The environment at the house was starting to get a little better with each conversation with Aunt Marie, who seemed like a joyful and warm woman.
"My name is Samy. It's nice to meet you, Uncle Joe… and Aunt Marie," said Samy.
"We're glad to meet you too, Samy," Marie said warmly. "Now then, let's start fresh. Would you like some tea?"
Samy shook his head politely.
"I'd love to, but I have to go to college soon. I should head home first so I don't get late."
Marie looked surprised.
"College? But isn't today supposed to be a holiday?"
"It is," Samy replied calmly, "but we have a program tomorrow, so I've got some work to finish."
From the side, Joe spoke in a low voice,
"Or are you just trying to run away?"
Samy froze for a second.
"Oh, don't mind him," Marie said quickly with a smile.
"Your uncle loves to joke."
Samy let out an awkward laugh.
"Right… How about I leave my number with you?" he added. "You can contact me later about helping your daughter."
He handed it over like it was a peace treaty—then immediately made his escape and quickly left their house.
🏠 Back home
After leaving Uncle Joe and Aunt Marie's house, Samy finally returned home—only to be immediately interrogated by his sister, Anna.
"Where did you run off to so early in the morning?" she demanded, her voice hitting like a police siren.
"And care to explain why you left your phone with an alarm blasting, like you're trying to summon a demon at 6am? Do you realize you just ruined my sleep on a holiday?"
Samy, completely unbothered, whispered the only demon I know is you, I guess I did summon one.
Anna gave a sharp stare at him. What did you say?
Samy slipped off his show like nothing happened
"Yeah, yeah… sorry. Won't happen again."
He paused.
"By the way… do you know if someone can get into trouble for unintentionally trespassing on someone's property?"
Anna narrowed her eyes.
"Why would you want to know that?" She crossed her arms. "Don't tell me you broke into someone's house."
"It's not breaking in," Samy said quickly.
"It's more like… accidental entry under pressure."
"Samy." Anna said his name, already suspicious.
"Okay, fine!" Samy sighed and explained everything—the dog, the tree, the guava, the fall… and the uncle.
By the time he finished, Anna was clutching her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
"You… climbed a tree… got accused of theft… and fainted?"
Samy stared at her.
"I almost died."
Anna wiped her eyes.
"No," she said, still laughing,
"you almost got arrested over a guava."
After calming down ''So what's the name of the daughter you're supposed to take care of?" she asked.
Samy calmly said,
"I don't know. I didn't bother asking."
Anna looked at him in disbelief.
"You don't even know the name of the girl you're supposed to take care of? This is the reason why you're single."
Annoyed by the comment, Samy replied,
"It's not like I'm trying to find someone. I'm being forced to look after her, so I don't have a choice in this. Honestly, I just consider myself lucky to get out of it without facing legal charges."
At that moment, Samy's phone started to buzz with an unknown number. Without thinking, he picked it up—it was Aunt Marie.
Since he was going to college later that day, they wanted him to take their daughter along and show her around.
Samy couldn't refuse, especially since it was Aunt Marie asking. His tone softened as he responded.
Anna smirked.
"So you're saying you would've refused if Uncle Joe asked?"
Samy looked at her, slightly scared.
"No way. That uncle is terrifying."
"But I don't have time to be someone's guide today. I have a lot to do… What am I going to do now?" he muttered.
Anna suggested,
"I can take your place today… if you promise to do something for me later."
Samy knew Anna wouldn't ask for anything easy—but he didn't really have a choice. So he agreed Under compulsion.
Later, Samy and Anna headed to Uncle Joe and Aunt Marie's house.
When they arrived, Samy called out to them. As Aunt Marie came outside, Samy quickly explained that he was in a hurry and asked if his sister could take over as their daughter's guide for the day.
Anna reassured her,
"I'm also a graduate from the same college, so I'd actually be a better guide—especially since we're both girls."
Hearing that, Aunt Marie agreed.
Samy quickly left for college, not even bothering to see what their daughter looked like.
🎓 At the college
Samy finally reached the college, breathing heavily.
"Why are you late?" Theo asked, leaning against the wall.
"I had some… business to take care of," Samy replied, still catching his breath.
Theo raised an eyebrow.
"Business?"
Samy straightened up.
"Don't ask."
Theo smirked.
"That already sounds bad."
Samy ignored him.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yeah," Theo said.
"We've been waiting for you."
