

Bryan nodded, his own smile widening at Alexa’s delight. The two continued their playful banter, the earlier tension melting away in the warmth of their friendship and the sweetness of the moment.

Meanwhile, across the cafe, a group of people watched Alexa and Bryan with keen interest. Their eyes were fixed on the pair, more engrossed in their interaction than in their own meals. The only exception was one person who seemed to be enjoying his food, though his face was as dark as the bottom of an old pot.

"Are they dating or what? My god, they look so sweet, even sweeter than you and your girlfriend," Bobby said excitedly, nudging Greg’s arm. Greg responded with a poker face, sipping his tea without much reaction.

"Yeah, he looks really handsome now. If I were a girl, I’d definitely want to date him," Kenny added, impressed by how attractive Alexa had become compared to his previous nerdy appearance.

"They’re not dating. He seems to have completely changed after that incident. My girlfriend told me he’s thrown away everything related to Vince since he got out of the hospital," Greg explained, casting a glance at Vincelo’s reaction.

"Last time we saw him at the boutique, he completely ignored us. He walked right past Vince like he was a stranger," Mike added, recalling their encounter from the previous week.

Bobby smirked and leaned in. "Look, bro, you’re going to be miserable. Your biggest fan is forgetting you. Even if you wanted him back, it's impossible—he seems to hate you to the core. Plus, if you suddenly show interest, you'll have plenty of rivals."

Vincelo, who had been silently listening to the conversation, simply said, "Boring." He then went to the counter to pay for their food. Without another word, he left the cafe, ignoring his friends and leaving them to their chatter.

The group watched him go, their conversations dwindling as they returned to their own meals, the buzz of excitement now replaced with a quieter, more reflective atmosphere.

The majestic Green Hill Residence was glowing softly with the lights of its villas, creating a serene nighttime atmosphere. Inside, Alexa and his friends were sprawled on the couch, engrossed in their usual horror TV series.

“Huh! It’s nine!” Chloe exclaimed, grabbing the remote and changing the channel with a flourish.

“Hey! Why’d you change it? I was into that series!” Danelly protested, reaching for the remote.

“Dark Myth is live! I need to see my hubby!” Chloe countered, her eyes wide with excitement as she tuned into the live broadcast.

“You can watch it on your phone!” Alexa grumbled, annoyed by the sudden change. He was enjoying the horror show, and Chloe’s disregard for his preferences only made things worse. Chloe threw him a look that clearly said, “Deal with it,” and focused on the TV. Meanwhile, Danelly sat there as if struck by lightning.

“Aren’t you the one who was so excited to watch their live before? You even recorded it and watched it multiple times!” Danelly said, her curiosity getting the better of her. Alexa, feeling cornered, rolled his eyes but said nothing. They all settled in, resigned to watching the live stream.

[Host: Alright, after the serious interview, it’s time for Q and A!]

[Host 2: What’s the most attractive body part you want your partner to have?]

[Vincelo: Nice teeth.]

“Hmmm... As expected from Vincelo. His answer went viral in seconds,” Danelly said, scrolling through her phone with a grin.

“Guess what’s trending for you now!” Danelly shouted, waving her phone like a victory flag. The others leaned in, eager to see.

[1st trending: #PrettiestMaleInNHIIsFound 😱😱 (Alexa’s picture in the cafe)]

[2nd trending: #DrasticMakeoverTurnsOutDatingAnotherMan

#AlexaOliver~BryanNixon

#100%Real✔️ (Picture of Alexa and Bryan kissing in the car)]

The room erupted in a mix of laughter and shock. Alexa’s face turned a shade of red that could only be described as “tomato meets lobster,” while his friends burst into laughter.

“Oh great, I’m trending as the prettiest male. Perfect,” Alexa said with exaggerated sarcasm. “Maybe I should start charging for selfies.”

Danelly, still laughing, added, “And look at that second trending topic! Seems like you’ve gone from horror shows to soap opera drama.”

Chloe, still glued to the screen, finally chimed in. “Wow, Bryan’s kissing you and you’re trending! I should’ve changed the channel sooner.”

Alexa shot her a playful glare. “Yeah, well, I didn’t know my personal life was going to become the next big reality TV show.”

As they continued to laugh and joke about the unexpected fame. The room was filled with a lighthearted buzz, with Alexa and his friends embracing the absurdity of the situation.

Alexa pinched both Danelly’s and Chloe’s arms, his face a mix of annoyance and amusement. “We’re not kissing. Those people are just being nosy.”

Danelly and Chloe exchanged a provocative look, clearly enjoying teasing him. “Oh, really? The internet seems to think otherwise!” Danelly quipped.

Chloe added with a smirk, “Looks like you’ve become quite the sensation!”

Despite the teasing, the three of them soon forgot about the live broadcast. They were too busy laughing and joking, their earlier focus on the live stream completely abandoned.