I sipped the warm chocolate shake, savoring its delicious, soul-satisfying essence. My gaze traipsed through millions of images of various items. From watches and pendants to outfits and colognes, to thumb rings and couple gifts. None of them really caught my eye.

"Ugh! Why is selecting gifts so damn hard? " Frustrated with my plight, I muttered under my breath.

Finally, the day of Senior Aylwin's birthday greeted us. Everyone was occupied with decorating and organizing the venue. We picked Senior Drew's place for his party. Because I had something far more intriguing planned for the night. Which was impossible to do in the presence of so many people.

Of course, privacy matters.

Spotting a familiar figure, I yelled, "Senior Chase!"

"Yeah, Hazel Eyes?" He jogged up to me, a smile blooming on his lips.

"Senior Aylwin?"

"MIA as always." He laughed, shrugging. I couldn't help but smile heartily at his contagious laugh.

I replied, grinning, "Good, good. I hope he remains MIA till the next five-six hours. "

"Hope so too."

"Did he talk to you in the morning?" He asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, he did. Though he didn't tell me about his 'lost and found' thingy. "

"I see. By the way, do you think he knows about all this? Any sus? "

"Don't think so. I mean, aren't we being discreet? "

"Sheesh, I'm dying to see his reaction. It'd be so much fun. " He smiled and proceeded to his work.

I groaned, checking the time. It was past three o'clock. Where in the world was he? Of course, we exchanged a few words in the morning. But he didn't tell me his whereabouts. As a matter of fact, I had no clue where he was. A part of me was ecstatic about the celebration and the preparations. I was so damn thrilled and euphoric to see his reaction.

Wait, more than that... I hadn't wished him. Yet. I would wish him. But not yet. At the perfect moment. At the perfect time.

My thoughts drifted back to the day I spilled the beans about Lily's parents. Still, the devastated and forlorn faces of Grace and Ben tormented me. It was disturbing. And, true to his word, he did pick up the pace. He didn't let me falter.

I was relieved that the conversation with the couple went considerably better than I had anticipated. I'd never felt so relaxed in my life. No longer did I feel any remorse, regret, or guilt. Nothing. It was all clear. Crystal clear.

"Hey, Soph! Mind coming here for a minute? " Sapphire called me.

"Is this all OK?" She asked, holding out a décor catalog.

"Yup, perfect!"

Moving farther, I spotted Ivy, who was entangled in fairy lights. The girl was a next-level episode in and of herself. "Uffoo, Ivy, lemme help ya."

I made my way over to Mysie and Senior Diana, who were organizing the refreshments. "Have ya texted the group?"

"Yeah, all done!"

"Soph!?" Damien called. Excusing myself, I approached him.

"What about drinks?"

"Ask Felix!" Just then, my phone started ringing. He stared at me as though he wanted to ask me something. I apologetically smiled, "Ah, oh-k, gimme a second, guys."

I went to the secluded corner and picked up the phone. "E..."

I was cut off by Ethel's panicked voice, "SOPH! COME TO MY PLACE FAST!" My blood ran cold. My thoughts raced as I listened to his frantic voice.

"E? E? Ethel? Hello? " I asked repeatedly, but he had already ended the call. I tried calling again, but it went straight to voicemail.

Oh my God, what happened? He sounded far too shaken.

A bombardment of gloomy thoughts came to me too quickly to reside in my mind. They snub my logic and rationale with hubris. Filling up the voids with all of the dross of thoughts and notions. None of them helping or making things easier. I took off, sprinting past the cars and motorcycles. Gone were the parties and any birthdays. Only my brother and his voice floated and swirled in my head.

O heavens, please keep him safe. Please, it's not what I'm thinking. Please...

I arrived at his condo and ran straight through the door, using the spare keys. "E!? E!? E!?" I shouted, scanning the neatly furnished and polished living room.

I walked past the kitchen, ready to enter his room, when something caught my eye. Or rather, someone. Not some random "someone," but a very certain "someone." My feet halted. At first, I assumed it was all in my head. Because what I witnessed was just too surreal to be real.

No, no, no, Soph, that's insane. You're probably tense and hallucinating.

And, just to prove my point, I took two steps back. My attention stayed glued to the other side. Slowly, with my heart pounding outrageously and my mind falsifying things, I felt like a disaster.

