Break Even

‘Good morning,’ VII greeted me as he went inside my room with Shin..

‘Good morning too VII’, I greeted him back.

‘Ugh… here, this is for you’, he told me as he handed me a basket of strawberries.

I smiled a bit, ‘Thanks a lot’.

‘Sure no problem’, he answered.

Shin pouted his lips, ‘How come you brought something for Prince and nothing for me?’

VII smiled, ‘Oh I forgot to bring something for you’, and chuckled.

Shin sniffed, ‘You’re making your baby sad Laurence…’

‘Oh sweetheart, I can’t think of anything to bring here for you but my heart’, VII smiled as he pinched Shin’s cheek.

I coughed.

They both looked at me and chuckled.

‘Sorry about that my little Prince’, Shin told me as he sat beside me, ‘Shall we eat this now?’, he pointed at the strawberry basket.

‘Sure’, I looked at VII, ‘Sit down too VII’.

‘Thanks’, he uttered.

We were in the living room, chatting with each and eating the strawberries VII bought for me. After quite some time, my father came to check if I was doing well.

‘Oh hi there uncle!’, Shin greeted dad.

‘Good morning Dr. Caelum’, VII greeted him too.

‘Hello Shin and hello VII’, he looked at them and turned to me, ‘How are you doing now son?’

‘I’m fine I think?’, I told him.

‘What are you feeling?’, dad continued asking.

‘Well nothing much but my shoulders is kinda tensed’.

He massaged my shoulders, ‘Your muscles are still stress son’.

I nodded.

‘Stress?’, VII asked.

‘Yeah he has some anxiety attacks and depressions caused by too much stress’, dad explained.

I looked at VII, ‘But nothing really serious’, I uttered as my mom came in the scene too.

She kissed me on my cheek, ‘How are you doing my handsome son?’, she smiled.

‘Recuperating’

She nodded and looked at VII.

‘Hello Mrs. Caelum’, VII greeted her.

‘Hi there’, she greeted him back. My mom’s faced moved from left to right, then right to left. It’s as if she was looking for something.

‘Something matter aunt?’, Shin asked.

‘Where’s… Ryuuka?’, she asked.

‘Ugh…’, Shin looked at me, ‘Aunt?’

‘Hmm?’, she mumbled, ‘Where is my son-in-law?’

VII finally spoke, ‘Before I went here, I saw XXVII in his room playing with his daughter’.

Mom wondered, ‘Oh? Wouldn’t he visit his fiancé?’, and looked at me, ‘He hasn’t visited you since you got sick, am I right?’

I looked at my father, escaping to answer my mom’s question, ‘Dad, when can I be able to go back to university?’

‘Next week’, he smiled, ‘Don’t worry; I have excused you already in all of your subjects’.

‘Really? Did you release an excuse letter for me?’

My mom chuckled and sat beside me, ‘There’s no need for that my baby, mom and dad took care of everything’.

‘Huh?’, I was confused.

‘Some power of connections’, she winked.

‘Ah I see’, I sighed.

‘Hmm?’, mom continued.

I shrugged my head, ‘Nothing’.

‘So, what shall we do now?’, Shin interrupted.

Then suddenly, one of our maids approached us.

‘Your visitor sir is already waiting outside’, she told dad.

‘Visitor honey?’, mom asked.

Dad nodded, ‘I’m expecting someone, please excuse me’, and he left.

‘Who would that be?’, I asked.

‘It’s probably some patient?’, Shin answered.

Mom nodded.

‘Dr. Caelum receives patients even here at your house?’, VII asked.

‘Special cases only, ones that are very dreadful’, mom answered.

VII nodded while Shin smiled at him.

The door opened and I saw father with a very familiar but unexpected apparition.

Shin and VII looked at the door when they saw my eyes flickered.

‘In law!’, Shin exclaimed.

‘Hey’, he said.

Mom stood up and approached him, ‘I know you would come for my son’, she said as she kissed him on his left cheek.

‘No’, dad interrupted, ‘He came here because I ask him to, so if you excuse us’.

‘Excuse me Mrs. Caelum’, he told her as they left and went to the office room of my dad.

‘Peculiar? Ryuuka called me Mrs. Caelum?’, she wondered.