"Exactly—we've been waiting for you like background characters waiting for the his majesty to arrive on his own time," Julia said spitefully.
Theo tried to calm her down.
"Come on, let him breathe. He already looks bad enough."
Julia scoffed.
"I mean, just look at him. He's been late for practice three days straight. Is he looking down on us, or what is this behavior, should we roll a red carpet for him next time?
Samy patted her head.
"Calm down, my little pressure cooker. Enough blowing off steam. I'm sorry—it won't happen again."
"There is no next time," Ellie said firmly.
"Tomorrow is the program. Today is our final practice."
Samy nodded.
"I'm sorry. I ran into some problems."
"As long as you're here, let's not drag this any further," Ellie said.
"Get into positions. We're still slightly off rhythm—we'll try to perfect it today."
Everyone moved into place.
Theo stood beside Julia, already stretching his shoulders, while Samy took his position across from Ellie.
The music started.
They moved in sync—steps forward, a quick turn, then back into formation.
Theo and Julia were sharp and precise, their movements clean and practiced.
Meanwhile, Samy and Ellie were slightly off. Though it looked fine to an outside observer, the mismatch was noticeable to them. Ellie moved just a bit faster, while Samy struggled to keep up.
They kept adjusting, slowly improving.
After a while, they got tired and decided to take a short break.
Samy stepped out to get some drinks to refresh themselves. On the way, he passed by others preparing the stage for tomorrow. From a distance, he spotted Anna—and beside her, a girl with wolf cut.
The girl seemed really pretty. So she must be Uncle Joe and Aunt Marie's daughter? he wondered.
He continued walking toward the shop, bought water and some juice, and headed back.
On the way, Anna caught up with him.
"Did you see your client?" she asked.
Yeah I saw her from a far earlier, sam said.
"She's actually really pretty. Try not to act weird in front of her." Anna added.
Samy, unbothered, kept walking.
"Like I'm ever weird. I'm the most normal person ever."
Anna grabbed his collar and stopped him, snatch some of his juice bottles. "I'll be taking this."
"Hey, no fair! I bought that—go get your own," Samy protested.
"This is the least you can do for me helping you," Anna replied.
"Does that mean I don't have to keep my promise anymore?" Samy asked hopefully.
"Shut up. You still owe me one more thing later. This is just a bonus."
"Now go back. I'll handle things here for a while."
Annoyed, Samy walked back to the practice room.
Unbelievable… robbed in broad daylight by my own sister.
When he entered, they had already resumed the practice. But something felt different.
There was someone new.
A girl he didn't recognize.
A very pretty girl.
Ellie glanced at Theo.
"Let's try that move again," she said.
"Em, Julia—watch us and tell us if anything feels off."
Samy stepped in just then.
"Come on, Theo, why are you stealing my girl? Aren't you happy with your pressure cooker?"
"What did you just call me?!" Julia snapped.
"Relax," Samy said with a grin.
"You're about to explode—that's exactly why I call you that."
"I will explode on your face," Julia muttered.
Em smiled at their bond.
Ellie sighed.
"We're just testing different pairings. And I'm not your girl."
Theo walked past Samy and grabbed a juice bottle.
"You brought drinks? Finally useful," he said.
"Come on, let's take five."
Ellie hesitated, then nodded.
"Fine. Just five minutes."
Samy glanced toward the unfamiliar girl.
"Who's she?" he asked.
Ellie followed his gaze.
"Oh… she's our new friend, we call her Em."
Samy walked over.
"Hi," he said casually.
"I'm Samy."
The girl looked at him—calm, quiet.
"Nice to meet you," she said softly.
"She's just helping us watch from the audience's perspective," Ellie added.
Samy nodded slightly.
"I see… so you're into dance too?"
Em paused for a moment before answering.
"Sometimes," she said.
"Mostly… at home."
Samy tilted his head slightly.
"That's oddly vague… but you—!"
Before Samy could finish his sentence, Julia suddenly charged at him.
"The mango juice is mine! "
She snatched two bottles without hesitation.
"Hey—those are mine!" Samy protested.
Ellie walked over right after, calmly picking one for herself as if it was already hers.
"Thanks," she said, not even looking at him.
Samy sighed, defeated.
Yeah… this team is chaos.
Accepting his fate, he picked up another bottle and held it out toward Em.
"…Here."
Em looked at it for a moment before taking it.
"Thank you," she said softly.