Time -how easily it slips away when you don't want it to.

You never really get a chance to realize this until you look back at things. My eyes were centered on the photo frame on my office table, it showed the picture of Kai's ninth birthday, Jackson and I stood at his sides and he between us with a wide smile and open arms, I had a slight smile, and Jackson had an awkward one -like someone has forced him to smile. We took this around five years ago, Kai's soon turning fourteen now, his birthday's just a few months away.

I didn't have time to stop and think that how fast the years went by. From past years managing this company, I barely had time for anything, and with this the organization I started. Moreover, the biggest obligation I considered was of Kai, but him being an understanding child, I never had much to worry about him.

And Jackson, let's not think about that old man, my mood will get sour.

Moving my mind away from these thoughts, I focused on my desktop screen to continue the work, that's when my iPhone started ringing, the caller id showed Kai's name.

"Aren't you coming home for dinner?"

Without greeting or anything he directly jumped to question, my gaze flickered toward the wall-clock which showed seven in the evening. From past years, our routine of eating dinner together didn't change, there was rarely any day we haven't eaten dinner together. So, him urging this question, makes me think that he's up to something.

"Kai, did you again do something stupid?"

"What? No, I didn't do anything!"

"Then why are you asking such an obvious question?"

"Um...why can't I? I'm hungry so can't wait anymore, hurry up!"

"Well, then you can eat alone, don't disturb me, stupid-fool."

"I'm not a child anymore! You don't talk to me like that!"

"Oh really, then why do you sound just like one?"

"I...I..."

"Here we go again with stuttering."

"...Forget it, are you coming home or not?"

Huh? How was he able to control himself so soon? I'm now convinced he's up to something. "On my way."

When I hung up the call, I tried to remember was there something I'm forgetting? This is our usual way of talking to each other, he hates it when I talk to him like a child, he considers himself a man, not even a boy. In the past years, he has grown up so fast, sometimes it hurts seeing him getting big so soon, I liked it when he was a tiny eight-year-old, at least he acted like a child. But now Kai acts so maturely sometimes like he has realized what responsibility is waiting for him. At the age of thirteen, Kai entered high school and he's also planning to finish it as soon as he can, he has always been a smart boy, not once disappointing me.

I also got admission to an online university -I didn't really have time so I chose the easiest option, Business Management. With that, I also had acquired a hobby, or more like to fill the lack of things I know about this world, and satisfy the itch of curiosity. One side of my office has full-wall shelves of books of various genres and languages all around the world.

Thinking that Kai was waiting for me, I stood up to leave, when my gaze fell on the calendar on my desk and seeing today's date I recalled and realized why he's so eager to have me home.

Today's my twenty-second birthday.

Elijah & Kai must have planned something, a smile appeared on my face as I imagined their huge smiles awaiting me.

When I woke up again in my sixteen-years-old self I was determined not to trust and let others be a part of my life, but sometimes you don't even realize how easily can someone breaks all the barriers you have built around yourself and without even you noticing they suddenly become a part of your life, that's what happened with Elijah. From the moment he jumped in front of my car to this -him being a part of my life and the only person allowed in Allgaier Mansion, a family friend, a trustable companion -I don't even know how he did it.

The first year when we sponsored Elijah's race, he didn't win but I didn't take our sponsorship back, and again supported him next year -that year he won and became the famed Elijah Cohan, in coming years he made a name for himself and fulfilled his promise. I thought from there we will go on our own ways, but after two years of working together, he continued to stick and with time I also accepted him as a friend, and now I think, I truly needed someone like him. In past years it was hectic to extract some time to breathe but with Elijah there, I was able to have a moment away from my daily-usual routine. The man I hated at first glance somehow turned into someone I share my worries with. If not for his stubborn consistency of indulging himself shamelessly in our lives, I don't think we would have this friendship, I'm glad he was consistent.

When I stepped inside the mansion, it was peculiarly quiet and no one was in sight. Slowly I advanced toward the living area -in an instant they jumped in front of me, shrieking.

