As Lisa started the car, a voice from the backseat buzzed softly, almost like a mosquito, "How do you even know…"

The child was too awkward, leaving his sentence unfinished. Internally amused, Lisa maintained a serious demeanor. "So, do we have a deal? I'll tell you why if you agree to follow my lead for the next two weeks."

Silence filled the back seat again. After a moment, a hesitant, "Okay," floated forward.

"High school isn't as complicated as it seems," Lisa paused at a red light, her tone even and kind. "You have a rebellious streak, but you're not one to pick fights. With the Wilson family's backing, you don't need to scramble for petty wins. So, the simplest explanation would be something emotional."

Lisa continued to drive toward the Wilson estate. "Before I entered the office, I overheard some excited gossip from your class. They say your choice of girlfriend leaves much to be desired."

In simpler terms, his girlfriend had cheated on him. For some unfathomable reason, the girl had even gifted Alex a homemade matcha cake, and naturally, Alex blew up rather than handling it quietly.

The sting of betrayal was a hurdle every man struggled with, even teenagers. Lisa, though curious about the details of this teenage romance, pulled her thoughts back in check—after all, these were minors.

"You don't know anything!" came an impotent fury from the back.

"Mm-hmm, I know nothing," Lisa replied absent-mindedly. "Want to head to the lake?"

Alex was taken aback. He couldn't follow Lisa's train of thought, or perhaps ever since Lisa’s arrival, he felt inexplicably off-balance, cornered by fences at every turn.

"Since you agreed to listen to me, pack up at home. We'll head to the lakeside in an hour," Lisa instructed.

She stopped the car and turned to face the indignant teenager in the back. "A deal is a deal, right?"

"...Damn it!" Alex swore under his breath and stormed out, tugging angrily at his backpack strap.

He felt trapped, like a caged bird, with invisible bars marking every direction.

Lisa exited the car to retrieve her suitcase. Proud teenagers always stood by their word, even if they voiced occasional resistance. Having pinpointed his vulnerability, she gained the upper hand.

An hour later, Alex emerged, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, his expression as stormy as the dark suitcase trailing him.

Lisa nodded, smiling at him. "Care for another deal?"

Alex, exasperated, asked, "What now?"

"Let’s get along without making things difficult for each other," Lisa offered, accepting a box of fruit from the butler. "And I won't mention the matcha cake incident to Mr. Wilson."

Alex's chest heaved. He flung his suitcase into the trunk, slamming it shut.

"Deal?"

"Stop using him to get at me!" Alex stood tall before Lisa, looking down.

The cross at his ear dangled, gleaming in the sun like twinkling stars, amplifying his sulky charm.

Lisa took a moment to admire him before explaining, "Weaknesses are often exploited; it's an adult-world reality. Plus, my demands aren't unreasonable." That left Alex seething but unable to argue.

"So you plan to act like my mom?" Freed from his cloudy mood, Alex grinned mischievously. "I won't acknowledge you."

"You must've noticed something unusual about my approach," Lisa looked up at him in mild surprise. "Your acknowledgment isn’t necessary for my mission."

Alex appraised Lisa from head to toe, feigning appraisal. "The old man's taste really is worsening." 

—Although, truthfully speaking, it wasn't.

The woman had alabaster skin and delicate features. Her eyes were like clear mountain springs, and one look offered a refreshing relief, much like a cool drink on a sunny day.

She was neither strikingly bright nor seductively charming as current trends dictated, but possessed a serene grace akin to wild orchids by a hidden spring, untouched by the chaos of the world.

If only she weren’t so talkative.

Thinking this, Alex watched her as they continued to the airport. Lisa was unfazed, whisking him away on an impromptu journey.

After their flight, Lisa rented a car at the airport and drove to a hotel booked using the Wilson family’s VIP card.

In June, the lakeside air was warm. 

Alex, headphones in, leaned against the car door, the back of his hand resting on his chin—a picture of cinematic melancholy.

Lisa glanced at him with a smirk and silently rolled down the window.

The rushing lake breeze instantly dispelled his gloom, whisking his moody posture into disarray. Alex, veins pulsing on his forehead, yanked off his headphones, nearly shouting, “What now?”

"I was just reminding you," Lisa replied, calm as ever.

"To watch the sunset."

The orange-red sun hung where the sky kissed the lake, painting everything in warm hues. The water sparkled, its golden shimmer as ethereal as fluttering butterfly wings.

The lake breeze carried the scent of brine, the sound of waves crashing, distant bird calls.

"I built your walls around me  

white noise, what an..."