My Superstar System

Inside the premises of Elite College

Zach stood on the balcony of his dorm room, gazing out as smoke drifted from his mouth.

Smoking was banned on school grounds, but Zach didn’t care. His roommates were asleep and he was the only one still awake. He wasn't doing it for fun though, this was winter so he was warming up his body.

His hair was disheveled, and a quiet sadness lingered in his expression.

The reason?

Earlier that day, he’d tried to call his girlfriend, but she hadn’t answered. It was the beginning of his second year at school. He had met her during his first year, they were both freshmen when they fell in love and started dating.

But for the past week, she had seemed distant. He feared she might be seeing someone else, someone better, because she was beautiful.

And Zach? He wouldn’t lie, he knew he didn’t deserve her. He was handsome in his own way, but it was hidden under the weight of hunger and depression.

He was poor. A nobody. The only reason he could even attend this school was because of a scholarship.

Ring, Ring, Ring.

Still no answer.

Zach muttered to himself, exhaling the last bit of smoke before crushing the cigarette under his foot.

“I’ll go see her in the morning,” he said quietly, turning back inside to sleep.

The next morning...

Zach woke up. Zach tried Jane's number but it rang several times as usual and she didn't pick.

Zach took a deep breath and freshened up. He was going to see his girl today.

He strolled toward the girls' hostel. Luckily, he spotted Jane's roommate.

“Hey, Leny,” Zach called out to a petite girl with a ponytail. She was pretty, but not too much.

“What is it, Zach?” Leny paused, glaring at him with a hostile look.

Zach ignored her attitude. He was used to it. His poor background earned him that kind of treatment often.

“Have you seen Jane?” he asked.

“No. She left yesterday, and I haven’t seen her since,” Leny replied, turning to leave.

“Wait, do you know where she went? Or why she’s not answering my calls?”

“No. And if you don’t mind, I’m in a hurry,” she said rudely and walked off.

Zach stood there, thinking.

He decided to go back, his mission had failed. But just then, a luxurious car caught the attention of students nearby.

“A Bugatti Chiron!” someone screamed. The car was insanely expensive.

“Who’s driving that?” people whispered.

“Probably a politician visiting the school.”

“No way,” another student replied. “Even politicians wouldn’t show up here during the first weekl.”

Zach, still lost in thought, looked up at the car.

He had dreamed of driving one like it many times. Amazed, he stood watching as the car drifted slightly and came to a smooth stop not far away.

The door slowly opened, and a young man stepped out.

What? Zach was shocked. The guy looked young, maybe 18 or 19, and he was incredibly handsome. Zach wasn’t the only one surprised; everyone around stared.

Who the hell is that?

That car cost nearly $4 million. How could someone so young be driving it?

Then the boy walked over and opened the passenger door. A smooth pair of legs stepped out.

Zach who was staring at the girl widened his eyes in shock.

He looked closer, and... boom! It was like lightning struck him.

“J... Ja... Jane?” Zach stammered.

He walked toward her.

“Jane!” he called.

Jane frowned as soon as she saw him.

“Love, do you know him?” the young man asked, eyeing Zach.

“No,” Jane replied without hesitation.

Zach, who had been smiling as he walked over, suddenly felt like he’d been electrocuted.

“Jane?” he said again, stunned.

“Do you know me?” Jane turned to him and asked coldly.

Zach’s mind froze. The girl in front of him was definitely Jane, but she felt like a stranger.

“You haven’t been answering my calls,” he said quietly.

“And so?” Jane replied.

Zach stood speechless. Everyone around stared at him like he was a fool.

“Hey,” the young man said, “take a step back. You’re ruining the air with the smell of those rags you’re wearing.”

Zach opened his mouth to reply, but....

“Yes. You do kind of stink,” Jane added.

“What?” Zach felt the world spin around him. The shame was overwhelming.

Before he could speak again, Jane leaned close to the young man, kissed him, and then looked at Zach, that was a clear sigh.

Zach looked around, overwhelmed by shame. It was too much.

He stared at Jane. He felt like crying. Everything felt unreal, like a dream he couldn’t wake up from.

He wanted to beg her. He really loved her. But deep down, he knew it would be useless.

Taking a deep breath, Zach looked Jane in the eyes.

“Is this really you?” he asked quietly.

Jane held his gaze and smiled. “You’re poor and useless. I’ve wanted to say that for a while now. You’re a pest.”

Her words hit Zach like a bomb, echoing through his mind.

“Is he your ex or something?” the young man beside her asked.

“Don’t bother about him,” Jane replied. “He’s a nobody I met a long time ago.”

Zach turned around in shame. But after a few steps, he stopped.

“Hey, Jane,” he said, turning back.

Jane looked at him.

“A time will come when you won’t be able to clean my shoes,” Zach said.

He didn’t know why he said it, but something inside him just needed to.

Jane smirked.

Zach turned and walked away.

When he got back to his dorm, his roommates were staring at him strangely.

“What?” Zach asked.

“You’ve become a joke,” one of them replied.

There were three people in the room: Zach, Daniel, and Richard.

It was Daniel who had spoken.

“I don’t understand,” Zach said, confused.

Daniel held up his phone and showed him a video. After just a few seconds, Zach felt tears welling in his eyes. It was footage of what had just happened.

How did it get online so fast? he thought. Every word, every insult, was crystal clear.

As he struggled to hold back tears, his phone suddenly rang.

An unknown number.

Zach answered like a zombie.

“Is this Zach” a voice on the other end asked directly.

“Yes,” he replied.

“This is Ivory Hospital. Your mom was involved in an accident. Come immediately.”

The call ended abruptly.

Zach stood frozen, like a lifeless tree.

He couldn’t hold it anymore. Tears streamed down his face.