Gu Liang

At Gu Resident.

Gu Liang stormed into his room without greeting his mother. He could not believe he was treated like a kid yet at the same time he could not bare to be upset with An Jia.

An Jia and An Suyan glances at one another, "Did that boy ditch school again?" An Jia could only nod her head in acknowledgement. "We're too soft-hearted as parents." An Suyan sighs helplessly.

"Even if you and uncle are soft-hearted towards him, he should know the differences."

"Rongguang and I think that leaving him to have his freedom perhaps one day he will learn to grow by himself without depending on us. I just never thought—"

Before An Suyan could finish her sentence, An Jia buts in, "If he does know what his responsibilities are he will never grow up."

An Suyan agrees with An Jia silently. An Suyan and Gu Rongguang have spoiled the boy since birth.

An Suyan was lucky enough to conceive Gu Liang. Gu Liang was a miracle to both An Suyan and her husband. Before Gu Liang was even born, the doctor's have told An Suyan and Gu Rongguang that due to An Suyan's health it will be hard for her to conceive. She may or may not bare and children in her lifetime. Tries after tries, trials after trials, and consultants after consultants; at the age of 40, Gu Liang finally exist. It was both nerve-wrecking and happiness when An Suyan and Gu Rongguang were brought the news of An Suyan's pregnancy. They were going to be parents at such old age, yet they were filled with joy. Even if Gu Liang was their first child and will be their last, they were both happy.

The parents never wanted to spoil him, yet he was their first child after all. They were new to parenthood, they were never prepared for a child after so many fails therefore when Gu Liang came into their world, they shower him with love and let him do whatever he wanted; whatever he wanted to be they did not argue.

Gu Rongguang may look like a strict father but if anyone was to take a closer look, he had never once raised his voice at the boy. Even if Gu Liang was in the wrong, he was always right. It wasn't that An Suyan and Gu Rongguang don't' want to discipline their child, they wanted him to have his freedom at the same time learn as he grew. Instead of being strict parents where they set a life goal for their children, An Suyan and Gu Rongguang let Gu Liang have his own choices. They just hoped that his choices will not bring him down in life. But even if Gu Liang was to be in the lowest pit, An Suyan and Gu Ronnguang would always be there for him. They will always be within his reached and Gu Liang himself is aware of this.

It was not that Gu Liang does not listen to his parents. Growing up he learned that his parents were different from other parents. His friends' parents will always tell them this and that, how things should be done or the path in life they should take yet his parents leaves the pathway of opportunities open for him. He could do anything with his life and his parents would understand. Even if he was to rebel against his parents and not come home for days, when he comes back his parents will be there with open arms welcoming him back home. They were loving parents who would never lay a hand or raise their voice at him. Gu Liang was thankful of this.

Instead of being a puppet in the hands of their parents, to Gu Liang it seems to be the other way around. He hates his parents for being soft hearted towards him but at the same time he is grateful for them. Gu Liang knew that no matter what he does as long as it is the right decision his parents will support him a hundred percent.

After coping himself up in his room and knowing that by now everyone may have fallen asleep; Gu Liang made his way to the kitchen. He opens the refrigerator to find a stack of containers which was filled with food. A little yellow sticky notes sticks to one of the containers which reads: Ma left some food here for you. Don't sleep with an empty stomach.

Feeling a little a little sentimental, he gently tucks the note inside his pajama pant and pulls the containers one by one out and lay them on the dining table. Just when he was about to take a spoonful he sees An Jia quietly standing at the entrance of the kitchen just gazing at him.

Before heading to the water filter to grab some more water she says to him, "Finally coming out of your shell?"

Gu Liang feeling a bit regretful of the way he acts to her earlier, he lowers his head without saying anything. An Jia fills her cup and pull out a seat in front of him. She took a sip of water before sitting the cup down. "You know what you did wrong?" She softly asks. He just nods his head obediently.

"I don't want to be the one saying this to you but unfortunately your parents are too soft towards you. They may not say it to you because they love you and you are their child, but I will."

"Your parents have worked endlessly to provide you the food you're eating, a shelter to call home, clothes to keep you warm and even sent you to a school where most kids your age dream of going yet you choices to skip class just because you are bored?"

"I know." Gu Liang finally said something. Although his voice was thin and faint, An Jia was able to hear him.

An Jia stares at his facial expression to find that it was filled with regrets and disappointments. "If you know then grow up." She said before standing up from her seat. "Aunt Suyan and uncle Rongguang are not getting any younger. Don't be like me, by that time it will be too late."

Gu Liang watches her back slowly disappearing into the darkness. Something inside him was making his heart trembling. Even for a man, he was holding back the tears that were forming in his eyes. Slowly, he picks up his spoon and cleaned out all the dishes left for him by his mother. He was grateful. He was indeed grateful to be born as his parents' child.