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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.

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