My breathing started to be poles apart; it’s as if something is blocking my air passage.

Shin sat beside me, ‘Are you okay Prince?’, his voice was disturbed.

‘I think he can’t breathe?’, VII told Shin.

‘Son?’, mom readily approached me, ‘What’s the matter?’

But I can’t speak.

Shin stood up and went to get dad for me.

‘Oh my god, what shall I do?’, mom panic.

‘Calm down Mrs. Caelum’, VII calmly said, ‘I think he’s anxiety is attacking’, and looked at me.

Finally someone understood what was happening to me that time.

Then my dad with Shin approached me.

‘Son?’, he called for me, ‘Can you hear me?’

I nodded but I can’t still talk.

Dad held on my forehead, ‘Anxiety is attacking him again’, he told them.

My breathing became much harder this time.

‘You need to relax son’, dad told me.

But I cannot, I closed my eyes and my head started to crack like hell. I am having chest pains too, like my heart’s palpitating.

‘Oh gosh, what’s going on with our son honey?’, mom flustered.

‘Prince relax!’, dad exclaimed.

Then suddenly, a warm hand pressed on my forehead and caressed my cheek, ‘Relax… I’m here’.

I opened my eyes and saw Ryuuka in front of me.

He didn’t smile, ‘Get a grip’, and his eyes were empty.

‘Ryuuka…’, the only word I can utter.

He lifted me, ‘We should lay him in his bed’, he told them.

We went to my room and there he carefully laid me in my bed, ‘Prince…-’

Mom interrupted, ‘Are you okay now son?’

As I was staring at him, my breathing started to be normal and my head slowly stopped aching.

Dad put on his stethoscope and heard my heart beat, ‘You’re okay now’.

I nodded.

When I looked back at where Ryuuka was standing, he wasn’t there anymore. I searched for him and saw him going out of my room. I tried to call for him but my mom halted me, ‘You take a rest now son, we’ll leave you’.

‘But - ’

And they left me. Soon after, I fell asleep. After couple of hours, I was woken up by Shin.

‘Wake up Prince’, he nagged me, ‘You have to eat your lunch now’.

‘Where is…’, I couldn’t continue.

‘In law?’, he smiled, ‘His downstairs. He was here with you a while ago, I saw him staring at you while you were sleeping’.

I smiled, ‘Really?’

He nodded, ‘Shall we go now?’

I nodded and we went downstairs.

In our dining area, my mom insisted to sit beside me so she can take care of me.

‘I cooked your favorite dish’, mom told me.

‘Thanks’, I told her and looked at Ryuuka. This time when I was looking at him, he wasn’t looking at me and I noticed that his eyes were unstable yet again empty.

‘So boys, do you like the food I cooked?’, mom asked us.

Shin nodded, ‘Yeah aunt! It’s so delicious!’

‘It is very appetizing Mrs. Caelum’, VII added.

‘Ryuuka?’, mom called out.

‘Nothing changed Mrs. Caelum, you’re still a very good cook’, he complimented her.

Mrs. Caelum again, I asked myself.

‘Oh? Thank you Ryuuka’, mom told him.

‘Mrs. Caelum…-’, Ryuuka spoke.

‘Mrs. Caelum?’, I interrupted him. My voice was a little soft but I think he can hear me.

He looked at me.

‘Mrs. Caelum?’, I repeated.

Shin stopped eating, as well as VII and looked at me.

‘Yes’, he finally answered rigidly, ‘It’s the rightful way to address my friend’s mom, right?’

I was shocked and became speechless of what he just said.

Shin and VII looked at each other, there eyes were like questioning and so am I.

‘Friend…?’ I whispered but he already talked to my dad.

‘Anyway, Dr. Caelum, I have finished reviewing the papers you gave me’, Ryuuka told dad.

‘That’s great’, dad sipped on his wine, ‘Let’s talk about it after we eat’.

I was still shock of what he said. I stood up, ‘I’m done. Thanks for the delicious meal,’ I looked at Ryuuka and waited for him to look at me too. But he didn’t and so I left. I stayed in my room and took a pillow on my hand. I hugged it tightly as I wriggled my toes on the couch.

‘Prince?’ Shin sneaked on my door and went inside with VII.

