Tommy's name flashed on the screen.
After a moment of hesitation, I decided to pick up the call.
> "Hey, buddy! How are you?" I said with a grin.
> "All good," he replied. "What about you?"
> "Yeah, all good. Just the usual chaos at home."
Tommy's voice turned teasing.
> "Hey, don't change the topic! You got a job, and you haven't even thrown us a party yet. Don't try to dodge this time — we won't let you off the hook!"
> "Oh, come on," I laughed. "You guys just want free food."
> "Excuses won't work, man," he said. "We're holding you accountable. Proper celebration. No excuses — got it?"
I shook my head, still smiling.
> "Alright, alright… I'll think about it. But right now, I've got a little family reunion going on here, so I'll call you back."
> "Don't you dare forget!" Tommy warned, then paused. His tone softened — quieter, uneasy.
"Actually… I didn't call just about the party," he said.
There was a faint sound in the background — traffic, maybe — and his voice carried a weight that hadn't been there before.
It felt like something had happened.
> "Ramsey's father called me tonight," Tommy continued. "He sounded really concerned. It looks like Ramsey has started drinking wine and taking drugs. Do you know anything about what happened to him? Didn't he go abroad to study? What's going on with him?"
I froze for a moment, processing his words. The cheerful tone from earlier was gone, replaced by a knot of worry twisting in my stomach.
> "I… I don't know much," I said slowly. "Last I heard, he was fine abroad. But if his father is this concerned, maybe something serious happened."
Tommy's voice was tense.
> "Yeah… that's why I called. I thought you might know something."
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think.
> "Alright. I'll try to find out more. Thanks for letting me know, Tommy."
There was a long pause.
> "Be careful," he said finally. "And… keep an eye on him, if you can."
> "I will," I promised. "Thanks, Tommy."
After hanging up, I leaned back in my chair.
The day had started with laughter, cheeseburgers, and family chaos — and now, suddenly, there was this shadow of worry looming over my thoughts.
---
Two Years Ago — In the Country of Franciva
A man in a tuxedo walked briskly down a long corridor. The echo of his polished shoes faded as he stepped out of a tall glass building and hailed a taxi waiting by the curb.
> "Drive to Acdoland Complex," he said, settling into the back seat.
After some time, the taxi came to a smooth stop.
> "You drive well," the man said, handing the fare to the driver.
Although the driver seemed to have trouble understanding his language, he caught the friendly tone and smiled, replying with a quick, "Thank you."
The man who stepped out of the taxi was Ramsey.
It had been almost two years since he had arrived in this country, yet he still struggled with the language. Misunderstandings had become part of his daily routine.
> I want to return to my country as soon as possible, he thought, sighing. It's really troublesome here. How do those travelers in videos move from country to country, laughing and enjoying themselves? For me, it's like living in hell. Sometimes I can't even breathe properly.
As these thoughts filled his mind, he stopped near a small food stall. The warm aroma of grilled bread and melted cheese made him pause. On the menu board, he saw Croque Monsieur and McBaguette.
> "I'll have one Croque Monsieur and one McBaguette," Ramsey said, pointing at the items and trying to explain with gestures. "How much do they cost?"
The shopkeeper replied, "Ça a coûté huit euros."
Ramsey blinked. "I don't understand… can you tell me how much it is in dollars?"
For nearly five minutes, the two went back and forth, neither understanding the other. A small crowd began to gather, watching the awkward scene unfold.
Then, a young woman stepped forward. She spoke fluent English and seemed equally comfortable with the local language. In a few short sentences, she helped Ramsey pay the correct amount and settle the confusion.
Once everything calmed down, Ramsey finally caught his breath. He turned toward the girl, a mix of relief and gratitude on his face.
She had fair skin, soft features, and bright golden hair that shimmered in the sunlight. For a moment, it felt as though an angel had descended to rescue him from his embarrassment.
> "Hello," Ramsey said politely. "My name is Ramsey. I'm from a country called Georgealand. If it's not too rude… may I know your name?"
The girl hesitated slightly but smiled.
> "I'm Amiliya, from Georgealand too."
Ramsey's eyes widened.
> "Really? You're from the same country?"
Amiliya nodded, a soft laugh escaping her lips.
> "Yes. What a coincidence, isn't it?"
"Mind if I accompany you for a little while?" Ramsey asked, matching his pace with hers.
Amiliya chuckled softly. "Whatever you think fits."
"Thank you," he said, smiling awkwardly.
They began walking side by side. For a while, neither of them spoke — the only sounds were the quiet footsteps and the faint hum of city life around them. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it carried the weight of two strangers unsure of what to say next.
Ramsey finally decided to break the ice.
> "Well," he began, "I came to this country to study Business Ethics and Standards. It's been two years since then, yet I still can't speak the local language properly."
Amiliya glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
> "Are you studying in a foreign-language program?" she asked without turning fully toward him.
Ramsey scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
> "Yeah… I chose the English-taught course. I thought it would be easier that way."
> "That's exactly why you haven't learned the local language," she said with a teasing smile.
Ramsey gave a small laugh.
> "Now that I think about it, you're absolutely right."
They walked a few more steps in silence before Amiliya spoke again.
> "There are many top institutes back in Georgealand. Why come all the way here?"
Ramsey's tone grew thoughtful.
> "Filisia Institute of Management — it's the number one institute offering the course I wanted. So, I enrolled here."
> "Oh… Filisia Institute?" she murmured, as if recalling something.
There was a brief pause, then Ramsey asked gently,
> "So, what about you? Why are you here in this country?"