Trouble maker and the genius

The smell of breakfast slowly filled the apartment.

Pancakes.

Eggs.

Toast.

Fresh fruit.

And a separate meal carefully prepared for her mother's dietary restrictions.

Elena hummed happily while placing the final plate on the table.

This was a good day.

No.

A great day.

For the first time in months, she felt hopeful.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway.

The first person to enter the kitchen was Katherine.

Twenty-six years old.

The oldest sibling.

Unemployed.

And somehow always irritated by everyone else's happiness.

Katherine stopped and stared at the table.

Then at Elena.

Then back at the table.

Katherine: What exactly are you doing?

Elena: Making breakfast.

Katherine: I can see that.

Her eyes narrowed.

Katherine: Why?

Elena: Because people usually eat breakfast in the morning.

Katherine rolled her eyes.

A second later, Mrs. Cruz entered the kitchen.

She looked equally confused.

Mrs. Cruz: Elena?

Sweetheart, did you make all of this?

Elena grinned.

Elena: Yep.

Katherine poked one of the pancakes with a fork.

Katherine: Brave of you to assume this is edible.

Elena immediately glared.

Elena: Then don't eat it.

Katherine: Gladly.

Make me something else, Mom.

I'm not risking food poisoning today.

Elena: Then make your own breakfast and stop treating Mom like a personal chef.

Katherine: Excuse me?

Elena: You heard me.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Mrs. Cruz sighed.

Mrs. Cruz: Enough.

Both sisters fell silent.

Mrs. Cruz pointed toward the dishes.

Mrs. Cruz: What did you make?

Immediately Elena's mood improved.

She hurried toward the table.

Like a child proudly showing off a school project.

Elena: Pancakes, fruit bowls, sandwiches, eggs...

And—

She proudly held up another plate.

Elena: This one is for you.

Mrs. Cruz blinked.

The meal was completely different.

Healthier.

Lighter.

Carefully measured.

Mrs. Cruz: You remembered my diet plan?

Elena: Of course I did.

Mrs. Cruz stared at her daughter.

Then smiled.

A genuine smile.

Mrs. Cruz: Thank you, sweetheart.

Just then another voice entered the kitchen.

Rose: What's going on in here?

Rose walked inside wearing her office clothes.

At twenty-three years old, she was the middle sibling of the Cruz family.

Unlike Katherine, Rose actually had a stable 9-to-5 job.

She was kind, hardworking, and always tried to keep peace within the family.

Sometimes too much.

Rose had a habit of seeing the best in people, even when they clearly didn't deserve it.

It was one of the reasons Elena admired her so much.

It was also one of the reasons Rose often got hurt.

Despite working long hours every day, she still held onto a dream she'd had since childhood.

One day, she wanted to become a professional model.

And unlike most people who abandoned their dreams, Rose stubbornly refused to let hers die.

The moment she entered the kitchen, her eyes landed on the breakfast table.

Rose: Wait...

You made all this?

Elena: Try it.

Rose grabbed a fork.

Took a bite.

Paused dramatically.

Everyone stared.

Rose: Wow.

Elena straightened.

Rose: Why is this actually amazing?

Elena: What do you mean "actually"?

Rose: I was prepared to lie if necessary.

Elena: ROSE!

Rose burst into laughter.

Then pulled Elena into a quick side hug.

Rose: Nice job, little champ.

Mrs. Cruz pointed proudly at her special meal.

Mrs. Cruz: She even made a separate breakfast for me.

Rose's eyes widened.

Rose: Okay.

Now that's impressive.

You're such a perfectionist.

Elena scratched the back of her neck awkwardly.

Then suddenly remembered.

Her eyes widened.

Elena: Oh my God!

I almost forgot.

I have news.

Rose immediately looked interested.

Rose: Good news?

Elena: Amazing news.

Mrs. Cruz looked up.

Even Katherine glanced over.

Elena could barely contain herself.

Elena: I GOT A JOB!

For a moment nobody moved.

Then—

Rose: YOU WHAT?!

Rose practically tackled Elena into a hug.

Elena: ROSE!

PUT ME DOWN!

Rose: MY BABY SISTER GOT A JOB!

Elena: I'M TWENTY!

Rose: STILL MY BABY SISTER!

Mrs. Cruz laughed.

A genuine laugh.

The kind Elena hadn't heard in a while.

For a moment, happiness filled the room.

Then Mrs. Cruz's expression softened with concern.

Mrs. Cruz: Sweetheart...

How are you going to manage college and work together?

Won't it be exhausting?

Elena gently squeezed her mother's hand.

Elena: It'll be okay, Mom.

It's only a tutoring job.

Flexible hours.

Nothing too difficult.

I'll still focus on college.

Mrs. Cruz studied her carefully.

Eventually she nodded.

Mrs. Cruz: Alright.

Just don't overwork yourself.

Elena: I won't.

A small lie.

But a loving one.

Mrs. Cruz pulled her into a hug.

Mrs. Cruz: I'm proud of you.

Elena froze.

Just for a second.

Then hugged her back tightly.

Those words meant more to her than anyone realized.

Unfortunately—

Katherine chose that exact moment to speak.

Katherine: What's there to be proud of?

The room instantly went silent.

Rose: Oh no.