I didn’t respond.

Shin sighed as he sat on the floor, ‘What does in law mean by that? Friend? Huh?’

I shrugged my shoulders, ‘I can’t understand him anymore.’

‘He seems to be in bad mood or something?’ Shin added.

‘Is it because of me?’ I asked.

Shin shrugged his head, ‘I don’t know but like what I told you a while ago. When you were asleep, he was with you all the time. He was just sitting on the floor and staring at you while you were sleeping. He even fondled your hair and kissed your lips’.

‘He kissed me?’ I asked.

Shin nodded, ‘Laurence? You look serious’.

‘I’m always,’ VII finally spoke.

‘I mean… oh Laurence!’, he exclaimed.

VII chuckled, ‘Kidding, anyhow, well I was just analyzing Leader. It seems to be something is wrong with him. He’s acting strange’ and lit a cigar.

‘Hmm…’, Shin mumbled.

‘What do you mean VII?’

‘Well…’, he paused and looked at me, ‘Base on my observations, he looks like he’s thinking about something, or he’s like confused about something. But he doesn’t want that to be very obvious and so he’s masking himself by emptying his face’.

Shin nodded, ‘I see, I see…’

‘And why is he doing that?’, I asked.

‘That… I don’t know’, VII answered and he continued smoking.

I sighed as Shin approached me and tapped my shoulders, ‘Oh Prince…’

At night, the same thing happened. Ryuuka didn’t talk to me; no single word was address to me. He’s cold… very cold to me, and I don’t know what should I do. I wanted to talk him but someone is always interrupting us.

After dinner, I went to the garden to breathe some fresh air. I sat on one of the benches and looked at the starless sky.

‘No stars huh?’, I know it his voice but I want to make sure and so I looked at him.

He was looking at me, or rather staring at me.

‘Since when did you have that anxiety attack?’, he asked as he stood beside me and rested his back at the Cherry Blossom tree.

‘Ugh…’, I looked away and felt that my cheeks were burning, ‘Weekends I think?’

‘I see, I learned about it just today’, he told me.

‘Huh?’, I looked at him, ‘Didn’t VII told you?’

He was still staring at me with the same stunning face, ‘No. I wasn’t asking anything about you’, and he looked away.

When I heard him say that, I felt that something cut deep in my heart. I was speechless.

‘Anyway, there would be a party… an open house party in the university next week. You should come, parties are good stress reliever’.

I nodded; I was still shocked of what he previously said.

‘Will you come?’, he asked.

‘I’ll see if dad will let me’, I whispered.

I wasn’t looking at him but I felt that he moved somewhere from where he was standing.

‘If you come, I’ll come in the party too’.

That made my heart jump a little, ‘Really?’, I looked at him, ‘You’ll come with me?’

He looked at me too and smirked, ‘I never said that’.

‘But…’ I sighed.

He approached me and patted my head, ‘Go to sleep. You need to rest now spoiled brat’, and he started to walk away from me.

‘Ryuuka,’ I grabbed onto his wrist, ‘I…I-‘

‘What?’ he was staring at me fiercely, his voice was very stern, ‘I told you to go to sleep and rest, right? Don’t be such a nuisance, Prince,’ and he removed my hand on his wrist.

‘I am sorry…’ I murmured.

He turned his back on me and walked away.

Just like that? What’s wrong with him? And what’s with the spoiled brat? Nuisance? Am I that annoying now, huh? Damn it. I really hate this kind of scenarios. Honestly, my heart’s bleeding with the way he talked an acted in front of me.

Your Call

It has been four days since I got this anxiety attack as well as the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), as told by dad after I had hard time breathing that lasted for almost 10 minutes and then passed out while having a conversation with Shin last Saturday morning. It was so terrifying, as if I was really going to die that time. I was brought into my father’s clinic and as soon as he checked up on me, he told the other family members about this disorder.

For four days, I was bored to death inside my room, doing nothing. Though sometimes, I go out and spent my time in the living room. My dad advised me not to do and think about different things that may hinder my recovery. Dad asked me about what I was really thinking over and over again for the past weeks and I frankly told him that I was thinking of you. The problem that we had, oh rather the problem I have with you. Situations like you’re going to leave me and everything. Those lingered in my mind for the past weeks. I also told him that I kept on checking my phone and my mails every hour. This resulted to that OCD, an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviors you feel compelled to perform. Moreover, anxiety disorders also suffer from depression at some point. Anxiety and depression are believed to stem from the same biological vulnerability.

