The evening passed by as James continued to share the details of his day. He spoke about his time with his girlfriend and the plans they had for the weekend. As usual, his enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but feel a little lighter listening to him.
But even as he spoke, I could sense James' eyes on me—glancing at me from time to time, as if he was trying to figure something out. The way I sat, the way I carried myself, the way I spoke—something about me felt... different. And as much as I tried to focus on the conversation, I could feel him getting closer to asking the question I knew was coming.
Finally, after another story about his girlfriend, James leaned back in his chair, a serious look crossing his face. "Alright, Cedric," he said, lowering his voice just a touch. "I've gotta ask. What's going on with you, man? You've been acting different lately. I mean, like... different. You're walking around like you're some kind of noble or something."
I felt the words hit me like a ton of bricks. The truth hit me just as hard—how could I explain what I was going through? How could I make him understand?
James leaned forward now, his curiosity far outweighing any casual politeness. "We've known each other since freshman year, Cedric. We're about to graduate, and this isn't you. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but something's definitely changed. What's up?"
I stared at him for a long moment, trying to figure out how to cover for the truth. He could never know about the system or the tasks I had to complete. But he was my best friend. He deserved an answer, at least something close to the truth.
I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "You're right," I said, trying to sound casual. "I've been a little off lately. I've got an interview coming up, you know? For a job."
James blinked, clearly surprised. "A job? Dude, I didn't know you were even looking for one yet. You're telling me you've got a big interview lined up and that's why you're acting like... well, like a nobleman?"
I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. "Yeah, it's a big opportunity. You know, one of those positions where first impressions mean everything. So I've been preparing myself, trying to get everything right. You know how it is. Gotta be ready for anything."
James leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowing slightly. "Okay, I get that. But come on, man. You've been acting like you're preparing for some royal meeting or something. This is a bit more than just a job interview, right?"
I bit my lip, unsure of how to steer the conversation. "It's... it's just nerves, I guess. You know how intense these interviews can be, especially for jobs like this. So I've been getting my mind right, making sure I'm ready."
James was quiet for a moment, clearly processing what I'd said. I knew he wasn't entirely convinced, but he didn't press further. He gave me a small nod, his tone light but still concerned. "Alright, man. If you say so. Just don't wear yourself out, okay? You've been acting like this is life or death. Whatever happens, don't forget to relax sometimes."
I smiled faintly, grateful for his understanding, even if he didn't fully get what was going on. "Thanks, James. I'll take care of it. Promise."
The waiter arrived with our food then, and the conversation shifted again, back to the normal, easy flow we were used to. But as I ate, I couldn't shake the thought of what James had said. He was right, in a way. I was acting differently. I couldn't let anyone see the real reason behind it, though—not yet.
I had not much 72 hours left, and I needed to perfect my "noble" persona. There was no room for mistakes.
As we finished up our meal, I glanced at the clock, my mind already turning back to the tasks ahead. Time was running out, and I wasn't sure if I was ready. But I knew I couldn't afford to fail.
After we finished our meal, James suggested we grab takeout for the other two dorm mates—Ethan Ward and Luke Tanner. Ethan, always immersed in his novels, was the quiet, thoughtful one of our group, while Luke, on the other hand, had the kind of wealth that none of us could quite match. But despite his wealth, Luke was down-to-earth and never flaunted his status, which made him a bit of an enigma.
We walked over to a nearby takeout joint, grabbing a few boxes of food to bring back to the dorm. The streets were quieter than usual, the distant hum of the city a backdrop to our conversation, but I couldn't fully tune out the nerves gnawing at me. I was still adjusting to the whole "acting rich" thing, and I wasn't sure how long I could keep up the charade.
When we got back to the dorm, I noticed that Ethan and Luke were already there, their voices drifting out from the open door. As we walked down the hallway, I heard the familiar banter between the two.
"I'm telling you, Luke, if you ever actually paid attention to your own money for once, you'd probably own half the city by now," Ethan teased, his voice light and easy.
Luke's laughter followed. "And if you ever took a break from writing to, I don't know, do something that isn't fictional, you might actually leave your room more often."
Ethan scoffed playfully. "Hey, some of the best stories are written in isolation. I'm doing the world a service here."
"Right, sure," Luke chuckled. "If by 'doing the world a service,' you mean keeping your stories locked away from the public forever."
We stood outside the door for a moment, listening to them go back and forth. There was no tension between any of us—just the kind of easy camaraderie that came from years of friendship. All of us had been through a lot together since we started freshman year, and our bond had only grown stronger over time.
James nudged me with his elbow. "You ready for this?" he asked, his tone still light, but I could see the glint of curiosity in his eyes. He was probably dying to ask about what was going on with me, but we'd agreed to keep it casual for now.
I nodded, trying to shake off the feeling of being caught between two worlds. I was about to walk in and play the part of someone I wasn't sure I could be. But, for now, I just needed to make it through.
We pushed open the door, and Ethan and Luke immediately noticed us. They were sitting on the couch, a bag of snacks between them. When they saw the takeout, both of their faces lit up.
"You guys finally remembered us?" Luke grinned, sitting up. "I thought we were gonna starve in here while you two were out having fun."
Ethan smiled, but his gaze flickered to me for a moment, like he was sizing me up. There was something different about me, something he couldn't quite place, but he didn't say anything.
James threw the takeout bags onto the table. "Of course, we got you both covered. You know we wouldn't forget about you two."
Luke grabbed his bag with a smirk. "Lucky for you, since I was just about to start charging rent for sharing the same space as me."
Ethan rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as he opened his food. "If you really wanted to charge us rent, Luke, you'd need a better apartment first. This place is barely holding up as it is."
The banter continued, the easy back-and-forth that we'd all become used to. But I couldn't help but feel a slight disconnect as I sat there, eating quietly, my mind on the task ahead. I couldn't fully let go of the feeling that, no matter how much I tried to fit in, I was still playing a part. A part I wasn't sure I knew how to perform.
But for now, I just had to keep pretending. Keep learning. Keep playing the role of the "rich man" I was supposed to become.
As the conversation continued, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my friends—especially for how normal they made everything feel, even when I was struggling to keep up this act.
They were the anchor in this sea of confusion I was drowning in, and somehow, I knew I could count on them, even if they had no idea what was really going on.