Advent of the Three Calamities

Pubs were usually spots where folks went to unwind with a drink after a tough day at work. It was pretty common for people to swing by after work to let out all the stress built up during the day.

Bars offered various forms of entertainment, like pool tables and the like. However, on this particular day, a lot of the eyes were glued to the projection at the back of the bar.

And as expected, more than one glance was directed my way.

That was because moments ago a small teaser of the show appeared, and even if it was a short glimpse, you could see my face. Still, that only lasted for a brief moment before people stopped paying attention on focused their attention back on their drinks.

Some recognized me, but none of them really approached me.

This was the golden rule of a pub.

Everyone understood that. and I was thankful for it.

As a waiter came to help me clean up, I ordered another drink. This time, I ordered some alcohol. A very powerful one.

All I felt was numb.

Especially when I recalled the events at the very end of the video.

"Here you go."

Taking the large glass, I took a big gulp of the drink.

Frankly, the drink sucked.

It burned the back of my throat and I wanted to spit it out, but...

Gulp!

I forced another chug. I had no choice but to.

'It's starting.'

The projection flashed and the program began.

The bar, which had previously been bustling, quieted down a little bit as some people turned their focus on the projection. Seeing this, I took another big sip of the drink.

"Fuck, it burns."

The show started. Walking into the studio was Dyrk, friendly as I had seen him back on set. Then, the cameras rolled to the other groups before stopping on the usual suspects. Leon, Aoife, and the others.

'Wow, how handsome.'

'She's really pretty.'

'Ah, look at her. She's cute.'

The surroundings had gotten a tad bit quieter as some of those who weren't paying attention focused on the girls on the screen, if only for a brief moment.

'Good thing I'm backstage. I shouldn't be see-'

That was what I thought until I spat my drink in my mouth as the angle changed and I could see my face very clearly on the screen... and closely.

Beneath me a small title appeared, saying; 'Julien Dacre Evenus, Summit Winner.' "Ah..."

My grip on the drink tightened.

Cr-Crack!

Faint miniature cracks started to form on the cup as a horrible thought occurred to me. Surely they weren't going to focus on me, right?

"It can't be, right?"

I was all of a sudden starting to get a bad feeling as my stomach started to drop and I secretly prayed that I was wrong.

That whatever I was imagining was merely the fruit of my own imagination and that it was just me being paranoid.

Please. Let me be wrong.

Please...

But if my prayers couldn't help me with my cancer, how could they help me with this?

'Ah, fuck.'

The show continued despite my prayers. From the introductions to the light banter between the groups and the MC until finally, the quick-fire questions began with the other groups. The attention of the people around us had long been away from the television as the noise started to get louder again. Clearly, the show hadn't been enough to keep them captivated.

Yes, good.

Don't look. Lose all interest in the show.

That's right.

While this was happening I was continuously glancing at my communication device where I was receiving a lot of messages.

I tried to ignore them but there were simply so many of them.

Furthermore, I was also able to see the comments on the page dedicated to the program.

It was currently flooded.

I was so lost by the situation that I had long lost track of the program, and the only thing that snapped me out of it was the light laughter that came from around me.

When I raised my head I finally realized why as my attention turned on the screen where Aoife and Kiera appeared. It was still the quick-fire question round, and the two of them were absolutely destroying each other.

Especially Aoife who was taking revenge on Kiera.

"Is it true that you take pleasure in watching children cry?"

"Uh?"

"Answer the question!"

"What kind of question..."

Buzz-!

"Ahhh???"

Kiera looked around her in total shock.

"This is actually a question?"

Buzz-!

The buzz sounded again and Aoife pounded hard against the table.

"Do you like to hit children, or not?! Answer the damn question, damn it!"

"You just changed the-"

"Answer me!"

The folks at the bar burst into laughter at their playful antics, drawing more and more

Attention to the show.

In real time, the comments on the page started to flood, and it wasn't even a couple of minutes after when a thread started.

[What is a child doing in the Academy? She looks in pain. Petition to save her!]

"What the..."

When I glanced up, I noticed all eyes were on Theresa as she openly displayed her disapproval

Of the five of us.

No freedom, human rights, and the like...

I had to hold myself from cursing as I browsed through the thread and read all the comments demanding that we release Theresa from our evil ways, denouncing each and every girl, and... -That Julien guy looks evil. Just look at his face. He probably tortures her every day.

-I refuse to believe someone with that face can be anything but mean. I'm fine with the girls, but just

Not him. Even the stupid-looking guy looks better.

-That's it! We need to start freeing Theresa from him!

|| ||

I was speechless. Utterly speechless. The words just didn't seem to want to come out of my

Mouth as I stared at the comments in front of me.

Why were they attacking me?