Definitely, I am really suffering from this disorder. I experienced various symptoms on anxiety attacks like having hyperventilation, hot flashes and chills, chest pains, trouble in breathing, passing out and the feeling of being detached and unreal in four days. Also, dad gave me medications like injecting benzodiazepines and serotonin-reuptake inhibitors. A bed rest for 5 to 7 days was also included. Can you, guys, imagine how vulnerable I am now? Sorry for sounding pitiful but it’s the reality. I didn’t imagine that I would get this kind of disorders for I know I am healthy. But still, good heavens, I survived all of these.

Anyway, this can’t be helped but I kept on thinking why are you not visiting me? Don’t you know how bad my situation was? Are you mad at me? Don’t you care about me anymore? Don’t you love me like the way you did? Damn! I hate this kind of feeling. I’m getting worse, I guess. I’m getting headaches and stuff. I even lost 2 KGs. But what can I do? I wanted to see you badly now. Kiss you and hug you. Tell you that I love you so much and hear from you that you love me too. Perhaps, I’d hear that after a decade. I don’t know what you feel nor what you want to do but...oh, I am sorry. I am being dramatic here.

I am still thankful that my cousin, Shin was there to cheer me up, of course with VII somehow, but it’s nothing compare to how you cheer me up. With just the way call my name and smile at me, that...that really takes my breath so easily.

Shin was so worried about me that he did lots of things, stupid things and VII kept on reprimanding him that he should stay put for me not be stressed too much. Thanks about that, VII, Shin thanks to you too. Sorry about the comparing thing. I know you’d understand.

And with that, I remembered the song Your Call by Secondhand Serenade. I favored Shin to sing it for me while VII played the guitar.

Waiting for your call, call I’m sick, call I’m angry

Call I’m desperate for your voice

Listening to the song we used to sing

In the car, it’s you remember?

Butterfly, Early Summer

It’s playing on repeat, just like when we would meet

Like when we would meet

Cause I was born to tell you I love you

And I am torn to do what I have to

To make you mine

Stay with me tonight

Stripped and polished, I am new, I am fresh

I am feeling so ambitious, you and me, flesh to flesh

Cause every breath that you will take

When you are sitting next to me

Will bring life into my deepest hopes,

What’s your fantasy?

Cause I was born to tell you I love you

And I am torn to do what I have to, to make you mine

Stay with me tonight

And I am tired of being all alone

And this solitary moment makes me want to come back home

Cause I was born to tell you I love you

And I am torn to do what I have to, to make you mine

Stay with me tonight

Red and White

‘Shin...?’ someone was nagging me, a very familiar voice. ‘Cute love...?’

I moaned as I flipped myself on the other side, facing Laurence, ‘Good morning,’ and smiled at him sweetly.

He pinched on my cheek, ‘How come you forgot about fetching me early this morning?’

‘Fetch you?’ I snickered as I pulled him closer to me. I cuddled him and kissed him on every inch of his face. ‘Did we plan on something yesterday...or the other day for this morning?’

‘Did you already forget how important this day is?’ his voice became rigid.

I scratched onto my head, ‘This day...is...’ and was trying to find the perfect words when Laurence suddenly quipped, ‘Forget about it, Shin. Why don’t you just prepare yourself for the day ahead? Take your bath now and as soon as you’re finished, we’ll leave.’

‘Ok...?’ was the only word that came out from my mouth as I stood up from where I am lying to and took my bath. Before I went out of the bathroom, I found myself smiling, ‘How can I forget how important this day is, Laurence? It’s our first monthsary.’ I went outside the bathroom and saw Laurence glanced at me then he continued smoking. Is he mad? *chuckles

‘I’m sorry, Laurence. You know that I easily forget things,’ I knelt down in front of him and kissed his hand.

‘Why do you need to kneel down in front of me, my cute love? Or rather, what’s the use of kneeling if you already forgot how important this day is,’ he asked candidly and in a monotonous voice as he folded his arms.

