"Did you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"The trending news."
"Go straight to the point fool."
"Let me go on my pace or just stream from your phone."
"Its about the Byron Family."
"What is is wrong with the Byron family?"
"This will be the trending news new this week."
"Fuck you! Just say the News!"
"Its about the young master of the Byron Family. He committed suicide."
"Impossible."
"You mean that he committed suicide again?"
"Like is that guy for real? He is supposed to be in the Guinness Book Of Records."
"Isn't this like his 100th time committing suicide?"
"Yeah. I hear that he is going to enter the Guinness Book Of Records after this attempt."
"What is he? Like is he made of doll material?"
"I guess that even if the news trend they are now common news. We just have to wait for few months for him to commit suicide once again."
"Such a lucky bastard."
***
"What! My Athan committed suicide again?"
"Aww... That is very cute of him. I wish I was there to witness his beautiful and majestic fall and his miraculous survival."
"I just can't stop re watching the video."
"Look at his smile..."
"Very cute."
"My one and only beloved young master from the Byron family."
"Who told you that he is yours alone?"
"We all must share him."
***
From the various trending chats, one could tell which was from the boys and which was from the girls. Then there was the chat among the adults. One could now understand why the Byron family did not bother with him.
"That kid."
"Well, at least he has found something he can do in this life."
"Yeah, committing suicide suits him better."
"Hopefully his luck will not get depleted one day."
****
There were many trending topics about Athan. He even had more than 100 fan groups. People thought that he was doing all that for show off but he really wanted to exit this world.
It was true. Today marked his 100th failed suicide. Even death refused him. Was it that the only thing that accepted his was the air he breathed? He was laying on his back staring at the sky.
The sun shone above him. His hands were opened and a smile appeared on his lips. Not even a single broken bone. Just a slight pain engulfed him. He closed his eyes and took in deep breaths. Not bothering about the cameras pointed at him.
Just that act of smiling was going to earn him a billion views. Cameras shuttered and one could hear a female voice coming from the crowd. It was demanding for way to be made. Athan could already feel a bad premonition when he heard the voice.
He knew just exactly who it was. Her voice quietened and Athan could already tell that she was standing before him. He opened his eyes slowly with a sheepish smile. Standing in front of him was his cousin.
Wearing a white sweater and a blue skirt barely covering her thighs as it accentuated outwards. Her blue hair was tied behind her head in a pony tail. She had her arms held on her waist in six position. Her blue eyes appeared like a violent storm brewing.
She was one year younger than him and the only one who did not mistreat him. She had a disappointed look in her face as she stared at him. She was like a parent disappointed by her child. Athan sat up.
She bent and Athan knew what to anticipate. She reached his cheeks with her right hand and rather than touching his cheek, she grabbed his ear. She pulled it as she stood up. Not in the least bothered by the cameras.
Athan in a different situation could have been reluctant but with his ear being pulled that he felt that it was burning made him stand up with amazing speed. He cringed his head closer to her hand as she pulled him between the crowd who made way for them.
Her short strides were astonishingly too fast. Athan was running to keep up with her lest he lost his ear or got rabbit ears. At a distance, one could see a black Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail. There were two guards wearing black suits and glasses standing at the open door.
The girl pushed Athan forward into the car as she let go of his ear. Athan stumbled on to the back seat as she came in after him. She banged the door closed. She glared at the driver who was looking through the rear view mirror.
The driver looked back on the steering and started the car. He did not dare avert his gaze from the road again after the glare. She was usually the gentle kind but this Athan always seemed to get on her nerves the most.
Athan was rubbing his ear when he felt her pull his other ear.
"Do you not care about your life? What if you died?" She asked her voiced angry yet concerned.
"What if I died? Why can't I just die? My life? I don' care about it just like nobody does... Ah... St..oo... Aaah..." Athan was mid sentence when she pulled his ear with even more force than she had before. He was sure that it was going to come out.
"Say that again. Say it!" She almost shouted
"Only you care about my life. I will not do it again," Athan said as she let him go.
The driver just shook his head slowly. This was now the 100th time he was hearing those words. The first time was when they were seven and six when Athan committed suicide for the first time and shook the entire world.
After that, it became an awaited event. Now it was already known that he was entering the Guinness Book Of Records. There really were many ways to become famous despite coming from a famous family.
Even those who did not know about his family, at least they knew about him. His cousin had become famous after showing up at every scene he appeared. Currently she was the second most famous person from the family.
The first time he committed suicide, she had cried but now it had evolved and she was the one who always acted like the parent and disciplined him. The driver got out from his thoughts as he focused on the road. If he caused and accident, even going to slavery could not save him.
***
As they approached the Byron Mansion, Athan started feeling his heart race. He could already tell that something was going to happen to him today. When the gates were opened, the found the patriarch waiting for them at the entrance.
The last time he had shown himself was when he had committed suicide the first time. This was the second time. Something was wrong. Athan got from the car last as he followed behind his cousin. Her name was Luna.
Athan stood before the old man and did not even bow. He just stared at the old man like a statue. Luna grit her teeth when she saw his actions but the next second, it was Athan who was gritting his teeth.
His eyes wide open as blood vessels coloured his eyes. It was like he was enduring the harshest pain. His eyes almost bulged out. He raised his head and looked Luna but she did not meet his eyes.
He did not want to look at his foot. His right leg was suffering. She was stepping on his foot with her pointed high heels. She was even applying more pressure and she was now trying her best to not laugh before her grandfather.
Athan, as the man he was, he could not ask for help. He would rather die in pain rather than ask for help. It was not like he could even talk to the old man standing in front of him. This was a man he hated more than the fact he could not commit suicide successfully.
"What do you want old man?" Athan asked ignoring the pain but the words just increased the pain he was feeling as Luna was dedicated to make a hole in his foot.
"Stop it both of you. Luna, that is enough. I appreciate that you have always watched over him but this is the last time that he is ever going to cause you any trouble," the patriarch said.
"What do you mean Grandpa?" She asked. Athan could already tell that something was wrong.
"Our family is going on a retreat. We are going to get away from the affairs of the world for the next one year. We have already sold our company to the government. Don't ask any more questions. Get in," the patriarch said.
Luna always had faith and trust in her grandpa. She lifted her leg and took Athan's hand then started walking towards the steps but Athan just stood there not moving. How could she not understand her grandfather's words? Athan just smiled as he removed her fingers one by one from his wrist...