June 12, 2025

7:30 AM

In the thirty minutes that Ley spent doomscrolling on social media, Felix—who was just on the other side of the wall—already made his advances in preparation for school.

The white polo shirt, black pants, black vest, and black blazer engraved with the logo of the village’s exclusive school named Goltear Academy highlighted the status Felix had—wealth and power.

He looked handsome and much more attractive without his clothes on, but it was shadowed away by the uniform he wore. Like any other agent, his body achieved a greatness you could only obtain through rigorous training accompanied by discipline and determination. And, just like any other agent, it’s merely a tool created and perfected to carry out the mission of the organization.

As he stood in front of his closet, packed with his entire wardrobe—ordinary clothes at first glance, yet intricately embroidered with luxury—the built-in mirror inside reflected his prepared appearance for school.

Polo shirt, pants, vest, and blazer. Felix sighed. He had perfected his routine to the point of perfection and instinct. Of all the days he had to wake up, it’s on a random Thursday.

Lost in his exhale, something from the other side of his room captured his attention. It was the sound of his phone briefly vibrating on his desk. His mind doubted the sound as he lingered on the fact no one would ever message him, not even his friends, and especially not on a morning when school is just about to begin.

A feeling of uneasiness and curiosity lingered inside him. So he kept his eyes on the phone, contemplating whether to check if the vibration really came from his phone. 

Wait. Mom told us that the family’s contact information is in the phone that the trigger had on his desk. Felix remembered. Despite doubting the idea, he simply couldn’t reject the possibility that it might be the trigger messaging him.

A message from the trigger? Felix picked up his phone, frozen at the sight of the notification of Ley’s message. Why would he be messaging me? We are literally a wall apart.

The thought of the trigger messaging him disrupted the peace and calmness he usually has, and his fingers made an accidental tap on Ley’s notification. It was only a few minutes later that another vibration from another message popping up snapped him out quickly.

“You know I can see you, right?” Felix’s mind rambled as he read the message, terrified at the idea of the trigger being able to see him in his room. 

“That you’ve been trying to type for three minutes now." Ley’s clarification gave a sense of relief to Felix, making him realize not to make the trigger wait for a response any longer.

“Sorry. I didn’t know how to respond,” Felix immediately messaged, worried that his delayed response appeared impolite.

“Oh…. Okay,” Ley responded. “So… you must be wondering why I’m texting you here…”

“Even though we are a wall apart?” Felix replied curiously

“Yeah… I figured it might be easier to talk here,” Ley explained. “At least for me, it is.”

“I see. Your message just surprised me a little bit,” Felix responded.

“Ahh… Sorry about that. 😅 I assumed it would be easier to talk to you because you’re, you know… the youngest," Ley nervously explained as he scratched his head from the other side of the wall.

“Okie. I’m probably interrupting you. Sorry. 😭 I'm going to stop messaging now. Bye! 😍," Ley’s anxiety doubled as he quickly turned off his phone to contemplate as he lay back on the wall, trying to clear the embarrassment away.

“It’s fine. I really don’t mind,” Felix replied, assuring that the trigger isn’t upset at all.

“I see! Let’s talk again soon, I hope,” Ley happily messaged.

As the exclusive gold school bus waited its stay outside the Smith residence, Felix wrapped up his conversation with Ley. 

With their conversation ended, Ley realized there’s no point in being uncomfortable using the gadgets given to him, so he quickly dived back into gaming. He also figured that he could do research or observe the family before completely losing himself in being chronically online.

Two days later. 

June 14, 2025 

8:00 PM

So… in a span of two days, Ley observed the family and familiarized himself with their schedules, occupations, lifestyles, and even personalities.

Ley started at the pitch-black ceiling of his room as he lay his back flat on his bed, allowing his thoughts to flow endlessly.

It’s only two days that I observed them, and I could easily tell that they were a dysfunctional family. But… it’s hardly unusual for a wealthy family to be one.

In the times I dined together with the Smiths, only dinners could the family eat together. Lunch seemed to be impossible due to the family’s busy scheduled occupations.

Though… I hoped I didn’t know that because I happened to hear them through my newly realized power, which was enhanced hearing. Well, at least it only toggles when I focus. I wouldn’t want to be overhearing conversations I’m not a part in.

Okay!

Mr. Smith is an engineering college professor who spends most of his time in the college building of Goltear Academy.

Mrs. Smith is a housewife who regularly volunteers for young charity work and gets home in the afternoon. She truly is an incredible person.

Iris works as a research specialist at Goltear Academy, but she spends most of her time in a building she owns near Goltear. I wasn’t able to hear what kind of building it is, so yeah.

Alex is… well, a barista at a cafe near Goltear, though I’m not sure if he owns it or what… because I saw him wear the uniform. But… if I were to guess, it’s probably just a hobby.

