A/N: Enjoy! And don't forget to vote!

Kai

Everything around me became blurry, sounds muffled. Only the somber sky above gave me half a comfort while I heard my heart pounding recklessly, feeling thunderous beats around my temple. Short breaths escape my lips as I push through, stumbling forward, eager to escape this nightmare.

"I need to go home," I whisper as my sweat runs cold. "I want to get out of here!"

Alicia's worried voice reached my dull senses, face pale, matching the clouds above in their full glory. "I-- yes, of course," her voice faltered.

I slumped on the front seat of the car as I heard keys dangling. Alicia hurriedly sat on the driver's seat, starting the engine with speed. "Are you ok?" She looks at me, still devoid of any color on her face. "Don't you want me to take you to the hospital?"

My chest constricts, heaving slowly. I could barely wave off her concern as we drove off. "I'm not safe here anymore," I spoke with a timid voice, barely enough to register to the human ear.

Alicia drove, tense yet still with care, constantly tapping the wheel, like a malfunctioning light flickering away. I hear it. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The tapping continues as my eyes trail outside the car window, down the trees fastly passing by, merging into one smudged green painting.

I want to live. I don't want to disappear. I still have things I want to do. Please. If my parents are right and there is a God, I beg you, please help me.

My eyes voluntarily closed, delving deep into the black pit of my consciousness.

The car abruptly stopped and Alicia managed to wake my catatonic state with a shake to the shoulder. "Kai, you're home. What do you want me to do now?" She asked, worry still etched on her face.

"I'll be fine." I managed to get the words out, softly exiting the car, and moving slowly towards my house.

I opened the door to my mother and uncle playing Mahjong, mouths wide open.

"Honey! Did your practice end already?" Mother stood, touching my neck and forehead, feeling a fever. "Are you sick, son?"

"I need to get out of here now. Please." I begged, desperation clogging my throat. "I don't care where or how. I want to get out."

"Don't you still need to attend your graduation?" Mother implied, worry and curiosity plaguing her face.

My eyes wobble to the sides, never fixing my sight on one thing. My hands fumble, caressing the end of my shirt. I pinch my nose to relieve my senses. My mouth opened, yet not a single word came out.

"Why don't we just support him?" Uncle interrupted, still holding a Mahjong tile. He lets the tile dance between his fingers, seemingly eager to do another trick, yet he doesn't. "If he's excited to go, then let's let him."

"Oh you," she elbows my uncle, him stumbling backward, groaning like a drama queen. My mother then holds my hand. "Don't you want to at least go to your graduation and receive--"

"Receive what?" I interjected. "I have no medals. No awards. No nothing. What's the point?" It brings me shame to see my father at my graduation, holding nothing but a piece of paper. No, that's not worth it. "Are my bags packed up yet?"

"Yup. Your mother and I sought to that."

"Thanks, uncle."

"Do you really want to go now?" Uncle asked once again, now waiting eagerly for my response.

"Yes," I muttered, still caressing my shirt.

My uncle patted me on the head as my mother's eyes became swollen with tears.

"Oh, my dear, baby boy." She cried, pushing Uncle away to hug me tightly. "You won't say goodbye to your father?" Mother added, tilting her head with curiosity.

I shook my head no. "I'll come back and be a man that he can be proud on."

Mother wipes the tears on her face, composing herself with demure. "I'm 'proud' of you."

"I know."

I gave her a final hug before breaking it with a smile. "You take care, ok?" Mother whispers, soft yet strong.

"And you!" She pointed at my uncle, eyes wide with determination. "You better keep him safe! Or I swear you have to keep one eye open when you sleep!"

"I will sister." My uncle hugs her, soft with care, filled with love and tenderness.

My mother breaks into a sigh before tightening the hug with passion. "Thank you, baby brother. For this. For being a second father to my son. I love you both. So you better take care of yourselves."

"I love you too, mother."

"I love you, sister."

We hugged as a family, never letting sadness take over. We gave each other comfort and warmth, becoming even more closer than before. Now, I'm even more determined to succeed. For my father. For my uncle. For my mother...

Sooner or later I already found myself in the airport, waiting for my immediate flight. My uncle emerges, snacks in hand as my mother and Alicia's eyes sparkle. We began to eat as we waited.

"We're gonna miss you." Alicia instigated, forcing her mouth to smile yet her eyes displayed a sliver of sadness. She leaned in, making sure my mother and uncle couldn't hear. "No matter, we'll still graduate together. I always keep you in my heart, you know."

"Oh, you flatterer!" I gently pushed her. "You better stop or I'll think you're flirting with me."

She erupted into a giggle and I soon found myself laughing with her. "I'm glad I met you."

"I am too."

She suddenly hugged me tightly and my mother's voice echoes. "Awww!"

"Mom, you're being too loud!" I whisper, close to erupting into a scream.

My mother raises her hands in surrender as she tightly shut off her lips, eyes still smiling.

Time seems to slow down as I look at them. My family. My friend. I'm leaving yet I'll always keep them close to my heart. My very being. Part of me is scared. Knowing this might be the end of my pathetic life if I stayed. I'll just fade away, like a thin air passing by that no one felt. I must do this. I glanced toward my mother and Alicia for the final time, eyes dripping with tears, they looked at me the same way, filled with longing and hope. I felt their love radiating, giving me warm support. I'll be someone. A somebody. And I refuse to die until I achieve my dream. For us. For them. For me.

Then, it starts. My journey to a new world. My mind raced with different ideas. Of different people. Different places. Different challenges. Now, I'm close to my dreams. Now, I'm ready, to take my own destiny. Now my adventure starts. It begins. In Paris.

I board the plane and as it ascends, I can see someone in my head. Someone I barely met yet already close to my heart. A new friend. Someone to hang out with. Too bad he doesn't want to meet me. I'll miss him though.

Take me on another adventure when we meet again, Jamie~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ∆ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Let's all say our proper goodbyes to Alicia. But who knows, she might return to the story as a school idol at the Academy, while introducing another subplot!