The Intern Regrets Pushing Me Too Hard

I felt the air in my lungs growing thinner by the second. Each breath felt like I was inhaling shards of burning glass.

No. I couldn't die here!

Clinging to my last survival instinct, I used the remaining strength in my body to fumble my phone out of my pocket. My fingers trembled from lack of oxygen, but relying on muscle memory, I hit the contact shortcut I knew by heart, then typed out the message, "Mom, help me. I'm having an allergic reaction. I'm at the Harroway Hotel, third floor, Peony Hall…"

The moment I hit send, the phone slipped from my weakening grip. At that moment, a sharp pain shot through my calf.

Davin had stomped on me with his leather shoe. "Hey! Don't play dead. Everyone, look. He's really getting into character now. He's even twitching! Should I call him an ambulance? Maybe add some dramatic lighting too?"

The crowd erupted in even louder and more unrestrained laughter.

"Davin, you're terrible! He's acting. Don't ruin his performance!"

"I bet he's just trying to win Mr. Rackham's sympathy after embarrassing himself in the vote."

Clark watched coldly, showing no intention of stopping it. Instead, he casually lifted his glass and took a sip.

Seeing that, Davin grew even bolder. He grabbed another nut tart from the cart, forced my jaw open, and shoved it into my mouth. "Fabian, since you like acting so much, here's a prop for you! Eat another one, and I guarantee you'll win the Best Actor award this year."

The rough edges of the nuts cut my throat. Crushed nuts mixed with my blood. The taste made me want to vomit, but I didn't even have the strength to retch.

My airway was blocked. The last bit of oxygen was gone. The world around me dissolved into spinning patches of color. The laughter around me faded into a blur.

"Mom, hurry up… I can't hold on…" I thought desperately.

Just as I was about to lose consciousness, the banquet hall doors slammed open. The deafening crash made everyone turn to look.

At the entrance stood my mom. She shouted at the top of her lungs, "Fabian, I'm here!"