Legitimate Heir Of The Hunt Family

"Dear Young Master, the morning sun beckons as it filters through the curtains. Your presence is awaited in the dining hall by your esteemed parents," urged the attendant, addressing a twenty-year-old man with chestnut hair. Clad in resplendent golden robes, he lay in the embrace of a king-sized bed, his eyes fluttering half-open in the soft light. With a gentle touch, the attendant continued, "They eagerly anticipate your company. Shall I assist you in preparing for the day?" The attendant, an elderly but spirited man, his head adorned with a crown of white hair, persisted in his efforts to rouse the young man from his slumber. Despite the repeated calls and gentle prodding, the figure on the bed remained unmoved, as if anchored to the comfort of his resting place, oblivious to the beckoning of the day. "Your father will not be pleased if you continue to delay. Please, rise this instant," the old man called out once more, his tone tinged with urgency. Yet, the young figure remained obstinately unmoved, indifferent to the urgency of the situation. With a sudden snap of frustration, the old man strode purposefully towards the bed. "That's enough!" he declared, determination etched into every line of his aged face. "Jeffrey Hunt! Wake up, or you'll miss today's exam!" A sharp slap stung the young man's cheek, jolting him out of his momentary reverie with a sudden intensity. As he sat up and gazed around the small room, the remnants of the dream still lingered in his mind. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the worn-out furniture and the familiar posters adorning the walls. Beside him, the extra bunk bed stood as a silent reminder of the shared space, now occupied by only him. With a sigh, he stretched and let reality settle in, dispelling the lingering remnants of the vivid dream that had momentarily transported him to a different world. "Just a dream," he muttered to himself, the echo of the old man's voice fading away. The stinging pain radiating from his cheek brought him back to reality with a jolt. "Hey! Why on earth would you slap me that hard?!" His ocean blue eyes, clouded with irritation, struggled to conceal the anger simmering beneath the surface as he rubbed his reddened cheek, the throbbing sensation a stark reminder of the rude awakening. "Well, after numerous failed attempts to rouse you gently, I had to resort to the final option, and as anticipated, it proved effective," the tall, imposing figure explained with a satisfied grin, his bulky frame exuding a sense of authority and accomplishment. Jeffrey, still reeling from the forceful awakening, met his friend's deep brown eyes with a resigned sigh. Despite the lingering discomfort from the slap, he couldn't bring himself to harbor any ill feelings towards a friend who had only been concerned about him. Yet, the disappointment of being abruptly pulled from the depths of his dream lingered heavily in Jeffrey's mind. It felt like a significant loss, as if he had been on the cusp of something extraordinary before reality intruded. "Jeff!" the black-haired figure called out, using the familiar name that only those closest to him used. "Gil," Jeffrey responded, meeting his friend's gaze with a mixture of frustration and laziness. Gilbert, whose name had been shortened to Gil, sighed and shook his head in exasperation. "This isn't the time for a reunion chat. We need to get moving!" Jeffrey continued to watch Gilbert, a puzzled expression furrowing his brow as he tried to make sense of his friend's urgency. "Your next exam starts in thirty minutes, and you're not even ready!" Gilbert's frown deepened as he realized the potential for Jeffrey to be late. With a mischievous grin, Jeffrey leaped out of bed in a flash, his movements swift and decisive. In the blink of an eye, he was already standing in front of the bathroom door. "I'm mentally geared up, and in the next ten minutes, I'll be physically ready too," Jeffrey declared with determination, brimming with energy. With a swift motion, he slammed the bathroom door shut behind him as he disappeared inside. Five minutes flew by, and Jeffrey emerged from the bathroom, his upper body displaying his toned physique, a towel wrapped around his waist as he prepared to conquer the challenges of the day. "I see you've been hitting the gym," Gilbert remarked with a smile, admiring Jeffrey's toned muscles. His smile widened into a smirk as he raised both arms, displaying his own chiseled physique to Jeffrey. Chuckling, Gilbert teased, "You've got some catching up to do if you want to match these guns, buddy." Jeffrey remained unfazed by Gilbert's teasing and efficiently completed his dressing routine. True to his earlier declaration, he emerged from the room alongside Gilbert five minutes later, fully prepared for the incoming paper. Their journey from the dormitory to the exam hall unfolded over fifteen minutes, with Jeffrey's mind focused and his determination unwavering. As they traversed the familiar path, Gilbert continued to engage in light hearted banter, but Jeffrey remained composed, his thoughts already turning towards the upcoming exam and the opportunity to showcase his knowledge and skills. "I'll give you one piece of advice: Don't leave that exam hall without acing it!" Jeffrey offered his friend a fist bump with his tone filled with encouragement and determination. "Agreed. No excuses," Gilbert replied, returning the fist bump with a smile. With just ten minutes remaining before the exam, the two friends parted ways, each heading towards their respective exam venues. While Jeffrey majored in Management, Gilbert focused on Accounting. This would be their final paper for the semester and it was scheduled to hold the same day and time. An hour and half quickly flew by and as if they'd planned it, Jeffrey and Gilbert simultaneously exited their exam halls with satisfied smiles on their faces. Despite not having communicated on a meeting place after the exam, the bond between Jeffrey and Gilbert transcended the need for formal arrangements. Instinctively, both friends made their way to the school's smaller cafeteria, guided by the unspoken understanding that it was the perfect spot to celebrate the completion of their final paper for the semester. Their friendship, built on years of shared experiences and mutual support, ensured that even without prior notification, they knew exactly where to find each other to mark the occasion with joy. Seated at the far end of the cafeteria, Jeffrey wasted no time in placing an order, ensuring to include Gilbert's favorite combo alongside his own. As he awaited his friend's arrival, anticipation mingled with the scent of freshly prepared food, heightening the sense of celebration. Moments later, Gilbert entered the cafeteria, his eyes quickly scanning the room until they landed on Jeffrey. Spotting his friend with an extra tray laid out, Gilbert's smile widened, and he quickened his pace, eager to join Jeffrey before their meals had a chance to cool. After all, no one wanted their food getting cold, especially on such a joyous occasion. "How was it?" Jeffrey wasted no time in starting the conversation as soon as Gilbert took his seat, eager to hear his friend's thoughts on the exam. "Frankly, it felt like one of the easiest exams I've ever taken at this school," Gilbert replied with a smirk, taking the first spoonful of food. "I finished in an hour, but I decided to stick around a bit longer just to double-check everything." Both friends shared hearty laughter following Gilbert's reply, prompting Jeffrey to recount his own exam experience, which he described as "challenging yet manageable," at least from his perspective. Their discussion persisted for an additional thirty minutes before they mutually agreed to conclude it, acknowledging that they both had other obligations to tend to. "I guess it's time for me to start getting ready for work," Jeffrey sighed as he stood up from his seat. He couldn't help but ponder why he had to work tirelessly to cover his exorbitant fees while others seemed to have the luxury of paying whenever they pleased. Although he had secured admission based on his intellectual abilities, the cost of tuition proved to be a daunting obstacle. Jeffrey had managed to pay it off by resorting to taking a loan from a rather unsavory lender, the only one willing to help in that moment of need. Consistently, Jeffrey had been chipping away at the interest and gradually reducing the principal of the loan using the income he earned from his various part-time jobs. With a firm handshake exchanged between friends, they bid farewell and exited the cafeteria. Gilbert made his way towards the school's gate, while Jeffrey headed back to the dormitory to retrieve his work attire. With a deep breath to steady his nerves, Jeffrey set off for his first shift at work. "Let today be a good one," he silently wished as he exited the school's campus, determined to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead with resilience and optimism.