Ley's silent footsteps echoed the fast-beating hearts of the students who kept their eyes on him as he walked over to the last row where the Star Triad sat.

"May I sit here?" Ley asked Mikayla, who was sitting at the center of the row with Felix and Jay.

The students who were watching the interaction and even the driver paused out of fear as they waited for Mikayla's answer, terrified that she might answer with hostility.

But Mikayla knew to accept and agree with Ley's question with elegance and grace, knowing that Felix needs her to.

"Sure," Mikayla answered, her tone basking in friendliness.

The once terrified students observing Ley became amazed with how he was able to sit in the row where the Star Triad sat.

No one has ever sat with the Star Triad unless it's with another star. A student journalist, watching behind, thought so.

Ley took the window seat near Felix's right because it was the only seat that he'd be comfortable enough to take, as he's the only friend he has on the bus.

And so, just as Felix and Ley were the first ones to be picked up by the school, they were also the first ones to be dropped off at their house.

Everybody on the bus kept their gazes at Ley and Felix even after stepping off the bus, hovering in their seats as they got off.

There they finally confirmed the rumor—that Ley was a Smith by association, having been adopted by the Smiths—the moment they entered the Smith residence.

"I should probably get to my room," Felix said as his attitude becomes more comfortable after entering the house, away from the eyes of Goltear's students.

"You're already going to study, huh?" Ley exhaled.

"Yeah, why?" Felix curiously asked. "Are you planning on doing something different?"

"Well, I'm not going to study, that's for sure," Ley joked. "But I am going to have a meryenda."

"Mer–yen–da?" Felix said confusedly, giving Ley a puzzled look.

"Oh, sorry. I flipped my words," Ley smiled widely, explaining. "It's just the Tagalog word for 'snack,' which means I'm having a snack."

"What was that smile?" Felix questioned, offended by Ley's expression.

"Sorry," Ley apologized. "But the way you said 'meryenda' with an accent was cute, and I couldn't help myself."

"I see," Felix embarrassedly replied.

"Well... I was going to invite you to a snack, but I forgot I don't have any money," Ley said disappointedly. "And it's not like you're going to accept the invitation even if I did have the money."

"What does that mean?" Felix asked, furrowing his brows as he waited for Ley's answer.

"Hmm... I would love to eat pepperoni pizza right now," Ley mumbled.

"I'll order you one," Felix said instantly. "But you'll have to give me an answer."

There it is! He's quite easy. Ley softly smirked.

"Really? Thanks,' Ley said innocently as he immediately went straight to the kitchen dining table.

Felix quickly picked up his phone from his pocket to order one large pepperoni pizza so he could follow Ley onto the kitchen.

"What did you mean by that back there?" Felix asked Ley, having only finished placing the order a second ago.

"Pizza first, then I answer," Ley replied as he moved around the kitchen area, grabbing two glasses, filling them with ice from the freezer, and placing one of the glasses in front of Felix.

Frustrated by the wait he had to do before getting an answer from Ley, Felix kept watching as Ley poured the coke into the ice-filled glass in front of him.

"Yes... It's really better if you drink Coke standing up," Ley exclaimed as he stood with Felix beside the dining table.

Hearing the sound of the doorbell, Felix hastily marched toward the door to grab the pizza order to bring to the kitchen.

"Wow, that was really fast," Ley said as he watched Felix come with the pizza, placing it on the dining table.

"No answer, no pizza," Felix declared, putting his hand on top of the pizza box, stopping Ley from grabbing a slice.

"Well played," Ley smiled. "But all I should say is that you're strict with yourself."

Strict? That doesn't make sense. I mean, I follow a routine and want to do it that way, but it doesn't mean I'm strict. It just means I'm disciplined. Felix pondered.

"Don't you mean disciplined?" Felix questioned as he watched Ley grab and eat a slice of pepperoni pizza.

Wow... he looks very curious about this. I guess I was right. Ley stared at Felix, gulping the pizza in his mouth to answer. "Not really. And you haven't taken a pizza slice."

Is he changing the topic so he doesn't have to answer? Felix questioned.

"I probably shouldn't have started this conversation," Ley said, grabbing another pizza slice from the box. I probably shouldn't have. It just bothers me to see the same situation for someone I know.

"Okay. If I eat a slice, then would you answer me?" Felix suggested.

