Sometime later Mom and Dad gave us some privacy and went upstairs. Fin had to leave around 2pm so he was long gone. There was no sign of Elric yet.

Downstairs the house was quiet. Peaceful...the daylight was almost out and there was a shadow falling in certain parts of the house.

Remi was getting ready to leave, well that was hours ago. She had made that declaration right after Fin left and ended up staying for a few more hours.

Kai and her sat on the couch, chatting to each other and whispering. They were glued to one another and would not separate. Yet they fidgeted and jumped out of their skin every time someone would enter the room.

You'd think they were the ones hiding their relationship.

We thought it would be a good idea to leave them alone completely and decided to camp out in the kitchen. We brought blankets, snacks and made hot coffee.

Rehan, Ace and I sat on the bar chairs in the kitchen in a circle, drinking our coffee in silence.

At this point we didn't know how long we would be stuck there.

I started peeling a tangerine and popped one in my mouth. It was a sour and sweet one. The perfect balance.

"I can't believe Kai confessed to Remi." Ace shook his head and took a tangerine to peel as well. "I never thought I would live a day to see it happening."

"I'm more surprised about Lucy and Francy." Rehan glanced at me and took part of the peeled tangerine from Ace. "She got Lucy as a boyfriend faster than you managed to befriend him."

I swallowed the little tangerine piece with heaviness. "Okay now considering that, I have something to confess."

They both perked up to hear the story. I decided to tell them the truth.

Skipping the part about Momo I told them I met Elric in a cafe and how things progressed from there without knowing he was Lucy. And how when we found out each other's identities we broke up.

"So you broke up because of me?" Ace said insulted. "Why did you do that?"

"Because we both care about you. And Elric said you're his closest friend and he couldn't do that to you. We didn't know how you would react."

"He said that?" Ace asked, confused.

"Listen, brother." I looked at him. "He definitely seems way more approachable now than he did when I first met him and I think it has to do with you being his friend."

Ace sunk in his chair. He seemed too impressed to say anything.

"I know we made fun of you, but I think what you did demands respect and you really have a great friendship, Ace. You made him open up, have fun, socialize more and in return I don't see you going to drink or party as much. We see you home more and you even got better at school. That's why I didn't want to disrespect you know how much you wanted him as a friend. So we decided it was for the best to break up."

Ace was speechless.

Suddenly Rehan slapped his hand on the counter, breaking the moment. "I just remembered. At dinner that time, when he said he had a girl he likes and had to break up with her he was talking about you."

"Yeah." I nodded.

"And when you ran out that night it was because we started that subject.." Ace shook his head.

I sighed. " But then you kept bringing him around and now I know why, but then it was hard to get over him and I ended up cracking under pressure so I made a move on him."

Rehan gasped. "You did the first move?"

"No way. " Ace took a sip from his coffee.

"I'm serious. I told him I love you first. So we started dating again. We were wondering for sometime now how to tell you." I explained.

"I'm touched you suffered for me, but why would you think I'd disapprove of someone you like? Especially if it's someone I consider my best friend. Would you disapprove of Remi and Kai?"

"No." I sighed.

Ace got up and hugged me. "You can be so stupid sometimes."

"I know I can be stupid sometimes." I hugged him back.

He pulled away. "Very stupid. Incredibly stup.."

I shoved a tangerine in his mouth. Okay. I got it.

"Kai almost caught me a few times," I told them.

Ace sat back down and brought up Rehan's blanket that was dragging on the ground, helping him wrap the blanket better.

"Thanks." Rehan cuddled the blanket closer. "I'm surprised Kai didn't figure it out."

I shook my head. "I was worried at first, but let's be real. He thought none of us knew he liked Remi and he couldn't tell Remi liked him back. When it comes to romance he is clueless."

"True." Rehan nodded.

There was a silence between us again. We ate tangerines in peace.

Kai suddenly entered the kitchen bringing back empty mugs of coffee and carried them to the sink.

"Remi just left." He told us.

"Without saying goodbye?" I asked.

He placed the mugs down in the sink and joined our circle. "Her mom called and said they're outside waiting to pick her up. If she doesn't show up in ten seconds she's not getting presents."

"Got it." I smiled and threw a tangerine for him to catch. "So how is the new dating life? Did a lot of kissing?"

He lifted the tangerine ready to throw it at me.

I burst out laughing.

"Sorry. I just had to."

"Your boyfriend is not back yet?" Kai tried to tease me.

"Ha! He said he'll be here later." I pulled my tongue out.

"Okay. Enough talking." Ace jumped from the bar chair. "Let's go open up some presents."

And like that our little bonding time was over.

***

I rang the doorbell of the house with my elbow, trying not to have any of the presents slip out of my grip. My heart was beating out of my chest. This was it. The moment of truth.

I heard someone approaching the door and it opened. I brought my hands down because I couldn't see anything from the gifts. Mom had opened the door.

"Elric." She gasped. "Oh It's Elric." She yelled and pulled me inside so hard I thought I would trip.

