The Amusement Park

The scene with the group of bullies reminded Zachary of a similar experience in high school. Back then, he had been the victim of bullying, but Kolby was the only one who were friends with him. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to Zachary, who had always felt alone and powerless. Now that Kolby was in trouble, Zachary felt it was his turn to step in and repay the favor. Without thinking twice, he rushed to Kolby's aid, determined to protect him from the bullies.

He lunged forward and tackled the leader, sending him to the ground.

The group of bullies was surprised. They didn't know who Zachary was, so they didn't attack him.

"Who are you?" the leader asked with wide eyes. "Are you his friend?" he gestured, referring to Kolby.

Zachary remained silent, knowing he was in a dangerous situation, surrounded by the leader's friends.

"I am his friend," Zachary said firmly. "I won't sit idly by while you bully him. Leave him alone and go your separate ways."

The leader of the bullies let out a smirk as he picked up a nearby wooden chair and swung it at Zachary, sending him crashing to the ground. The henchmen joined in, repeatedly kicking Zachary as he lay helpless on the floor. The crowd of students looked on in fear, unable to intervene as the bullies continued their vicious attack.

Suddenly, a girl appeared behind Zachary and stepped in to stop the bullies.

"Kash, leave him alone," the girl said sternly, looking directly at the bullies' leader. "You need to find something better to do than pick on someone who has done nothing to you."

Kash quickly realized she was not someone to mess with.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kash asked, trying to mask his fear with a harsh tone.

"I'm stopping you," the girl replied calmly. "You can't just go around bullying people like this."

Kash looked around and saw that his friends were all backing away, clearly intimidated by the girl's presence. He had no choice but to comply.

"Fine," the leader said grudgingly. "But this isn't over."

The bullies quickly fled the scene, leaving Zachary and his friend shocked and grateful.

The girl turned to Zachary and his friend and gave them a warm smile. "Are you two okay?" she asked.

"Yes, thank you," Zachary said, still in disbelief.

"It was no problem," the girl replied, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I couldn't just stand by and watch you two get bullied like that."

"My name is Zachary, and this is Kolby," Zachary introduced himself and his friend.

"I'm Quilly Ara," the girl said, extending a hand for them to shake.

Zachary and Kolby were in awe of Quilly. They had never met someone so confident and fearless before.

"So, what happened?" Quilly asked, looking at the two of them with concern.

Zachary explained the situation to Quilly, telling her about the bullies and how they had been harassing him and Kolby.

"I see," Quilly said, her expression turning serious. "You two need to be careful about going to lonely places alone in the school. The bullies will be watching you."

Zachary and Kolby nodded in agreement. They knew that Quilly was right and that they needed to be more cautious.

Quilly then left, and Zachary and Kolby headed to the university infirmary to get checked out.

As they made their way to the infirmary, Zachary turned to Kolby and asked, "So, I didn't know you would be attending this university with me. What made you decide to come here?"

"I've always been interested in economics and wanted to pursue it further. And when I found out you were going to be here too, I thought it would be great to have a friend to go through this journey with," Kolby replied with a smile.

"I'm so glad you're here," Zachary said, grateful for his friend's presence.

"I don't want to cause any problems for you," Kolby added, looking a little worried.

Zachary placed a comforting hand on Kolby's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. That's what friends are for. We stand by each other, no matter what."

Fortunately, they had no severe injuries and decided to bandage themselves instead of seeing a nurse.

Later that night, Zachary gathered his courage and sent a message to Emma, asking her to join him at the amusement park for their date.

Zachary and Emma Sophia went to the amusement park on a date. They went directly to the games section when they arrived. They participated in many activities and earned prizes, such as cuddly animals and key chains.

After a long day of fun, they decided to take a break and eat at a neighboring food stand. They purchased cotton candy and drinks and sat down to unwind.

Suddenly, Emma's expression changed to worry as she received a message on her phone. Zachary noticed the change and asked her what was wrong.

"The hospital is urging me to pay for my mother's hospital bills," Emma explained, her voice cracking. "If I don't pay this week, they'll kick her out of the hospital."

Zachary's heart sank at the news. "How much is needed?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Emma's eyes filled with tears. "It's 100,000 USD," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can’t pay, and I don't know what to do."

Zachary's mind raced as he considered his options. He had received a full scholarship for his studies, which included a significant amount of financial aid.

However, the 100,000 USD was all the money he had saved for his tuition.

After a moment's hesitation, he made his decision.

"Take it," Zachary said, handing Emma his card. "You need it more than I do."

Emma looked at Zachary, her eyes wide with surprise. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice filled with emotion.

Zachary nodded. "Absolutely. Your mother's well-being is more important than anything else. We'll figure out a way to make ends meet."

Emma's eyes filled with tears as she hugged Zachary tightly. "Thank you so much," she said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Zachary took Emma's hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "Emma, I know this may sound sudden, but I have to tell you how I feel. You are the most amazing person I have ever met, and being with you tonight has made me realize how much I care for you. I know we've only just met, but I feel like I've known you my whole life. So I must ask, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?" he asked, his voice filled with emotion and sincerity.

Emma hesitated, then said, "I need some time to think about it. Meet me tomorrow at the schoolyard, by the fountain. I'll give you my answer then."

Zachary agreed, feeling nervous but hopeful. After parting ways with Emma, he took the bus home, unable to stop thinking about her.

As soon as he got home, he sent a text to Emma expressing his feelings. "I really wish I could be your boyfriend, Emma. I love you."