Midnight

Reaching back orphanage Cris went to get room key from Jin, he was the one who informed them about Richen and Miss Mary waiting by the main gate.

*knock - knock*

"AH! You guys are back? Took you guys long. Is he alright?" Jin asked. He was holding scissors and ribbon in his hands.

Cris didn't feel like telling everyone about Richen's condition, so he decides to reply omitting the details.

"He had an accident. Keys."

Richen and Chis had almost the same attitude; both don't like to speak much. The difference was, Richen's looked gentle, while Cris had a poker face. In reality? Richen was much colder than Cris.

Ignoring Cris cold tone, Jin said, " Hang on a min, I was busy packing gift for my sister."

Jin let the door open and invited Cris inside, he sorted out gift wrapping paper and other things on his desk and opened the drawer, he fished out the key and gave it to Cris.

"Thank you," Cris replied. His gratitude was more likely as an obligation than genuine gratitude.

"You are not celebrating? it's past midnight." Jin asked as he saw Cris leaving

Cris turned to look at him.

Jin felt a sudden shiver. He actually regretted asking it as soon as he finished his sentence.

"Sorry," Jin said and hurriedly closed the door. 'Shit! Why does he have that poker face.'

He took a deep breath and started working on packing gift again."You took your sweet time, in getting the damn key. Didn't you?" Yuan spat his words.

Cris didn't even bother to look at Yuan and opened the room door. Yuan is never the on to submit, bringing him from the hospital was already a considerable achievement. Cris knew Yuan wouldn't let this matter go anytime soon.

"What now? Won't even bother opening your mouth. Weren't you giving a speech in the hospital?"

"Pack a change of clothes for your Brother and Richen. I will pack for Alex and Ray. We may have to stay hospital whole day tomorrow by Richen's side, So eat plenty." Cris spoke and left the room for getting his dinner.

"Who does he think he is, telling me what to do, what not to do." Yuan grumbled continuously but still packed his brother's stuff. After that, he went to Richen's bed.

From the day Richen came in their room, and Cris told him never to interchange bed with other people, Richen always stayed on the lower bunk as Ray had promised him, he moved to the top bunk bed.

Yuan looked at Richen's bed and then the small cardboard box under the desk beside the bed. 'You never tell us what does this box contain. I have never seen anything that is inside the box except for the scarf you occasionally pull out. Should I get the box for you, I can tell it means a lot to you.'

Yuan was contemplating whether he should take the box or not, but never did his mind crossed over the thought of looking inside the box.

What made the bond between these six teenagers so unique and different? Aren't teenagers the curious type, who cannot control their curiosities? Then why these six chose to disregard the curiosity, instead of snooping in their roommate's life which had made them so curious?

This friendship between roommates intrigued others a lot. Unlike other kids those chose different roommates as they grew; these six stayed in the same room with the same roommates for more than a decade now. And, it isn't like they never fought among themselves, a few time it reached to extend of punches and kicks. But still, the same person would stand beside the other in case needed. They all different personalities; their interests were distinct few even contrasting; their way of living was different. So, how were they still stuck together?

Others asked them, tried to be part of the group, wardens wanted to know how six of them managed to best students while behaving like a gang.

None of the six ever spoke about it. Every time asked, they just said.

"Just happened."

"Go have dinner. Stop staring at the wall like a ghost." Cris spoke while moving to his bed. He grabbed a bag pack and started keeping a set of change for both Alex and Yuan.

"You are the one ghosting me, sneaking up like that." Yuan yelled and left to have dinner.

One other side of the city, in a dimly lit luxurious living room, a girl was standing in her white bathrobe by the floor to ceiling window, she was staring outside the window, staring at the bustling city.

It was midnight now.

She had kept the call of the person wishing her Merry Christmas a min ago and received an update on Richen's operation. He had three consecutive surgeries which went for 6hr 34 mins; it took less than expected because treatment was started when she paid the bill but was stopped later by Zilin Yanze's father, Zilin Yuchen.

She asked the men she bought form USA with her, to get all details of the accident happened as well as his condition in the present.

She found out that the accident happened around 2:45 pm by street 63.

It was astonishing how the guy managed to stay conscious for about 20 mins till she found him and then their journey till hospital of 40 mins. It was 3:35 when she reached the hospital and must have been 3:45 at least when his treatment started. And then after 4:50 when the agreement was signed.

She wanted to know what made Richen stick to his life so badly that he endured so much pain, but didn't let go of his breath even when unconscious.

Evelyn unconsciously was worried about him and wanted him to get better. Unknown to her Richen somehow managed to pique her interest.

Evelyn picked the glass of wine by the coffee table and texted back to the informer, "Keep on giving updates, let me know when other surgeries are finished, and he is shifted to his room."

'Old man, you cannot make me dance like you did my dad just by saying it's your some plan.' An evil grin formed on the beautiful face, while her eyes sparkled.