The next morning, Emma woke up feeling like she had stepped into someone else's life. A movie? Her? It felt surreal.
Her phone buzzed again—another message from Alex.
Alex: Meeting with the director tomorrow at noon. Be ready!
She swallowed hard, her nerves creeping in. What if she wasn't good enough? What if she embarrassed herself?
Roselle, sensing her unease, plopped onto the bed beside her. "You're freaking out, aren't you?"
Emma let out a shaky laugh. "Just a little."
Roselle nudged her. "You've already done the hard part—putting your music out there. This is just another adventure."
Emma exhaled. "Yeah… another adventure."
Meeting the Director
The next day, Emma and Roselle arrived at a sleek production office. Alex greeted them at the entrance, his grin wide. "You ready?"
Emma nodded, though her palms were sweating.
Inside, the director, a tall man with kind eyes, smiled as they entered. "Emma, it's great to meet you. We've been listening to Time and Future on repeat."
Emma blushed. "Wow, thank you."
He gestured to a seat. "We'd love to feature the song in a pivotal scene. And if you're up for it, there's a small role you'd be perfect for."
Emma hesitated. "What kind of role?"
"A singer at an open mic night. You'd perform Time and Future in the film."
Roselle's eyes widened. "Emma, that's perfect for you!"
Emma let the idea settle. It wasn't a huge acting role—just being herself, singing her song.
She met the director's gaze and took a deep breath. "I'd love to."
The director beamed. "Fantastic. We'll arrange everything. Welcome aboard, Emma."
As they left the office, Alex slung an arm around her shoulders. "Told you this would be huge."
Emma laughed, the nervousness fading into excitement. "Yeah. I think I'm ready for this."
And for the first time, she wasn't just dreaming about the future—she was stepping into it.
A few days later, Alex, Roselle, and Daniel received an invitation to their middle school class union. The event was being held at one of Daniel's 4-star restaurants, which had a breathtaking view of the city.
The three siblings were excited to reunite with their former classmates and catch up on old times. As they arrived at the restaurant, they were greeted by the sound of laughter and chatter.
Daniel, being the charismatic host, welcomed everyone and showed them to their seats. The restaurant was filled with familiar faces, all of whom were eager to reminisce about old times.
As they sat down at their table, Alex spoke up. "I'm so glad we're all here together. It feels like old times."
Roselle nodded in agreement. "We've been through thick and thin, and we've always come out stronger."
Daniel, who had been listening to the conversation, spoke up. "I have an announcement to make. As you all know, my restaurant has been doing well, and I've decided to open a new branch in the city."
The table erupted in cheers and applause, with everyone congratulating Daniel on his success.
As the night wore on, the siblings continued to chat and laugh, enjoying each other's company. They talked about their plans for the future, their dreams, and their aspirations.
It was a night to remember, a night that would go down in history as one of the most memorable class unions ever.
As the evening drew to a close, Alex stood up and raised his glass. "To old times, new beginnings, and the future. Cheers!"
The table echoed with cheers and applause, as the siblings clinked their glasses together, savoring the moment, and the memories they had shared.
Just as the siblings were clinking their glasses together, the door to the restaurant swung open and Cloud walked in, accompanied by his wife and four children. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the new arrivals.
Cloud, once the notorious troublemaker of their middle school days, now looked like a completely different person. He was dressed in a crisp suit, his hair neatly trimmed, and a warm smile on his face. He radiated an air of confidence and responsibility, and his eyes shone with a sense of pride as he gazed at his family.
His wife, a beautiful woman with a kind smile, was chatting with their children, who were bubbling with excitement. The kids, two boys, and two girls, were all dressed in matching outfits, and their eyes sparkled with curiosity as they took in the sights and sounds of the restaurant.
Cloud's eyes scanned the room, and when they landed on Alex, Roselle, and Daniel, a wide grin spread across his face. He made his way over to their table, his family in tow.
"Hey, guys!" Cloud boomed, his voice echoing through the restaurant. "Long time no see!
Everybody was taken aback by Cloud's humble demeanor, and Daniel, being the warm and welcoming person he was, greeted Cloud with a hearty handshake and a smile.
"Cloud, it's great to see you, man!" Daniel exclaimed. "Come join us! We're catching up on old times."
Cloud smiled warmly, but declined the invitation. "Actually, I'm here to spend more time with my family," he said, gesturing to his wife and children. "Thanks for the offer, though."
The table fell silent, with everyone looking at Cloud in surprise. This was not the Cloud they remembered from middle school. The old Cloud would have never put family time above socializing with friends.
Alex, being the curious one, couldn't help but ask, "Cloud, what's behind the change? You seem... different."
Cloud's smile grew wider, and his eyes sparkled with a sense of contentment. "I've just realized what's truly important in life," he said. "My family, my relationships... these are the things that bring me joy and fulfillment."
The table erupted in a chorus of "awwws" and applause, with everyone congratulating Cloud on his newfound priorities. As Cloud and his family took their seats at a nearby table, the siblings couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration and respect for their former classmate.
After Cloud and his family seated themselves at a nearby table and began ordering their food, Daniel couldn't help but let out a chuckle. He nudged his sister Roselle, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Roselle raised an eyebrow, curious about what had amused her brother. But as soon as she followed Daniel's gaze to Cloud's table, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Wow," Roselle breathed. "Cloud's really... settled down."
Daniel's grin grew wider. "I know, right? I remember when he asked you out on a date back in middle school."
Roselle's face turned a light shade of pink as she recalled the memory. "Oh, yeah... I declined, of course."
Just then, one of their classmates, Chin, spoke up. "You know, Cloud's wife is not from around here."
Roselle's curiosity was piqued. "Really? Where's she from?"
Chin smiled. "The US. I heard Cloud met her while he was studying abroad."
The table fell silent, with everyone looking at Cloud's wife with newfound interest. She was indeed a beautiful woman, with a warm smile and sparkling eyes. And as Cloud gazed at her adoringly, it was clear that he was deeply in love.
One of Cloud's daughters, a curious and precocious young girl, had been watching the commotion at Daniel's table. She tugged on Cloud's sleeve, signaling him to look.
Cloud followed his daughter's gaze, and his eyes met the stares of his former classmates. He knew exactly why they were looking at him - the memories of middle school still lingered, and Cloud's past behavior was still fresh in their minds.
But instead of looking embarrassed or defensive, Cloud simply laughed. His wife, taken aback by his sudden amusement, turned to him with a questioning expression.
"What's so funny?" she asked, her voice low and curious.
Cloud's laughter subsided, and he smiled warmly at his wife. "Just some old memories," he said, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
His wife's expression turned puzzled, but Cloud just squeezed her hand reassuringly. He knew that his past was just that - the past. And he was happy to leave it behind, surrounded by the love and support of his family.