Here we go.

Katherine: It's a tutoring job.

Not exactly some huge achievement.

Rose rolled her eyes.

Rose: Can you be supportive for five minutes?

Katherine: I'm being realistic.

If she's spending that much time working, she should get a proper job.

Rose: It IS a proper job.

Katherine: Barely.

Elena's patience snapped.

Elena: Mom, tell her to get a job herself before judging everyone else.

The room went dead silent.

Katherine slowly turned toward her.

Katherine: Excuse me?

Elena: Did I stutter?

You sit around criticizing people who are actually trying.

Katherine: Be very careful with your words.

Elena: Why? Did I say something false?

Rose immediately stepped between them.

Rose: Alright.

Nobody is fighting before breakfast.

Katherine: She thinks she's special because she got one tutoring job.

Elena: No.

I think I'm special because I actually applied for one.

Rose: ELENA.

Elena: What?

Katherine: You have no idea what struggle looks like.

At your age I was already working.

Paying bills.

Helping this family.

You think one tutoring job suddenly makes you responsible?

Grow up.

For the first time, Elena fell silent.

Not because Katherine was right.

But because she knew there was some truth buried beneath the bitterness.

Katherine wasn't always like this.

Life had simply disappointed her too many times.

Unfortunately, disappointment had turned into resentment.

And now everyone around her paid the price.

Rose gently placed a hand on Elena's shoulder.

Changing the subject.

Rose: Ignore her.

Tell me about the job.

How did you get it?

Elena's excitement immediately returned.

Elena: I saw this guy in the park putting up flyers.

He was looking for a tutor for his younger brother.

So I ran up to him before anyone else could.

Rose: That's so you.

Elena: I showed him my documents, certificates, grades...

Everything.

And he hired me on the spot!

Rose: Seriously?

Elena: Seriously!

He already sent me the schedule and location too.

Rose smiled proudly.

Rose: Look at you.

I'm honestly proud of you.

Keep going.

Keep reaching higher.

One day you'll get everything you've worked for.

Elena smiled.

For the first time in a long time—

She believed that might actually be true.

Little did she know...

The "younger brother" she was about to tutor was currently sitting in detention after arguing with a teacher.

And neither of them had any idea how much trouble they were about to bring into each other's lives.

The hallways of Westbridge High School.

A loud crash echoed through the corridor.

A teacher froze.

Students froze.

Somewhere nearby, laughter erupted.

The principal closed his eyes.

Not again.

A few seconds later, a basketball rolled out of a classroom.

Followed by Noah Bennett.

Walking casually.

As if he hadn't just disrupted an entire lesson.

Teacher: NOAH BENNETT!

Noah: Good morning to you too, sir.

Teacher: Why is there a basketball in my chemistry classroom?!

Noah: Science experiment.

Teacher: DETENTION.

Noah: Worth it.

The teacher looked ready to retire.

Immediately.

SCENE SWITCH TO —

The Bennett Company Headquarters.

Daniel sat across from his father.

Several files were spread across the desk.

Business discussions had finally ended.

For once.

Daniel decided to bring up something else.

Daniel: I found Noah a tutor.

Mr. Bennett looked up.

Interested.

Mr. Bennett: Really?

Daniel: Yes.

Business and Finance student.

Excellent academic record.

Responsible.

Hardworking.

Mr. Bennett nodded.

Mr. Bennett: Good.

Maybe someone can finally get through that boy.

Daniel hesitated.

Daniel: Dad.

Maybe the problem isn't that nobody can get through to him.

Maybe nobody is trying to understand him.

The room became quiet.

Mr. Bennett's expression hardened.

Mr. Bennett: Understanding doesn't change results.

Daniel knew the conversation was over.

Before it had even begun.

ON THE OTHER SIDE -

Back at the Cruz apartment.

Elena was searching for her charger.

Instead, she heard something else.

Her mother's voice.

Quiet.

Worried.

Coming from the kitchen.

She wasn't alone.

Someone was on speakerphone.

A doctor.

Elena froze.

Doctor: Mrs. Cruz, you've already postponed your check-up twice.

Mrs. Cruz: I know.

Doctor: Your blood sugar levels concern me.

Please don't delay this any longer.

A long silence followed.

Then—

Mrs. Cruz: I'll try.

The call ended.

Elena remained frozen.

Try?

What did that mean?

Her mother needed treatment.

Check-ups.

Medication.

And all of those things cost money.

Money they didn't have.

Suddenly, the tutoring job felt more important than ever.

BACK TO -

Detention.

Noah sat spinning a pen.

A teacher monitored the room.

Noah looked bored.

Very bored.

Dangerously bored.

Jonathan and Mike stood outside the classroom window.

Mike: How many detentions is that this month?

Jonathan: Six.

Mike: Impressive.

Noah: Thank you.

Teacher: Bennett!

Noah: Sorry.

The teacher looked exhausted.

Jonathan sighed.

Jonathan: One day your luck is going to run out.

Noah: That's future Noah's problem.

Mike: Future Noah is going to hate present Noah.

Noah: Future Noah can file a complaint.

Jonathan shook his head.

Then noticed Noah smiling again.

That fake smile.

The one that always appeared after family arguments.

His stomach tightened.

Something wasn't right.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***