Amaris' POV
Breakfast at the estate was always a quiet, refined affair. I sat at the dining table with Mother and Father, the soft clink of silverware against porcelain filling the serene morning air. The scent of freshly brewed tea and warm pastries mingled with the faint perfume of the garden outside, carried in by the gentle spring breeze through the open windows.
As I delicately bit into my omelet, savoring the balanced flavors prepared by our chef, Father cleared his throat lightly.
"Amaris," he said, voice warm yet commanding in that way only he could manage.
I placed my chopsticks down neatly and looked up at him. "Yes, Father?"
He smiled a small, knowing curve of his lips before he raised a hand in a subtle gesture. At his signal, one of the nearby attendants approached, carrying a polished silver suitcase with careful reverence.
My eyes widened slightly. 'No… surely not…?' Was this what I thought it was?
My gaze darted from the case to Father, seeking confirmation. His smile deepened as he nodded to the servant.
The suitcase was placed carefully before me. I rose slightly from my seat and accepted it with both hands, bowing my head politely to the servant. "Thank you very much."
The servant bowed and stepped back, leaving me alone with the mystery before me. I glanced at Mother and Father. They both gave encouraging nods, their expressions soft with anticipation.
Slowly, carefully, I unlatched the case. A faint hiss escaped as the seal loosened, and when I lifted the lid, I drew in a quiet breath of wonder.
Inside, nestled against a cushion of soft velvet, was a sleek, elegant device—a modern phone. Not the clunky, keypad models I'd been using, but a true touchscreen marvel. Thin but sturdy, smooth both in interface and texture, the device looked like something out of a future even my old world had only dreamed of.
Mother chuckled lightly, and Father leaned back in his chair, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. "Father…" I murmured, overwhelmed with gratitude.
Mother chuckled lightly, and Father leaned back in his chair, a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
"I intended to present it to you days ago," he said with a shrug, "but you have been rather occupied. It seemed best to wait until you had a peaceful moment to appreciate it."
I smiled warmly, emotions stirring in my chest. "Thank you, truly, Father. I am deeply grateful."
"It is nothing," he said, waving a hand dismissively, though I could tell he was pleased.
Mother leaned in slightly, her expression bright with excitement. "We have already saved our numbers into your contacts. Should you ever need us, Amaris, we are only a call away."
I nodded, cradling the phone gently in my hands. It was so smooth, so elegant. The surface not only seamless to the eye, but pleasing to the touch. It was thin but not fragile, the perfect weight to feel substantial without being cumbersome.
And as I unlocked the screen, I realized… this was no ordinary smartphone.
Thanks to Father's genius engineering, its capabilities far exceeded any device I had known in my previous world. It was faster, more responsive, and equipped with features that had not yet been imagined in this era nor in my previous world.
Mother tapped her cheek thoughtfully. "Ah, the application icons, I designed them myself. Do you find them pleasing?"
I looked over the neatly organized home screen, where elegant, minimalistic icons shimmered like small gems. "They are exquisite, Mother," I said sincerely.
She laughed, delighted, and I found myself smiling more openly than I usually dared.
But before I could grow too sentimental, Father straightened in his seat. "There is one more thing."
I tilted my head in curiosity. 'More?'
At another subtle command, more attendants entered the room, each carrying a white box, sized identically and stacked carefully in their arms.
'The boxes… They looked suspiciously like newly packaged phones.'
"These," Mother explained gently, "are the models you designed for mass production, remember?"
I blinked, feeling slightly abashed. "Ah… I… had quite forgotten about that."
Father laughed. "We have prepared them with care. The devices are ready, each with a SIM card installed. They are intended for your friends, Amaris. It would ease communication for you all, would it not?"
'Friends…' For a moment, I hesitated. It still felt strange, this warm web of connections forming around me. But… thinking of Kira, Ethan, Conner, Trent, even Professor Oliver, Hayley and Principal Randall… it filled me with a quiet, profound contentment.
I bowed my head. "Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother. I shall distribute them thoughtfully."
"Take as many as you wish, dear," Mother said, sipping her tea.
I counted mentally and smiled. "Seven phones will suffice."
"Seven it is," Father said, and servants swiftly wrapped seven phones in elegant paper bags adorned with the Shin family logo.
As I tucked my new phone safely into my bag, I could not help glancing at it again, running my fingers over its cool surface.
Mother caught me, laughing brightly. "Such fondness for a gift! I do believe you are quite smitten, my dear."
I flushed slightly but smiled in return. I was.
Truly, I was.
And with that, we returned to our breakfast, though my mind and heart were already racing ahead, planning the day.
===================================
After a quiet ride to school, I found myself carrying seven pristine paper bags, each bearing the Shin family crest, glinting faintly in the morning sun.
I carefully placed six in my locker, securing them out of sight, and kept one bag in hand.
First things first, Principal Randall.
I weaved through the quiet halls, knocking gently on the Principal's door.
"Come in," I heard her voice call from inside.
"Excuse me," I said as I stepped in. Principal Randall looked up from her paperwork, arching a brow.
"Good morning, Amaris," she said smoothly.
I bowed respectfully and approached her desk, presenting the bag with both hands. "Principal Randall, this is a small offering from my family, a device that might assist with your administrative tasks."
She gave me a curious glance but accepted the bag. Pulling out the box, she unwrapped it and revealed the sleek black phone nestled inside.
