CHAPTER 57: MY BROTHER’S A GENIUS

For days now, Alex had been stuck.

He’d been trying, really trying, to write a list. A list of everything he loved to do. Things he enjoyed, things that made him come alive, things he could possibly turn into something greater. Something real. Maybe even something... profitable.

But whenever he sat down with his pen and journal, his mind would go blank. Or worse, it would throw a hundred random thoughts at him all at once, making it impossible to focus.

"Cooking? Nah, not really my thing. Gaming? That’s fun, but not fulfilling. Content creation? Maybe... but still doesn’t feel like me."

He scribbled. He cancelled. He scribbled again. The pages were filled with half-sentences and abandoned ideas.

Then, one quiet afternoon, while lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, a thought drifted into his mind, a memory.

It wasn’t just any memory. It was the moment... Raymond.

He remembered how it felt when Raymond took him in, guided him, and talked to him like someone with potential. Like someone who could do something great.

That period of mentorship was the brightest moment of his life. His heart raced a little. "This... this is it," he whispered, slowly widening his eyes.

He sat up, as if electricity had shot through him. "That moment was gold," he said aloud.

He could feel it. The idea was forming, clearly and powerfully in his mind. What if he could recreate that feeling for others? That chance to be guided, to be poured into, to be built up by someone who had already walked the path?

He knew it too well, not everyone gets a Raymond in their life.

Some people go through their entire journey without a mentor, making mistake after mistake, simply because no one was there to show them the way.

And that’s when it hit him.

A system. A financial and mentorship platform. A space, open to the world, where people could find mentors.

Where those with experience could give back. And those who are hungry to grow could receive.

A global mentorship network with real people, connections, and value.

He leaned back in his chair and smiled to himself. The fire in his chest was real now. But as quickly as the excitement rushed in, a small wave of doubt followed behind.

"Will people actually want this?" he thought.

"Would anyone even care?"

His gut told him yes. Everyone needs guidance. Everyone wants to grow. But the world was full of distractions. Would this stand out?

He shook his head. "I won’t assume," he told himself. "I’ll ask."

He grabbed his phone, thought for a moment, then dropped it. This needed to be face-to-face. He needed to feel people’s response.

So he walked out of his room and to Emma’s. He pushed her door gently. It was slightly open.

Inside, Emma was seated on her chair, her arms folded on her lap, as she stared blankly at the wall like she wasn’t even in the room.

"Hey," Alex said softly.

No response.

He stepped in a little. "Emma?"

Still nothing.

He furrowed his brows and walked closer.

"Emma!" he said, louder this time.

She snapped out of her trance and blinked, slowly turning to face him. "Oh... sorry," she said in a low voice.

Alex tilted his head. "You okay? You looked completely gone."

She gave a weak smile. "Yeah... just thinking."

"Thinking about what?" he asked, folding his arms.

She hesitated, then said, "Nothing serious."

"You sure?"

A longer pause.

Then she nodded. "Yeah. It’s fine."

Alex could tell something was off, but he didn’t want to press, at least, not yet. So he nodded. "Alright. I actually came to ask you something."

Emma sat up straighter. "Sure. Anything."

Alex took a deep breath, pulled a chair closer, and sat in front of her.

"Emma," he began softly, "would you want a mentor?"

She blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... in a field you want to go into. Someone older, experienced. Someone who’s walked the road before you, and is willing to guide you. Would you want that?"

Before he even finished the sentence, Emma cut in.

"Sure! Definitely! Who wouldn’t want that?"

Alex grinned. "Right? I feel the same way. I mean, everyone wants a mentor, whether they say it out loud or not."

She nodded eagerly. "Exactly."

He leaned back slightly. "Okay, now what if you found a platform, where people who want to mentor others have accounts, and you could search through them, message them, and build a connection. The only thing is... to keep it organized and serious, there’s a small fee to register. Nothing too much, just enough to keep unserious people out. Would you sign up?"

Emma, now clearly more invested, smiled and tilted her head. "Wait... don’t tell me..."

Alex raised an eyebrow playfully. "Don’t tell you what?"

She pointed at him and laughed. "This is what you’re cooking up, isn’t it? You want to create this!"

Alex gave a slow, cheeky smile.

Emma clapped her hands. "Oh my God. My brother’s really a genius!"

Alex laughed.

"No seriously," she said. "Who would’ve thought of that? You’re on to something, Alex. People would love this. You should do it. Like, really do it."

"You think so?" he asked, half-hopeful, half-doubtful.

"I know so," Emma said firmly. "Alex, you were lucky to have Raymond. Most people don’t get that chance. But if you create this... you’re giving people something powerful. A chance to grow and to be seen. Even I would use it"

Alex looked at her for a long moment, then smiled wider. But his smile slowly faded as he leaned in again.

"Well, alright then, I’ll get right on it," he said. "But before I get all busy, I’m not letting you off the hook."

Emma blinked. "Huh?"

Alex’s tone shifted. His voice was calm but serious. "You’re not okay. Earlier, when I walked in, you were gone. Lost. Something’s bothering you. And I want to know what it is."

Emma looked down and gave a soft sigh. "Alex..."

He shook his head. "Nope. Don’t try to dodge it. I won’t let you. Spill it."

She looked up at him, unsure.

"Emma," he said more gently, "You always hold things in. But I see you. I know when something’s not right. So just talk to me."

She hesitated for a few seconds, then finally exhaled. "Okay. It’s not something huge. It’s just... weird."

Alex nodded. "Go on."

"You remember the woman I told you about?" she asked.

Alex frowned slightly, thinking. "The one you met in front of your school?"

"Yes. Her. She came again."

"What?" Alex sat up straighter. "Why?"

"We talked," Emma said, eyes unfocused again. "She told me some things about her life. She wasn’t rude or creepy... just strange. But then something happened."

"What happened?"

"She stared at me for a long time... then someone walked by and said something that shook me."

Alex’s expression turned serious. "What did they say?"

"They said... we looked alike. The woman and I."

Emma continued, "That’s not the first time I’ve heard that. One of my friends had said something like that before. It’s just... It’s odd, right?"

Alex didn’t say anything.

She went on. "What if, what if this woman is trying to use me... as a replacement? For her daughter or something?"

Alex’s face shifted slightly. The idea bothered him more than he was willing to admit.

He spoke calmly but firmly. "Is that it?"

Emma nodded.

"Well, let me tell you this," Alex said, reaching forward and gently touching her arm. "No one is taking you from me. No one is going to replace you or use you for anything."

Emma gave a small smile. "Alex..."

"I mean it," he said. "Whatever this woman wants or whoever she thinks you remind her of, that’s her problem. But you? You’re mine. My sister. My family. And no stranger gets to change that."

Emma bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile.

"And listen," he added, "stay away from her. Don’t talk to her again. Just... steer clear. Please."

Emma nodded. "Okay."

Then she tilted her head and said softly, "But... we really do look alike, Alex. It’s not just people saying it. I see it too. Like, really alike."

For a brief moment, Alex’s face tightened with concern. But instead, he put on a smile. "Well, I mean," he said, raising an eyebrow, "who wouldn’t want to look like a beautiful young lady such as yourself?"

Emma chuckled and covered her face. "Shut up."

Alex laughed too, but deep down, he couldn’t shake the strange feeling that the story with that mysterious woman was far from over.