Offer

The morning air was cold and still as Holo made his way to the edge of the lake. It was early, and the streets were empty, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The water shimmered under the pale light of the rising sun, its surface calm and inviting. For the first time in a long while, Holo felt a sense of peace. This was it. He had finally made up his mind.

He stepped to the edge of the lake, his shoes sinking into the muddy ground. He thought of everything that had led him here: the relentless bullying, the humiliation, the betrayal by someone he thought cared about him, and the cold, cutting words of his parents. There was nothing left for him. No one would miss him, and maybe the world would be better off without him.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the water. The icy chill cut through him like a blade, but he kept going, each step taking him deeper. By the time the water reached his chest, his breaths were short and shallow. He hesitated for a moment, the fear of the unknown clawing at the back of his mind. But the pain in his heart outweighed the fear.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to no one in particular before letting himself fall forward.

The water enveloped him, its cold grip pulling him under. He closed his eyes, the world above growing distant. His chest burned as he held his breath, but he welcomed the discomfort, hoping it would all be over soon.

Then, strong hands grabbed him, yanking him upward with a force that made him gasp for air. He sputtered and coughed as he was pulled to the surface, his lungs screaming for oxygen. Before he could process what was happening, he found himself lying on the muddy shore, shivering and soaked to the bone.

"What the hell were you thinking, kid?" a gruff voice demanded.

Holo blinked, his vision blurry, and saw a man kneeling beside him. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a rugged face and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through him. His clothes were damp from pulling Holo out of the lake, and his expression was a mix of anger and concern.

"Why did you save me?" Holo croaked, his voice weak.

The man didn't answer right away. Instead, he pulled off his jacket and draped it over Holo's shoulders. "Because no one deserves to die like that," he said firmly. "Now, tell me—why were you trying to end your life?"

Holo hesitated, his body trembling from the cold and the weight of the man's question. But something about the stranger's presence felt safe, like he wouldn't judge him the way everyone else had. Slowly, Holo began to speak. He told the man everything: the bullying, the betrayal, the abuse at home. He even admitted that he had run away from home the night before and had nowhere to go.

By the time he finished, the man was silent, his expression unreadable. Then, after a moment, he said, "You've been through hell, kid. I'm sorry no one was there for you when you needed them."

Holo looked down, unsure of how to respond. The man's sympathy felt foreign, almost uncomfortable, but he didn't hate it.

The man stood up, brushing the dirt off his hands. "You know, I might have a solution for you."

Holo frowned. "What do you mean?"

The man gave him a small, almost mischievous smile. "There's a program I'm involved with. It's a bit unconventional, but it could change your life. All you have to do is date a few crazy girls."

Holo blinked, unsure if he had heard correctly. "Date crazy girls?"

"Exactly," the man said. "Four of them, to be specific. They're… let's just say they're not your average girls. They need someone to guide them, someone to calm them down. And that someone could be you."

Holo stared at him, bewildered. "Why me?"

"You've got nothing to lose, right? You're young, and you've already been through more than most people your age. If you can handle them and help them become more… functional, let's say, you'll be rewarded."

"Rewarded how?" Holo asked cautiously.

The man's smile widened. "Ten million dollars."

Holo's eyes widened. "Ten million?"

"Yep," the man said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Enough to start over, to build a life for yourself. Think about it—no more worrying about bullies, no more struggling to survive. You'll be set for life."

It sounded too good to be true. Holo's first instinct was to say no, to walk away and never look back. But then he thought about his life—the hopelessness, the pain, the emptiness. What did he have to lose? If this was a scam, so what? He had nothing left anyway.

"Alright," he said finally. "I'll do it."

The man clapped him on the shoulder, his grin triumphant. "That's the spirit, kid. Come on—I'll take you to the facility."

Holo followed the man to a sleek black car parked nearby. As they drove through the city, Holo couldn't shake the feeling that he was making a mistake. But then he remembered the lake, the cold water pulling him under. Anything had to be better than that.

After about an hour, they arrived at a large, imposing building on the outskirts of the city. The man led him inside, where a group of people in lab coats greeted them. The sterile white walls and bright fluorescent lights made the place feel more like a hospital than anything else.

"This is it," the man said, gesturing around. "Your new home for the next few months. You'll meet the girls tomorrow."

Holo swallowed hard, his nerves starting to get the better of him. "What… What are they like?"

The man smirked. "You'll see. Just remember—this isn't going to be easy. But if you can pull it off, your life will never be the same."

Holo nodded, his stomach twisting in knots. He didn't know what he had gotten himself into, but there was no turning back now.