Chapter 4

None of my classmates knew anything.

In third grade, I had borrowed a comic book from the boy who sat next to me and gotten completely absorbed in it. When Dad found out, he immediately stormed into the school and slapped me hard in front of the whole class.

He even singled out the boy's parents by name in the parents' group chat, warning them: [Keep your son under control. Just because he doesn't care about his future doesn't mean he gets to drag Zephyr down with him!]

After that, I did not have the courage to hang out with my classmates outside class anymore. I was afraid their parents would scold them because of me.

I envied them more than I could say. They got to play basketball together, team up in online games, and share secrets with each other.

Juan was the only exception. I had been naive enough to think he treated me like his best friend, that he was the only person who understood me.

That changed before our first practice exam. The pressure had kept me up all night, and I confided in him. "Juan, I'm so tired. I don't think I can take much more."

The next day, he rushed to my dad with a worried look on his face. "Sir, Zephyr hasn't been himself lately. He admitted to me that he doesn't want to study anymore. He wants to give up. I'm really worried about him."

That night, my dad burst into my room. In a rage, he threw my pillow and blanket onto the floor and made me kneel there and think about what I had done.

"You don't want to study? You've already taken the SAT twice! Tell me, what can you do besides study? What else do you even want to do? Other kids would jump at a chance like this!

"I'm a grown man, and I spend all my time helping you get ready for these exams! You think I'm doing this for myself? I'm doing it so you can make something of yourself!"

-

At five minutes to eight on the night of the livestream, my dad changed into a neat shirt and set up his equipment in the living room. Juan sat beside him as his special guest.

"I'm counting on you to keep things lively tonight, Juan. Getting a word out of Zephyr is like pulling teeth. Thanks for coming to talk with me," Dad said, smiling.

"You don't have to thank me, sir. I'm just happy I can help you and Zephyr." Juan gave him an earnest smile.

I floated above them, sickened by that fake smile.

The livestream started at exactly eight.

"Good evening, everyone! It's David. Welcome to the 'Strict Dad's Road to the Best University' channel!"

Dad smiled at the camera.

"Thanks for all your support, chat! Tonight, we're getting straight to the advice you can use! I'm sharing all my core parenting methods, and I'm not hiding anything!"

Bullet comments instantly rolled across the screen.

[David's finally here! I've been waiting forever!]

[Where's your genius son? Get Zephyr out here to share his study tips!]

[Yes, we want to see the genius himself! Maybe my son can get some of his smartness and help him get into a top college!]

[I'm not even asking for Kingsbridge or Central University. I'd be thanking my lucky stars if my son got into any highly ranked college.]

Dad smiled and waved a hand. "Don't worry. The exams wore Zephyr out a little. He's been sleeping all day. I'll wake him up in a bit and have him talk to you."

Juan chimed in, as if trying to help. "Zephyr's a bit of an introvert and can be a little boring. Unlike me, I can talk to anyone. Sir, why don't you try waking him up again? Everyone has been waiting long enough. I'm sure they've got a lot of questions."

Dad's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered. He was convinced this was another way for me to defy him and make him look bad. "Alright, everyone, give me a minute. I'll drag our little genius out here myself."

He got up, gave the camera an apologetic smile, and headed for my room. Juan grabbed his phone and followed, secretly broadcasting everything live.

"Zephyr! How long are you going to keep this up?" My dad pushed open my door, unaware that Juan was filming. "Get out of bed! Hundreds of thousands of the channel's subscribers are watching! Stop playing dead!"

He went to the bed and reached to pull back my blanket. The instant he touched me, he jerked as if he'd been shocked. "Why... Why are you so cold?"

The color drained from his face. His hand shook as he held it beneath my nose.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

No breath.

He let out a terrible, broken scream. "Arghhh!"

Then, the sound of a phone crashed to the floor. The camera swung wildly toward the ceiling, the image became one of chaotic blur.

Only my dad's frantic screams and Juan's terrified voice came through. A few seconds later, the screen went black.