NOVEL NEXT Chapter 102: 1 Day Left!
The classroom buzzed with quiet murmurs as the teacher adjusted her glasses, the kind of glasses that made her look like she could see straight into your soul.
She smacked her marker against the board and spoke in a tone so serious it could've made a comedian stop laughing.
"Next week's test will determine a significant portion of your credits for this term," she declared, her tone deadly serious. "So, I suggest you start preparing. This test is not just important—it's crucial to your academic success!"
The words hit the class like a punch. Students exchanged panicked looks, some frantically scribbling notes, while others sank lower in their seats.
The words "crucial" and "academic success" sent ripples of panic through the students.
But not Hugo.
Hugo sat slumped in his seat, his gaze unfocused, staring blankly at a spot somewhere above the teacher's head.
He wasn't thinking about the test. No, he wasn't even in the classroom mentally. His head was somewhere much darker.
To anyone else, he might've looked bored. But inside? Inside, he was screaming.
Using his mind, he flicked open his System interface. A glowing red timer hovered in front of him: 1 day remaining.
One. Day. Left.
The fear hit him like a tidal wave. His heart raced, his palms went clammy, and a lump formed in his throat.
A light nudge at his side jolted him slightly, and he turned to see Loli, the girl who sat beside him, peering at him with big, curious eyes. Explore stories on empire
"Hugo, do you have an extra pen?" she asked, tilting her head.
He didn't even blink. Her voice was like background noise, drowned out by the whirlwind of panic in his head.
'One day? he thought, his pulse pounding in his ears. I only have one day left! How did it come to this?' he thought, staring blankly at the countdown in his mind.
He'd done everything—everything!—to try and beat the mission in the past few days. But every attempt had ended in failure.
The past few days had been a complete disaster.
Lisa? Gone. The sexy latina had skipped town some days back, running errands for Sanchez, leaving Hugo high and dry.
And Sanchez? Oh, he had disappeared on some mysterious errand, offering no advice except the usual, "Be patient, don't rush things."
Jessica? Too busy with her never ending tennis practices. She barely had time to breathe, let alone hang out.
Tennis practice had her schedule locked tighter than a bank vault.
Lily? Don't even get him started. Volleyball practice had her running from dawn till dusk. The sport was apparently her entire world now.
And the other girls? The ones he'd been texting? They were moving at the pace of a snail trapped in glue.
They were dragging their feet like they had all the time in the world. Meanwhile, Hugo had one day. One.
Sanchez's advice about not rushing things rang in his ears like an annoying echo. Hugo wanted to scream.
In his desperation, he'd even downloaded the Monkey app, hoping to meet someone—anyone—who could help him survive.
But instead of gorgeous women, he got connected to people who looked like they belonged in a horror movie. One had even tried to sell him herbal tea!
Loli nudged him again, this time harder. "Hey, Hugo? Pen?!"
Still nothing. He was too far gone, drowning in his own thoughts. He didn't even register her voice.
The bell rang, snapping the class out of their focus. Students grabbed their bags, muttering about the upcoming test and assignments.
Hugo didn't move.
He sat there for a moment, staring at nothing in particular, before finally standing up and shuffling out of the room.
He sat there for a moment, staring at nothing, before finally standing up and shuffling out of the room.
'What's the point of assignments if I'm going to die tomorrow?' he thought bitterly.
The campus was alive with energy. Students laughed in groups, birds chirped in the trees, and the scent of freshly cut grass filled the air. Hugo walked through it all like a ghost, completely detached.
He found himself on a small bridge overlooking a peaceful pond. The water rippled softly as fish swam below, their movements carefree and calm.
Hugo leaned on the railing, staring into the water as if it held all the answers.
Tears pricked his eyes.
"I don't want to die," he whispered, his voice shaky.
The weight of his situation crushed him. He'd always thought there'd be more time—more chances.
But now he had one day left, and his last hope was tomorrow's double date with Lily and Tily.
'It has to work,' he thought desperately. 'I have to find a way. I can't fail. I can't die!'
The breeze brushed gently on his face, and for a moment, the world seemed unbearably beautiful.
They say that one only appreciates something when they are about to lose it. Hugo was experiencing that same feeling at this moment.
The green of the trees, the soft shimmer of the pond, the laughter of students in the distance—it all felt like a cruel joke.
He had lived for 18 years but hadn't truly even lived!
He wiped his eyes quickly, embarrassed even though no one was around.
"Tomorrow," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Tomorrow, I'll make it work. No matter what."
With a deep breath, he straightened up and turned back toward the dorms. As he walked, the countdown flashed in his mind like a ticking bomb.
He didn't know how he was going to do it. But one thing was certain.
He wasn't ready to say goodbye to this world!
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Prepare your mind for the big day, fellas! It's gonna be full of ups and downs! Will Hugo make it? Or is there some kind of crazy twist coming up that will change everything?!
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Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!