"PEARL!! wake up, we've reached your home, now get out", i slowly woke up after hearing dew shouting, "Ooi why are you shouting, i can hear you well!!" i walked out of the car dragging myself towards the entrance door of my house as i was half asleep. "Pearl, what are you gonna do about tomorrow?" i was confused when Yok asked that "mhm? what about tomorrow?", Dew flicked on my forehead and continued talking "Did you forgot already, P'Thana asked you to be there at dressing room early in the morning", Aaah, I've totally forgot about that, i am already annoyed thinking about that, who the hell will wake up this early for nothing "it's nothing serious guys, he must be joking," "then do whatever you feel right, we are leaving Pearl", "mm.. mm good night then".I am sure mom will be mad at me. i am done if i make any voice ,huh why is it not opening, the door is locked! she didn't even waited for me to come home, but can i blame her its already 12:00 am, IDEA!!! i should call Peach, i am sure she must be awake...i dialed my little sister's number and waited until she picked up, finally she picked up "Peach, Peach, help P'Pearl open the door", "what will i get if i help you?" "Ooi my dear Peach!!, P'Pearl will give Peach all her love, ok? now open please", "Ohoo i don't think i can handle that much P'Pearl", "then you must have something in you mind, what do you want spill it," ."....Mm..i want.....P'Dew's number", she is doing this again, i am tired of explaining this to her that Dew will never settle for a serious relationship, its not that he is a bad guy, he just hate to be in a serious relationship and i don't want Peach to get hurt."Peach we already talked about this", "Do you wanna get inside or not?" "Oooi!! okay! okay! But, there is one condition?", " what condition?","You can only use this number when anything, urgent or emergency situation comes", i, know i am putting this condition Forward for nothing "yeah yeah whatever, i'm coming down" "thank you my lovely little sister", after waiting for minutes i could hear the door opening sound, "here" huh? ,why isn't she fully opening the door and .....why is she.... handing her phone to me , "Now what!!?" "first give me P'Dew's number then only I'll open the door completely ", "Ooi Peach i am your sister na, don't you believe me?", "Nope... I'm sorry, now FASTER", some time she is as annoying as Dew, "here, now would you let me enter before mom wake up,?" HUH lights turned on automatically "PEARL!!" HUH MOM??, should I turn..... or not, "hahaha.... Mom?, I thought you slept already, haha....that's why I called..... peach to open the door""Where have you been? I asked you to be home by 11 pm right? and what's with the sneaking around? And not to mention, you're also corrupting your little sister like you huh?, making her help you sneaking in". "eeeeh!!? she volunteered to help! I didn't corrupt her, I swear!" I can see she rolling her eyes, "well I suppose I should be grateful you're home safe, but next time just ring the bell like normal people, okay?" phew i almost got killed By mom, I'm pretty sure I saw my life flash before my eyes when mom caught me sneaking in, and I almost heard the apocalypse happening outside my window 'repent, repent you sneaky teenager"[Thana P.O.V]- AT HOSPITALMy face feels like it's been run over by a truck, the pain in my chin, ughh! its annoying. I kept my hand resting on the headboard, fingers tapping, not even bothering to move my head. Its boring to be alone. I think, an hour passed after they left. hope franc must be arriving soon too.... she is more fiercer than she looks, even though I told her she owed me, I don't even know why I said it. Owed me for what? A kick in the face? I asked for it right? Actually...its fun to see her face when she is angry. I heard The sound of door creaks open. I don't bother looking up because I know who it is. Franc. He's the last person I need to deal with right now. The guy thinks he knows everything, even though half the time he's more interested in saying jokes than doing anything useful. He probably expected to see me sulking or furious about the kick. But instead, I'm... smiling. Barely. It's a smirk, but still, it's a smile. I glanced at the ceiling, pretending to be indifferent, like I'm not affected, I mean Like never smiled."Well, well, well. Look who's suddenly happy to be alive". I can almost hear the grin in his voice. Of course, he would notice the smile, because it's not like me. He's been around for long enough to know that I don't give much of a damn about anything or anyone. And right now, it must seem like the world is turning upside down."waaah, you're actually smiling. Who's the lucky lady, is it the junior, what was her name? pearl right? who kicked you? Or Did one of the nurses slip you a secret note? Aah I know you are just thrilled about getting kicked in the face right?" I sighed and rolled my eyes as I don't have the energy to have a tug of war with him. What's the point? It's not like he actually wants an answer. He just wants to keep running his mouth, getting a comeback out of me. "I mean, I've known you for years, Thana. This is the first time I've ever seen you show any emotion . What's going on? actually Did you get hit in the head, or Did she knock some sense into you??". Just then, the door swings open again and this time it was Ploy who stepped in, casually flipping her hair back, holding a takeaway cup in one hand. She then stopped, and noticed Franc's smug face, and without hesitation flicked the back of his head...quite HARD with a annoying expression. "Franc, can you shut up?" a smile of satisfaction crept on my mouth as I saw franc whining."Ow! What the hell, Ploy?!" her expression was deadpan "I could hear you being annoying from the parking lot" i watched Franc rubbing back of his head, looking betrayed. He smirks slightly. It was fun to see franc defensive but only in front of Ploy."I was just providing moral support—". "Yeah, by bullying a hospitalized guy? Really supportive."Ploy said as she scuffed without letting him complete what franc was saying. Ploy's attention shifted to me and asked me"You good?" "I'm alright, a subtle kick from a fragile girl can't do anything to me". I said as I looked outside the window without any expression, "haha.yeah that's why you fell down unconsciously right after she kicked you, I looked at franc blankly as his words were more annoying than his face . So I continued aiming franc "but it Would've been better