บท 8: Parker Black and Blackwoods
The morning routine at the Blackwood mansion rolled on like clockwork: predictable, dull, and occasionally punctuated by the chaotic energy of the Blackwood kids. Parker sat at the breakfast table, surrounded by his cousins and guardians. The vibe was as awkward as you'd expect for someone who felt more like an outsider than family.
The breakfast table in the Blackwood mansion was rarely peaceful. Today was no exception. Plates clinked as Helena, Parker's aunt, set down her coffee cup and turned to him, her face lined with mild irritation.
"I'm curious too," Julian said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He lazily forked a piece of bacon into his mouth. "What's so earth-shattering that you—the guy who spends all his time holed up in the attic—feel the need to announce it? Is it another lame excuse to stay in your attic all day?"
As usual, neither Helena nor Robert stepped in to shut down the usual "Parker roasting".
The Blackwood family had long since normalized this dynamic: Julian and Annabelle poked at Parker, Robert and Helena mostly ignored it with the latter sometimes joining in, and Vivian, the middle child, pretended like none of it was happening.
In fact she pretended nothing was happening in the house to begin with.
Vivian sipped her orange juice without a word, scrolling through her phone like the conversation didn't involve her at all.
Parker's mind itched to check her Affection Points on his system. 'System, show me Vivian's Affection Points!'
[Host, that feature is not available for now! Scarlett Draven's case was unique since she was involved in the mission!]
Parker sighed inwardly. 'For now? Figures'
Robert cleared his throat, finally speaking up. "Alright, Parker Black." He said the name like he was addressing a stranger. "What is it you want to discuss?"
The way he used Parker's full name made the teen feel like a misbehaving student getting called out by the principal. But Parker had already made it this far; there was no turning back now, he was also used to the indifference and the outsider-like treatment from Robert.
"I applied for something," Parker said, leaning forward slightly ignoring everything for now as he always did. "And I got accepted in."
Julian immediately clicked his tongue in mock disbelief. "Ohhh, so that's why you were shouting this morning." His smirk widened. "I thought someone finally bought your cringy e-books or something."
Annabelle snickered, clearly enjoying the jab.
Helena, though, leaned in, curiosity flickering across her face. "What did you apply for, Parker?"
Parker took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "I got into a two-week program focused on physical fitness, self-confidence, and personal development. It's a boot camp for teens who want to work and improve on themselves."
There was a beat of silence. Then Annabelle doubled over laughing.
"Oh my god this is hilarious! A self-improvement boot camp? Parker, Parker Black, are you being serious right now?" She slapped the table for emphasis, nearly knocking over her juice. "Do they also teach how to be less of a loser?"
'Sure Annabelle wait, I will turn from a loser you think I am into your dadi.' Parker thought but dared to not say.
"Did you hit your head or something?" Julian chimed in, chuckling as he grabbed another piece of bacon.
Parker ignored them, directing his next words to Robert and Helena. "It's a legitimate program," he insisted. "They only take a small number of participants each year, and I was lucky enough to get in."
"Self-improvement?" Helena repeated, her voice soft but thoughtful. She didn't look skeptical like her kids did. If anything, she looked… surprised.
"How long is it again?" Robert asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Two weeks," Parker said quickly, locking eyes with Helena and Robert, his aunt and uncle. "I got into a two-week boot camp for physical fitness and self-development. It's exclusive and designed to help with personal growth. Fitness training, strict diets, even grooming advice. It's legit."
Julian burst out laughing. "Grooming? Oh man, are they gonna teach you how to do your hair like some TikTok influencer?"
Annabelle let out a dramatic laugh, nearly choking on her orange juice. "Oh my god, Parker, did you just say grooming advice? You better not come back looking like a K-pop idol! Watch out, ladies!"
Julian snorted. "What's next? Yoga? Manicures?" His smirk widened, clearly loving the opportunity to roast him.
Their mockery washed over Parker like background noise. He didn't care. For once, he had a way to reach his goals, and he wasn't going to let their words get to him.
To prove his point, he grabbed his phone and pulled up the camp's website. He held it out for Helena and Robert to see, he had to prove the authenticity of what he was talking about to them.
"I didn't want to mention it until I was accepted," he said. "But here's the program. They only accept a select few and I was lucky to get in.
Helena took the phone, scrolling through the site. Her eyes widened slightly as she read the details. There were testimonials, before-and-after pictures, and even video clips of past participants talking about their experiences.
Robert leaned over her shoulder, his expression softening. "It looks legit," he admitted grudgingly.
"$2000! You paid for this yourself?" Helena asked, glancing up at him in surprise.
It was hard to think Parker would spent this on a self-improvement program, he then really loved it!
Parker nodded. "Yeah. I've been saving up from my job."
That earned him a surprised look. Julian, however, wasn't impressed. "Oh, come on, Mom. Parker's not broke. He's been stacking cash from his job, have you forgotten which kind of place he works in?"
Helena nodded slowly. "I see."
"Alright," Robert said finally, though his tone was begrudging. "If it's legit, fine. But don't make us regret this." Who was Robert kidding? Parker sneered inside.
Robert's words were more of a formality than concern. Everyone here knew how he couldn't wait to have Parker Black outside the outside even if it was for a day let alone a week!
Just then, the distant honk of a bus echoed through the house. Parker's head snapped up.
"And that would be my ride!" he said, scrambling to his feet, running off to his room.
"Wait, Parker!" Helena called after him, but he was already halfway up the stairs to grab his bag.
"Let him be!" Robert waved it off.
Annabelle shouted after him, laughing. "Don't come back looking like Timothée Chalamet or Zac Efron, okay? This house only has room for one heartthrob!"
**
Parker smirked to himself as he threw his laptop into his backpack. He wasn't doing this to impress anyone else. This was for him and he wasn't going to reply Annabelle.
As he headed downstairs before he exited the mansion out the door, the system's chime echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Mission completed! Rewards distributed:
10% shares of Blackstone Tower
1+ affection point from Scarlett Draven.]
Parker's lips twitched into a grin. This was just the beginning.
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