“Eli… am I simply not good enough?” sighed Aemilius. Once again, he was outside on his balcony, engaged in conversation with Eli on the phone. “I tried to befriend him by engaging in numerous conversations. I even tried to make him my tutor by simply asking, but that only seemed to upset him further. What should I do Eli?”

Eli also sighed on the other end, “Well... it obviously isn't working. It's better to ask some other kids at our school. Cause if ya keep on bothering him, he’s bound to snap at ya.”

“I know that…” He already snapped at me… a crease started to appear between Aemilius' eyes, “there's just something about Irving... “ 

Eli huffed, and even though he was talking to her through the phone, he could clearly see her rolling her eyes. “Look here prince boy. I can see that you have an obsession with this boy, but I gotta tell ya, it's sorta creepy.”

“C-creepy?! Well, I’m not that surprised. Irving did say something similar…” whined Aemilius.

“Good to see that Damien has a nice head on him. Anyways, it's plain creepy. You’re too obsessed with him. Just take his advice and find someone else.”

Aemilius frowned, as the crease between his eyebrows grew even deeper. ”I understand. I will think about this some more. Goodnight Eli.”

“Hey! Wait Aemilius-”

He hung up the phone. Aemilius stared out at the city. The lights filled his eyes with various colors of yellow and orange, as if the city itself was inflamed with light. He rubbed his eyes at the too bright cityscape. Maybe… I should find a new candidate… but Irving… Aemilius scratched his head, messing up his even tufts of blonde hair. Ah… even my perfect hair is suffering from my despair. 

A sudden cough was heard from inside his room. Surprised, Aemilius turned around to see a woman. She was a small woman with blonde hair that appeared to look white under the sparse lighting of the room. Faint wrinkles surrounded her eyes and mouth, yet they did not convey oldness, but instead beauty. And lastly the women wore a long white satin robe, that clung to her frame.

She smiled at Aemilius, “Come, and greet your mother.”

Red faintly appeared on Aemilius’s face, as he left the balcony and entered his room. Instantly he felt warmer. “My mistake mother, I was simply lost in thought.”

His mother tilted her head quizzically, “Was it another nightmare perhaps?”

Aemilius gave a wry smile at her statement, “No… for the first time in forever, I wish it was that simple.” 

A faint frown took over the woman’s face. “Oh my, shall we discuss this matter over some warm milk?” she snapped her fingers and Edward instantly appeared, “Please bring two cups of warm milk.”

Edward bowed, “As you wish” he said as he glanced at his young master before leaving the room. 

Aemilius' mother sat down, and with a flourish pointed to the seat opposite her, “Now my sweet sweet baby, tell me your woes.” 

Aemilius chuckled, “Mother, I am not a child anymore, I'm 17.”

His mother smiled, “You will always be a small child in my eyes, now tell me what is worrying you?”

Aemilus sighed, “Well… father had told me that finding a tutor is now my responsibility.”

“What?!” She quickly jumped up with indignation, “How dare that cold brute make my sweet baby find his own tutor?!”

Aemilus waved his arms frantically, “I-It's fine mother, please calm yourself. What father said is reasonable, I had shuffled through quite my fair share of tutors.”

The older woman sat back down and crossed her arms, “Do not worry my son, none of that was your fault. They were simply too boring, correct? A boring person is obviously unsuitable to tutor my child.”

Aemilius smiled at this. “I agree. Yet, this does not change the fact that father had made this matter my responsibility.”

“Aemilius dear.” His mother began to lean forward. “Should I have a special talk with your father? All I require is a few minutes with that man to change his mind about these matters'' she said as she licked her lips deviously. 

Aemilius cringed at his mother, “N-none of that is required mother. I understand this responsibility that father had placed on me. Which is why I already have a candidate in mind. But... “ his voice began to trail off. He looked away from his mother, clenching and unclenching his fist. 

“What is it? Do quit with your stalling and tell your mother what is wrong.”

Aemilius sighed, “I was rejected.”

Once more, his mother rose from her seat. “How dare they reject my sweet baby?!” she wrapped her arms around Aemilius, bringing him into a hug, “Please elaborate sweet pea, I need more information to track this person down.”

Aemilius laughed at his mother, his mood suddenly lighter. So in his mother's warm embrace he told her everything about Damien from the very beginning. By the time he was done, two cups of warm milk were already cooling upon the small table. His mother kissed his forehead, smoothing out the tufts of hair that he had ruined previously. 

“So baby, what would be your next course of action? Should I beat this boy up for messing with my sweet child? Or would you like some support instead?”

“Support. I would like support. Eli said that I have an obsession concerning Irving so I should give up on him, yet some small part of me does not want that. I want this boy mother, yet I do not want to appear creepy with my advances, what should I do?” For the first time in a long while, faint tears started to fill Aemilius' eyes. He quickly wiped these tears away while his mother sighed at the sight. 

She kissed him once more on the forehead, “As you wish. I would support you on this endeavor. But I want you to be smart about this Aemilius. You are clearly suffering over this matter and I wish for you to simply let it go…” Aemilius stiffen in his mother’s embrace. “But... I will accept your decision. My advice to you concerning this matter is simple. Perhaps some competition will help boost this boy’s interest with being your tutor.”

Aemilius looked up from his mother’s embrace. “How so mother?”

His mother simply smiled, “Remember Aemilius, we are very rich.” 

…………………..

The next day Aemilius stood proudly in the middle of a sea of students. His eyes shined at the piece of paper before him. 

For people looking for some extra money or an opportunity to show off your smarts. Here lies an opportunity for you to do so. We are looking for smart individuals to be a tutor for the Davison family. Pay starts at 90 dollars per hour. Please take the number below to apply.

Aemilius' grin grew even wider, With this, Irving will for sure fall into my hands. His smile continued to grow bigger and eventually he broke into a fit of laughter. Eli, who had been standing near him the whole time, took a couple of steps away from Aemilius.

“So... you took my advice after all? That's surprising.”

Aemilius stopped his laughter, and shot a smile at Eli. If it was any other girl, they would have melted on the spot, but luckily she was wearing her sunglasses.

 Aemilius' smile grew bigger. “Somewhat… but I never knew that money could be so alluring.”

Eli nodded, “Yeah, 90 dollars an hour just to tutor you, who wouldn't want that? The money is so easy that even I want to do it.”

Aemilius frowned, “But I am not interested in you.”

Eli rolled her eyes, “It was a joke, a joke! Wait... Somewhat? Oh. So this is your last move for drawing Damien in?”

Aemilius smiled proudly, “Yes! With this amount Irving will for sure fall into my grasp. It is only a matter of time.”

“I see…” Eli started to rub her chin, “But what about them?” She pointed to the people who were surrounding the flyer, some took pictures of it while some were quickly scribbling the phone number down. 

Aemilius shrugged, “What they do does not concern me. The only response I wish to hear is from Irving.”

Eli once again rolled her eyes, “Geez, you're an annoying dude.”

“Should I consider that as a compliment?”

Eli merely walked away and Aemilius chuckled at her response. He brought his gaze back to the poster. Now… it is merely a matter of time before he responds.

Yet on that day, Damien did not come to school.