"Feronica ... your turn!"
Feronica glanced at the people around her. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Feronica. I'm seventeen years old. I'm a second-year student at Fasentro."
"Fasentro? Aren't most of that school's students male?" Aguin cut in.
"Yes. I'm one of the few girls there. There are only three female students in my class."
"Don't tell me you're majoring in ..."
"Automotive mechanics."
Her answer drew disbelieving looks from everyone around them. Duncan, who was usually more concerned with maintaining his image, turned to make sure his eyes hadn't deceived him. How could a beautiful woman who looked like a TV commercial model be working with mechanical equipment? Especially when she came from an extremely wealthy family.
Meanwhile, Clara felt more and more insignificant among the other passengers. How could she not? All she knew how to do was tend her family's garden. And suddenly, she wanted to have a more interesting ability, like the people around her now.
"Impressive!" Aguin praised her. "Now, let's test your knowledge."
Feronica held out her card.
"Do you know what grapes are good for?"
"Oh, wow. I thought they could only get people drunk!"
"Not after they're fermented. The fruit itself."
"Refreshing your throat?" Feronica then smiled.
"Actually, that's not wrong either. But there's a more accurate answer. The answer is ... because they contain polyphenol compounds, grapes can prevent the growth of cancer cells. Their antioxidants fight free radicals, preventing cataracts and wrinkles. Grapes are also good for heart health. Too bad, Feronica—you don't get the point."
"Yeah, I know." Feronica smiled, then looked away.
"Duncan, you're up!"
"My name is Duncan. I'm from Limitz. I'm twenty-two years old. I'm a model."
Feronica smiled at him as if to say, "I already guessed that."
"No wonder your face looked familiar. You must get photographed for SpareTimez magazine all the time."
"SpareTimez is one of my father's companies."
Everyone seemed to be listening intently.
"Oh, man. Where am I supposed to put my face?" Aguin joked again. "Why wasn't I told?" he said, pretending to be shocked. "In that case ..." he continued, looking at Duncan. "Could I audition as a model for that magazine sometime?"
Duncan gave him a brief smile. "Of course. I'll recommend you."
"Hey! No nepotism here!" the director shouted.
Aguin burst out laughing. "No, of course not. I'll be fair here." He took the card Duncan held out.
"Duncan. What is your ... wait ..." Aguin narrowed his eyes, then brought Duncan's card closer to the camera, hoping the viewers would read what was written on it. "I hope I'm not reading this wrong."
The cameraman behind the camera smiled and gave a thumbs-up after getting a sharper shot.
"Read it yourself!" Aguin held the card out to Duncan.
Duncan immediately burst out laughing and handed the card back to Aguin. "Wow. That's not fair!"
"Sorry. But I wasn't the one who wrote it," Aguin emphasized. "What's your girlfriend's name?"
"Oh, my God!" Duncan hadn't even answered yet.
"Looks like you don't want to lose viewers who could become your new fans today?" Aguin teased, eliciting a commotion around them.
"I don't have a girlfriend," Duncan replied.
"All right. You don't have to answer honestly."
"But I really don't have one," Duncan shot back. "Besides, how would you know whether my answer was true or not?" Duncan's cool image vanished instantly in the face of such an emotionally charged situation.
"Looks like this was just a trick question. So, we don't actually have an answer key. Instead, you get ten points."
"Thank you." Duncan was still grinning with amusement.