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"My dad and Uncle Maynard\'s personalities might be poles apart, but I\'m certain Uncle Maynard wants only the best for you — what makes you happy and free. Because during their time, they didn\'t have such options."

"Don\'t rush, Ash. Slow down and appreciate the beauty of life."

"What if the answer is not in my favor?"

"Then… we drink and think of another way? I don\'t know, but it\'s not like we needed solutions right away, right?"

"I need them right away."

"No rush. Take a moment to breathe and process everything. I\'ll always be there for you if you need me. There might be times I won\'t respond immediately, but when I know you need me, I\'ll be there."

"We\'re friends, after all."

Friends…

From the first time Cosette met Asher, the word "friend" always sounded forced. Cosette drew the line the first time they officially met. If Asher didn\'t bump into her in the Academy before that, he would probably see the clear difference between how she treated him and how silly she could be.

But tonight, that changed.

Not that he felt special or that he felt that she was romantically connected to him. But rather, Asher felt seen, understood, and welcomed without meeting any disappointments such as being mocked or judged. It was comforting.

Asher gazed at the side of the bench where Cosette sat. Half an hour after she spoke her wisdom, someone told her that they were leaving. Hence, Cosette had to go while Asher stayed in this spot all alone.

"Maybe that\'s the reason," he whispered, keeping his eyes on the empty spot of the bench until her mirage resurfaced. "Why I… seek you every time things get hard."

Because Cosette… was Cosette. She didn\'t like him already. Nothing he would do would impress her, and she made it clear that even if he tried, his antics wouldn\'t work. Only realness would, but that wasn\'t the reason Asher just broke down in front of her.

He already felt suffocated, on the brink of exploding. He was barely keeping it together. Her remarks were simply the last straw.

"Can I… really be free, Cosette?" Asher stared at her mirage, seeing her smile reassuringly. The corner of his lips curled up into a subtle smile as his expression softened. "But I\'m scared."

Even after her advice, it terrified him. It wasn\'t that easy, especially if he knew what was the stake. However, she had a point. Although it was worded differently and her experience differed completely from his dilemma, there were things to learn from her.

The first thing was to face and admit the problem. THEM.

Cosette and Asher were almost built the same. It was their own mind that drove them to certain points in their life where they realized they never faced their problems. They simply buried it in a place in their mind where they wouldn\'t be able to touch them.

When this problem was resurfacing, they would divert their attention to something else. Little did they know, the root of the problem was just deepening and destroying them from the inside.

"There you are!"

Cosette\'s mirage got distorted when someone sat down where it was. Asher snapped his eyes, lifting his gaze, only to see his father grinning back at him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked even before he could think, making Maynard shrug.

"My son, I should be the one asking. What are you doing here when the party is over there?" Maynard pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Don\'t tell me you don\'t like it? Or is it because of that dumb Mister Tong — that motherfucker —"

"I\'m just enjoying the breeze." Asher cut Maynard off while his father was cracking his knuckles as if the latter were ready to throw his fist. "It\'s not about him and I would appreciate it if you don\'t mention him again."

"There you go again." Maynard sighed, but he was already used to his son\'s attitude and straightforward personality.

Asher peeled his eyes away from Maynard, resting his back against the bench. When Maynard was doing unnecessary movements, Asher arched a brow and glanced at him. As soon as his eyes fell on his father, his brows furrowed.

"What is that?" asked Asher, pointing at the bottle of wine in Maynard\'s hand.

"Wine."

"I mean, why…"

"My son is here to enjoy the night breeze." Maynard cast his son a knowing look. "So here I am, accompanying him so he could enjoy it even more. Besides, I enjoy being with my sons more than partying with whoever. Aren\'t I a responsible father?"

Maynard winked at his son, trying to open the bottle with his teeth. What Maynard said wasn\'t new to Asher. Matter of fact, Maynard was quite cheesy and expressive. He would always say how precious his sons were and how he enjoyed hanging out with them.

Most of the time, Asher and Luke saw it as too much. There were even times Asher believed Maynard was simply spewing nonsense. Now, however, these words sounded different. It didn\'t give him a slight irritation, but rather, he felt curious.

"Really?" he muttered, watching Maynard successfully cork out the cork with his teeth, only to wince.

"Huh?"

"Do you truly enjoy spending time with us more than others?"

"Of course!" Maynard\'s response was quick without a second hesitation. "It\'s just that you and that brat always chase me away. Man… you make me sad."

Asher pressed his lips into a thin line and looked away. He let Maynard ramble on and on, complaining about how his sons were so heartless not to see a father\'s longing. Maynard went on to complain about how his firstborn was so mature and strict, and then how Luke was so arrogant he wouldn\'t even give his father a call.

"I don\'t know if I asked this before." In the middle of Maynard\'s complaints, Asher spoke again. He slowly raised his head and faced Maynard squarely. "You can always disturb Luke or make him come home, but why haven\'t you done anything?"

Maynard\'s brows rose at his son\'s question before he smiled.

"Because that\'s what he wants," answered Maynard with a slight chuckle. "He might be my son, but that doesn\'t mean I have the right to steal his freedom."

Maynard then planted his hand on Asher\'s shoulder. "I didn\'t work hard for nothing. I worked day and night, so my sons have the freedom to explore what they want and have opportunities and privileged to pursue them. You and Luke… were the reason I am who I am today. So don\'t be hard on yourself. Your old man got your back. Understand?"