Akira stood up, brushing off the remnants of cold lake water from her skin. She took a deep breath and turned toward the camera she'd set up earlier. With a bright, victorious smile, she hit the stop button on the recording.
"Good job, me! Sure, it sucked to be rescued by that cold-faced jerk, but hey, mission accomplished. Alright, my betting money, here I come!"
After tidying herself up, she packed her equipment and left the serene lakeside behind. Her destination: Miran International Hotel, a hub for adventure and thrill-seekers like her.
The Hotel Lobby...
Inside the bustling lobby, a group of young adults surrounded Akira, their faces a mix of astonishment and disbelief as they watched the video she had recorded.
"Akira!" one of them exclaimed. "You're insane! What the hell were you thinking?"
"Jumping into an ice-cold lake when you can't even swim? Have you lost your mind?"
Akira smirked, her confidence radiating as she leaned casually against a pillar.
"Relax, guys. I've got it all under control. Now, let's talk about what really matters—pay up! You all lost the bet!"
The group groaned, reluctantly reaching for their wallets.
"Ugh, this is the fifth bet this week," one grumbled. "I swear, you're draining me dry."
Another chimed in, laughing, "We should've learned by now. No dare is too wild for Akira Samuel."
Akira flipped her hair dramatically. "What can I say? I'm a woman of my word. Besides, in a few days, you'll all be off to London, living the dream, while I'm stuck here. Consider this your parting gift to me."
Nathan, the team's vice leader, patted her head playfully. "Honestly, I'm glad I'll finally be free from your schemes. You're a demon, Akira—a money-sucking vampire."
"Hey, no one forced you to bet with me," she retorted with a grin. "Now hand over the cash!"
As the group continued their banter, one of the members nudged the others. "Heads up, boss alert. Emily's coming this way."
Emily, a no-nonsense middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and an air of authority, strode toward them in her signature white shirt and jeans. The group stiffened, their laughter fading as she approached.
"Morning, Ms. Emily," Akira greeted with a polite smile, though the glint in Emily's eyes told her the older woman wasn't buying the act.
"Listen up," Emily announced, her tone brisk. "Today's my day off, so I don't want to see any of you anywhere near here. But tomorrow, bright and early at seven, I expect all of you back and ready to work. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the group chorused.
As Emily turned to leave, Akira darted after her. "Captain, wait!"
Emily paused, clearly expecting Akira to follow. "What is it, Ms. Akira?"
Akira hesitated for a moment before speaking, her tone unusually respectful. "Have you reconsidered taking me with you to London?"
Emily smiled faintly but shook her head. "I have, and the answer is still no."
Without another word, she exited the lobby, leaving Akira standing there, stunned and fuming.
"Crazy woman," Akira muttered under her breath. "What's her deal? Just because she's the captain of the Discovery World Tour team doesn't mean she can dismiss me. I have potential too!"
Back in her hotel room, Akira flopped onto the bed, kicking off her shoes in frustration. Her piggy bank sat triumphantly on the table, filled with the day's winnings, but even that wasn't enough to shake her irritation.
"What a day," she grumbled. "First, that cold jerk ruins my mood, and now Emily."
Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. It was Rick, her fifth boyfriend of the year.
"Ugh, not again," she muttered before answering.
"Rick, we're over. Stop calling me."
"Come on, Akira," Rick pleaded. "It's been four months—how can you just throw me away like that?"
"Because I never loved you, okay? It was just a fling, so stop wasting my time."
Rick's voice turned bitter. "Fine, but mark my words—you'll fall in love one day, and when you do, karma's coming for you."
Akira rolled her eyes, hanging up and tossing her phone aside.
"No man can ever tie me down," she declared, stretching out on the bed.
As her thoughts wandered, she noticed the coat she'd been wearing earlier. It still smelled faintly of the mountains. She grabbed it, intending to throw it away, but something heavy fell from its pocket.
"A diary?" she murmured, picking it up.
The first page bore a name written in elegant handwriting: Sam Brook.
"Sam Brook," she repeated aloud. "Huh, so that's his name. Sounds familiar... but where have I heard it before?"
Curiosity piqued, she opened the diary.
The first entry caught her eye, the words flowing like poetry:
"I had lived twenty-five years of my life, but that day, it truly began. The first day of my love story. The first time I saw snow falling from a blue sky. And the first time I saw her—a fairy in a red gown, dancing in the snow."
Akira blinked, her heart skipping a beat. "A love story? From Mr. Ice Cold himself?"
As she read on, the words painted a vivid picture of a man's emotions—raw, unguarded, and heartbreakingly beautiful.
"Well, well," she mused, flipping the pages. "Maybe there's more to Mr. Sam Brook than meets the eye."