"So, Victor… you in, or are you gonna chicken out?"
Norman's voice echoed off the locker room walls, sharp and smug. He was nineteen, a forward on the school soccer team, and the kind of guy who made reckless plans sound like he was part in some holy crusade.
"We've only got one shot at this. I need to know who I can count on."
Victor hesitated. He didn't want to do it—whatever it was—but staying on Norman's good side was the only way to get close to the guy's sister. Refusing him now might ruin everything.
And Norman wasn't the forgiving type.
"Can't you just get someone's older brother?" Victor tried. "It can't be that hard, right?"
But both of them knew what that meant having to ask for favors. Debts and strings were bound to be attached.
Norman rolled his eyes. "Yeah, no. Only one I could ask is Jess's brother, and that guy'll take half of what we're getting. Or should I say, what I'm paying for."
He smirked, rubbing a towel through his damp hair. "You three get one each. I want the rest, and I am not talking about the girl's."
Victor kept his eyes on the floor. The other three were still naked from the showers, chatting like this was normal. He was already halfway into his pants. He didn't like how close they were—but he stuck around for one reason.
"Alright," Norman said, slapping the towel over his shoulder. "My place, tonight, eleven sharp. We get in, get out. I'll have my brother's old truck ready. My folks go to bed early, so we'll be clear. After that, we hit Luren's place and chill till two—her mom works late at Erwin's café."
All four of them were living in the school lodgings, so sneaking out wasn't a big deal. But if they didn't return the truck in time… that could get messy.
"We've been planning this all week," Norman grinned. "Time to enjoy ourselves right? Jane, Luren, Jaz—they'll all be there. Still don't know why you're coming, Victor. I guess you just want the drinks, huh?"
Victor nodded, hiding behind a forced smile. Norman didn't have a clue.
"Yeah. The drinks. I'll take a bit more while you three have your fun."
He didn't really feel like he belonged here. But he had already gone this far he was going to get what he wanted, and well, they'd helped him change his reputation so far.
Before college, he'd been a nobody—four-eyed, slouched, invisible. A ghost under his parents' expectations. But by working out and improving physically, getting contacts instead of glasses, and some self-help books under his belt, people saw him completely differently now.
At least on the outside.
Inside?
He was still that kid in the corner. Still trying to figure out who he really was.
After the four agreed on the plan, they left the showers and headed to their final class of the day.
For Victor, this was the highlight of his week—Social Economics class, the only class he shared with Pamela, Norman's younger sister.
And also the whole damn reason he was playing along with her brother's idiocy.
The moment he entered the classroom, he slid into his seat near the back. The professor was either already there or would stroll in five minutes late—everyone knew Dr. Doren liked to sneak in one last cigarette before some classes.
Victor was quietly relieved that today was one of those late days.
Then he smelled it.
That soft fragrance. Sweet—both fruity and floral. Light at first, then lingering for a while, sinking fully into one's lungs before his mind could fully process it.
He glanced up.
There she was—dark brunette hair flowing down her shoulders, head tilted slightly as she pulled her books from her bag and sat down next to him.
Pamela.
For the past half-year, she'd occupied more of his thoughts than he'd ever admit out loud. She was everything her brother wasn't—disciplined, focused, and pleasantly thoughtful.
"Doing good today, Pam?" Victor asked, watching her organize her things.
She gave him a quick glance and gave a small smile. "Pretty good. Got my quiz back from Stats—I think I'm ready for the big test."
Then she frowned slightly. "Now if only Dr. Doren taught as well as he gets paid. Half his salary is probably dedicated to his smoking."
Victor chuckled, settling in his chair beside her. "At least it gives us a little time to pull ourselves together. It's also the end of the day, we deserve a break here and there, right?"
He gave a tired sigh, trying to recover from the exhaustion from practice.
Pamela rolled her eyes. "Ugh, I forgot you come from the other side of campus. Yeah, okay, I'll give you that one. How's my brother, by the way? It's weird not seeing him in any of my classes. You'd think being twins would mean I could read his mind or something."
"Oh, Norman's… he is enjoying life to its fullest, just like always," Victor said carefully. "Wouldn't worry about him."
Victor tried to steer the conversation back from her brother, he knew she was still hurt that her twin brother had left the house the way he did, especially when they were so close before that.
"I'll call him later," she said with a sigh. "Also, thanks for sticking by him. He's a hard one to get along with, I know. But he's never been a bad guy."
Victor just nodded as he unpacked his notes.
Then he causally pulled out a box of Pocky and offered her one of the chocolate covered stickes.
Pamela blinked, then smiled. "I don't know why you keep handing these out randomly… but I'm not complaining. Thanks, Vic."
"There's this Japanese store near my house," he said, keeping his voice low. "I always stopped by there after school. It's quiet a good snack so I bought a pack before leaving home. Plus, who says no to chocolate-covered sweets?"
Before she could reply, the door slammed open.
Dr. Doren stormed in, eyes already narrowed like he'd caught someone doing something they should have.
Both Pamela and Victor straightened instinctively. The two knew that class had started and if there was one thing their teacher could not forgive, it was talking when he began his lecture.