if the noise level dropped". suddenly Ploy turned to Franc and mocked franc in seriousness "You heard the patient right. Keep it down, or I'll start billing you for every stupid word you say." I could only bite back the chuckle as I saw Franc scoffs "Then I'd be broke in a day". "Smartest thing you've said all night". Ploy said as she nodded. Franc didn't stopped there, he opened his mouth to retort, but Ploy shoves her takeaway cup into his hands "Here. Hold this. Your hands need a job other than running your mouth." Franc glared but took the cup. This is worse. "This is somehow worse than being alone." when I turned to look at both of them saying this, I saw Franc looking at me with a smile and grinned mischievously, and I can guess from his face that he is going to spit some nonsense. "Oh? You miss Pearl already?" I knew it, but before I could say something, Ploy smacked Franc's arm before he can get another word in, and ploy looked at me "Want me to kick him out?" "Gladly" after hearing my answer,As dramatic as always, Franc gasped , clutching his chest. I shook my head as I thought, how come I acquainted with such a person. however I doesn't want to admit it, but something about their presence is... oddly comforting, like I have some people by my side who sincerely want to see me smile. I came out of my thoughts when I heard Ploy's voice,. "Speaking of Pearl, you sure you're not a little... interested?" My expression became stoic, and my fingers twitched slightly. I saw Ploy and Franc exchange knowing glances. But I replied without a change of expression. "No.' "Uh-huh. So that smile earlier—pure coincidence?" I rolled my eyes and replied to franc "none of your buisness"Ploy and Franc burst into laughter. I couldn't help but groans, pulling out from the blanket and trying to get out of the hospital bed as the teasing continues"Then shall we leave from here?, your.... mom is already worried" I suddenly stood still as Ploy mentioned.... mom? She's Worried? Must be a joke "how did she knew about this?", I walked out of the hospital room as I asked, suddenly Ploy pointed her finger towards franc who was looking at me with a awkward smile. "do you think this guy right here, can hold up something inside his throat", I rolled my eyes and sighed . I looked at franc with dead stare "I didn't said much!!! I swear I only said that you are in hospital, when your mom shooted question like 'where is Thana and why is he late?!!!', so I ....happened to spit it out in nervousness" I shook my head and walked forward .The very idea of her worrying about me is almost laughable. My mother... the same woman who ripped me away from the only home I had ever known, from the only person who had ever loved me. She called it a better future, but all I saw was a prison[FLASHBACK - YEARS AGO]A younger me, barely ten, clutching my father's shirt as he kneels in front of me. His eyes are red, his voice hoarse. "You don't have to go, son. I'll fight for you." I couldn't read his emotion, maybe my age was like that,Behind him, my mother stood by the doorway, her arms were crossed, her expression quite unreadable and Her new husband..... was waiting in the car outside "You're being selfish. Thana needs stability, not a life of struggling." I didn't know, why mom was shouting? what was mom trying to say? "He needs his father!! He needs me Sorn!!." She didn't respond, or even looked at him. Instead, she crouched in front of me, her grip firm on my shoulders hurting me."Thana, let's go." " I don't want to mom" I could only cry and beg, maybe she'll feel pity? Guilt?. But it's gone in a seconds."Your father can't give you a future. He can't give you what you need, Thana" what future is she talking about, a future where there is no dad in it? "but dad-" "Thana, enough. We're leaving" that was the last words from her in that house, there was nothing seen in her eyes, there was no reflection of me or dad in her eyes, it was only her..... Selfishness, blaming my future. She shook off my fingers off from dad's shirt. Dad's hand tightened into fists, his jaw clenched as he watches her take me away. He didn't fight , just watched me leaving with my mom.Complete contrast to my old home. Everything is clean, lifeless. I sit at an enormous dining table, my feet barely touching the ground. My stepfather sits at the head, slicing his steak with slowpace. My mother was sitting beside him, silent. "Thana You're under my roof from now on . So act like it, and one more thing.....don't even try embarrass yourself or me" said the man who mom introduced to me as my 'new dad?' .My hands were trembling in my lap. The fork and knife in front of me feels too heavy. I stared at my plate, but I can't taste the food. I can't even breathe properly. every meal was like this. Every interaction inside this mansion was a test that I was destined to fail. I learned quickly that don't speak unless spoken to, Don't ask questions and....Don't show your weakness.When I was fifteen, My stepfather handed me a thick textbook on business and finance, his expression was cold. "I had built many dreams regarding you, Your future depends on this, Thana. You have to be the businessman that anyone want to capture. Work hard so that you won't be like your father". Haa' Like my father'. As if he were some dirt that I needed to scrub off from my life, As if loving him was a crime. I tried. I tried to be what he wanted. , as What my mom wanted. Became a businessman at the age of 19, and at the age of 21 where my friends focus on their dreams and studies, I do business and studies at the same time as my mom and step-dad wanted. But no matter how much I buried myself in their expectations, I was never enough. Never wanted. Just a reminder of something they hated.[BACK TO PRESENT]I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms, forcing myself to breathe. The air feels thick, pressing down on me. For a second, my vision blurs. Am I about to cry? No. I shouldn't cry. I should not feel anything because I can't afford to feel, like I was numb inside, "Thana? you okay?". I blinked rapidly, leaving my thoughts behind as Ploy asked. Franc and Ploy both were looking back at me, concern flickering in their eyes. I forced myself to straighten up, to put on the mask. "Yeah. Let's go." They turn away. but I hesitated, Just for a second. The ghosts of my past still clinging to me, whispering in my ears. But I shook them off, pushing forward, even when I'm shattered into million pieces inside