In the late afternoon, they gathered in the backyard of the faculty building—Alaric's college friends. There stood an old tree that had become like a companion to the creative students. A place where big ideas often sprouted from casual chats on a mat, not just official seminars.
And now, Alaric sat beneath it, cross-legged on the grass, scrolling through some folders on his phone, with a bottle of mineral water placed to his right.
Several of his classmates—Rayhan, Nico, Celine, and Evelyn—joined him. They were working on a group assignment, accompanied by a relaxed atmosphere. Some of them even half-lying down, enjoying the gentle breeze softly brushing their skin.
Suddenly, one of them broke the silence with some small talk, asking about the young man.
"What's up with you, Ric? Your face lately looks like you just got hit with a debt collector, and you're supposed to be rich. I thought that couldn't be true," Nico said, glancing at Alaric, who looked a bit stressed just from his expression.
Alaric turned slowly, a small smile forming on his lips. "Haha... no, not debt collectors. My brain's just being demanded for ideas."
Rayhan, who was tinkering with some data on Excel, joined in. "Oh, come on. What are you thinking about, Ric? You've been lost in thought all this time. You didn't even finish your favorite fried rice."
Alaric took a deep breath and closed his laptop for a moment. The phone screen dimmed as if it agreed it was time to talk rather than keep typing.
"I'm waiting to hear back about a project proposal I submitted last week," he explained slowly.
"It's a pretty big deal. If it goes through, it could be the first step to expanding Craft from Heart to a whole new level."
Celine, holding a notebook on her lap, looked over quickly. "Seriously, Ric? What kind of project?"
"I proposed a collaboration between the creative industry and educational technology to a cultural institution with an international network," Alaric said, his tone calm and measured.
"The idea is to develop Craft from Heart not just as a product, but also as a digital and creative training platform for young people in several developing countries."
Aline raised her eyebrows in admiration. "Wow, that's no small project, Ric. So you want to help young people who don't have easy access to creativity, right?"
"Something like that," Alaric nodded.
"A lot of young people have brilliant ideas, but not everyone has the tools or mentors. So I want to create a digital training system using AI that can help them start from the basics. Free for schools with poor infrastructure, but sustainable through licensing schemes for companies in developed countries."
"Wow, that's awesome," Evelyn said, her eyes shining.
"Amen to that. Hope you get accepted. Your intention is really noble, Ric."
Nico grinned and nudged Alaric's arm lightly.
"But if you get that project, don't forget to treat us all. Not just campus fried rice, but wagyu beef, okay?"
Rayhan laughed.
"Yeah, don't forget your old friends. We've been with you since before you became a successful entrepreneur."
Alaric chuckled softly.
"Alright, alright. But pray for me first. If it gets accepted, then we'll celebrate—call it a treat for advancing the world."
They all laughed together.
The evening breeze gently brushed their hopeful faces. Yet amid the lighthearted jokes, something hung in the air—a feeling that they were standing at the start of history, even if they didn't fully realize it yet.
After a few quiet moments enjoying the soft wind, Rayhan spoke quietly but seriously.
"You realize, Ric? You're not the same Alaric anymore. It's not about the money. It's how you think—it's different now."
Alaric just looked down at the grass beneath his feet, then smiled again.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm not the same person I used to be. But I'm still the same Alaric. Still like eating ice cream at the canteen, still get questions wrong sometimes, still need friends like you all."
Celine nodded.
"But you also prove that dreams can come true if you follow them well. I'm happy to be on your team."
They returned to their college work. In Alaric's mind, those words felt like fresh fuel. He realized... he was not alone.
Not just the system supporting him. But friends, their hopes, and the innocent smiles of those who believed in him.
The project might not be accepted.
But that day, he was sure...
He wasn't just building a business.
He was planting something that could take root—and grow far beyond his own height.
That night,
The window curtain was left slightly open, revealing a beautiful sky filled with the city lights' sparkle and a few glimmers from the ever-awake electronic billboards.
But inside the room, the atmosphere was much quieter. Almost too silent, accompanied only by the hum of the air conditioner and the sound of fingers tapping on the keyboard resting on Alaric's lap.
He sat leaning against the headboard, one knee bent, his hair a bit messy from not having time to fix it since the afternoon.
His laptop screen displayed an interactive 3D design window. There, a prototype was slowly taking shape—somewhere between a multimedia interactive presentation and augmented reality.
But instead of progressing quickly as usual, tonight felt slower. Not the software, but his mind.
"What else can make them say yes, even just from the first minute?" he murmured, tapping his fingers on the edge of the laptop.
His hand gently rubbed his forehead, and unconsciously, he scratched his head lightly. His already messy hair got messier. His tired eyes stared at the half-finished design.
He actually had plenty of ideas. But it all still felt like it lacked impact.
He wanted his business expansion proposal to be not just good, but irresistible. Something that grabs attention right away—not because of flashy style or bling, but because of substance and a smart way of presenting.
Alaric kept sighing repeatedly.
"I should have had tea or something before thinking, not jump straight into the presentation screen..."
Just as he planned to close his eyes for a moment, the door was knocked gently twice.
Soon after, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in casual clothes appeared, wearing a leather watch and a distinctive mature men's cologne.
"Ric, you're still up?"
His father stood in the doorway, hands slipped into his pants pockets.
Alaric looked up, rubbing his temples a few times. "Not yet, Dad. Still working on the design for the presentation in a couple of days. Feels like it's hard to get through if it's just like this. It still needs a better model."
His father smiled faintly, then came in and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing Alaric's shoulder. "That's exactly why you need to take a break. Your brain can't run a 24-hour sprint."
"Heh... true," Alaric nodded slowly, but his eyes still couldn't leave the screen.
"Perfect timing," his father continued. "A friend just called me. Tonight there's a grand opening for his new hotel, with a club on the ground floor. Come with me?"
Alaric raised his eyebrows. "A club?" His voice was doubtful.
"That's not really my scene, Dad... You know I never liked places like that. Crowded, noisy music, people drinking, and well..." He didn't finish the sentence.
In his mind, a childhood memory suddenly appeared. A comic he secretly read in the corner of the dorm room in 9th grade, about a character who got lost in a club and was approached by someone who... was into the same sex.
Just briefly, but it was enough to make Alaric still feel uneasy to this day.
"Basically... I'm not comfortable," he said softly.
Of course, he wouldn't tell his dad about this irrational fear. He just shook his head, trying to gently avoid the topic.
But his father patted his thigh and stood up.
"Come on. You need some fun. It won't take long. We just stop by to greet my friends, chat a bit, then go home. You don't have to go inside the club if you don't want to."
Alaric opened his mouth to refuse again, but his father had already wrapped a warm arm around his shoulder, not forcing but gently encouraging him to join.
"Come on. It's late. Change the atmosphere a bit. Maybe it'll spark some inspiration."
Alaric looked into his father's face. There were lines of tiredness similar to his own. But somehow, tonight his father seemed very eager to have him along.
Finally, he closed his laptop and put it aside. He moved the small pillow behind his back and stood up.
"Alright then... just for a little while."
"Of course, just a little while." His father smiled contentedly and walked out first.
Alaric grabbed his hoodie from the hanger behind the door and followed. They went down the stairs from the second floor together. Their footsteps were soft, barely making a sound against the marble floor.
Downstairs, the living room lights were already on, and the family driver was waiting.
Inside, Alaric still felt uneasy. But he knew if he stayed in his room, he might get more stuck.
And who knows... maybe out there, inspiration would come from an unexpected place.