When the light fades, leaving only darkness behind, secrets tighten, emotions intertwine, and tensions cross paths—like a silent transaction echoing across an endless screen. A place where love and hatred intertwine, where every final note of the soul resounds.

Luca stood in the middle of the schoolyard, surrounded by cheer  and laughter from the graduates. Holding his cap tightly, he took a deep breath, feeling the refreshing air fill his lungs.

"Life is amazing!" he shouted, throwing his graduation cap high into the sky, watching it spin under the bright sunlight. He turned to his friends, his smile wide, his eyes brimming with hope for the future.

As the cap descended, Luca caught it, gripping it firmly. Today marked a new beginning. Today, he stepped into the world, ready for anything.

But reality wasn't as dazzling as his dreams.

A week later, Luca walked out of an office building, clutching his resume. His heart sank as he recalled the interviewer's cold tone:

"We're sorry, but we've already found a more suitable candidate."

He didn't stop. That day, Luca went from company to company, from store to café, searching for any opportunity. But all he received were head shakes and polite refusals.

As the sun dipped behind towering buildings, Luca returned to his tiny apartment. He collapsed onto the bed, his resume still clutched in his hands. In the dimly lit room, only the streetlights seeped through the window.

"Tomorrow... tomorrow will be better," he whispered to himself.

But that night, peace never came.

A loud knock shattered the silence. Luca bolted upright, his heart pounding.

"Luca! Open the door!" a woman's voice demanded.

He hesitated before unlocking it, facing his landlord—a middle-aged woman with a sharp gaze.

"Where's your rent? I've reminded you twice already!"

He stood there, flustered. "I... I'll pay soon, just a few more days," he pleaded, his voice betraying his own uncertainty.

She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "A few more days? You said that last week! Three days—if you don't pay up, you're out."

The door slammed shut, and her footsteps faded, but her words echoed in Luca's mind. He sank onto the floor, covering his face with his hands.

Three days. That was all he had left. And he had no idea what to do.

The next morning, sunlight trickled through the window, casting a soft glow over his small room. Luca woke up to an unusual stillness. He quickly freshened up, ate a simple breakfast, then sat at his desk, opening his battered laptop.

He spent hours scouring job listings, sending out applications. But as the afternoon wore on, exhaustion took over. He leaned back, rubbing his temples.

His resume lay open on the desk: Graduated with honors in Marketing.

Luca once thought that with such achievements, he'd secure a stable job. But reality was cruel. No connections, no experience—his degree felt worthless in this ruthless world.

Just then, his phone rang. Seeing the familiar caller ID, his eyes brightened.

"Mom!"

The conversation lasted a while, her voice soothing his weary soul. Luca spoke about his life away from home, sharing small joys, but never once mentioning his unemployment.

"I'm doing great, Mom. Everything's going well, no need to worry," he reassured her.

But when the call ended, emptiness crept in. He set his phone down, staring blankly.

Stepping onto the balcony, he inhaled deeply, gazing at the towering cityscape. The city was alive, bustling with people chasing their dreams. Yet Luca felt like he was being left behind—lost and drifting in the unknown.

A rustling sound from the next balcony interrupted his thoughts. His neighbor stepped out, spotting him.

"You look exhausted, man. It's late—why are you still up?"

Luca forced a polite smile. "Just getting some fresh air."

His neighbor studied him before smirking knowingly. "Let me guess—you haven't found a job yet?"

Luca hesitated before shrugging.

"Wait here," the neighbor said, disappearing inside.

Minutes later, he returned—not just to the balcony, but straight into Luca's room, carrying food and a large bottle of liquor.

"Bro, we need to unwind tonight!"

Before Luca could protest, the table was filled with dishes. His neighbor shoved a glass toward him.

"Drink up!"

"But I don't drink..."

"One sip won't kill you!"

Under pressure, Luca took a hesitant sip. One sip turned into several, and soon, the warmth of alcohol loosened his tongue. He began voicing the struggles he had kept bottled up.

His neighbor listened intently, occasionally offering words of encouragement.

"Don't worry, man. You're smart—you'll find something!"

Eventually, Luca could barely stay upright. His head hit the table, fast asleep.

His neighbor chuckled, then suddenly had an idea. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through something.

"Hey, wake up! Look at this!"

Luca groggily opened his eyes, focusing on the screen. A company logo glowed in the dim light—G Queen Corporation.

The neighbor grinned drunkenly. "This company is huge! And check this out—their female CEO is stunning."

Luca's bleary gaze landed on the photo of a woman. His cheeks flushed, whether from alcohol or something else.

"She's... really beautiful..." he mumbled before passing out completely.

His neighbor smirked, setting the phone aside.

In the dimly lit apartment, the half-empty bottle of liquor glistened. On the phone screen, the image of G Queen's CEO remained—like a silent prelude to fate.

When Luca woke up, golden sunlight streamed through the window. His head throbbed. He groaned, struggling to recall the night before.

The clatter of dishes pulled him back to reality. He turned to find his neighbor cleaning up the mess.

"Hey! Let me help—"

His neighbor waved him off. "Sit down, man. You're hungover."

Luca sighed, watching as his neighbor quickly restored order.

"By the way," his neighbor said, drying his hands, "you should really apply to G Queen. I hear they value talent over experience. You might have a shot!"

Luca hesitated.

He had heard of G Queen before. A powerhouse in the tech industry, closely tied to aerospace development ...

But precisely because of this, he felt so small. Even small companies had rejected him—did he even stand a chance at a corporation of this caliber?

As if reading Luca's thoughts through his gaze, his neighbor patted his shoulder and spoke in a gentle tone:

"When I was your age, I struggled just as much. Nowadays, if you don't have connections, it's undeniably hard to succeed—but what choice do we have? We still have to live, still have to fight for our livelihood. So why not give it a shot? Who knows? Maybe you'll make it!"

Those words kindled a flicker of hope in Luca's heart. He exhaled deeply, looking at his neighbor with gratitude filling his eyes.

"Thank you... really, thank you!"

The neighbor chuckled, waving away Luca's formalities with a casual hand:

"Alright, no need for words. Just do your best—you can do it!"

With that, he left the room, leaving Luca alone with his swirling thoughts. That night, Luca sat at his desk, bathed in the soft glow of a warm yellow lamp. He turned on his laptop, searching for information about G Queen. The company's achievements, its scale, and its prestige only added to the pressure. But that pressure, in turn, fueled his determination.

Luca meticulously reviewed his résumé, scrutinizing every detail for any shortcomings or errors. He revised each sentence, refined his descriptions, and adjusted his wording. His eyes stayed fixed on the screen, fingers tirelessly tapping away at the keyboard.

Time slipped by. Outside the window, golden streetlights illuminated the quiet streets. In the small apartment, Luca remained immersed in his work, as though he were evaluating himself. That night, he barely slept.