Happy Birthday

"Uh..waking you up? Can we have this conversation while you're not sitting on me?" I groaned.

"Waking me up? For what?" Neo asked. "..Breakfast is ready" I smiled. "Breakfast? That's new. When did you bother to call me down for any meal?" He asked. Somehow, this kid is more spiteful than I remember.

"Ehe..well, Breakfast is an important meal. Yes, we should go eat. And please get off me while you're at it." I responded. Neo got off me, "No thanks, it's noisy down there." I got up and sat next to him on the edge of his bed.

I expected as much. Even I don't want to go down there.... Hold on. If we both don't want to go downstairs, maybe we could just enjoy breakfast in his room? It would be a perfect opportunity for some father-son bonding time!

(A/n)- Using this perfect opportunity as well to add in this stunning photo of our adorable Neo smiling 😌 Your welcome)

Let's enjoy breakfast together! I turned over to him, "Hey Neo, so-" "if you're about to suggest we should have breakfast together in my room, then I refuse." He cut me off. I stood there, stunned. "Why not?" I sorta whined. "I'm not hungry, I don't want to eat." He replied. "Neo, 'not hungry' is not a legitimate excuse to skip breakfast." I said.

"Oh? I've always skipped breakfast. Why do you choose today to suddenly give a damn?" He implied.

"Uhh.."

>>>>>

"He really doesn't like me.." I had gotten kicked out of his room because I couldn't think up an excuse. It can't be helped because the old me never even tried to approach him.. but still, I don't want us to be stuck in this hateful relationship.

"Master Collins." Li said from behind me. "Li? What is it?" I asked. "Madame Parish is looking fo you." She stated. "Tell her I'm going to have breakfast in my room." I told her. "Then I will deliver your breakfast to your room, sir." Li answered. "Thanks, Li." I smiled.

Hngh.. "Sir, you look troubled." Li said. "...do I?" I raised my brow. "Well, you have been staring at Young Master's room for a while." She responded. "And it's.. unusual for you to seek young master Neo out." She added.

Unusual..I was that bad, huh?

Li saw how I reacted to her statement, "My apologies, sir." She said. "Oh, don't be. You were just speaking the truth." I assured. "I guess I'm getting old, it's hard to communicate with kids these days." I chuckled. "By kids, do you mean young master Neo?" Li asked.

"Yes. He seems to be in a bad mood.."

Or he just really can't stand me... why do I feel like I just discovered the truth?.. "Hmp.. this is just a wild guess, but could he be pouting?" Li pointed out. "Pouting?" I questioned. "Kids get pouty when parents forget their birthdays." Li said.

"Birthday? Whose?" I asked. Li gave me a judgemental stare. "I-it's been awhile.." I sighed. Birthdays are such a foreign concept in the apocalypse, who would remember those?..

"It's alright, sir. It's not the first time you've forgot." Li patted my shoulder. "...are you trying to comfort me?" I don't know if she's genuinely trying to assure me or just indirectly insulting me at this point.

>>>>>

I walked down the hallway, I'll search for gift ideas.. In my peripheral vision, I noticed a figure walking nearer. I assumed it was just a servant at first, so I took no notice..The figure walked past. It took a moment before I realized, this figure looked quite small and she wasn't wearing a uniform. I turned my head back, to see who this was.

I remember a glimpse of (h/c) strands..nothing else. The person already turned the corner. "Hmp..who could that be?" I wondered.

~~~~~~~~~~

(Y/n)'s POV(finally!)

I walked down the hall and towards the door at the end of the corridor. Looking in my bag, I wondered would he like it? I knocked on the door. No response. I knocked again, still no response. A little ticked, I banged the door, "I know you're awake, idiot!" I said, loud enough to be heard at the other side of the door.

The door flew open and his hand caught mine from knocking nothing. I came in, "Seriously..are you deaf or something?" I huffed. "Not deaf, just don't want to open the door." He replied, "What do you want?"

"Happy Birthday, you idiot emo!" I said, throwing my gift at his face. He caught it. It was a black sweater. "The two years that i've known you, I still have no idea what to get you as a birthday present. Sometimes, it feels like I don't know you at all.." I sighed, "So as usual, I just got you some type of clothing. Do you like the design?" I asked.

He stared at the sweater, "tacky..but it's okay, I guess." He said. "Tacky..Yeah right, you'll be wearing it next month, I'm sure." I laughed. "So you're 13 now.. wow! Congrats! You're a year closer to death! How does it feel?" I said, playfully. Neo sighed.

"Aw, come on! My jokes are funny!" I pouted. "Keep telling yourself that." Neo said. "What's with you always being so serious?" I asked. "What's with you always being so playful?" He responded. "Hey, not always. You know I act differently around the others at school." I said.

"Oh, also.." Neo began.

"Hm?"

"Don't go to school tomorrow."

"Eh? What?"

"Just trust me on this."

"But you know how my parents would react, right?"

"Give them an excuse."

"You're reasoning better be worth lying to my parents! You got that?"

"Stay in your room. Close your window, and don't leave the house tomorrow morning. I'll come there. Got it?"

"Umm..ok?"

~~~~~

I made my way down the hall and back out to the front of the Collins Mansion. I had only intended on paying a short visit to Neo to greet him on his birthday. I know he likes his alone time and my mom told me we had some important interview at a show to attend that afternoon.

"Madam." A man bowed to me as he opened the gates. I stepped out and waited a few minutes. Soon, a black BMW came driving up in front of me. The driver stepped out and opened the car door for me, "Young lady, (y/n)" he bowed. I stepped in, "Thank you, Mr.Kim." he closed the door and proceeded to return to the driver seat.

I watched as the trees began to speed past. If you are wondering, I act differently at school. I have a serious, mature persona, but I still take time to try conversing with other students. I'm a straight A and really popular in my school, but it's all an act.

Neo is the first and only person who found that out, well.. the only person in the school at least. Neo witnessed me defending myself against a guy who tried hitting on me. The dude made me come to the back of the school at the end of the day, near the cliche Sakura tree. I thought it was just another confession, so I showed up so I could politely reject him.

He did confess, but he got pissed after I rejected him, "Why are you playing so hard to get? You think that because you're from a wealthy, smart, successful family, that you're higher than everyone else? Huh? That since you have a perfect life, you're better?" I recall the guy saying after shoving me to the tree.

He began to force himself onto me. I kicked him in the _ _ _ _. He hurled over. "Perfect..Huh? You don't know anything... Happy, smart, weak school girl..that's what you see me as, right? Plan B is to force yourself onto me?..pathetic, you are truly pathetic." I scowled. "I advise you move schools, no one will believe you if you tell them the true me." I said as I walked past.

As I continued walking, I remember seeing movement behind a school wall. I ran to it, but saw nothing. I thought it was just my anxiety, turned out it was Neo, but I'll save what happened for later. Right now, I have to focus on how I'll respond to the questions that the interviewer might ask.