Kris peered over the modest height hedge opposite the white mansion. His knees were starting to buckle from the strain of his position, crouching behind a kid’s height bush. He didn’t even know why he subjected himself to this torture or idiocy. Even his friends were starting to think he’s a bit of a mommy’s boy now, always pinning for Aunty Hong’s approval. But neither of them was raised by the woman, nor was any of them lacked of a mother’s affection since young.

He swore loudly when his legs finally gave out and he fell over the shrubs, the branches poked him hard through the shirt he was wearing. If anyone was looking, he looked stupid.

And someone was definitely looking.

The soft chuckle made him cursed another round and looked up. In Kris’s mind, he had imagined himself all manly and had walked up to the front door, asking to talk to the girl without Aunty Hong’s hawk’s eyes scrutinizing him. But no, things never played out well in reality. Right now, he’s sprawled on his abdomen, on the perfectly trimmed and mowed lawn of the girl he was hoping to see, and to top the cake, she’s standing five feet away from him, still laughing at him.

“Is this your way of punishing me for disobeying my dad?” Kris grumbled while his eyes quickly rolled over to the sky. He scrambled to his feet, swiping all the dirt and grass from his clothes.

“Are you looking for Aunty Hong? She has just left to get some groceries,” Xiao Shan said, still holding in her laugh. Shaking her head to try to dismiss the image from her mind, she continued, “You’re free to come in to wait for her.”

He started after the girl. It is ironic how she’s always caught him in some sort of weird act. And what was she doing out anyway?

“Actually, I came looking for you,” Kris said hurriedly.

Xiao Shan looked up at the towering figure. Tilting her head to one side, she inquired curiously, “Why are you looking for me?”

“You convinced Aunty Hong to stop hounding me.” It wasn’t a question.

“I might have…”

“Why?” His face expression was grave but he wasn’t angry or upset.

But Xiao Shan didn’t take long to answer him. Shrugging, she looked down to play with the loose pebbles on the ground with her foot. “Everyone deserves a chance to do whatever they want with their life. Even when the choice is not the best one out there, or when it seems like the stupidest thing to do.”

“You’re saying I’m rash and stupid?” He was definitely not dumb.

“I wouldn’t know, would I? I hardly know you.”

“So why did you help me? And you were saying some stuff about family back then at my dad’s clinic.”

Xiao Shan redirected her gaze back at the guy. A soft smile crept onto her face as she replied, “Because he would have done the same thing.” And she looked away again, still in her deep thoughts.

He frowned. “Who’s ‘he’?”

“Nobody,” she said.

“So listen… I really appreciate you talking to Aunty Hong for me, whatever your reason is. It really helps now that they’re all off my back.”

“But is it really wise to turn your back to them?” she asked.

Kris sighed in exasperation. This woman is like the summer drizzle. One moment, she’s pouring and the next she’s not. She couldn’t just make up her mind.

“Look, it’s really not your business what I do with my life. Since you helped me with Aunty Hong, I’ll just say this; my dad thinks I should go to medical school, graduate and take over his practice. Everyone agrees with him. They all think it’s the best for me.” He stopped and ran his fingers though his hair, making it messier than the way it was.

“But nobody stops to think if this is what I want! I don’t want to go to medical school! I don’t want to be a doctor! I just want to go to a normal college with my friends, graduate and maybe go to work for some company.” He stopped for a moment before delivering the final words that has been haunting him. “I’m not my dad!”

Xiao Shan nodded sympathetically. Kris stopped his ranting and looked at the girl as she smiled as if she understood all his frustrations. Then, she reached out to his head. Gently, she removed one dried leaf tangled in his hair.

“No, you’re Kris… You deserve to walk the path you choose.”

“I…” He stopped, realizing all of a sudden that no words, at least not coherent ones, were forming. For the first time, he thought he saw himself stepping out of the large shadow his dad has been casting. And right in front of him, bathed in bright light, was the person who pointed him the way out.

Xiao Shan examined the shriveled up leaf with mild interest before letting it floated down to the ground. Looking up again, she added, “So you said you sing?”

And for the first time again, the usual frown Kris wore on his face dissolved and he burst out laughing. His usual deep voice came out as a low rumble.

She smiled at the sound of his laughter. Somehow, it made her feels less bleak about her life. “You should smile and laugh more often. It suits you.”

“Will you go out with me?” Kris clapped his hands onto his mouth. He didn’t know how that came out!

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There~!! I've gone and done it... I've officially put Kris into the equation. Lolx.. XD

I hope everyone will enjoy reading this chapter cause Kris is just such a cutie here. And I'll like to ask all my readers' opinion. One reader pointed out that it'll be nice if I include some songs in the story to set the mood. What do everyone think? I'll like to hear every's feedback on that. And the story as well of course. 

As usual, comments, subcribers & upvoted are most welcomed & apprciated. ^^