A bright light illuminated into what seems to be a cramped space; it was a room filled with properties that even the inhabitants, at a point, find it hard to walk through.
The beautiful morning seems to be promising, bringing its usual promise of a good day, and birds could be clearly seen flying around in the little window that was opened a bit, letting in a streak of sunlight.
But a violent sound startled the birds and made them fly away in a hurry. It was the sound of someone or something falling off a surface into something more sturdy and hard.
"What the heck…" the owner of the voice cursed.
He looked around the room in rage, and in fleeting anger, he stepped upon several piles of paper in overwhelming anger.
"You wretched thing, why the hell will you let me fall down?" He pointed to the stack of books and hissed, arguing as if he wasn't the one who dropped it there not too long ago.
Damn it! he thought internally, and as if the gods were against him, he overheard a noise, something flying and buzzing.
"OMG, is that a cockroach? Yeah, I am so done with this place." And running to the wardrobe, he grabbed his coat and pants, and after putting them on, he placed his laptop inside his bag in a hurry. Then, draping it over his shoulders, he dashed out like a madman.
He was working on his manuscript, a ticket to freedom. One that would take him off his wretched home to somewhere higher, maybe land him a better acting job than cowering around and playing clown for kids' birthday parties, and after everything, the only thing he got was crumbs.
At this point, he wouldn't be surprised if a church rat got a better life than him. So, getting out from the apartment, he took a look at the wretched-looking building which was his life and shuddered.
God forbid he will die in poverty.
"Dante, here I come, and let's see how you're doing when my work of art grabs the media attention." Kayden smiled, and rushing out from his gate, he waved a taxi which was slowing down.
The taxi driver sized him from head to toe. Was he getting stopped by a madman again?
"Excuse me, sir, if you probably missed your way to the psychiatric hospital, you should find a nearby one and don't pester me," the stern-looking man warned while eyeing him still.
Kayden paused. What did he do now?
"No, sir, you don't understand. I got something to give to Sony Enterprise, and I want you to take me there," Kayden explained while clutching his bag and letting out a sheepish smile.
The man, on the other hand, just glared at him. The man standing before him was wearing nothing other than a threadbare coat, not to mention sagging jeans which were begging for mercy, and just a closer look revealed a bag which had been patched a thousand times.
And what the hell did someone like him want with a billionaire movie company like Sony Enterprise?
"Fine, you can board in, but I hope you got your money with you," he replied coldly.
Kayden flinched, but he wouldn't let the man ruin his mood. He must have woken on the wrong side of the bed. This is New York City for crying out loud, so why bother himself with such petty matters when he was going to be fucking rich?
"I got you, man, don't worry. When I am rich, I won't forget you," Kayden assured, but the man just waved it off, looking at the young man with dirty blond hair as if he was speaking in tongues.
Immediately he got in, the man requested his money, and he paid him. Two hundred bucks was too much, but what could he do? Anything for fame.
And after making sure his cash was complete, the man steered the car and drove off. And Kayden, who was looking around his surroundings in fascination, kept giggling to himself.
Several times he had tried submitting a BL script to this company, but he was always rejected, and that wasn't all. His rival took it upon himself to remind him that he was always a failure, so failing to sell a common manuscript shouldn't be a surprise.
Kayden had been pained by that comment, but now this would change everything. And picking the incessant calls from his mini iPhone 6, an outdated model which wasn't in market anymore, he placed it in his ear, and as expected, it was the man who requested his presence, and he didn't sound happy.
"Okay, sir, I am coming, trust me…" Before he could end it, the call went off. Noo! He couldn't lose this again. So, stopping the taxi in front of a towering skyscraper which was over several meters tall and stretched several miles forming a huge estate, written boldly on it was:
SONNY'S ENTERPRISE
Oh my… Kayden gasped, but it was cut short when he realized his mission.
"This is trash! What are you, a kid?" the bearded man with cold looks lashed out.
Kayden saw where this was coming.
