"Karl..." Ruby called, her voice sweet, but her smile had a teasing edge. "You want to be a star, right?"
Karl sat up quickly, looking alert. "Yes!" he said, full of energy.
"Well," she said, tilting her head to one side, "stars need to be smart too. You’ll have to rember your own episode number daily, take after take. morize lines, rember timing... So of course, you must know how to count!"
Her voice beca slow and aningful as she stared at him. Karl’s eyes widened like saucers.
"There’s such a thing?!" he asked with shock, blinking fast.
Ruby nodded seriously, biting back a smile. "That’s not all," she added. "Every star has to recite big scripts. That ans... rembering lots and lots of words." She tilted her head to his side, watching his reaction like a cat watching a toy.
Karl stared at her for a second. "I-I didn’t know about this!" he muttered. "Maybe I should just be a background ghost..."
Julian let out a soft laugh behind his hand. Milo was already giggling, his cheeks puffed up. Even Adrian’s lips twitched at the corner, almost turning into a smile.
"I don’t know! What should I do, wife?!" Karl panicked, his voice rising as he looked at her with wide, helpless eyes.
Ruby sighed and folded her arms, trying not to smile at his dramatic face.
"Can you at least count numbers?" she asked gently. "So we can understand where to start teaching you...Right Jules?" she looked toward Julian, her tone soft and trusting.
She actually had no idea that the mont she said his na, Julian’s heart had started beating so fast as if it was trying to break out of his chest. He sat up straight, hiding his flustered expression behind a calm face.
"Yes... Brother Karl," he said, his voice quiet but steady.
Karl looked at him like a lost puppy waiting for help, and Julian gave a small, encouraging nod. Even if he didn’t speak much, there was always sothing comforting in the way Julian looked at people like he was saying, "Don’t worry. I’m here."
"Alright! I’ll count," Karl said, puffing his chest a little. "But if anyone laughs—I will beat anyone... ans anyone!" He glared at all of them, eyes sharp like a warning.
Milo raised his hand innocently, "But at least start first..."
Karl turned slowly and gave him a sharp glare. Milo instantly zipped his lips and looked down, pretending to draw circles on the floor. Ruby held back a chuckle, covering her mouth.
Karl cleared his throat like a serious perforr before a grand speech. "Ahem..."
He looked at his fingers, brows scrunched in deep focus. "One... two... three... five... six... eight..."
There was silence. Then Karl bit his lower lip and looked at Ruby like a guilty child caught stealing sweets. He honestly tried but he had skipped numbers without even realizing.
He had never counted money as a child, never had a reason to. He only knew so numbers he had picked up from here and there.
Milo watched his brother Karl struggle with numbers and found it too funny to hold back. He let out a small giggle, his hand covering his mouth. And once Milo laughed, Julian also couldn’t help it. A soft chuckle escaped him too, his eyes sparkling with quiet amusent.
Only Adrian sat still, expressionless as always, like he was watching a play with no interest. But his ears were definitely listening.
Karl blinked. Then blinked again. His eyes slowly turned glassy as he realized... they were laughing at him.
"D-Don’t laugh..." he said in a wobbly voice, trying to hold it in. His lips trembled, and he looked down at his fingers again, his confidence shrinking like a popped balloon.
The others tried to stop, biting their lips, turning their heads, but the mont was already ruined. And poor Karl... he just couldn’t hold it anymore.
With a sudden sniffle, he cried loudly...his voice cracking like thunder in the small room. He felt ashad, embarrassed, and hurt all at once. His dream of being a star was already hard... now even counting numbers had beco too much.
"Hey, hey... it’s alright, Karl... I’m here," Ruby said quickly, her voice full of care. She moved close and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Don’t worry... I’ll teach you everything. Please don’t cry..."
Karl didn’t expect the hug but the mont Ruby’s arms wrapped around him, he burst into louder sobs, burying his face into her shoulder like a little boy.
The room changed in seconds. Milo panicked and rushed over. "Don’t cry, brother! I won’t laugh again!"
Julian also moved closer, gently patting Karl’s back. "Sorry, Brother Karl... we were just... it wasn’t ant to hurt you."
Even Adrian blinked once, watching the scene, and then quietly shifted a little closer—just enough to show he cared too.
But no one..not even for a second noticed how Ruby was still holding Karl, her hand softly brushing his back, and how close the two of them were in that quiet hug. Only Karl felt it. And it made his heart beat just a little faster... even while crying.
"Alright... now stop crying like a baby," Ruby said softly, gently wiping Karl’s tears with her thumb. "I’ll teach you a trick to rember numbers... or even more words, alright?"
Karl sniffled, his eyes still watery, but he nodded his head like an obedient child. There was sothing honest in that nod...like he really wanted to try again, just needed soone to guide him.
Ruby smiled and leaned in closer. She whispered sweetly, "Good."
Her voice was warm, like sunshine through a window. Karl looked at her with round eyes, still sniffling a little, but now with hope.
The others sat quietly, watching the mont without interrupting. Milo was hugging his knees, swaying a bit. Julian had his chin resting on his hand, looking thoughtful. Adrian, as always, remained still but his eyes were locked on Ruby, quietly observing everything.
"Okay," Ruby said, sitting up straighter. "Now look at your fingers, Karl. They are your friends."
Karl looked down at his hands.
—To be continued...🪄
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