For what? Just the way I looked? How did that even make any sense?

"Hahahahah."

The laughter once again pulled me from my own thoughts, and when I looked up, I was

Horrified to see my own face reflected on the screen, right at the very bottom, showing in real-time my reaction to whatever was being displayed on the screen.

The scene in front of me left me at a complete loss for words.

When did they get my reactions? No, in the first place, how?

Besides the weird threat that I made sure to report, all the other comments were relatively

Positive.

-Has anyone tuned in to watch the interview on the UCN channel? It's so fun!

-Hahahaha. I'm rolling on the floor. This is too funny.

I felt the corner of my lips curl at all the compliments that were thrown at me.

'They said I'm funny.'

I saved the picture and sent to to Leon while writing; 'Look, they're saying I'm funny. See?

You're the problem.'

I was just about to send Leon another message when a new one popped up.

[You've been blocked.]

"Eh?"

Did I just get blocked?

For a brief moment, I had even forgotten about all the comments and my reactions that were

Being displayed on the video.

For a moment, I let my guard down. I let my guard down enough to not realize what was to

Come next and it was only when I heard a familiar sound that I abruptly raised my head and

Looked at the projection.

"Oh, no."

My heart dropped considerably.

Chugging the drink down, I tossed a couple of bills on the table and sped out of the pub. But

Just as I got out of the pub, my communication device rang.

When I looked down I realized it was a message from Leon.

It was a photo.

A photo related to the video.

[N.1 Trending - Julien Dacre Evenus]

***

"Hello?"

Delilah's soft voice echoed across her office as she picked up her communication device.

Upon hearing the contents of the call, she shook her head.

"No, I'm sorry. At the moment we have no plans for that. I'll save your number and let you

Know if we can save time for you. Yes. Yes. Will do, thank you."

She hung up the phone shortly after that and rubbed her forehead.

"...Why did my work increase?"

Delilah rubbed her head. She had been working since the morning, and she hadn't even had

The time to eat.

Still, despite all the work he was handling, Delilah wasn't actually mad.

Rather...

"Huek."

She occasionally even let out a small sound in the middle of work as her shoulders trembled.

This went on for a couple of hours until she eventually took out her phone and started to replay a certain video.

It was the video of the interview. Specifically, the one that played at the very end of the

Interview.

She had asked for it right after the interview ended, and whenever she felt tired from work,

She would open the video and play it.

Now being a good example.

Click.

The video started.

"Isn't it rather late? What's with Julien?"

"Don't know. Who even knows what that guy is up to?"

Aoife, Evelyn, and Kiera were huddled together in the common room. Leon on the other hand,

Was holding onto the recording device.

Turning her head, Aoife warily glanced at the camera being pointed at them.

"Why are you recording?"

"Well, I've been told to make a video so here I am."

"Ah."

Aoife nodded her head in understanding.

Then...

Click!

With a 'click,' the door of the apartment swung open, and in walked a weary figure. His eyes

Were puffy, and his eyelids drooped almost shut as he entered the apartment. It was Julien. "Oh, you're here."

Aoife greeted him in the video with a weird look, but all she got in response was a half grunt from him. He kept walking, ignoring her and everyone before eventually coming to a halt before the large plane mirror next to the corridor leading to the dorms.

The confused looks of Dyrk and the other contestants on the show were displayed on the

Screen at that moment.

The girls on the other hand all held their mouths, trying their best not to laugh but miserably

Failing at it.

With a short pause, Julien looked right at the mirror and stepped to the side while muttering, "After you."

The entire studio froze and the eyes of the presenter opened widely.

"J-Julien??"

The same was true for the girls in the video who looked at Julien worriedly. Completely ignoring them, Julien continued to stare at his reflection in the mirror before

Nodding his head and thanking the mirror.

"I see. I guess I'll go first. Thank yo-Uakh!"

His head smacked first against the mirror, and the studio erupted into laughter as Julien's

Mortified expression filled the screen.

"Oy, do I look like a joke to you?"

Julien glared at the mirror while holding onto his forehead. Then, with a frown, his glare

Intensified.

"I'm tired and didn't sleep for the past day so if possible I'd like it if you could just move out

Of the way for me."

He then stood in front of the mirror for the next minute or so, waiting for the figure to move

Away.

"Are you not moving?"

He started to roll up his sleeves.

Before things could get even worse, the girls, Aoife, Evelyn, Kiera, and even Leon all rushed

Up to him to hold him back as he tried to rush the mirror.

"Julien no! Julien!!"

"Hold him!"

"Someone hold him back before he breaks the mirror!"

A crisp and pearly laugh filled the confines of Delilah's room as a smile blossomed on her

Face.

It was a smile that could light up an entire room.

One that no one thought she was ever capable of making.