Chapter 1264 Parallels
Hyson sat under the shade of the tree with a notebook and a pen in his hand. A slow breeze caressed his face intermittently. The mottled sunlight fell on him through the gaps between the leaves. He seemed to be in his own world as he wrote something in his notebook very seriously.
Someone came to sit beside him but he didn't even notice it until that person started talking, "Why are you so lost these days?"
Hyson paused and turned to look at the little kid sitting beside him. He smiled at him and said, "I have something to do and until I'm done with it, I'll be looking lost like this." He took a pause and asked, "What are you doing here? Isn't your scene done for the day, Rowan?"
"It is done," replied little Rowan. "But it's been days since I didn't get the chance to speak to you. So, I came over here to find you."
"Your scenes are gonna be completed soon, right?" asked Hyson. "What are you doing after that?"
"I'm going back to school."
Hyson pursed his lips and then smiled at him.
"Don't laugh. Just because you seem to forget it, doesn't mean I'm not a kid who still has to go to school. Soon, the summer vacation will be over and I'll have to go back to my normal life."
"Not looking forward to it?" asked Hyson.
"Who said that? I love my normal life."
"Yeah? Me too. I seem to love my normal life a little too much."
"I have noticed something lately," stated Rowan.
"What?"
"You don't seem to like making friends very much. Whenever you get the chance you find a corner for yourself."
"Is it wrong?"
"I don't know. I just didn't expect you to be like this."
"What did you really expect?" asked Hyson as he rubbed his head. "How old are you? What are these big thoughts in your small head?"
Rowan pushed away his hand and fixed his hair, "You of all people should understand the struggle. Why mess up my hair? Don't you already know how long it takes to fix them?"
"Sorry, I couldn't help it," replied Hyson. "Anyway, you look like a cheerful person but I don't think you really are that cheerful or friendly. You look so distant even when you're standing in the crowd with the brightest smile on your face. Is that cheerfulness a facade?"
"I don't know. I have kept this up for so long that maybe I have started to believe it to be real too. But for you to be able to see through it all... I have to give the props to your keen senses."
Rowan shrugged, "I would like to thank my good genes for that. And for having a family where people are always vocal about their feelings and wishes."
"And I grew up in the family where I had to learn to understand the defeating silence around me. I had to learn to interpret that silence. I grew up in a family where I saw too many fake smiles. So, I have a thing against fake smiles. Maybe that's why I am not able to make so many friends around here."
"If you don't like fake smiles, you're in the wrong industry, brother!"
Hyson nodded his head, "I know. I always knew I'm in the wrong industry but it can't be helped. I'm already here."
Rowan looked at him deeply before changing the topic, "What were you writing just now?"
"My best friend is getting married."
"I know that."
"Being the best friend, I have to give a speech at her wedding reception."
"Isn't that the job of the maid of honor and the best man?"
"It is."
"Which one are you?"
"Man of honor?"
Rowan laughed at his response and patted his shoulder, "You can definitely pull that off."
"I know. I can pull off anything."
"I believe you, brother! I have a strong faith in you."
"Wow! That's encouraging."
Rowan thought of something and said, "Brother, give me your hand."
"What? Why?"
"Just do it."
Hyson extended his hand towards him and Rowan pulled out a handmade bracelet and put it on his wrist saying, "I made this friendship band for you."
Hyson was a little stunned. For no other reason but that it was his first time receiving such a thing. At least, apart from his fans, he had never gotten this from anyone else. This was a real surprise. A pleasant one. "This is colorful."
"I find you colorful, so I chose these colors for you. See, you're warm like red, yellow, and orange. Making one feel energy and enthusiasm. These blue, green, and purple are cool colors. Just like you, they can evoke the feeling of calmness, freshness, sophistication, and all that."
"You kid..." Hyson didn't know what to say. "I didn't prepare anything for you. You should have told me. I'd have prepared a gift for you too."
"This isn't that special," said Rowan. "And this isn't a parting gift. I'm sure we'll get to see each other a lot more in the future. Anyway, I'll come to your best friend's wedding even if I have to hide in my mom's suitcase."
"Will you be able to hide there?"