"Happy Birthday!!!"

They continued to shout, with the servants behind them also joining Kai and Elijah's ear-splitting chorus and clapping like guests at a five-year-old birthday party. The cake was in Kai's hands and he stood there with a big grin on his face and hurting his vocal cords with the intensity he was yelling happy birthday. Next to him was Elijah -a light chuckle escaped my lips seeing him -he had ballons in his hands and was swinging them randomly along with yelling loudly. What amazed me more than the decoration; how they -including all the helpers- were wearing white shirts and birthday caps with my picture in circles plastered over them, seeing this, I couldn't help the peal of laughter escaping my lips.

As if my laugh was a signal for them to stop, they became quiet but I could hardly control my laughter, even tears filled my eyes, do they even know how stupid they look in those shirts and hats?

When I moved my eyes again toward the two idiots in from of me, Kai was staring strangely at me with big eyes and a wide smile, while Elijah also had the same look. I can guess why they were looking at me with a star-struck face- I rarely laugh freely like this. I sighed to repress my amusement, but my cheeks were still raised as I pointed toward their hats and shirts with my face visible on them, "You fools, who gave you this idea?"

"Kai."

"Elijah!"

Both of them pointed at each other -accusing the other with a sheepish look. Well, I know they won't admit this silliness but I'm sure Kai was behind this.

Shaking my head, I let this go and giving my laptop bag and blazer to the nearby servant, I walked toward the cake in Kai's hands. A servant gave me the knife and I cut the cake with them wishing me in low voice. I gave the first bite to Kai and then the next to Elijah, with that we ended my little birthday party and proceeded toward eating the dinner.

"How can you forget your birthday every year?"

I raised my eyes toward Kai on his accusation. When the things between Kai and I started getting better, I forgot my seventeen birthday and no one else knew until months later, since then he kept the record of my birthday and never forgot to celebrate it.

I shrugged, "I don't forget, it just slips my mind."

"You know the things you keep your mind full with, I wonder how you even remember to breath."

It was Elijah, once again mocking me, from past years this man had only one problem with me, why do I have to do so much work? Why can I just take a break and enjoy life? Ironically, he also does the same amount of work for his company that regulates his racing institutes throughout the world, but still thinks I push myself too much. Well, I do push myself too much, I agree. But in the next five years or so, I'll retire. So I'll have all my life to live therefore I never bothered myself with his words.

Waving my hand at both of them dismissively, I exclaimed irritatingly, "Oh, shut it you two, let me enjoy my food."

Seeing that I was not interested in talking, Kai moved his focus toward Elijah, from the past years they both also developed a tactical understanding, like friends, and sometimes like partners. Kai has a quite strange addiction to fast cars and he loves to go to Elijah's races. Although Kai's a quiet & reserved child and I have hardly seen him making friends, he never brings anyone home nor hangs out, faces difficulty in opening up to others, but not toward them who he trusts, and Elijah has also become one of those. His baby-face now has mostly lost its touch and molded into a teenage soft-look which in coming years will turn into a handsome young man. Stupid-fool growing up so fast!

"Elijah, when's your next race?"

"Three weeks later, you have to come this year too. You're my lucky charm," Saying this he extended his fist toward Kai, and they shared a fist bump. Kai never misses any of his race, but Elijah still invites him every year despite knowing that Kai will still come even if he doesn't and drag me along with him. But I guess this was Elijah's way of making clear how important Kai's presence is for him.

When we were done with our dinner, I walked out with Elijah as he was leaving but he came back bringing something with him from his car. It was a bunch of white rose flowers and a little shopping bag.

"Was this necessary?"

"I know you're rich and can buy anything, but please accept this poor person's humble gift." Humorously stating, he bowed in front of me and extended his humble-gift to me.

I smiled at his words, a millionaire calling himself a poor person but I didn't comment on it and just accepted his gift, "Sure, you miserly person." With that, he finally left.