My eyes widened as if I really don’t know what to say. *chuckles Surprise!

He chuckled softly, ‘How cute of you, sweetheart. How cute of you too look like you’re too dumbfounded with what I told you.’

‘Dumbfounded?’ I chuckled and kissed his hand again, ‘Or stupid?’

He was still chuckling though he already finished smoking. He squeezed the cigar butt onto the ashtray then he carried me over his lap. I smiled naughtily.

‘I know that smile, sweetheart,’ he was fondling his hands into my hair.

‘Definitely,’ I was still smiling naughtily.

‘Nevertheless, I won’t still buy onto that smile. Tsk.’

‘Aw...’ I sighed, ‘Still on that issue?’ and I pouted my lips.

He nodded and smiled, ‘Perhaps, I should just tell you about—‘

‘No!’ I exclaimed, ‘I mean, no,’ now in a lower voice. ‘Let me think things thoroughly, ok? Don’t worry, for sure I’d be able to tell you the answer before the day end.’

He didn’t respond and was just staring at me.

‘Aw...I don’t mean to, I don’t mean to,’ I sobbed, ‘What can I do to make you smile, Laurence?’

‘Kiss me.’

I smiled and kissed him sweetly on his lips. I looked at him and waited for his response.

‘Laurence?’

‘I am not satisfied.’

‘You’re not?’ I rubbed my eyes ‘How come, my love?’

‘Just kiss me again. Kiss me passionately...’ his voice was so enticing that my cheeks were already burning. Of course, who am I to resist my love? And so I kissed him passionately, longer this time. After a couple of minutes, I looked at Laurence again but he still looked unsatisfied.

‘I guess, you should better strip off your robe now,’ he winked at me.

I chuckled, ‘You should have told me earlier!’ and willingly stripped my robe off. I pulled him closer and kissed him passionately then I bit on his lip unintentionally.

‘Sorry! Sorry!’ I was already panicking. ‘Are your lips ok?’ I was staring at his lips this time.

Laurence licked on his lips and he chuckled.

‘Ah...?’ I was still staring at his lips.

‘Truly, you are exceedingly cute, sweetheart!’ he was still chuckling, ‘Why do you keep on staring on my lips?’ and he caressed my cheek.

My cheeks were burning again and just chuckled too with what I was doing.

‘Do they look delicious?’

‘Oh, yeah...your lips are mouth-watering. Your taste still lingers in my mouth,’ I winked.

‘Silly,’ he patted my head. ‘Anyhow, looks like you’re already hungry. Put some clothes on now and we’ll eat our breakfast together.’

‘Ok,’ I smiled and pecked on his cheek. I stood up and wore my clothes, ‘where do you wanna eat anyway?’

‘Your choice. Every where’s fine with me,’ he smiled too.

‘Why not in a coffee hub? Or maybe a teashop?’ I suggested.

‘Teashop,’ he answered. I sprayed some perfume on my clothes and fixed my hair. We already went outside my room, downstairs and saw Prince lying on the couch.

‘Good morning, Prince!’ I greeted and draw near him.

‘Hey, Shin...’ he murmured and peeped at us. ‘VII...’

‘Hey,’ Laurence greeted him too. ‘Bored?’

Prince rubbed on his eyes and yawned, ‘Not really. I just woke up a couple of minutes ago.’

‘You slept there?’ I asked.

Prince nodded, ‘By the way, VII. For you...’ and showed him a red rose.

‘Huh? Why are you giving me such thing?’ he wondered.

‘Someone asked me too.’

‘Someone?’ Laurence took the rose and looked at me smiling.

I whistled and looked at him too, ‘Hm?’

‘Sweetheart,’ he mumbled.

‘Oh, come on now and let’s eat. I’m already hungry,’ I pouted my lips while I was holding on my tummy.

‘Alright. Prince, we’ll leave now,’ Laurence said and started to make his way outside the mansion.

‘Sure...’

‘Thanks, Prince!’ I whispered and grinned at him. ‘Bye!’ and followed Laurence outside the house. We rode on his Volvo, left, looked for a parking space and already went to a teashop.

‘Which side do you want to sit, sweetheart?’ Laurence asked me as he was peeking around.

