Cherry, accompanied by her driver, arrived at a spot on the hilltop, location provided by Theo's driver. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth, but Cherry was oblivious to it, her mind consumed by irritation. Her gaze immediately fell upon Theo's car, idly parked, and his driver leaning against the fender, seemingly at tense.
But where was Theo? There's no sign of him around.
"Has that madman completely lost his mind?!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with annoyance.
"What on earth is he doing here right after school?! Is he out here hunting some wild animal or something?! Where is he?!"
The poor driver with a perpetually worried expression, stammered, "He... he..."
"What 'he he'?! Where is he?!" Cherry pressed, her patience wearing thin.
The middle aged driver, clearly caught between a rock and a hard place, remained silent, his gaze fixed on some distant point. He seemed to be weighing his options, a silent battle raging within him.
Seeing his Cherry lowered her voice slightly, but the underlying threat was unmistakable. "Look, if you don't tell me where Theo is, I'll have no choice but to call his father! I'll tell him his son has gone missing from this hill!"
A flicker of fear crossed the driver's face. He knew the wrath of Theo's father all too well.
"And I don't need to tell you what'll happen after that, do I?!" clearly a warning to him.
To save his job, the driver finally broke his silence. He visibly sagged, knowing he had no choice but to reveal Theo's secret. "Actually, this hilltop... it's Young Master's secret place."
"Whenever he's feeling particularly down, or troubled, this is where he comes. He just sits here, by himself." The driver gestured vaguely towards the expansive view, as if the landscape itself held the answers to Theo's moods.
"He's come here today, just like always, and he'll probably return after spending some time by himself."
"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath. "He has the entire world at his feet, and this, this jungle, this remote hill, is what he chooses to be with? What kind of little brat prefers a haunted-looking forest over a beach or a park or anything?"
"Where exactly is he?"
The driver, already sweating from both heat and Cherry's temper, pointed a shaky finger toward a narrow trail that curved up the hillside, bordered by overgrown shrubs.
"He usually goes that way. Spends some time, then returns quietly… like nothing happened."
With a sigh, she waved her hand. "Let's go then! The sooner we find him, the better."
The three of them began their ascent up the trail, brushing past tall grass and listening to the rustle of leaves underfoot. The air smelled like pine and damp earth, and the occasional call of a bird echoed through the trees.
After several minutes of searching the uneven ground, they finally spotted him.
There, near the summit, Theo sat quietly on a wooden bench. His posture was relaxed, but something about his stillness felt heavy for a child of his age.
He looked… lonely.
Cherry paused. For a moment, her annoyance flickered into something else, concern, maybe curiosity, but it vanished quickly. She composed herself and turned to the drivers. "You two go back," she said in a quieter voice. "I'll talk to him alone."
They exchanged unsure glances but didn't argue. With a respectful nod, they turned and began walking back down the trail.
Now alone, Cherry took a deep breath, brushed her hands on her dress, and approached slowly.
Her footsteps were soft, but Theo noticed them. He didn't turn immediately, just shifted slightly, as if confirming it wasn't a stranger or animal. When he finally did glance over his shoulder and saw her, his expression flickered with surprise.
"You?" he said, blinking. "What are you doing here... in my place?"
She didn't speak at first. Instead, she walked up quietly and sat beside him, leaving a careful distance, not too far, not too close.
Then, in her usual tone that hovered between sarcasm and light hearted, she spoke.
"Hmh, what do you mean your place? Have you officially claimed this hill as yours or something?" She cast him a sideways glance.
"I mean, unless the laws here are different, I'm pretty sure you can't legally own property before you're eighteen."
Theo didn't respond right away. His gaze remained fixed on the view ahead, the sweeping cityscape spread out beneath them, bathed in soft afternoon light. From this height, the noise of the world felt far away, replaced by the gentle breeze. It was the kind of peaceful spot one would come to when the heart felt a little too loud.
Without turning to her, Theo finally said, "Why are you here?"
Cherry counter back. "I could ask you the same."
He exhaled, a hint of weariness in his voice. "I really don't want to talk to you right now. Just… leave me alone."
Cherry, tilted her head playfully. "And if I say no?"
Theo's voice grew lower. "Whatever you want, whether it's something about Dad, or something from me, I'll deal with it later. But right now, please… just go."
Cherry clasped her hands together and said with a light smile, "Aha. So the young master's in a bad mood today?"
"Want to tell me why?"
Theo exhaled through his nose, clearly frustrated. "Why should I tell you?"
She grinned knowingly. " So, you are in a bad mood."