"Don't worry! She carries over ten suitcases. Even if I hide in one, I'll get away with it."
Hyson laughed with him happily. He felt really relaxed sitting with this guy who was not even half his age. Maybe it was because he missed his own childhood that he was able to find himself getting so close to Rowan.
"Then make sure to come," said Hyson. "I'll be waiting for you."
"You don't even have to say that. I have to hear your speech too. Since you're not letting me read it right now."
"I'm not done with it," said Hyson.
"I can give you suggestions, you know?"
"Oh? Can you now? What do you even know, little kid?"
"A lot more than you. I have a feeling that I have been to more weddings than you."
"No way!" argued Hyson childishly. "I have been. I was even at my parents wedding."
Hyson raised his brow at him in shock.
"Okay, I was still in my mom's tummy but I was there, at least."
Hyson snickered, "Then I'll also be at my parents wedding soon. And I'll even be able to walk my mom down the aisle. I guess I win."
"Childish."
"You started it."
"How would I know you'd not be embarrassed to compete with a kid like me?"
"I feel no shame in competing with a kid."
"I can see that," said Rowan. "Anyway, I have also been at my godmother's wedding."
"Oh! I'll be there too. And guess what? I'd still be throwing flowers in my godmother's path as she walks down the aisle."
"I see that you're competitive spirit is too high."
"I can't help it." Hyson grinned at him, "Tell me more."
"I also went to Aunt Ying's wedding who married a superstar, by the way."
"What the hell! My brother Pei Zi Hong is also about to marry a superstar."
"Don't curse! It's bad."
"Sorry," said Hyson. "I'm just suddenly creeped out by the parallels in our lives. Don't tell me you have a best friend like mine too."
Rowan thought about it deeply and shook his head, "Nope. I have two elder sisters who are more than like best friends. Apart from them everyone else in the family is younger than me so I have to play the role of the good brother to them. I seem to not have that many friends of my age."
"Any special reason for that?" asked Hyson.
"Maybe because I have always loved to walk behind my sisters and do all sorts of evils. You know, once in school someone pushed me down and my sisters came to avenge me like knightesses. Obviously, we all got a beating after that from the family but I think it was worth it."
"Your sisters spoils you too much."
Rowan shrugged, "I can't help it. Everyone else in our family doesn't want to spoil kids." He took a pause and added, "Actually, my sisters will be coming on my last day of shoot. How about I introduce you to them? You'll understand why I love them so much."
Hyson nodded, "Okay. I'll be waiting then. I have to see these protective sisters of yours."
"Brother, come to my home when you have time. I'll also introduce you to the triplets from my Uncle Dylan's house. Oh, and the youngest princess of our family from Aunt Ying's house too. I also want you to meet my grandfathers. And my uncles too."
"You have so many people you want me to meet?"
"I met all your family. You should meet mine now."
"Is it as crazy as mine?"
"I told you, it's crazier. You'd love it."
Hyson laughed again and gave him a nod, "Then I'll drive down to your city when I get the chance. Anyway, it's not far from Kia City."
"Then I'll be waiting. I'll cook you a meal."
"Yourself?"
"Why? You think I can't? Don't underestimate my talent."
"I'm not underestimating. I'm just a little worried about your safety."
"That's sweet of you but even my parents don't mind me playing with knives. But don't worry, I'm good at it. I guess it's also one of the perks of having two best cooks in the family."
"Rowan, you don't have to do so much. We can just go out too eat, you know."
"No, I have to be a good host."
"Don't worry, you'll be the one paying for that meal. I think you can afford that."
Rowan gave him a look, "Brother, would you be okay seeing a kid paying for your meal?"
"I'm perfectly fine with it."
"I see what kind of a person you are."
"So? The meal's off?"
"No way! You still are coming over. I'll first try to coax my mom into making us a meal if it didn't work, I'll go with plan B."
"You're such a sweet boy."
"Yeah. My mom says I'm the sweet fruit of her love for my dad. That's why I'm such a sweet boy."
Hyson looked at his serious expression and didn't know what to say before he shook his head and pinched his cheek lovingly, "Yes, you're sweet. Too sweet." Rowan also giggled in response to that.
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