Elara takes a deep breath and looks at all of them.
"So, guys," she says calmly, folding her arms,
"how much work has everyone done?"
Silence.
Pure, loud silence.
Lucien looks at the ceiling like answers might fall from there.
Victor suddenly finds the floor very interesting.
Noah avoids eye contact and pretends to rearrange her notebook.
Alice leans back, saying nothing.
Elara blinks once.
Twice.
"…Seriously?" she asks.
No response.
She exhales slowly, clearly trying not to lose her temper.
"Guys," she says, this time firmer,
"we don't have time for this."
Everyone finally looks at her.
"I've already collected more than half the information," Elara continues.
"I've arranged it, filtered it, and even shortlisted the people we need to meet for real-life experiences."
Her voice softens, but there's disappointment in it.
"And you all… haven't done anything?"
Lucien scratches the back of his head.
"Okay, when you say it like that, it sounds bad."
"It is bad," Elara replies, not shouting—just honest.
Noah speaks quietly, "Elara… I'm sorry. I thought we still had time."
"We don't," Elara says gently.
"This project isn't just about grades. It's about understanding real struggles. And understanding needs effort."
She pauses, then straightens her shoulders.
"But listen," she adds, looking at each of them,
"I didn't bring you all into this to blame you."
Her tone changes—stronger, motivating.
"I brought you here because I believe we can actually do something meaningful together."
Alice finally looks up at her.
"We mess up," Elara continues,
"but we fix it. Together."
She checks the time on her watch.
"By 5 p.m., we meet at the café," she says clearly.
"I want everyone there with proper information. No excuses. No last-minute panic."
Victor nods immediately.
"We'll do it. I promise."
Lucien raises his hand dramatically.
"Scout's honor. I'll even skip gossip today."
Noah smiles sheepishly.
"I'll work extra hard. I don't want to disappoint you again."
Elara looks at Alice last.
He holds her gaze and nods once.
"I'll get the information," he says quietly.
"Properly."
Elara relaxes just a little.
"Good," she says.
"Then let's stop wasting time."
As everyone starts moving, Lucien mutters under his breath,
"She's scary when she's motivated."
Victor whispers back,
"Yeah… but that's why she's the leader."
Elara hears it, shakes her head, and almost—almost—smiles.
Everyone finally gets serious and dives into work.
Lucien spreads papers across the table like he's planning a mission.
"Okay, listen," he says confidently,
"the content matters, yes—but presentation? That's where we win."
He starts arranging pages, color codes, headings.
"This needs to look perfect. Clean. Professional. Like—wow."
Noah sits beside him, already sketching.
Her pencil moves fast, confident.
"I'll handle the visuals," she says.
"Posters, illustrations, small symbols. Something that actually catches attention."
Lucien peeks at her work and widens his eyes.
"Okay, wow. Why are you secretly talented?"
Noah smirks.
"Why are you loudly useless?"
Lucien gasps.
"That hurt."
Across the table, Victor is carefully rewriting Elara's collected information in his neat, almost unreal handwriting.
"I swear," Lucien mutters,
"this guy's handwriting should be framed."
Victor doesn't even look up.
"Focus."
Elara stands nearby, watching everyone closely—leader mode fully on.
Then her eyes shift to Alice.
He's sitting with his laptop open, tabs everywhere, brows furrowed.
He scrolls. Closes. Searches again.
Nothing.
Elara walks over and stops beside him.
"Alice," she asks calmly,
"how much have you done?"
He exhales.
"I'm trying, okay? But I'm not finding good, solid information online. Everything feels shallow."
Elara looks at the screen, then at him.
Instead of getting angry, she smiles softly.
"That's okay," she says.
"Honestly, I expected this."
Alice looks up, confused.
"You… did?"
She nods.
"That's why we're meeting real people at 3 p.m. Remember? You'll get better information there."
Alice relaxes a little.
She adds quietly,
"I know you can do this."
There's confidence in her voice—not pressure.
He nods.
"Alright. It's 11 a.m. I'll write whatever I can till then."
Elara steps back and claps her hands lightly.
"Okay, everyone," she announces,
"at 3 p.m., we meet real people. Real stories. Real struggles."
She looks around.
"Are we ready?"
Everyone answers together.
"Yes!"
Lucien raises his fist.
"Team chaos—but productive."
Noah rolls her eyes.
"Don't ruin the moment."
They all get back to work.