"And this does…?" she prompted, arching one brow in her usual composed manner.
I cleared my throat and said formally, "It allows for instant messaging between staff members, remote schedule adjustments, and access to important files without the need for a physical computer. Additionally, it serves as an organizer for meetings and school events, with real-time updates. Given the demands of your position, I thought it might offer you a measure of convenience."
Principal Randall studied me for a moment, then the device, and gave a thin but genuine smile. "Very considerate of you, Amaris. I shall make good use of it."
I bowed again, warmth blossoming in my chest. "Thank you. Then… I shall take my leave."
She nodded, already engrossed in the phone as I closed the door softly behind me.
The next was Professor Oliver.
I still had time before the first bell, so I fetched another bag and made my way toward the science lab. The door was slightly ajar; I peeked in to see Professor Oliver setting up a microscope.
I knocked lightly.
"Come in," he said, glancing over his shoulder.
I entered and approached the desk, presenting the bag as before. "Professor Oliver, in recognition of your various responsibilities, both as an educator and as someone involved in… unique extracurricular activities, I have developed a device that can facilitate your work."
He set down his materials and turned toward me with a curious expression.
It allows for encrypted communications, easy documentation of fossil sites and research notes, and includes a discreet emergency alert system. I hope it may support both your scientific endeavors and urgent activities alike," I added.
For a moment, Professor Oliver just blinked at me and then, he chuckled.
"You really thought of everything, didn't you?" he said warmly. "Thanks, Amaris. Seriously."
I smiled back, genuinely pleased. "It was the least I could do."
From there, it was time to find the others.
===================================
Out in the quad, I spotted Kira first, strumming her guitar alone beneath a tree. I waited patiently until she finished her song, then gently tapped her shoulder.
She turned, surprised but smiling. "Hey, Amaris. When'd you get here?"
"Not that long ago. Only a minute," I replied with a soft smile.
She smiled back. "What's up?"
I presented her with one bag. She took it, curious. "What's this?"
"Miss Ford, I wished to provide you with something to support your musical aspirations," I said shyly. "It offers a voice recording studio, a composition journal, photography and video capture systems... and instant communication with your collaborators. I hope it brings you joy."
Kira's eyes widened. Then she beamed, pure and brilliant. "Wow… Amaris, you thought about everything. Thank you so much!"
Seeing her smile—real and radiant, filled me with a happiness I could scarcely describe.
I excused myself before my face could betray how much her words touched me.
===================================
Next, I found Conner at the soccer field, taking a break.
After a brief greeting, I handed him the next bag.
"Mr. McKnight," I said, "this device keeps you connected on and off the field. It offers live sports updates, a practice calendar, performance reviews, and quick-access buttons suited to your lifestyle."
Conner grinned and opened the box eagerly. "Dude, you're like a tech wizard. This is awesome. Thanks, Amaris!"
Smiling, I thanked him and made my way to Ethan, who was tucked away at a small shed nearby.
===================================
"Mr. James," I called softly.
He looked up from his laptop. "Wassup, Amaris?"
I handed him the bag. "Given your talents, I made sure this device supports gaming applications, app development tools, security systems and a few hidden puzzles for you to discover."
He grinned ear-to-ear. "Hidden puzzles too? Man, you're officially my favorite person, Amaris!"
I laughed, feeling a rare lightness in my chest.
Now, only two remained.
Why was I doing all this? Well... no reason, really.
'Or perhaps,' I thought, smiling to myself, 'because I wanted them to have an easier, happier life.'
===================================
Finally, after classes, we all made our way to Hayley's Cyberspace.
Inside, the cozy hum of conversation and clinking cups filled the air. I approached Hayley, presenting the next-to-last bag with a playful grin.
Hayley took it, opened the box, and raised a playful eyebrow. "What's this?"
"Ms. Ziktor," I said, "this device offers modular systems, custom software installations, secure data management for your café or other endeavors. I thought you might enjoy enhancing it even further."
Hayley's eyes gleamed. "Amaris, this thing's a hacker's dream. We definitely need to talk upgrades sometime."
I smiled, ready to rejoin the others, but Hayley called after me.
"Y-yes?" I asked, worried I had overlooked something.
But Hayley just laughed. "Relax, kid. I just wanted to offer you a part-time job. You've been helping around here so much, I'd love to make it official."
She hurriedly added, "I know you don't need money. I just... really appreciate your help."
I blinked, then smiled brightly. "I would be honored, but I must first ask my parents' permission."
"Sweet. Looking forward to working with you," Hayley said, giving me a thumbs-up.
===================================Returning to the group, I saw Trent had joined. 'Perfect timing.'
I tapped Trent's shoulder and handed him the final bag.
He smiled and accepted it as Ethan teased, "Ooh, wonder what Amaris made for you!"
I smiled, replying softly, "Mr. Fernandez, this device includes a digital sketchpad, a private gallery, and a project organizer — so you can capture inspiration whenever it strikes."
His soft, shy smile as he saw the digital sketchpad app warmed my heart.
"This is incredible, Amaris. Thank you," he said quietly.
I sat beside him as the others gathered around, and I patiently showed them how to save contacts, set up group chats, and explore the special features I had programmed just for them.
With these, we could stay connected.
Work together.
Play together.
Share our dreams and hopes across the spaces that once separated us.
I tucked my new phone into my jacket pocket and smiled, watching them all explore their devices with excitement.
Today was a good day.