Then, in slow motion, I turned towards the kitchen, only for my breath to hitch. He stood there. For real. He stood there with a big bright smile on his face. Arms crossed over each other. Eyes hooked onto mine, sparkling with delight and contentment.

Tall and dark. Wearing a perfect three-piece suit. A mop of blond hair, long and ruffled, crowned his head. His eyes were the lightest shade of mossy green the world had ever seen. Vibrant and dazzling. They twinkled as they soaked in my expressions and features.

I just stood there gaping at him. Gone was my ebullient self. All I did was a fickle try to calm my racing heart and mind, which were still struggling to comprehend that they were seeing precisely what my eyes wanted them to see. I wasn't hallucinating. And his melodious laugh proved it.

His eyes crinkled at the corners as he spoke up, "What's up, Princess? Long time, no see? "

That was enough for me to bolt and lunge at him. I tackled him into a tight hug as if my life depended on it. He was there. My mind was not playing any tricks on me. The words kept repeating in my head.

He's here. He's here. For real.

Sweet lord, how I longed for him. I could feel hot tears streaming down from my eyes. Those shitty drops only needed an excuse to come out. Pfft!

I felt his hands on my back, calming me. He caressed my hair as my tears soaked through his suit. He'd changed. So, so much. Six years worked wonders for him. God, six goddamn years!

Just then, a thought dawned on me, and I realized how much grief the douchebag had caused me.

I shoved him, jerking his hands away, "Ah, look who decided to grace me today? The great good-for-nothing Devil, himself. Why now? All of a sudden? Didn't you have an empire to handle? More pressing issues to attend to? I mean, c'mon, who am I to you? Just a mere girl, you rescued ten years back. That's it! Not a big deal."

My fist kept hitting his chest with each and every word. What? The asshole earned it. I certainly looked like a madwoman, a complete nutcase, screaming and punching, but only God knew how infuriated, angry bird I was. I was consumed with rage, yet the rational half of me wanted nothing more than to hug him and show my sorrows.

And, for the first time, I went with the former.

For a fleeting second, the prospect of no longer feeling even a smidgeon of affection for him clenched my insides. He felt nothing more than an evanescent phantasm of mine. The fear of him abandoning me again made me almost vulnerable. The sickening feeling of friability constricted my bosom. Ruthlessly. Brutally.

"Madwoman, chill! Ouch, it hurts, okay?" He tried to restrain my hands, only for me to punch harder. "Gosh, you've got some strength there, Windows 10." There it was! That crappy, ridiculous nickname!

"Shut up! No, literally, why the hell are you here?! " I yelled, throwing my hands in the air. I interrupted him as he was about to say something, "You know what? Do not say a single word! Just-just go back... go away... Just go back from where you came. "

His eyes softened. Features morphing and melting into considerably more solemn but benign ones. He spoke out in his baritone voice, "Soph, listen to me. Relax... c'mon, I told you. Situations were out of my hand."

There again. The same petty excuses. I knew I was overreacting. We had moved past this stage. The explanation and whatever it was. But for me, it wasn't that simple. I wanted him to know how I felt, and seeing him after so many years didn't help. I was still registering things. Fear entombing my heart and troublesome thoughts in my mind.

My petulance and immature tantrums were the only ways I could devise at the moment to assuage the looming tension and building up anxiety of mine.

"Yeah, sure. But Mr. Ian Russell, let me break the news to you—some intelligent folks, unlike you, did invent a device called a mobile phone. Quite a bit of trendy stuff since the time you were kicking in your mama's womb. But, oh wait—" I mocked him belligerently, biting my tongue. "You're a 16th century product. How'll you know such things? Oops, my bad..."

His eyes narrowed. A frown underlining his intimidating features. "Soph, you're overreacting."

I rolled my eyes. The idiot still didn't get the memo. "Yea, the door's right there. Feel free to show yourself out. "

"Do you really want me to leave?" I heard him sigh. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"It's only a minute's walk to the door. You won't suffer from arthritis. " Heck, I could feel my voice betraying me.

"Fine, then. I'm going. " He mumbled. Dejection and despair gushed forth. I could feel my heart crumbling into a gazillion fragments. His footsteps resonated across the room.

