"Akiyo?" said Bryan from the phone. "I'm sorry Akiyo... I can't come back tonight."

"Again??" asked Akiyo. It's already been a week that she hasn't seen him personally. "...Alright... I know you've got your own work..."

"I'm sorry Akiyo... but I'll be back tomorrow. I promise."

"You promise? You have to come back!!" Tomorrow would be her birthday.

"Alright... oh I have to go now. Anto's calling me. Seeya!"

"Hey Bry..." before she could finish, Bryan had already cut off the phone. She put down the phone, sank into the sofa and sighed. She recalled how they used to be. How he treated her as his princess. But now... when she came to this point, tears came into her eyes. She immediately ran to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her. So many nights she ended up crying in her bed 'til the next day.

The next morning, she went shopping with her best friend, Melody, who's Shane's girlfriend and they were born on the same day, same month, and the same year. It was her birthday too.

"Hey Akiyo, how are you going to celebrate with Bryan tonight?" Melody asked Akiyo.

"I'm going to do the cooking on my own and we'll have a candle night dinner!" she smiles sweetly.

Melody saw that, and gives a devil grin. "See, you smile like that whenever I speak 'Bryan'."

"What? You're just the same when I speak 'Shane'!" Akiyo gave her a look.

"So what are you going to do with Shane then?"

"Umm... dunno. I'll let Shane decide." Melody's mobile rings. "Hello? Shane?"

Akiyo looked at her, and thought of Bryan. A sad look came up her face. Melody put down the phone and stared at her. "What's up? I found that you always look like this these days." "Nothing..." she tried to escape from Melody's eyesight.

"Don't ever try to cheat me. I've been your friend since kindergarten," she stopped her and looked straight into her eyes.

"I..." she tried to escape from her eyes again, but Melody followed her eyes. She gave up to escape. "I don't know where to start with."