Five minutes later—
Lucien leans over Noah's sketches.
"Why is this woman taller than the man?"
Noah doesn't look up.
"Because height doesn't define power."
Lucien squints.
"But it hurts my ego."
Noah smiles sweetly.
"Good."
Lucien starts arguing.
"No, see, visually—"
"Lucien," Noah snaps,
"touch my sketch again and I'll erase your existence."
Victor coughs.
"Guys. Focus."
Meanwhile—
Alice types something.
Elara peers over his shoulder.
"Why did you write 'feminism is confusing'?" she asks.
Alice shrugs.
"It is confusing."
She crosses her arms.
"No, you're confusing."
He turns to her.
"You're controlling."
She fires back instantly.
"You're irresponsible."
Lucien looks up.
"Oh, here we go again."
Victor sighs.
"Not again."
Alice smirks.
"At least I don't schedule emotions like tasks."
Elara steps closer.
"At least I don't run away from responsibility."
They glare at each other.
Noah whispers loudly,
"Should we clap or run?"
Lucien grins.
"Enemies with chemistry. Classic."
Elara breaks eye contact first and turns away.
"Focus," she says firmly.
"We don't have time for this."
Alice exhales, shakes his head, and goes back to typing.
Lucien and Noah resume bickering—this time quietly.
Victor continues writing, pretending none of this exists.
Elara watches them all for a moment.
Chaotic. Loud. Difficult.
But working.
And somehow—together.
Finally, the group finishes their work. Papers stacked, sketches done, laptops closed. Elara leans back on the sofa, wipes her hands, and gives Victor a smile.
"Victor… because of you, this actually got done. Thanks," she says genuinely.
Victor smirks, leaning casually against the table.
"Ah… you're welcome. I try my best."
Elara rolls her eyes playfully.
"Alright, enough praising you. Guys, I'm going to make lunch. Noah, come with me."
Noah immediately shakes her head.
"No way! I'll just supervise. You go ahead and handle it."
Elara gives her a look.
"Noah, seriously, I want to make it myself. You sit and relax."
"No, I can't… you're too perfectionist!" Noah protests.
Elara throws her hands up, dramatic as ever.
"Fine! I'll go alone then. Enjoy the sofa, everyone!"
She marches into the kitchen like a tiny general going into battle. Meanwhile, Lucien smirks from the sofa.
"Noah… seriously, why the fuss? Let her cook. You've done enough supervising today."
Noah pouts.
"Fine, fine… but I'm watching you, Elara. No burning things this time."
Back on the sofa, everyone stretches, sighing in relief. Alice, however, suddenly stiffens as his phone vibrates.
Lucien glances at the screen and chuckles.
"Guys… looks like GF number nine is calling again."
Alice groans, rubbing his face.
"Oh… yeah. Two minutes, alright?"
He picks up the call, voice low and calm, smiling softly. He leans back into the sofa, holding the phone to his ear as he talks quietly to his girlfriend. Meanwhile, the room is silent except for the faint clinking of kitchen utensils in the background.
Noah leans over Lucien's shoulder, whispering.
"Wait… wait… wait… how many girlfriends does he even have? I mean, like… 32 exes, current 12 girlfriends, and god knows how many female friends?"
Lucien chokes on his laugh.
"Hahaha… I KNOW. The playboy strikes again. How does he even remember all their names?"
Alice overhears part of the conversation and mutters, smirking.
"Shut up, both of you. I'm a legend, not a disaster."
Noah rolls her eyes.
"Legend? Bruh… you're a chaos factory."
Victor shakes his head, half-amused, half-exasperated.
"Honestly… I don't even want to know how his calendar works."
Alice glances at them with a mock serious face, still talking on the phone.
"Look… calm down. Yes, I remember your anniversary. No… don't panic. I got it."
Lucien whispers to Noah, snickering.
"See? Chaos factory deluxe."
Noah gasps dramatically, fanning herself like it's the end of the world.
"Endangered species level, Lucien. This boy cannot survive a normal day."
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Elara is stirring something in a pan, humming softly, completely unaware of the phone chaos happening in the living room. She occasionally shouts out:
"Lunch will be ready in ten minutes! Don't eat anything yet!"
Alice finally hangs up, letting out a quiet sigh.
"Alright, back to reality," he mutters, watching Elara in the kitchen with a little smile tugging at his lips.
Lucien leans back, nudges Victor.
"Dude… GF number nine is calling, Alice is smiling at the kitchen… this is sitcom material."
