## Time Flies
Time flies, too fast, as if it were in an endless race. Only a few days remained until the start of classes, and the anticipation hung in the air like a thick fog. For me, Nael, and my sister Nayara, there was one consolation: we would both be studying at the same college. I, the younger brother, would be starting my first year, while Nayara was already in her third. We often complained that the other students were not up to par.
— I could teach the teachers themselves! — I joked one day, my voice full of sarcasm.
Nayara laughed, but her laughter had a tone of challenge:
— Only if you manage to pass the first semester!
It was a crazy dynamic, but filled with love in our own way. Our mother, Célia, believed it was essential for us to interact with people our age. For her, it didn't matter if we went to school just to study; what mattered was the socializing. Although she could hire private tutors, she preferred to enroll us in a private school where the children of the world's largest organizations studied.
In the days that followed, the tension between us and our mother increased. After a stern sermon about our low grades, we found ourselves grounded.
— You need to understand that it's not just about fun! — she said with a worried expression that seemed to weigh down on us like a dark cloud.
In truth, we only cared because she was our mother; we didn't enjoy socializing; at home, punishment felt more like a reward than a real punishment. As time passed — it had been over six months since classes began — life had stabilized. Nayara and I reconciled our relationship; she shot first:
— You're an idiot!
But I countered with a mischievous smile:
— And you're crazy!
Things improved between us; we often took walks together in the nearby park.
— Come on, let's go together! — Nayara invited me enthusiastically on a sunny afternoon while the leaves of the trees danced gently in the wind.
Our mother was radiant to see her children getting along. She reserved moments to talk with us.
— How was your day? — Celestia always asked with a warm smile that lit up her face.
The connection between mother and daughter was fluid and natural. However, the problem persisted with me. I struggled to forgive my mother for an abandonment that still hurt me deeply.
— You still haven't forgiven me? — Celestia asked one time, her voice heavy with expectation.
I looked away and replied:
— It's not that simple.
### Training and Technology
Nayara and I trained together whenever we could at the park near our home. The sun shone brightly as we ran on the lush green grass; the smell of damp earth mixed with the perfume of wildflowers around us. She often wondered how I could keep up with her physical activities; I seemed just like any normal human.
— How do you run so much? — she asked breathlessly after an intense run, her hair sticking to her forehead from sweat.
Our mother had suggested that I accept nanobots to improve my performance, but I vehemently refused.
— I don't want any technology in my blood! — I asserted firmly while looking up at the deep blue sky.
Celestia was disappointed by my decision.
— I just want what's best for you! — she insisted, her worried gaze reflecting her internal struggle between protection and freedom.
Nayara knew there was something special about me; even with nanobots, she would never be able to win in our friendly competitions.
— One of these days I'll tell you — I promised when she asked about my physical performance, feeling a twinge of mystery in my words.
### The Black Company
At Black Company, things were improving considerably; they had reached the top 3 of the most successful companies in the tech sector. New innovations were being implemented as they got closer to creating a virtual world where people could feel everything as if it were real life. The walls of the company were adorned with bright screens displaying constantly moving graphs; the atmosphere was charged with creative electricity and unrestrained ambition.
Black formed a partnership with a game development company — an area in which they had little experience — but they were determined to expand their horizons. However, this ambition brought more enemies than friends. Celestia only wanted to protect her children as we navigated this turbulent sea of global power and ambition.
The world was filled with powerful women like Celestia: the queen of the underworld, the lady of crime, and the queen of business — all had their own empires and interests. With so many forces at play, anyone seeking to dominate the world needed to be ruthless and without weaknesses; otherwise, they would be eliminated by other relentless organizations.
The two girls responsible for the company visited our mansion several times and quickly hit it off with Nayara. However, I remained distant and enigmatic; my reserved nature intrigued our visitors. The air was always thick with tension when they were around; it felt as if secrets were hidden beneath superficial smiles.
### School Life
Six months had passed since the start of the school year, and Nayara had formed ties with some students from Chinese-American and Italian mafia backgrounds — an environment considered a "cesspool of crime." Despite appearances being chaotic and constant furtive glances exchanged among bolder students, school life wasn't as hectic as everyone imagined.