"Ian?" I sensed him coming to a halt. The following words slipped out of my mouth coldly. "Make sure to close the door. Wouldn't want any intruders, now would we? "

"Christ!" He murmured. He was still there. He had not even budged one inch. We both stood, stubbornly. Silence, like a brisk, crisp zephyr, swept through us.

He ultimately dispelled the illusions of sailing silence. "I'm sorry, Soph. I really am. I wish you could understand me. Put yourself in my shoes for a moment. Please." I understood it. Trust me, I really did. But I just couldn't bring myself to forgive him.

I was afraid that if we went back to how we were and he suddenly left me, I wouldn't be able to cope with his absence. Perhaps I was overthinking things. Or perhaps I was so used to him that the very thought of me being attached to him terrified me. It absolutely terrified me.

Even after all this, the retrouvailles overwhelmed me.

I spun around enough to see his departing back. My feet were fast enough to take the command. The egoistic brat in me was eventually slipping through the cracks of bondage and recollection. My hands encircled his torso, restricting him from shifting even an inch.

I whisper-yelled, "You, son of a great mother, turned out to be a bastard."

"Thought you wanted me gone?" His amusement was suffused with remorse.

I drew back, snidely remarking, "Yes, Mr. Ian Russell. Dare to take a step forward, and I'll make sure Mr. Russell never gets to see his grandchildren."

He chuckled. It sounded so good to hear him. To see him. To be in his homely embrace. He mocked me, "Jeez, why are you always so violent?"

"I haven't killed you yet, have I?" That's when I remembered the cause of all this. "When did you come? And where's Ethel? I'll kill him, I swear! He sounded panicked. Jesus, does he have any clue how scared I was?"

"Slow down, Kung Fung Chi, he's out for some work," he laughed, gripping my shoulder.

"C'mon, we've got a lot to catch up on."

Oh, we did, for sure.

"Sophronia fucking Jasper!? Where the fuck are you!? " Ethel's not-so-happy, disgruntled voice interrupted my conversation with Ian. We both exchanged quizzical glances as Ethel stepped in.

A grimace lingered on his face and the weariness in his eyes spoke volumes. Still, he didn't get to shout at me. So, I retorted back, rolling my eyes, "Yeah, good going, keep shouting. After all, I don't have human ears. What are these human ears? "

He didn't say anything as Ian watched the exchange play out in front of his eyes with amusement and merriment. Wonderful, at least someone was enjoying.

"Will you speak now?" I frowned, seeing him stoic.

He rolled his eyes, brushing a few baby curls away from his face. "I'm waiting for your sarcasm to die. Seems like it did. Now hear me out. What is with you and your phone? "

"What did my phone do now?"

His face flushed with annoyance as he spoke, "It's switched off. And everyone's dead worried about you. But more than that, why didn't you tell me it was Aylwin's birthday? "

And, ladies and gentlemen, that's when the tube light in my mind flickered on. The alarms ringing in the background. "Shit-shoot-shatter! Oh, my God! What time is it? "

"It's almost 7 now, Soph." I frantically searched for my phone. It was on the last time I checked. I recall charging it first thing in the morning. I turned it on and saw that the battery was 67% charged. How in the heck did it switch off?

Jesus, had I been so engrossed with Ian that I had forgotten Senior Aylwin's birthday? What a stupid, dumbass I was!

"No, no, no! I fucked up. I fucked up big time! " I sprang to my feet, fastening my shoelaces and retrieving the car keys. I wanted to scream at Ethel that it was all his fault. Had he not called me so hastily, this wouldn't have happened. I'd actually informed everyone before leaving. Nonetheless, I didn't have time for a trifling brawl. Argh!

"What happened? Who's Aylwin? " Ian's questions flew right over my head. I didn't have time to play question-and-answer rounds. Rather than wasting another second, I stormed out and sped away.

I turned off the ignition, freeing myself from the seatbelt. I dashed out into the backyard. The coolness of the weather enveloped me instantly, shuddering my soul. My gaze was drawn instantly to the group walking back and forth with upset faces. The gloomy and dismal ambiance brought a pit of uneasiness to my bosom.

Once they saw me, their eyes livened up, and soon I was tackled in a hug by Ivy. "Sheesh gal, are you fucking out of your mind!? We were so worried. "

"Soph! Oh, my God! Mate, where the hell have you been? "

"Hazel Eyes, you should've at least informed us, y'know."