I smiled and pointed to the last seat on the right side of the teashop.

‘Alright,’ he smiled too and took my hand. I gently pulled his chair, let him sit and so did I.

‘Another rose?’

I smiled and the host gave us our menus.

‘For sure there are three roses for me that mean ‘I love you’, right?’ he flipped onto the next page.

‘You bet?’ I was still smiling.

He nodded, ‘Surprising me, my cute love?’

‘How did you know?’

‘You’re already an open book for me, Shin...’ and he flashed me a sweet smile. ‘Thank you.’

I smiled too and told the host my order.

‘Just a smile?’ and he gave his order too.

I took his hand and kissed it. ‘There’s a lot more, Laurence...’ I sounded gibberish.

‘What?’

‘I love you...’ I grinned.

‘I love you too...’ he smiled again. Our orders were served after awhile and we already ate. When our desserts came...

‘Here’s your peach parfait, Mr. Laurence Caelum,’ the host served Laurence his peach parfait with a rose in hand. The host served me my dessert too.

Mr. Laurence Caelum, huh?’ Laurence smirked and accepted the rose. ‘I told you...three roses...’

‘Yeah...’ I giggled. ‘I hope you eat that parfait...it’s not that sweet, don’t worry.’

He didn’t respond and instead he started eating the parfait.

‘Where do you wanna go next, my love?’

‘Do you wanna visit a museum? But I guess you’re going to find it boring?’

‘Wow,’ I was amazed. ‘I never thought that you like visiting museums?’

‘I never did, however this one’s for you,’ he smiled.

‘Eh? Is it an art museum? A music museum? A history museum?’

‘No,’ he stuck his tongue out, ‘You’ll see later.’

‘Wee!’ I chuckled, ‘I am so excited about this.’ He pinched my cheek and we both continued eating. After spending some time in the teashop, we walked and walked, going to the museum Laurence was talking about.

‘Did you already buy some tickets?’ I asked him as I wrapped my arm on his.

‘Of course,’ he smiled and showed me the tickets. We were already in the entrance door and Laurence showed the attendant the tickets but he didn’t accept those. Instead, he gave two roses for us and smiled.

‘Please enjoy the tour here, Mr. Laurence and Shin Caelum,’ the attendant showed us the way.

‘Thank you!’ I grinned and gently pulled Laurence inside.

He looked at me, ’Thank you, huh?’ and he smirked.

‘Yeah?’ I chuckled and kissed his palm, ‘Wow, is this a museum about the history of theatre until the contemporary period?’

He nodded, ‘Shin?’

‘Yes?’ I was excitedly viewing on the artifacts.

‘Are we already married?’ and he chuckled.

‘Huh? Why are you asking?’

‘Because every time they give me these roses, they’ll always say Mr. Laurence Caelum?’ he was staring at me.

‘Do you want me to marry you already?’ I winked.

He pinched my cheek, ‘Silly.’

‘I am sorry. I am just assuming that you are already my wife,’ I took his hand and cuddled it, ‘Besides, it’s our first monthsary so would you permit me?’

‘No worries, my love. Everything you do is very fine with me,’ he smiled. ‘I love you...’

‘I love you too...’ I grinned and viewed on the next artifact.

‘I am just wondering...’ he tilted his head.

‘About what?’

‘How did you do that?’ he folded his arms, ‘I mean, how did you know that we’re going in a museum and give the roses to the attendant without me knowing it?’

I snickered, ‘Laurence, you’re wrong with your intuition about the roses I gave you.’

‘Oh, yeah...5 roses already,’ he looked at the roses then he looked at me. ‘Surprise me very well, my love.’

I nodded and brushed my lips onto his. We continued viewing and decided to buy a souvenir from the museum. As soon as I gave the payment for the souvenirs, the clerk also gave the packed souvenirs with two roses again.

‘Now I know,’ he took the souvenirs.

‘What do you know?’ I asked him as I kept my wallet inside my pocket.

‘You’re going to give me dozen of flowers, don’t you?’ he smiled.

‘Secret,’ I grinned and took his hand.

‘Damn it, why can’t I read you this day?’

‘Nah, don’t mind reading me this day, ok? We should enjoy our day today!’ I chuckled.