"What did I do wrong? It's perfect, and BL are coming out to the market, and it's becoming more popular, so viewers will like it, and not to mention I combine it with raw comedy. So what's it again?" Kayden questioned, frustrated, glaring at him.
This was supposed to be his comeback, but nothing like that seemed to be happening, and instead, the man seemed angrier than before.
"Excuse me, young man. I gave you a chance because you came begging and crawling to me. So, after all your outburst, I decided to spare you a minute of my time, and not only did you waste my time, but you just insulted my intellect by giving me this."
The man yelled, his voice coming harder than ever. Kayden was hyperventilating inside; he was tensed up.
"Get me Dante's work immediately," the cold man ordered one of his workers.
Kayden could feel his heart sinking. Not again.
And the work was brought in immediately, a pile of files which was folded neatly.
And behind the man bringing the manuscript was Dante. He was wearing that scheming smirk and arrogant charisma that made Kayden's blood boil.
Then, on seeing his prized manuscript on the way, he smiled, and Kayden could see the favouritism clearly. Dante, with his neatly combed blond hair and designer suit, stood there grinning ear to ear at Kayden.
"Oh dear friend, you're here." But Kayden didn't acknowledge him; he just wanted to see the godforsaken manuscript that was actually better than his.
So, ignoring Dante's choking cologne that was killing his nostrils internally, Kayden had his focus on his manager or soon-to-be manager.
"You see what I said? You can feel the coolness from it, and just look at the title: Inside Life of Cinderella and the Golden Prince."
The manager smiled while caressing the manuscript like a mother who was long separated from her baby.
What the fuck? That, over his prized novel? Who gives a book that horrible name? Kayden wasn't gonna take this anymore.
"Like, look at the storyline. It's giving creativity, so tell me why I will take your so-called… what do you call it again?" The manager, whose name Kayden recorded was Davis, probed with a mocking smile.
"It's BL. How can you forget that? Boys' Love." Kayden tried explaining, but the man waved it off.
Davis just flipped through his work. He never truly dived in, and here he was rejecting it. Not after all his hard work. And Dante, who just did what? Watched a fairy tale and began to record what happened in it, joined with a cringe name, and the contract was now moving to him. That wasn't fair a bit, and he wouldn't let it go, no way.
Davis continued massaging Dante's ego. He wasn't their prized worker for nothing.
"Don't worry. I trust after we are done, your work will be breaking records once again. You're just phenomenal," Davis ushered the praise, and Kayden was sure if he was given the opportunity, he might even lick his shoes.
Dante then sighed in fulfillment, and he brushed the side of his suit, forming a swag that made him look magnificent, like alluring, and Kayden wasn't going to take the bullshit anymore. Enough is enough.
"Noo! Young man, I am sorry to say this, but that contract is mine." Kayden's sudden declaration made the onlookers blink countless times.
Dante smirked. Had he finally gone mad? Well, poverty has its ways of making some of its victims mentally disabled.
"You traitorous manwhore, tell me, did you fuck the manager to get the contract? Confess, you son of a bitch!" Kayden yelled, making Dante flinch.
Even Davis wasn't expecting the meek fellow to begin ranting.
"Can you look at the script, for goodness' sake? It's a fucking nonsensical concept, and you—because someone gave you a mindless fuck—you rejected my manuscript, a masterpiece, for that trash." Kayden was reaching his limit.
"It's not happening." And like an insane person, he dashed to the table and dragged the prized script, taking off on his heels.
Dante, on seeing his billions he was supposed to make slipping by his worst enemy, screamed to the director and guards around.
"Stop that madman! He has gone nuts." And immediately, a heavy race began.
Kayden smiled triumphantly. Who would have thought he would outsmart those fools? And seeing they were behind him, probably catching up, he increased his pace, causing a disorganization of the company, and in the process, he dashed into the road and was running like an insane person when he looked—and lo and behold, a huge bus was passing by.
And when trying to slow down, his legs betrayed him, and he gave a dreadful slide, falling in the middle of the road, and the bus smashed him, causing his body to tumble and hit a nearby pillar. Then darkness enveloped him instantly.