Brief
Lilly Ross was 23, but unlike most students her age, she found herself navigating the chaotic world of college life alongside teenagers barely out of high school. A mismatched student by circumstance, Lilly’s journey had been delayed by illness, making her older than everyone else in her first-year Computer and Economics program. Despite the age gap, she carried herself with a quiet maturity that set her apart—not just because of her years, but because of the resilience and wisdom those years had gifted her. While her classmates joked about parties and weekend plans, Lilly was already thinking three steps ahead, balancing textbooks with a calm focus that made her feel like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
[Opening Scene: A crowded lecture hall filled mostly with nervous 17-year-old first-year students. The air hums with excitement and the rustle of backpacks. Lilly Ross, 23, enters calmly, eyes scanning the room as she searches for a seat. She notices a cluster of students chatting nearby.]
[Her gaze settles on a young guy standing slightly apart, a few years younger than most—maybe 16 or 17, barely out of high school. He’s dressed sharply, with an easy smile and a confident stance that somehow feels… almost rehearsed. He’s talking to a group, laughing a little too loudly, his charm unmistakable but bordering on a bit much.]
Lilly’s Monologue (voice-over): He’s clearly young—too young, maybe. I wonder why someone like that is here already, at college. And that smile… a little too perfect. Sometimes kids like that come from money and think that gets them everywhere. I’m betting he’s the type who’ll be rude or dismissive once things get tough. Still, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he’s just confident.
[The professor starts the lecture.]
Professor: “Inflation happens when companies decide to raise their prices to increase profits, usually because demand is strong.”
[The young guy nods confidently, leaning forward, clearly eager to impress. Lilly listens, but her mind keeps circling back to him.]
Lilly (murmurs softly to herself): “Not quite. Inflation’s more about overall price levels rising due to supply and demand shifts or money supply changes, not just companies wanting higher profits.”
[The young man—Ethan—turns, surprise flickering across his face as he registers her quiet correction. Their eyes meet for a brief moment. He offers a small, curious smile, not rude, but definitely confident.]
[Lilly quickly looks away, a mixture of intrigue and wariness in her expression.]