Victor laughs softly, shaking his head.
"You can say that again. Only in this house."
Alice smirks, half-amused, half-serious.
"Sitcom? Nah… it's just my life."
Noah groans.
"Your life is literally a disaster show!"
Lucien laughs so hard he almost tips over the sofa.
"Exactly my point!"
Meanwhile, Elara finally calls out:
"Lunch is ready! And no snacking before it!"
Alice leans back, eyes on her.
"Legendary multitasking… she's amazing."
Noah whispers, shaking her head.
"I swear… everyone in this room is ridiculous."
Victor just smiles quietly, thinking: Yes… but somehow it all works.
The lunch table was finally set. Plates filled with Elara's perfectly cooked food, steam rising, smells tempting enough to make anyone drool. Everyone sits down, ready to dig in.
Noah pokes her fork at the food and grins.
"Okay… seriously, Elara, when did you learn to cook like this? Since when did you become a chef?"
Elara smirks, taking a small bite.
"Oh, you know… some of us learn to survive without burning down the kitchen. Practice, patience… and ignoring overexcited people hovering around."
Lucien laughs, nudging Noah.
"See? Told you. She's amazing. And Noah… just take notes, not ingredients."
Noah rolls her eyes dramatically.
"Notes? I'm observing. Purely… academically."
Alice, sitting across the table, leans back slightly and smirks at Elara.
"You've clearly improved. Though I always suspected you had hidden talents."
Elara raises an eyebrow.
"Hidden talents, huh? Careful, Alice… you might end up doing the dishes if you say too much."
Alice laughs lightly, shaking his head.
"Not a chance."
Meanwhile, Lucien flicks a small piece of bread at Noah.
"Hey! Watch it!"
Noah grabs a napkin and flicks it right back.
"Careful, Mr. Management Expert! You'll regret it!"
Victor, sitting quietly beside them, shakes his head with a soft chuckle, eating his lunch in peace.
"Idiots…" he mutters, but there's a smile tugging at his lips.
Lucien laughs, standing up dramatically.
"Oh, you want a war? You asked for it, Noah!"
Noah smirks, rolling up her sleeves.
"Bring it on!"
Before anyone can blink, a full-blown food fight begins. Bread crumbs fly, a stray piece of tomato lands on Lucien's shoulder, and Noah lets out a triumphant squeal.
Alice just groans.
"Not again…"
Elara, trying to stay calm, points a spoon at Alice.
"Hey! Watch it, you troublemaker. You're not helping!"
Alice smirks cheekily.
"Me? I'm just… defending my honor. And maybe testing your reflexes."
Elara narrows her eyes, then flicks a piece of bread at him.
"Oh, it's on!"
And just like that, Alice retaliates. Food flies across the table. Lucien and Noah, laughing hysterically, join in, making it a full-scale lunch battlefield.
Victor sighs, quietly picking up his sandwich.
"Honestly… can't these people eat like normal humans?"
Alice dodges a flying carrot stick and laughs.
"No chance, Victor! Normal is boring!"
Elara glares but laughs too, dodging a rogue piece of bread.
"You think you're funny, huh?"
Alice smirks, pointing at her.
"Every time I think you're serious, you just prove how deadly fast you are. Admit it—you love this chaos!"
Elara rolls her eyes, smiling despite herself.
"Maybe… maybe I do."
Noah, caught between laughing and throwing food, screams dramatically.
"Stop! I'm too young for this trauma!"
Lucien laughs, flicking a pea at her head.
"Too late, kiddo. Welcome to the chaos club!"
Victor finally stands, raising his voice.
"STOP IT! EVERYONE! NOW!"
Instantly, everyone freezes mid-laugh, mid-throw, and mid-dodge. The table is a mess—food everywhere—but there's laughter echoing across the room.
Victor sighs and shakes his head.
"You are unbelievable… all of you. Clean this mess up… slowly. And Alice, Elara… no more fighting. You two especially."
Alice smirks at Elara.
"No promises."
Elara groans, but her smile says otherwise.
"You're impossible, you know that?"
Alice leans back, arms crossed, smirking like a hero.
"And yet… you love it."
Noah and Lucien are still giggling, shaking their heads.
Victor just mutters, "I need a vacation."
And as they finally start cleaning up, even in the chaos, the laughter lingers, the teasing continues, and the bond between them… grows stronger, messy plate by messy plate.