I wasn't invisible at school; although many ignored me due to my peculiar way of being — a Black boy amidst a homogeneous crowd — I didn't care that much. The school year progressed while I maintained my nerdy style: long white hair cascading past my shoulders like an untamed waterfall.
Over time, my family began to realize that this nerdy look didn't reflect my true striking beauty — expressive eyes and unique features that attracted admiring glances from girls at school. A sunny day brought unexpected challenges when someone tried to bully me at school.
Nayara arrived like a storm:
— Get away! What do you want with my brother?
She bravely defended me while throwing punches at my aggressors:
— You're all cowards!
I watched everything calmly; after living peacefully for a year, I was starting to relax too much amidst rising tension around me.
Time truly heals wounds; perhaps this was an undeniable truth. For the first time, I began to feel something for someone: Sara, known as "the princess of crime," Nayara's best friend. It was clear that this crush would bring complications — she had a reputation for having been involved with almost every boy at school, each story surrounding her echoing with malicious laughter and furtive glances in brightly lit hallways.
A fateful day led us to share an unexpected kiss in the school garden; her lips were sweet like fresh fruit — a unique experience for both amid adolescent chaos. However, this initial connection soon transformed into something more complicated when Sara began seeing me merely as an object of pleasure amidst her fleeting emotional adventures.
### The Conflict
At Nayara's party for her friends from school, I arrived reluctantly amidst the deafening noise of loud music and effervescent laughter. The atmosphere was illuminated by colorful lights flashing to the rhythm of electronic music echoing against walls decorated with vibrant balloons floating like lost dreams in the heavy air of expectation. As I searched for my sister among animated crowds dancing under pulsating lights, I spotted Sara coming out of the bathroom alongside Ivan, the son of the Russian mafia boss — both appeared clumsy and visibly altered by drink and party adrenaline.
A mix of anger and disgust washed over me as I realized how naive I'd been to think it could be different for Sara. When I found my sister again, I tried to stay calm while informing her about our mother's desire to talk to us.
— Mom wants to talk to us… said it's something important — I said as calmly as possible while scanning around trying to avoid any unnecessary confrontation amidst all that confusion.
Nayara quickly noticed something had changed in my gaze:
— What happened?
I said nothing until noticing Sara returning hand-in-hand with Ivan. She looked very upset but soon calmed down:
— Hello brother-in-law! — Ivan said sarcastically while looking at me with evident disdain in his coal-black eyes.
Nayara frowned upon seeing this:
— Let's go home! This is getting boring and I'm starting to get nervous!
Ivan smiled maliciously:
— The baby wants to talk to mommy!
One of his friends added mockingly:
— Well, I'm not going to let this slide! Ivan you should call him daddy; he slept with your mom!
Nayara quickly replied:
— I'll kill you, you bastard!
Ivan tried to punch her in the face:
— As I thought… pathetic!
I watched everything indifferently until Ivan came toward me:
— What did you say, you bastard?
He tried hitting me again; I dodged calmly:
— I thought you'd keep playing pathetic!
Nayara let out a sarcastic laugh while observing all that drama unfold before my tired eyes filled with accumulated tension throughout all that time:
— Let's go home! I hate drama!
I glanced at Sara before heading home:
— Your mom must hate you guys right? — Ivan taunted sarcastically as we walked toward the exit of the party illuminated by intense spotlight beams.
I responded coldly as I approached him:
— Humm… Didn't hear you right…
— After all… everyone knows your mom has been f****** like a w****…
Before he could finish his sentence about our mothers, I threw a punch breaking his nose instantly; before anyone realized what was happening, I'd already broken one of his arms and some ribs in an explosive surge of adrenaline contained within me.
— Don't test my limits — I said with an indifferent expression; moments like this required absolute emotional control as we observed surprised looks from other guests at the pulsating party illuminated by vibrant music.
As we left the party under surprised gazes from other guests still stunned by our sudden conflict unfolding before them, I felt an intense mix of relief and determination within me. I would no longer be seen merely as an innocuous nerd; now I knew that I had enough strength to protect those who truly mattered to me in this chaotic world filled with hidden intrigues lurking in shadows cast by complex human relationships.