Theo turned slightly, his eyes at her. She had tricked him into admitting it without saying a word directly.
Cherry arms folded as she looked at Theo with playful curiosity. "So, what could be the reason for this little grump-fest today, hmm?"
When he didn't answer, she began guessing, she tapped her chin dramatically.
"Let me guess… school troubles? Didn't finish your homework? Got scolded by your teacher? Or maybe your classmates ganged up and laughed at you?"
Without missing a beat, Theo replied sharply, "No one in the class has the guts to laugh at me."
Cherry stifled a grin. "Oho? So you're basically the class little boss now, huh? Impressive."
She paused, then leaned forward, glancing at his face. "Then maybe… it's a girl thing? A crush, perhaps? Someone turned you down?"
Theo gave her a deadpan stare. "I'm only 6."
Cherry burst out laughing. "Exactly! Kids these days are way ahead of the game. Childhood sweethearts and playground drama, it all starts early."
She leaned closer with a teasing grin. "Plus, let's be honest—you're pretty cute, you know. Aside from your grumpy grandpa personality, I'm sure some girl in your class is secretly crushing on you."
Theo rolled his eyes and turned away again. "You talk too much."
But then, something shifted. Theo looked away, his small shoulders stiffening slightly. His voice came out softer this time, almost thoughtful.
"Most kids my age… still have their parents around."
Cherry blinked. The shift in tone caught her attention.
He continued, eyes fixed on the view in front of them. "There's this boy in my class. He just transferred. He's not good at studies… not good at sports either. Always ranks last in everything. But still… after school, his parents always come to pick him up. During PTMs, they actually sit down with the teachers, asking questions… taking notes. They ask how they can help him do better."
He paused, his voice slightly softer now. "And it worked. That same boy… he's improving. Last month, he could barely get thirty percent. Now he's scoring over fifty. The teachers are happy. His parents are proud."
Theo's lips pressed into a thin line.
" His parents even got him a mini motor-bicycle as a gift. And this Saturday it's his birthday. He's having a party. Everyone's invited."
Cherry, now listening with quiet seriousness, asked gently, " You too?"
Theo, " Obviously."
"So… you going?"
"No."
"Okay… wait— What? You're not going?"
Theo didn't respond.
Why not? And if you weren't planning to go, then why tell me all this?
Theo's voice dropped to a quiet murmur. "Because… I get jealous when I see him."
Cherry blinked again. "What!"
Theo still not looking at her. "When I look at him… there's nothing particularly special. He's way behind me in almost everything. Yet…"
He exhaled. "I've always scored above 90% in every subject. I excel in sports. All the teachers like me, they say I'm one of the top students. My classmates envy me because I'm from the richest family in school. My dad is way more powerful and respected than all their dads."
"My dad takes care of everything I need. He also says he's proud of me."
"But still… when I look at that boy, I feel something strange. Something heavy
here—" He placed a hand over his chest. "I hate feeling it, but it's there."
There was a pause. His next words were quiet but loaded with emotion.
" I don't know why, when I look at that boy… I feel jealous and I don't even know how to get ride of it?!"
Cherry's gaze softened. She finally understood.
"Maybe," she said gently, "it's because his dad comes to pick him up from school. Maybe it's the way he gives gifts with his own hands… the way he sits through every meeting, talks to the teachers… the time he gives."
Theo looked away, his voice rising slightly with frustration. "I know! I'm not some clueless little kid!"
"That's exactly why I don't bother Dad with small things. I get it, he's busy. He has to manage million-dollar deals. And if he doesn't take charge, those uncles will try to snatch everything away from us!"
Theo's voice trembled slightly, though he tried hard to keep his composure.
"I'm not like those kids who keep whining over every little thing just to get their parents' attention," he said, his tone firm. "I know my dad cares about me. He tells me he's proud of me. And I understand… he has responsibilities, a career, a life beyond just me. I can't act like some toddler and expect him to be around all the time. I don't want to be that selfish or troublesome for my own dad?!"
"He's already doing everything he can," Theo continued, his voice now barely above a murmur. "He gives me the best of everything. A great school. The newest gear. Opportunities people would dream for." His breath hitched, but he pressed on, pushing the words through the growing pressure in his chest. "And I want to be someone he can be proud of. I want to be strong, like him when I grow up. Strong. Independent. Capable."
"I do understand all of that…"
He faltered.
"…But still," he whispered, his voice cracking like thin glass under strain, "why do I feel like this?"
And then, the dam broke. He slammed his hand on the wooden bench beside him, his voice rising, not in rage, but in pain.
"Why the hell do I feel jealous of that stupid, f****** boy?!"