the exam or whatever

Ars had always dreamed of traveling the world, but never in a million years did he imagine his first trip abroad would be because of an exam. And certainly, never in first class.

He looked at William, sitting beside him in the business class seat, sipping some fancy champagne like it was just water. Ars was pretty sure he hadn't even seen the inside of an airplane before, let alone been treated to such luxury. He was sure that William had somehow tricked him into this, probably booked the seats using some shady underground connection.

"You... booked the business class?" Ars asked, a bit too loud, eyes wide in disbelief.

William, unbothered, sipped his drink and raised an eyebrow. "You thought I booked economy, didn't you?"

"I... I mean, we're going to Melbourne for an exam, right?" Ars stammered. "Aren't you supposed to be saving money for... I don't know, survival?"

William chuckled. "Don't worry, Ars. I'm in a partnership with a big company. Money's not an issue."

Ars leaned back in his chair, still trying to process the idea of William being involved in something *so* grown-up. "A partnership, huh? What company?"

William smiled, looking out the window. "It's a secret. But you'll find out soon enough."

Ars stared at him suspiciously, wondering if he was somehow involved in some corporate espionage or perhaps smuggling rare, endangered cacti. William's vague answers always made him think in odd directions.

The plane finally landed, and Ars' jaw dropped. He had never been on a plane before, and seeing Melbourne from the window was nothing short of mesmerizing. The city looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, with huge skyscrapers and buildings that stretched into the clouds.

"Wow," Ars whispered, almost forgetting to get his seatbelt off.

"Don't get too excited," William warned, as they stood up. "This is an expensive city. The taller the buildings, the higher the bills."

Ars, still gawking at the skyline, nodded. "Right... So, like, the taller the building, the taller the bill? Is that how it works?"

William sighed. "Yeah, sure, let's go with that."

They made their way out of the plane and into the airport, where the hustle and bustle of Melbourne's city life hit them full force. There were people everywhere, talking, rushing, and generally making Ars feel like a small-town kid who had stumbled into a high-speed chase.

As they walked through the terminal, Ars looked around at all the signs in English and... more English. It wasn't the language that threw him off, but the speed at which people were speaking it. William seemed to glide through it effortlessly, while Ars tried his best not to trip over his own feet.

Once they were outside, William pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and squinted at it. "Alright, the exam location should be around here somewhere."

Ars took a deep breath. "Finally! The exam. This is it. I've been waiting for this day my whole life."

"You sure about that?" William said, still looking at the address. "Because I just found out something interesting."

Ars shot him a confused look. "What do you mean?"

William raised a finger dramatically, clearly loving this moment. "The exam is delayed by *three days*."

Ars blinked. "What?"

"Yeah, apparently the guy in charge is having some... *delays*."

Ars felt a wave of disbelief wash over him. "What kind of exam gets delayed for *three days*? That's like... the universe is playing a prank on me."

William shrugged, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "Melbourne's got a vibe, man. It's like they're too cool for deadlines."

Now with three extra days to burn, Ars and William decided to explore the city. Ars was expecting something laid-back—maybe a quiet stroll through the park or visiting a museum. But William, of course, had other plans.

They ended up at a fancy tennis match at Rod Laver Arena, where the tickets alone could have paid for Ars' entire education, if he was being honest. They found their seats, and the match was intense—players running back and forth, smashing the ball like it owed them money.

Ars, however, couldn't focus on the game for long. His phone buzzed, and immediately, he started sending memes to William, who was already shaking his head.

"Ars," William groaned, "we're at a tennis match, can you *please* focus?"

But Ars was relentless. "I'm multitasking! You know, improving my meme game while enjoying some sports culture."

William snatched the phone from him. "You're ruining the vibe. Can you not be the *internet* in real life?"

Ars just grinned and leaned back in his seat. "I'm contributing to global laughter. You should be thanking me."

After the match, they headed to one of the city's fancier restaurants, where Ars was introduced to the *fine art* of using a fork and knife. They were seated at a white-cloth-covered table, and a waiter presented them with a dish so sophisticated it looked like the food had been sculpted by an artist.

"Okay," Ars whispered to William, looking at the silverware in front of him. "Which one do I use first?"

William casually grabbed his fork and knife and began cutting into his meal. "The one you're not going to spill on yourself, Ars. You'll be fine."

Ars, however, was not fine. He tried to cut into his steak like it was a piece of paper, but the knife kept slipping. It wasn't long before he accidentally flicked a piece of food into his lap.

William, choking back laughter, shook his head. "This... this is why I never take you anywhere fancy."

Ars, undeterred, looked around the table. "I think I'll just eat with my hands."

"No," William said, mortified. "We're in Melbourne, Ars. You can't just... *eat with your hands*."

Ars gave him a shrug and took another attempt at the steak. "It's a cultural experience, right? Like, *really* living in the moment?"

Meanwhile, William's face was buried in his hands. "This is why we can't have nice things."

After dinner, they took a walk through the city and found a theater showing *Solo Leveling* Season 2. Ars, having read the webtoon religiously, was eager to see how it would be adapted into an animated film. Naturally, he had to send a few memes to William in the middle of the movie, just to keep the energy going.

William, now thoroughly exhausted from the memes and the endless sarcasm, groaned. "Ars, I'm about to lose it."

But Ars just grinned and leaned over. "Don't worry, I'm just warming up for the next three days of adventures."

And so, the pair of them wandered deeper into Melbourne's chaotic, quirky streets, exploring everything from hidden cafes to random parks, all while William tried to figure out how to survive the next few days with Ars and his *unique* approach to life.

But the real exam—the one that Ars was truly anxious about—was just around the corner. Little did they know, it was going to be more of a test than they ever could've imagined.

---

**End of Chapter 14.**

Stay tuned for Chapter 15—where things get even stranger, and the real exam finally begins!