Life as a taxi driver was a daily hustle. Being a moderate-paying job that doesn't offer much to the driver, only those of low financial status would take up the business venture. It was current address getting dark, meaning that it was almost time for Amanda to head back home. The taxi business she worked from was called Dark Speed, an enterprise owned by a man whose true identity is unknown by the public, although he goes by the name Dark Horse.
Checking the time, she saw that it was almost seven. Driving the taxi back to a branch of the company established in Memph a couple years back, she got an Uber to drive her back home. Similar to the taxis, the Uber business was also headed by a mysterious CEO.
Arriving home, she made her way into the house, having only one thought in mind. Not thinking about anything else, she turned on the lights, only to receive a surprise.
"Happy birthday, big sis!" Jim yelled with a smile on his face as confetti shot up to the ceiling, slowly falling to the floor. On the kitchen table, there was a two-step cake which had her name written on the side. There were candles placed at the top as well.
Looking at everything, Amanda didn't know how to react. Although this wasn't the first time her brother had used his money to throw her a surprise birthday, this year's surprise was different. For one, the cake he had bought looked like it cost far more than his pocket money, and the extra confetti as well...
Today, Amanda Wesley was turning twenty-seven. Pushing those disturbing thoughts aside, she placed her handbag aside and blew off the candles, but not before making a wish. Everything may have seemed a bit extra, but that didn't mean she hated it.
Not caring about anything else, the siblings gorged themselves in baked flour and icing sugar. Later that night, they had fallen asleep, bellies filled with heavy calories. This was a usual birthday in the Wesley family. Although Jim would usually invite his friends, he couldn't since they weren't around, plus he didn't feel like inviting anyone else either, and neither did Amanda.
She had friends outside the neighborhood, but she didn't want any of them to visit her. In fact, she never told her friends her birth date since she wanted it to be a special day between her brother and whoever he chose to invite to the house, as long as the person is reasonable, of course.
As the two were busy spattering cake on their faces, trying to swallow down as much as possible, Jim had fully realized that his sister had turned twenty-seven. Looking at her, he had a thought in mind, but was far too afraid to ask her, remembering what had happened last time. It was her twenty-fifth birthday, and he had nearly lost a tooth from the tight slap she had given him after he had spoken.
Rubbing his cheek, he could still hallucinate the pain. Shaking his pain, he decided to keep his thought to himself.
'Why the heck are you gonna get married?!'
Jim was itching to finally have a brother in law, or a brother, at least. Being the only boy in the family made him feel sick, although Amanda was going through a similar pain. He wouldn't normally think this way, but he hoped that his sister would meet a rich man who will take care of her. He would usually add himself as well, but after realizing his current network, he was thinking of how he would take care of Sidney in the future instead, despite the fact that she comes from a well-off family.
Amanda was a strong-willed woman who didn't like her decisions being challenged, especially by someone very dare to her. She wouldn't hesitate to give him a good beating if he ever spoke out of line, which only steeled the respect he had for her. Even with his improved physical prowess as an undead, he didn't know whether he could hold a Kindle to her. That was the level of mental influence she had over him. Obviously, he could beat her in a fight, but his brain told him otherwise.
For now, he would simply have to hope that the perfect man would just waltz his way into her life soon enough and sweep her off her feet. He would gladly give the man his Blessing if he promises to treat his sister right. Amanda's gaze suddenly shifted to Jim, noticing he was thinking about something, but chose not to ask about it as she was too busy savouring the sugar.
[7 Days till the tournament]
There was also this weight on his back. Although he wanted this time to be a happy occasion, the system decided otherwise as this message kept on popping up. Of course, he was keeping up with his training, but not as much as before ever since Saturday. He had spent the day with his sweetheart, while today was spent doing mundane chores and hanging out with Kevin Hall.
He would also have to sign into the school's online platform tomorrow and continue his studies. Everything was happening so fast as the two eventually fell asleep. The next day, Jim offered to clean up the kitchen while Amanda made breakfast.
In the middle of breakfast, Amanda had suddenly asked Jim a question which had been weighing heavily on her mind since this money. Although he had told her that he had gotten a side hustle, she wanted to know more about it.
Swallowing hard, Jim began to explain. "Well, you see, two days before I left college, I signed into this online video game which allows me to exchange points for cash amongst other valuables. From winning a few rounds, I was able to get enough cash to organize a better birthday surprise for you yesterday."
Although the part about getting the cash wasn't a lie, the money have had used to organize everything had come from his gambling wins. Of course, he had no intention of telling her that. Amanda was a strong advocate of the law, and would disdain anyone she knew who felt otherwise. She was dear to him, and he couldn't bear to have her distance herself from him.
After breakfast, he had taken out his phone and signed into the website. Other than his usual classes, there was a separate platform made for those partaking in extracurricular activities. Signing into the one meant for martial arts, he was taken to a video classroom where everyone could see each other. The class went by smoothly, and once it was over, June started having thoughts of visiting his old high school.
Earlier today, Kevin had come over to his house just like yesterday. As the two passed time talking about their life experiences, he then told Jim of his younger sister who was now in her freshmen year of high school. Today, her and her classmates would be showcasing a presentation to the whole school, and outsiders as well were invited.
Although he felt like declining, he couldn't think of anything else to do, so he agreed to come along. Once his extracurricular activities were over, he got ready in a casual fit before ordering an Uber to KeyStone High. Pulling up in front of the school gate, although it hadn't been long, seeing the silver bird crest on the gates, had brought back some memories for him, but he didn't have to do much as his surpressed emotions took away the power those flashbacks once held.
Entering the building, he and Kevin were directed to the guest area. Kevin hadn't attended KeyStone High when he was younger. Instead, he had done his highschool in BlackBones City, while his sister was made to do hers in Memph City. It was expected that he didn't know his way around the building, but Jim offered to be his guide, making him seem less embarrassing as he directed him to where the usher told them to sit.
"Man, I'm so nervous. What if she doesn't impress the judges?" Kevin said, his hands shaking. Jim noticed this and told him to calm down and have faith in his sister. Remembering how he would usually calm Amanda down whenever she was nervous, he told Kevin that siblings are meant to believe in eachother no matter what.
Not long after, the event had commenced, and the freshmen students made their way onto the stage.