1. Lucian

Lucian Morningstar's melodious voice hummed through the streets of Greenvixe City. It was 8 pm, and the breeze that gazed through his tan skin was refreshing. The smile on his face was new, along with the black suit he wore. The only odd thing was the old bicycle, which made a crackling metallic sound as he returned to campus.

"Good evening, Mr," Lucian waved at the old man beside a counter store. The old man, who immediately recognized Lucain as the only person to tip him a few dollars, smiled at his presence.

The pedestrian who walks past the counter store would cover their nose and spit at the old man with irritation. The man was disabled and looked wretched as a result of the harshness of poverty. Some people had even called the cops on him, but the police who discovered the old man was just a homeless man would do nothing.

Unlike the others who avoided him, Lucian didn't. He always passed that same route just to tip the old man a few dollars, even when there was a shorter path to take. It became a routine, and he did this every time he closed from work as a dishwasher downtown.

"Good evening," The old man replied with a smile that displayed his brownish teeth as he watched Lucian highlight from his bicycle. Lucian handed the bag containing the food he had packed for the old man and told him his last dollar before heading his way.

"Wait," the old man's voice halts Lucian. He stretched out his hand, holding a green stone. "Here, for you," the old man nodded at Lucian.

"A gift?" He asked, and the old man nodded his head. "But it's not my birthday," Lucian smiled, collecting the green stone from the old man. He pulled out the amulet his parents gave him when he was a kid, and surprisingly, the stone fits into the tiny space. Lucian smiled and bowed his head in appreciation. "I will be on my way now," he notified and peddled his bicycle away.

Lucian was rarely happy due to the brutal wipes of poverty that had overshadowed his life. At the age of ten, he was cast out of his father's house by his stepmother Susanna after his father's death. His inheritance was seized by his stepmother, who warned him never to show his face if he wanted to stay alive. Since then, Lucian has been a puppet of poverty; he did several part-time jobs to care for himself.

Today, among the rear day, Lucian was smiling. Today was Veronica's birthday, his girlfriend, who magically entered his life as a light that brightened the darkness society poured on him. She has been with him for two years, and today, he ordered her an expensive dress he had once seen her admiring. The dress would be arriving tomorrow, but he was going to give her the receipt as a surprise.

Though the dress cost six thousand dollars, appropriately, his three-month salary, he was happy to spend his savings on Veronica, and If he had more, he would have gotten her something much more expensive.

When Lucian arrived at the university, he diverted to the private buildings he rented for Veronica to hold her party. People chanting could be heard from a distance, and when he got closer, he could hear them screaming.

"Do it! Do it!"

Lucian scoffed, wondering what could get a crowd so excited that their voice could be heard from such a distance. Lucian approached the hall entrance but couldn't see anything from the back due to the cramped hall. Lucuin recognized some students from his level and approached them.

"Excuse me, what's going on?" Lucian asked, tapping at a boy's shoulder. The skinny boy turned to him, and his face was masked with shock. Lucian shrugged his shoulders at the boy's expression. He could tell the boy was surprised to see him wearing a new suit and his curly hair arranged to match his handsome face.

When Lucian noticed the boy whispered to his friend rather than answering his question, he heaved a sigh and brought out his phone. He was about to dial Veronica's number when the sound of a microphone dragged his attention from the phone screen.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mrs.Veronica Montez!" The masculine voice called, and the crowd reciprocated his action with applause. The slender figure in a red dress appeared on stage with her radiant smile that spread through the crowd, trapping Lucian in his thoughts. He was indeed lucky to have such a beautiful girl as his girlfriend. Lucian quickly slipped his phone into his pocket and went to the front without wasting time.

The Mc voice dragged Lucian's gaze again. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Billy Modrick!" The smile on Lucian's face disappeared when he saw the man who had made his life miserable on campus. Billy Modrick approached the stage in his branded blue suit with a smug on his lips. He is the heir to Viink Enterprises, one of the top distribution companies in Greenxive, and just like usual, he didn't fail to show off his family wealth with the diamond jewelry that decorated his body.

Lucian frowned at Billy's presence. He didn't care why this bully was called to the stage, but he felt uncomfortable watching him stand close to his girlfriend. Lucian knew Billy was a big-time womanizer, and his girlfriend was among the few who didn't fall for the wealth or flamboyant lifestyle he showcased on campus.

"They look good together," A voice said, making Lucian's heart skip a beat. Lucian wanted to confront the boy, but he dismissed his insecurities as he struggled to navigate the crowd.

When Lucian saw Billy take Veronica's hands, his brows knitted together, and his legs moved faster in protest, but the pressure of the excited crowd held him back.

"Do it! Do it!" The crowd chanted.

Finally, Lucian got to the front roll, but his face went pale, and his leg rooted to the ground. The sight before him sent shivers down his spine, and his heart skipped a thousand beats. Lucian's eyes stared at Billy, whose lips smashed into Veronica's. He was kissing his girlfriend, and she wasn't pushing away. It took Lucian all his strength to pull himself out of his shock.

"Veronica!" Lucian screamed at his girlfriend, who was kissing another guy passionately, the same guy who had bullied and gotten him into several troubles since his first day at the university. Lucian was among the few intelligent students in his department, unlike the rich folks in his department. Since he knew the only way out of poverty was education, he became a scholar and earned a scholarship to attend Xive University, where he met Veronica.

The crowd, screaming excitedly, paused and shifted their gaze, which landed on Lucian. Few people knew of Lucain and Veronica's relationship, and the guys who admired her were always jealous and wished Veronica would break up with Lucina and date them instead.

Veronica gasps when she sees Lucian standing as if his life has been drained from his face. She swallowed the lump in her throat and shook off the guilt that crept into her face.

It wasn't her fault she didn't see him, so she could tell him it was over between them. She thought Lucian Morningstar would arrive before the crowd so she could deliver the breakup message to him.

Veronica had secretly been dating Billy even when she was in a committed relationship with Lucian. She was waiting for the perfect time to break up with him and when Billy promised her a car. She decided it was on her birthday.

"W…what do you think you're doing Veronica!!" Lucian's voice echoed through the silent crowd. His heart thundered in his chest, and he could feel the tingling of tears lingering at the corner of his eyes. He wished it was a dream and he was having a nightmare, but it wasn't, as his reality was his nightmare.

Veronica cleared her throat, stepping forward. She took the mic for the Mc. "I planned on telling you this Lucian but your bad luck wouldn't save you the disgrace." Her voice was sharp, like a knife slicing into Lucian's heart. "It's over between us and I can't continue to date someone with no future," she spat with a frown.

Those last words were like a bullet to Lucian's heart. In that instance, his girlfriend was the only person visible to him, while everyone else disappeared from his mind. Lucian tried his best to hold back his tears but failed as they flowed down his face. His mental health immediately plunged below five percent as Lucian stared at the pretty face of Veronica, who he thought had eyes only for him.

'Wake up Lucian!' He screamed in his head but was only meant by the glare of both Veronica and Billy.