"I'm so sorry everyone," I said, flashing an apologetic glance their way. "I'll explain to you guys later. But for now, where's he? "

The instant the words left my lips, I was greeted by stillness and glum looks. Suddenly, I felt as if I'd completely ruined everything.

Senior Chase cleared his throat, "We dunno. He came two hours ago searching for you. He was hyper and we tried reaching you, but your phone was switched off. Bro tried Ethel's phone, but he seemed to be caught in the meeting. "

He sighed, hues of sadness painted across his face. And trust me, the look shattered my heart. Oh my goodness, how irresponsible I'd been!

"Ethel just called back an hour ago, informing that you're at his place. Apologizing that it was him who called you."

"But still, you can, at the very least, let Bro know where you were. You know how restless and sensitive he is when it comes to you." Each word remorselessly shredded my heart. I couldn't fathom what he was feeling. Heck, all the faces around me shone with disappointment. A clear verdict of disappointment. They were all so happy about the celebration. However, all my eyes soaked in were dripping sadness and gloomy faces.

Glancing around, I couldn't help but notice the dazzling fairy lights, the tastefully decorated table, and the wooden chairs. The words "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" hung large and bright on the wall. That was something deliberately done. Just to irk him.

All of this was for nothing. Their efforts came to naught. I wanted to see his reaction. Wanted to see if all this could elicit even a smidgeon of reaction from him. I was so freaking eager and excited about it. But I missed it. I fucking missed it! I felt miserable. Frustrated and angry. Pathetic and utterly stupid.

"Did you guys try to call him? Or text him? "

"We tried. He isn't responding. "

"Soph!" Ivy called out, beckoning to the table, which was decked out with a variety of delicacies and drinks. I walked up to her.

I walked up to her, "Hmm?"

"I guess you should know this. It might help you find him. So, y'know, he felt relieved after Ethel called. But then I spotted him talking to Senior Aria. It seemed like they were in some sort of argument. And the next thing we know, he's gone. Soon after, even Senior Aria was gone. " My mind kept going over her words. For the first few seconds, I had trouble believing it.

Anxiety began to creep into my chest. I fiddled with my fingers, pondering what they could possibly be talking about that would aggravate him so much. What in the fucking hell triggered him so badly!? That compelled him to leave?

What did you do this time, Senior Aria?

I swore that if she did anything to upset him, then this time it'd be me making sure she never behaved the way she did.

I knew they had a past. But that didn't mean she got permission to toy with our future. That was obviously unacceptable. It wasn't the one time I'd seen such not-so-tolerable, heinous behavior of hers. But I'd had enough of her. I was so done. With her and her silly games.... or whatever it was!

Senior or not! I couldn't care less. I just didn't give a damn. If she tried to trigger him in any damn way, I was so going to push every fucking tormenting button of hers. Period.

"Senior Chase went after him, but he wanted to be alone," Ivy's words jarred me out of my trance.

"Thanks, Iv." Thanking Ivy, I tried contacting Senior Aylwin. The phone rang for many minutes before being routed to voicemail.

"C'mon, c'mon, pick up the damn phone!" I was on the brink of pulling out my hair in frustration. I was extremely aggravated. I thought it'd be a perfect day. But no! Nothing perfect could ever happen in my life.

"Did you ask Almer?"

"Yeah, he did visit them in the morning. But he's not there either. "

"It's not like he's a very social person. Where the hell could he go!?"

"I've searched almost everywhere." The guys replied. Apparently, I wasn't the only one fed up with the awful situation. And for some reason, I felt I was to be blamed. Comparing the situation just a few hours ago, it resembled a complete illusionary dream. I had so many plans for him. For us. However, it all felt like it was fading and evaporating, wrapped within the cozy pink bubbles of visions and dreams.

Ugh! The day unfolded itself in the most peculiar yet splendid way I'd never fathom. However, the end felt rather catastrophic.

I had a lot on my mind. Clogged up. I couldn't think straight. Heart beating erratically. Eyes holding back a torrent that I knew would inevitably explode into a tsunami. Alas, I exhaled shakily. I cupped my cheeks, rubbing my eyes to steady myself.