‘Right,’ he smiled sweetly. We walked and walked again until...

‘Brother! VII!’ Ashley yelled at us.

I looked back and saw Ashley running towards us, with her best friends.

‘Hey,’ I greeted them, ‘What brings you here?’

‘What? Can’t we go to this kind of place?’ she chuckled, ‘By the way, VII...this is for you,’ and gave him a rose.

‘Who--?

‘SOMEONE told me to give it to you,’ she emphasized while looking at me.

‘Scary,’ I hid at Laurence’s back.

‘This is for you too,’ Ashley’s best friend smiled as she gave the rose to Laurence.

‘This too,’ another best friend gave Laurence the rose.

‘Thank you,’ Laurence smiled, at me. *laughs

‘Anyway,’ Ashley sighed, ‘A girl giving a boy something seems very awkward but because it is for that SOMEONE, I’m willing to do it,’ and she chuckled. ‘Peace, bro.’

‘Yeah, whatever you say, Ash. Tsk,’ I chuckled too. ‘So where are you three going? Mall?’

She shrugged her shoulders, ‘How about you two?’

‘We—‘

‘Ok! You two are coming with us,’ she laughed.

‘Wait! Where are we going?!’ I exclaimed though Ashley didn’t respond, ‘Laurence, is it ok with you?’

‘Sure, my cute love. No worries,’ he smiled.

‘Great! Let’s get moving, guys!’ Ashley sounded really cheery.

‘I wonder what’s with your sister today.’

‘I wonder too,’ I looked at him, ‘She’s very cheery, isn’t she?’

He nodded, ‘Where’s my sweater anyway?’

‘Sweater?’ I paused for a while, ‘Ah! Your sweater, huh...’ I smiled and placed my arm on his shoulder. ‘Cold already?’

‘Secret,’ and he stuck his tongue out.

‘Sorry, I can’t read whatever you are thinking about right now,’ I kissed him on his cheek. We followed Ashley and her best friends and they went inside a sports center.

‘We’ll play bowling?’ I asked them.

Ashley nodded, ’We’ll play two on three!’

‘What? Hey, we’re not prepared, that’s so unfair Ashley,’ I snarled at her.

‘It’s ok you know, right VII?’

‘Ah..-‘

‘Ok! I’ll play alone. I don’t want my love to get tired easily just because of this bowling thing,’ I started to stretch my body. ‘Just sit back and relax over there, my love,’ I smiled.

‘Are you sure?’

I nodded and grinned, ‘I’ll show how to win this game easily.’

‘You’re too full of yourself, brother! Let’s just start the game,’ Ashley said.

‘Right!’

‘Sweetheart?’ Laurence called out my name.

I looked at him, ‘Hm?’

He was pointing his forefinger on him, like saying that I should come closer to him, ‘Yes?’

‘I love you and good luck,’ he smiled and kissed me sweetly on my lips.

‘Thanks!’ I kissed him again and went back to where I was standing before. And the game started. At first they were leading but later, I was leading. *evil laugh I got a strike for my last shot and of course, I won. I went to Laurence’s side and drank some water.

‘There’s something on the table, my love...’

‘What?’ he looked on the table and saw two roses, ‘Another two, huh? A dozen already,’ He smiled.

I smiled and kissed him on his forehead.

‘Oh my goodness, ants!’ Ashley chuckled as well as her friends. ‘Maybe we should leave the love birds now? What do you think guys?’

The two girls agreed.

‘Ok. We’ll leave you two now,’ Ashley smiled.

‘Thanks for the time,’ I told them.

‘Time only?’ Ashley chuckled, ‘Kidding! Anyway, enjoy your day, guys!’

‘Thanks, Ashley,’ Laurence said and they left.

‘What can you say about the game, my love?’ I was grinning.

‘You’re very funny, sweetheart,’ he chuckled, ‘Doing crazy stuff on the alley.’

‘Like it?’

‘Certainly,’ and he smiled.

I took his hands and pulled him upwards from his seat and hugged him tightly. I kissed him sweetly and left the bowling center. We went to a restaurant and ate our lunch there. The next stop was in an amusement park and it was already 3 in the afternoon.

‘I know you don’t like these kind of stuff but still, let’s try to ride the Ferris wheel, ok?’

