A/N: Hey there! To all Chinese out there, here's wishing you a happy Chinese New Year:) Yeah, we've got the day off here. And tomorrow too. Haha. No school. Yay! LOL. Okay.

InfinityEstel: LOL. Thanks for reviewing once again. Hmm... the rude awakening? I don't think it will come SO soon. Perhaps in another 2-3 chapters:)
aj: hello there! Hmm... yes I think I do agree with you that the chapter's quite fast. Will look over it again, perhaps? Oh! Rebecca? Hmm... well I thinkit's either you misunderstood my little hint, or that I rephrased it wrongly. Let's just say that Rebecca isn't really related to anyone in here. Yep. I wonder where you get the thought from:D

Okaypeople! I know this came late but still I hope you guys like it:)

Disclaimer: As usual.


Chapter 10

Rylan hung up the phone with a heavy heart. It was all he could do to control his emotions and not slam the receiver down. He was angry; he was upset. He could not believe what he had just heard.

"Again?" Mabel asked somewhat sympathetically as she wiped her oily hands on the kitchen towel. She sort of had expected it.

Rylan nodded miserably. He should have known. It was just typical of Ian not to have his meals at home. Hoping that he would was as though hoping to see a blue moon, which, of course, is impossible.

"Oh Rylan," Mabel tried to re-piece the young boy's broken heart. "You know your father is busy. And you also know that this is not his first time, right?" A half-smile played on her lips. "Anyway, don't be upset, 'cause if you are, then that will give me a good reason to be even more upset than you are."

"Why?" The confusion was shown in Rylan's eyes.

"Well, you see, I spent so much time preparing the food, and your dad just didn't turn up. A waste of my time and food, isn't it?" She joked.

Rylan half-grinned. "Not to worry. I'll help to polish off the food."


He looked so peaceful and calm as he lay on the couch, sleeping. She smiled and shook her head. She was careful not to make any sound to wake him up.

She strode towards the sleeping boy as quietly as she could. Sliding her hands under his body, she tried to carry him, but he would not budge. Oh man! How could he have grown so much heavier in just half a year! She complained inside her.

Just then, his eyelids fluttered and he woke up. "M-Mabel?" He asked, blinking his eyes rapidly. "I – What am I doing here?"

"You fell asleep on the couch while watching TV, don't you remember?" She pointed at the television, which was still switched on. The screen showed a couple kissing and making out in bed. "You watched that?" She asked, raising her eyebrows in question.

"Eww… Yuck! No way! I was watching Spongebob Squarepants! Really!" Rylan insisted.

"Okay okay," Mabel laughed as she switched off the television. "I believe you. Now, come, go to bed." She bit her lip, wondering about the boy's reactions.

Surprisingly, Rylan nodded his head without picking up a fuss. He stood up and walked towards the spiral stairs. Then he stopped on the first step. "Wait, I want to…" he said. Mabel groaned. She dreaded what was coming next. But Rylan did not continue his unfinished sentence. Instead he began to run up the stairs.

"Rylan? What are you doing?" Mabel narrowed her eyes as she climbed up the stairs too.

She received no answer, only the shuffling and crumpling of papers. Then there was a 'plop' and Rylan suddenly appeared in his father's study's doorway. He was smiling, which was quite odd for someone who was really upset about his father just hours ago.

"Okay, I'm done. Now I can go to sleep." He announced, still with that big smile plastered on his face. That smile just was not quite right. It was too… too happy; it seemed so fake.

As Rylan trudged off to his bedroom, Mabel stopped at the door of Ian's study. She peered in, trying to find out what changes did Rylan make, but found none. Then her eyes fell onto the waste paper basket near the doorway. Her heart sank as she recognized what was in it.

It was the crumpled version of Rylan's portrait and the note he left for his father.


The clock chimed twice. It was 2 am in the morning.

He slid the key into its place and turned it slowly. With a soft 'click', he opened the door and tiptoed in. Then he locked it behind him.

He walked quietly up the stairs to his study. He was really tired after all that driving and excitement. But it was all worthwhile, he thought as he glanced at the shiny silver ring on his finger. It was worth the wait.

He untied his tie, and threw it onto the study table from the room door. It was no surprise when he simply walked past the waste paper basket.

He had missed it. Again.

TBC...