If this life doesn't suit me,

Then I'll just search for the right place,

As long as that is where you'll be,

I'll be more than ready to face.

<<<<<<<~*~*~*~*>>>>>>>

The noise of loud music and rapid footsteps echoed throughout the big villa. Every housemaid was busy decorating, whereas the chefs were busy cooking. Everyone has their role in fulfilling, even the birthday boy. After he received his freedom back from the stylists-who just left after dressing him up-, Xian sighed. A very long one.

"Yo! With a big sigh like that, all luck that is to come to your birthday will be blown away, you know."

Xian turned around to see Hao Xuan, his closest friend, leaned on the doorframe and wiggled his eyebrows at him.

"When did you arrive?"

"For a while. But not that long of a while. You were just too deep in thought to notice."

Xian sibilated with a slight nod, "You and your civilized words. Never run out of words to talk, do you?"

"Sadly, to disappoint you, but I was born with a head full of dictionaries."

"Whatever. Come in."

Hao Xuan flopped down on the chair beside Xian and looked up. "So, what was the sigh about?"

"Same old things." Xian shrugged.

"The documentary again?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. Being an only child of the top stars are hard. Even have to act on your own son's birthday. I'm starting to doubt your parents' love."

Scoffing, Xian turned to look at his friend. "I know they love me. They do. But..."

"But?"

"They just love their fame more."

"Xian, dear," echoed a soprano-liked voice from the door. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, mother. I am."

"Oh, Xuan, you're here too?"

Hoa Xuan stood up to greet Xian's mother, "Yes, ma'am."

After exchanging a quick welcome, Hao Xuan sat back down after Xian's mother's attention shifted from him.

"Xian, dear. This is for you." The sound of stiletto walking on the marble floor became louder to Xian's ears. He didn't have to turn to know. Sixteen years of repetitive actions were more than enough to remember. He only turned slightly when his mother already came to stand by his side. "Here's the script for today. I know you were practiced last night, but the director said there had been a few changes. So, make sure you check those out. I already get the staff to highlight for you. Oh..."

His mother's voice became like the wind to his ears. Only be heard but not be listened to. As his mother was turning pages after pages explaining, Xian looked to Hao Xuan to see his friend was raising his hands and shook his head as if to say I-am-admitting-defeat before getting up to leave the room.

"You understand, right, dear?" To Xian's relief, finally, his mother finished her explanation.

"Yes, mother. I'm clear now." He forced a weak smile on his face.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, mother. I'm sure."

"If you have any questions, you can come to me. Or maybe I can assign one of the staff here to-"

"No need, mother." Xian cut his mother off. "I believe if you can just give me some time alone to go through it, I'll be able to figure them all out."

"Okay. Then, I'll stop bothering you now. Make sure you get all the lines and everything correct. There'll be a lot of guests today. Once you make mistakes, it won't be easy to just negotiate for a cut scene from the director."

"I understand very well, mother," Xian replied while maintaining both his smiling countenance and voice despite his suffocation. All his emotions were transferred to his free hand's tips as he clenched his fingers tightly, letting his nails dig into his flesh.

Only when the door was closed after his mother's departure did he released the script and pressure from his hands. Getting up, he walked to his nightstand. Taking a small box from the drawer, he sat down on the bed and opened the lid to reveal fifteen pearls inside, each of which was his annual birthday gift from his Zhanzhan.

"If and only if you could be here with me now..." he murmured as he patted each pearl affectionately.

As same as each year, Xian had to act perfect and flawless for every guest attending and the documentary crew. Despite the weariness, he still put on a compost act to please both his parents. The poor soul had never enjoyed his birthday party. Not once.

When most of the scripts were finally acted at around ten o'clock, and some of the guests also left, Xian couldn't hide his suffocation any longer. He discreetly left the party and headed alone to the place he loved the most in this world.

The secret meeting place.

Though he'd told Zhanzhan yesterday that it might take him until almost midnight to come today, he still hid some hope that his friend would be there early just like him. And his wish was fulfilled.

Taking off his shoes and placed it beside him, Xian sat down with his legs dangling from the rock. "You know, Zhanzhan. Sometimes, I wish I could be like those seashells with their shells firmly shut underwater so I could shield all the fakeness in this world."

"You sure?" Bo-di asked. He could no longer stand seeing his friend's suffocation.

"Yes.

After receiving the confirmation, Bo-di made a decision, ignoring all consequences. "Then, come with me."

"Where?"

"Do you trust me?"

Even he knew he can't swim, Xian gave his complete trust to his invisible friend. "Yes."

"Then close your eyes."

Xian did as he was told.

"Take a deep breath and extend your hand."

Once Xian obeyed every step, Bo-di took the extended hand and pulled Xian forward.

The sound of the splashing water, though wasn't loud compared to the waves, could still be heard if one paid close attention. As for the place where once sat, Xian was now empty, leaving only a pair of polished, black shoes behind.