The crews hustled up and down, meticulously inspecting the LED lighting and ensuring the seating arrangement could accommodate up to a thousand people. Vans arrived in quick succession, carrying boxes filled with the essential props for the music show later. Hasty footsteps echoed all around as the clock continued to tick away. A multitude of tasks had yet to be completed.Kyle was the second last to perform. He casually grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the box beside him as he waited for them to setup for his rehearsal. Standing at the corner of the stage, he stared across the vacant spaces laid in the open with a longing gaze. He wondered if she would show up tonight. "Brandon, is the pen drive with you?" A guy with spiky hair and torn jeans shouted from the side wing, his voice cutting through the loud, ongoing beats."It's on the black table! Put it on now, Leo!" As soon as the melancholic rhythm drifted to Kyle's ears, a thick and sour lump formed in his throat. The bottl

The streets were dimly lit, and the stars gradually lost their twinkle as they disappeared behind the thick, gray clouds. A gentle wind, tinged with a hint of chill, brushed against her skin, sending a peculiar tingle down her spine. It took her a moment to realize it wasn't because of the breeze, but the fact that Kyle was still holding onto her hand, and she showed no signs of telling him to let go. Standing in front of a metal guardrail that separated the land from the shimmering lake, he asked, "Why... Why are you hiding from me, Clover? I don't understand. What did I do wrong?" "You did nothing wrong," she muttered, finally twisting her wrist to break free from him. "Then why won't you stay?" "Because it's not meant to be that way." "What do you mean by that?" Kyle pointed to his heart, his tears seeping in from the corners of his eyes. "You're everywhere inside here. Without you with me, I can barely keep it beating." "Kyle, I—" He took a step closer to her. "I like you, C

Rolling down the tinted car window, Kyle glanced across the road at a place he used to enter without needing any reason. The door was shut. No queues. No crowds. It gave off a feeling that it was close to being abandoned. Its glory was gone in a single day, shattered heavily by the online controversy. "Brandon." "Hmm?" Brandon looked in the rearview mirror and met his broken gaze."Do you know what's my biggest regret?" Kyle asked. He shook his head, taking the second turn at the roundabout. "Eagering to become an adult." Kyle let out a soft, painful laugh. "If I had known that it would be this complicated, I would never have wished to grow up fast when I was a kid.” Brandon sighed. "Time doesn't speed or slow down for anyone, buddy." As the car drove past the back of the café, Kyle noticed that the door was opened ajar. He was stunned for a moment before he hurriedly asked Brandon to stop. Tears seeped in from the corners of his eyes when he caught sight of one of the tall figu

The air hung heavy with a peculiar, musty smell, enveloping her in the clammy atmosphere. Each of her limbs was cruelly tied wide apart, leaving her vulnerable and exposed. Yes, Clover was undeniably awake, acutely aware of her dire situation. Her fingers subconsciously recoiled as water droplets seeped from tiny cracks above and fell onto them. The drug's effects were starting to wear off, and she slightly regretted that it did.She craned her neck to look out of the glass panel on the steel block that confined her. Two men were there; one on the left, and the other on the right.A continuous shudder coursed through her veins, every second reminded her that she was awake and was more conscious than ever. She shut her eyes, struggling to stop them from flickering. A glimmer of light shone onto her lids as the gray door opened, accompanied by the ominous sound of steps approaching. She dared not picture who they belonged to. Her heart leaped to her throat, and her muscles tensed. The

The middle-sized rented room reeked of aged furniture, a blend of alcohol and cigarette smoke lingering in the air.Frowning, Stella waved her hand over her nose as she glanced around, disgusted with the smell. In one corner, the uncleaned pans and pots were left huddled with the trash. Meanwhile, on the bed was a jumble of inside-out T-shirts that were stained by broths. Kyle took each step with full precaution. If he accidentally tripped and fell, he might need to spend hours in the bathroom getting rid of the stench. Obviously, this didn't seem to be the living place of a normal person, let alone the manager of a superstar. "Check around and see if we can find anything," Kyle said, casting a wary look at the broken cupboard that seemed to be toppling at any moment.As he pulled it open, a rusted hinge clinked to the ground, and a wave of musty clothes tumbled onto him within seconds. He flopped onto the bed, his hands now smeared with an unknown green slime—totally gross. Danise