And Felix is a high school student at Goltear, who is currently ending his school year as a twelfth-grade student.

Their behaviors during Thursday dinner, Friday’s breakfast and dinner, and even earlier’s breakfast and dinner, were the same—uncomfortable and awkward.

I’m concerned that they’re like that during the times I eat with them. Or am I probably being ignorant? After all, you can’t rush people into being comfortable around people you perceive as strangers.

They’re nice to me all the time. So I guess this is what being adopted feels like. Well… Maybe I need to be more interactive with the Smiths more instead of isolating myself like I do in my room.

“My room.” That’s a first. Anyways… everybody is busy, and forcibly interacting with them is just super awkward and plain rude. 

I was able to interact with Felix, though… But I’m pretty sure he’ll be busier next week because of his final exams since the school year is ending. Okay! Let’s wait for the week to pass, then I’ll talk to him again… in chat, obviously.

A few days later. 

June 20, 2025 

8:00 PM

Jeez. It’s already been a week… Ley exhaled, staring at the date on his phone as he sat comfortably in his bed. Uhm… is it incredibly unhealthy that all I did was watch in only a span of a week? Maybe!

Ley stood up from the bed, lifting his long sleeve as he made his way to the full-length mirror inside his room. Huh. It’s been a week since I started eating, but my body only improved like… ten percent compared to the last time I checked myself. Am I not eating enough? Or… did my body change because I am now a superpowered individual? Because it would explain the unnatural metabolism I’ve never had before.

I’m kind of worried about it, but I’ve never really felt anything bad prior to it, so I’ll just ignore it. Ley sighed as he went back to his phone on the bed. Hmmm… It’s eight in the evening. I can probably text Felix now.

“Hello… again. Are you still awake…?” Ley started the conversation.

“I am,” Felix immediately answered.

“I see. So… was the school year fun?” Ley asked.

“It was okay,” Felix answered.

Huh… That’s teenager talk for maybe, leaning into not really… Ley internalizes.

“I see… so… are you doing anything fun…? Ley asked, uncertain about what to say.

“Why do you ask?” Felix curiously asked.

“Dunno… Just haven’t seen you do anything outside your usual routine, I guess…” Ley answered.

“You’ve been observing me?” Felix asked, his caution heightened.

‘Well… not really. We’re a wall apart, so I can see you go to school on weekdays and some hours outside on weekends, but you spend most of your time in your room,” Ley explained, hoping Felix wouldn’t consider him some kind of stalker.

“Yeah. I don’t do much, so I am bored all the time,” Felix involuntarily texted. “Shit. Is it too late to unsend that message now?”

“Eh… You can unsend it, but I have already read it, so it’s pretty pointless,” Ley replied. “Also, how could you be bored? Or is it rude of me to ask that?

“What do you mean?” Felix texted, glaring at his screen in confusion but also curiosity.

“I mean… you’re rich… don’t you have like… hobbies you can easily finance?” Ley answered. “But then again, you’re wealthy, so you’ve probably done all the hobbies out there.” 

Fuck… I really can’t control myself as much in the digital world, but he doesn’t seem to take offense at it… Ley internalizes.

“Yeah, sure," Felix responded, relieved that Ley answered the question himself.

“So… what do you do for fun now?” Ley questioned.

“Got any recommendations?” Felix answered.

“Uhm… What❓ Why do you ask❓” Ley responded, his brows furrowing as he stared intensely at Felix’s message.

“I mean, you seem to know how to have fun, based on the giggles and laughs I hear over the wall," Felix explained.

“😱 You’ve been observing me⁉️” Ley joked, smiling at his own joke.

“Funny,” Felix responded as he grinned at Ley’s joke.

“Anyways… the only fun I could recommend are series, movies, and anime that I’ve already watched,” Ley answered.

“That’s great. There’s a television here that I never use," Felix texted, relieved that he might be able to use the TV after all.

“You have a TV in your room???” Ley asked, though his message couldn’t express the curiosity and amazement bulging through him in his room.

“Every one of us does,” Felix answered casually.

“I see… makes sense, I guess," Ley responded. “Huh… I honestly don’t know what to recommend; my mind’s coming up blank.”

Fuck…! What series, movies, or anime do you even recommend to rich white boys??? Ley’s mind wandered around the room, glaring intensely at the dark ceiling of his room.

Shit. I’ve never done this before, especially with a trigger, but it’s my mission, especially after being informed that creating a positive relationship with the trigger is crucial by Mom. Felix pondered, staring at the bright screen of his phone.

Two minutes after Ley sent his last message, Felix decided to ask Ley a risky question.

“Why not come to my room? So that you can see what shows you could recommend personally," Felix asked.

 “Is that a joke…?” Ley asked in disbelief as he turned his head to the wall, glaring.

To be continued on next part...