"Merry Christmas," I told her. She started kissing my face and hugging me. The presents almost slipped again so I placed them down so I could hug her back.

Mom still smelled the same and her hug was warm as always.

As I looked down I could see dad's slippers approaching. I looked up at him and he was standing there with the mean look on his face, a bit unsure what to do.

I straightened up and put out my hand. "Merry Christmas."

He put his hand out and shook my hand. "Merry Christmas."

"You must be starving. And freezing too." Mom tugged my sleeve. "Let me take your coat."

I took off my coat and then took the presents from the ground. "These are for you and also there is some food."

"You didn't have to buy anything. Come in."

We all awkwardly came into the living room.

The huge house didn't have one single decoration other than a small Christmas tree in the corner. It seemed store-bought and pre-decorated. There wasn't one shred of personality in it.

The house seemed emptier than I remembered.

I sat on the leather couch and dad sat on his armchair quietly. Mom was quick to bring out stuff on the table and then passed me a mug with hot tea.

"Thank you," I said taking the mug and having a sip.

"I'm glad you visited us. Why didn't you call?" Mom asked.

"I wanted to surprise you." I lied not wanting to hurt her feelings. She was so happy to see her only child back home. I knew this fight with dad was hurting her the most, but I just didn't know what to do until now.

"How is school?" She asked.

"It's great. I'll graduate without a problem." I told her and I heard dad scoff.

I bit my tongue. Don't say anything. Just don't say anything.

"You think that high school degree will get you far without university?" He added.

"Don't start fighting," Mom begged him.

I twisted the bracelet around my wrist. I calmed down and spoke. " I decided to go to university."

That shut him up immediately.

Indeed when I left the house I swore I wouldn't go to university because I simply didn't need it with my talent. That was the plan. Until Ace had casually told me he made plans of how we can keep the business running while we're at university. I had never considered that option. Running a business was hard enough and studying as an addition to it sounded impossible. But there was something so alluring about going to university with him and making plans for the business together. I didn't feel like I had to keep pushing myself to the limits to prove something.

The doubts I had about everything that I kept burring down were gone the moment I had someone watching my back.

Suddenly university didn't seem like a bad idea.

"So you're dropping what you're doing and going to university?" Dad asked.

"I'm not dropping anything. I'll do both my work and university." I answered confidently.

"What? Dad leaned over. "That's insane. You can't focus on both."

"I can and I will. That's what I decided."

"Just when I thought you had come to your senses," Dad murmured and leaned back into his chair disappointed.

"Why do you keep saying that to him?" Mom complained.

"Because this gaming thing has no future. He has such talents yet he keeps wasting them with computer games and whatnot."

I pulled out my phone and typed something. Dad's notification bell rang.

"Open it. It's from me." I told him.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone checking his notifications. "What's this email?"

"I got accepted into the game development championship," I told him. "It's just one of many opportunities out there for people like me. If we do win the competition, not only do we get world recognition there will be doors opening for us to other bigger gaming studios. That means we can become legit game developers. Later on, we plan on starting a company. I could be a millionaire by the time I'm 25."

Dad straightened up his back staring at his phone. "And this is the real deal?"

I pointed at it. "One of many opportunities"

"And you're still going to university?" He asked.

"Yes. I want to be taken seriously and I think a university degree will do that for me. I already started studying for the entrance exam."

I glanced at mom. She was already having a proud moment before I even got in. "That's amazing. Where do you plan on going?"

"The University of Computer Science & Engineering. I'll be focusing on software engineering."

"That is certainly good news." Mom said.

Dad seemed to be quiet. He seemed to be in deep thought. "What about those thugs you keep bringing to your place?"

"Already taken care of. It's just me and my team now." I said remembering the kid who broke into my house. He had already sent me and done everything I needed and all it was left was for the police to take care of everything.

Dad nodded his head.

He was taking this pretty well. I couldn't believe that this crazy father of mine who kicked me out of the house was actually listening to what I had to say.

Dad suddenly cleared his throat. "You seemed to have developed a very good plan, but running a business and being a programmer are two different things."

"Yes I know." I smiled. "That's why my friend is going to take business and marketing classes. He is going to the same university as me."

"That's why you keep saying we we.." Dad brought up his phone and scrolled down the email. "Let's see..This Ace..Walser. Walser?"

I was shocked to see the reaction on his face. I turned towards mom and she seemed perplexed too.

"Ah." She clapped her hands. "The Walser couple."

Now I was confused.

"Is he the son of Alben and Trine?" Dad asked.

I glitched for a second. "Yes, that's um.. his father and mother."

Dad suddenly burst laughing. "What a small world."

"You know them?" I asked.

"We met them at a fundraising party. They're famous as the humanitarian doctor couple. They used to be doctors without borders."

"Yes." Mom nodded. "I think they work at the Ann Rosenberg hospital now. Nice people."

"So you're friends with their son too?" He asked.

"Yes. He's my best friend."