‘Sure, I’ll try?’ he smirked.

‘You’ll be fine with me, don’t worry.’

‘I know,’ and he smiled.

‘Anyway, wait for a while, Laurence...’ I took his hand and kissed it, ‘I’ll just go and buy something. I’m kinda thirsty...’ and smiled sweetly. I left and hid somewhere. After 15 minutes, Laurence seemed uneasy and he started to look for me. I was just following him and my helpers came. One after the another, an employee gives him a rose with a clue of where I am. 7 roses all in all until he found me standing in front of the ferris wheel.

’19 roses...’ Laurence told me, smiling.

‘I’m glad that you found me,’ I was smiling too and hugged him. ‘Let’s ride this stuff now.’

He nodded, ‘Just the two of us?’

‘Of course,’ I kissed him and we both rode the ride.

We left the amusement at around 7 in the evening.

‘Already hungry?’ I asked Laurence as I took his hand.

‘Sort of,’ he smiled. ‘How about you?’

‘Yeah,’ I grinned, ‘I’m hungry for you.’

‘Silly,’ he chuckled and he pinched my cheek.

‘Is it wrong?’ I pouted my lips. ‘Anyway, we’re already here.’

‘Huh? Here? What do you mean by that?’

‘We’ll eat here,’ I smiled and we both entered an establishment.

‘But this ain’t a restaurant at all?’

‘It isn’t,’ I answered.

‘But—‘I placed my forefinger on his lips and smiled. We rode the elevator until we reached the roof top. I looked at Laurence and he was just smiling.

‘A candle light dinner for you my love...’ I smiled and showed him the way. Laurence sat down and I sat beside him too.

‘You prepared this all?’ he was stroking his finger on the mantle covering the table.

I nodded and watched him while he was stroking his finger on the mantle.

‘You know how to choose such stuff, don’t you?’ he smiled.

I nodded again. ‘Oh, wait...I’ll get our food...’ I went to look for the food I prepared earlier somewhere. *laughs Anyway, I brought a helper so no worries.

‘I cook all of this for you, my love,’ I smiled and poured some wine on his goblet.

‘Really? When did you prepare all of these?’

‘Around 5 in the morning...’ I sipped on my wine and placed some food on his plate. ‘Itadakimasu!’

‘Itadakimasu!’ he smiled.

We started eating and talked about things while there was a pianist playing for the background music. Laurence asked me to play some songs for him too and so I did. After eating, chatting and playing some songs. A helicopter came...

‘Ugh, we’re going to have a tour?’ Laurence was smiling.

‘Kinda...but a solo tour for you,’ I said unhappily.

‘Huh? But why? Where are you going?’

I smiled sweetly at him and kissed him passionately. I left him, went to another building (roof top) and waited for Laurence. As soon as the helicopter was visibly seen, I took the microphone on the roof top of floor...

‘Laurence, please look at your left side...’ I told him. The candles were lit up one by one, forming a heart shape. Lights focused on the other side of the building and ‘HAPPY 1^ST MONTHSARY’ can be read with a person holding each letter. Lastly, another lights focused on the heart shape below showing, ‘I LOVE YOU LAURENCE’ in which the letters were formed using white roses while the red ones were used as the background.

‘I love you and I will always do...happy 1^st monthsary, Laurence!’ I smiled and waved his hand at him. The chopper went closely to the building and I saw Laurence hurriedly walked towards me. He hugged me so tightly and then kissed me passionately. Our kiss was so long that the people around us were already cheering us.

‘I love you too, Shin...’ he was smiling.

I smiled at him too and showed him a dozen of roses. ‘Already two dozens right? Plus 7...’

’31 roses at all...’ he murmured.

I nodded and smiled, ’31 days of us being together, Laurence...’

‘So...that’s the meaning of—‘

I nodded again and kissed him sweetly. ‘By the way, thanks a lot Shinji.’ Shinji was the one who helped me with this surprise.

‘Welcome, dude,’ Shinji smiled.

‘Thanks to all of you,’ I told everybody who gave Laurence the roses since this morning though Prince wasn’t there

‘Oh sweetheart...’ Laurence was staring at me.

‘Hm?’ I smiled and hugged him again. ‘I love you...’