"Nope," Ley firmly answered. "Because my answer might definitely come off as rude and insensitive."

"Let me hear it first before deciding that," Felix insisted.

"Alright, fine," Ley said defeatedly. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

"It's just that... I don't think you reward yourself," Ley said. "Not because you're disciplined but... because you feel like you don't deserve to have a reward."

He's... right. I don't reward myself, but that's not because I feel like I don't deserve to have a reward, but because I haven't achieved anything worth rewarding. Felix thought.

Shit... This is why I don't like being an oversharer and extremely observant. It's because I do this kind of thing. Ley pondered, hesitating to chew the pizza on his mouth.

"Hey... I'm genuinely sorry if it upsets you," Ley apologized, giving Felix a concerned look. "It's just a dumb observation thing that's probably not true."

"That's just the thing. You're probably right." Felix smiled. "But it's fine. I'm not really upset or offended about it."

"I see..." Ley exhaled, relieved after hearing Felix's assurance.

"I was just surprised by what you've said," Felix said. "It's just that no one had ever said anything negative about me."

"Ahh... I could tell from the way everyone treats you at school," Ley mentioned. "You were like a bully everyone was terrified of."

"It's not really like that," Felix instantly said, hoping Ley doesn't misinterpret.

"Heh... really?" Ley asked doubtfully. "Then can you explain why everyone treats you like one?"

"It's just that we're the richest family in this village," Felix said panickedly. "So everyone treats us as if we're above anything else."

"I... figured that out." Ley slowly smiled. "It's just so fun getting a reaction like that from you."

"Wow... you're conniving. You know that, right?" Felix bantered.

"Maybe," Ley said as he continued chewing on his pizza, raising his eyebrows to give Felix a playful look. "You should grab a slice, my treat."

Faced with Ley's deep conversation and insistence through humorous banter, Felix grabbed a pizza slice, chewing and smiling as he stood with Ley.

After Ley ate his pizza slices and Felix his two slices in silence, sitting in front of each other, the two immediately went to their room.

In his room, Felix restudied the material taught by Mr. Mendoza in English class because he had been too busy observing Ley to attentively listen.

While Ley, who didn't need to study, as he already knew the materials from front to back, went back to his leisure activities.

Before time approached seven in the evening, the time when the Smiths dine. Mrs. Smith gathered everyone via message through a newly made group chat.

While the dinner at the Smith household was a rare occurrence, it was an instant priority if insisted upon by Mrs. Smith, so if everyone is told to be there, everyone will be there.

"So how's your first day, dear?" Mrs. Smith enthusiastically asked Ley. "Were you able to make friends?"

"School was fun, Mrs. Smith," Ley politely answered. "And I was able to make friends from a club I joined."

"That's great news, honey," Mrs. Smith happily said. "Though I have something to tell you, honey."

"For you to benefit as a Smith adjacent, you will have your own custom credit card with an abundant balance," Mrs. Smith declared, pulling out a black-colored card made of platinum for everyone to see.

"Oh. I appreciate the offer, but... I don't think I'm comfortable enough taking anything more from this family than I already have," Ley said respectfully.

"The Smiths have a reputation to uphold as the richest family, and the village will talk if we let you walk around penniless," Mrs. Smith said suggestively. "Besides, it won't be for free. You will have to keep your grades at a satisfactory level for it."

"I see. Then, of course, Mrs. Smith," Ley replied. "The last thing I want to do is to jeopardize the Smith family's reputation."

"But may I ask something?" Ley asked Mrs. Smith.

"Sure, honey. Ask away," Mrs. Smith responded.

"Is it okay for me to hang out with my new friends tomorrow?" Ley carefully asked. "Or is that not okay with the house's curfew?"

"It's no problem, hon," Mrs. Smith answered. "And the house doesn't have a curfew, so you can come home anytime you want. Just tell Felix so he can let us know."

After the dinner ended, Ley went upstairs inside his room with now a new custom-built credit card engraved with shiny gold text of his name.

As Ley held his custom credit card on his left hand, something captured his attention. It was the black-colored platinum ring engraved with his name worn on his middle finger. A ring that was specifically bought by his mother.

I have finally met people with superpowers. Just like me. Which means I'm one step closer to my goal. Ley happily sighed.

Thank you for reading The Wind To Your Mist Chapter 10! Hope you enjoyed!