As the words left my mouth I couldn't believe I said it. I kind of wanted to cringe but those were facts. He was my best and only friend. And I doubt I would have made it this far without him.

"And his parents know what you two are doing?" He asked.

Did he just ask me the most parental thing you can ask?

"They know and they fully support it."

Dad let out a long sigh. "I see. Well since you're both over 18 I doubt I can change your minds. I know when I was that age it was difficult to tell me anything."

I'll be damned. Was this really happening?

"And you'll move back home?" He suddenly asked.

"I'm preparing for the last exams at school and the entry exams for university, so I do need the space and quiet to study," I said.

Great. Now he will use this as an opportunity to complain again.

"Well that might not be a bad idea after all," Dad said and leaned over the table to pick up his tea mug. "Let me know if you need help covering the bills."

...

Did I just hear...was he.. what was in this goddamn tea?

I looked at mom. She casually picked up her mug and took a sip. She seemed to love what just happened. A smile was plastered on her face.

No fight? No complaints about me living alone?

I lifted up my mug. Guess the world is ending tomorrow.

***

When I left their house daylight had already drained away. I looked up at the dark sky and took a deep breath of fresh air. It smelled like snow.

The wind was prickly and the weather was so cold I could feel it to my bones through all the clothing I wore. The clouds were threatening to rain heavy snow once again.

Yet my heart was burning in a warm flame.

I can't believe how well that went. The cold had kept my head clear. Everything went smoothly. The rest of the conversation was a normal chat. We even had lunch and then dessert and not once did the issue come up again.

And then just before I got up to leave he stopped me at the door and said those words I never thought I would hear.

"Elric wait.." He cleared his throat. "I know that part of the reason you were angry was about your cat. I'm sorry I let him out and that got him into an accident."

I had no words to say to that. I nodded my head and then went out. The truth was I couldn't forgive him for it, but I didn't want to bring it up either.

I was too tired to argue. The party, the stress of almost getting caught, the reveal that I'm dating Francy, the anxiety of showing up at my parent's doorsteps, and the lack of sleep were starting to take their toll.

All I wanted was to sleep and not think about anything. I looked at the time. It was already late as it was to visit Francy.

I got in my car and drove home. I'll just call her when I get home.

***

It was 9 p.m. Why hasn't he called?

My headache was huge. It was probably from all the overthinking that I had been doing for the last hour and a half.

I mean.. I had no worry when he left.

I had been worry less even at dinner time.

The worry was not present even when everyone went to their rooms to chill after the crazy day we all had.

I was worry-free even when I snuggled with my cats and facetime Remi to give me all the details I had missed about how she and Kai got together.

But the moment I had dropped everything and looked at my fully charged, great service, well-functioning phone and there was no call- that's when I was officially worried.

He didn't show up. He didn't text and most importantly he didn't call. If this was any other day I wouldn't have even thought about it and disregard it as being busy.

But when I think of what might have happened...Did his father kick him out again? Did he get into a fight? What were all the ways this could have gone wrong? Did they hate the presents? Should we have not sent presents after all?

Maybe they locked him up and took his phone away. What if he was somewhere all alone and couldn't call me because he didn't want to tell me it didn't go as planned?

What if he is angry at me and DID NOT want to call me?

I wooshed the blanket away and slid my slippers on. As I passed through the living room I grabbed the car keys and went to Ace's room.

I knocked three times and when I heard come in I slammed the door open.

"Jesus Francy! You're going to yank off the door." Ace took down his headphones and put the remote control away. He was mid-gaming WORRY FREE.

But it's not his fault. He didn't know.

I threw him the car keys and he caught them.

"Are we going somewhere?" He asked

"I need you to be a best friend and go see Lucy."

"Why?" Ace asked.

"Because..because he's not picking up."

Ace just chuckled and put his headphones back on.

"I'm being serious." I walked over and sat on his bed "I'm worried."

He took off his headphones again and sighed. "He is probably just lazy or forgot to call. It happens with boyfriends. You have to learn."

I bit the inside of my cheek trying not to get pissed off. "I know that happens...my worry is that he went to see his parents."

"So?"

"Well don't you wonder why Lucy lives alone?"

"Cause he wants to?" Ace answered.

I sighed. "I don't want to tell you all the details because he told me things in private but as his friend, you should know at least certain things."

"Okay." Ace was now serious.

"So.." I started. "Lucy's dad kicked him out because he didn't like his ambition of becoming a game developer. So Lucy had to pay all the bills alone, work and study at the same time and the reason why he was so cold has to do with the consequences of his father's actions." - I was thinking about poor Sahara and how Elric couldn't keep a cat now because of it. -"I think that's why Lucy gets so defensive and I'm mostly worried that things didn't go as planned with his parents and he is either mad at me or doesn't want to call me. Mostly because I gave him the idea to do this for Christmas."

Ace crossed his arms. "I see. So things are really serious."

"Yes." I nodded.

"Did you try calling him?" He asked.