"Just a family dinner with everyone, huh?" A deep aged voice of a man around mid-fifties reverberated in the tranquil function room.  Then, he sipped some hot tea. 

"Yes... Dad."

This time, the voice of a young female, neither shaky nor loud, retorted.  It was rather calm and comfortable.

"As you wish.  Look forward to it."  The old man grinned darkly.  He's fond of this daughter whom he wanted to raise himself but couldn't. 

---

*Knock*  *Knock* *Knock* 

"Come in."  

The doork.n.o.b of the room turned and revealed Kang Sola at the doorway.

"Guangxi."

"Hey, Sola! What's up?"  Xue Guangxi frantically grabbed whatever he could around him and tidied his surroundings as much as he could.

The girl's face, likewise, was consumed with what could be considered disgust at the room owner's living mess.  She helped him clean up his clutter, then sat up on the edge of the bed with outstretched legs on the floor.  She propped the ball of her hands on the bed in support as she reclined backward. 

She was comfortably casual.

"Just here to chat."

Xue Guangxi's brows raised in disbelief.  His eyes shouted mockingly.  She disregarded it. 

"No... Uhhh... Actually, there's something."

Suddenly, the temperature of the room rose as the unpredictable tension grew.

"What is it, Sola?"

'Maybe she realized she likes me and is here to confess.'  He snickered inwardly at his delusion.

Expectant, Xue Guangxi was put on edge as he waited for her next words...

"Here."

Without looking, Kang Sola held out her extended arm.  She tugged on it when she felt that Xue Guangxi didn't seem to pick up her hint. 

'I'm giving you something, d.a.m.nit!'  She embarra.s.sedly thought.

The recipient had been taken aback for a good few seconds, not understanding the girl's gesture.  Sure, he knew what the gesture was all about, but he wondered why.  'WHY??!!'

"What is it?  Is it for me?"  He quietly asked.

"Yes!"  Impatiently, she stood up, handed him the gift almost forcefully since Xue Guangxi had not recovered yet from his stupor and had been acting lethargical, still. "Here."  She sat up on the bed's edge again as leisurely as before.

Xue Guangxi who was standing diagonally from her inspected his hand.  As he opened it, he saw tiny pieces of paper of a.s.sorted color all linked together and containing Kang Sola's neat penmans.h.i.+p, written using still varying shades of the pen.  

He lifted the sheets page per page.  Five sheets had 'Errands' written on it.  And he saw two other sheets which had 'Special Mission' on it.  Other pieces of paper contained action words and phrases such as 'Help make notes' or 'Go to cla.s.s as proxy'.

"What's this?"  Xue Guangxi inquired after a long silence. 

"Coupons."  Kang Sola's distorted embarra.s.sed face could not decide whether it wanted to beg for her life and escape from that room or to get angry.  "That's my gift for your birthday because I thought you already have everything while I don't even have a budget for gifts.  Kang Sola at your service."

"Like any other, those coupons have expiry dates on them, too.  So you have to check it out first.  But most are valid for one whole year."

Xue Guangxi's frowning, problematic face lightened up until it broke into such a huge smile. "Wow, Sola!  How can I beat this?  Such a wonderful birthday gift!"

In his mind he added, full of guilt, 'I still haven't gotten her a gift.'

"Glad you like it."

"But it's still too early.  Our birthday is still a few days ahead."

"Well, it's better early than late, right?  We wouldn't know what will happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."  She returned his smile with one of her own.

"Why don't you try it?"

"Okay, let's see."

"How about..."

"Ma.s.sage."

"What?!" Kang Sola rose to her feet and checked the tiny paper Xue Guangxi had taken from the bunch.  It said, "Special Mission".

"I could use a ma.s.sage, Sola.  Oooh!!! Ouch, my shoulder hurts!"  The lad mockingly flexed his left arm, rotating at the shoulder and his right hand cupped it acting hurt.

"Oh my G.o.d! How are you so... so... Ughhhh!!!!"  She balled her fists on her sides in revolt as she stood her ground.

Xue Guangxi laughed.  "Are you saying you cannot do it?  Then, forget it.  I don't think the coupons are that great after all."  He threw a side-glance at the girl.

"I'm serious.  My shoulder really hurts.  I've been playing a lot of sports too frequently these days.  You should have known.  You were there, too right?  My muscles are sore.  Awww!!!"

"You aren't just mocking me, right?  Are you really in pain?"  The girl was wary.

"h.e.l.l, yeah!!! Just the upper body, Sola.  Just punch here..." He pointed at that specific point on his back near the shoulder blades and neck.

"Use your strength."

"O-Okay."

'Okay? She agreed?'  With a devilish sparkle in his eyes, he sat beside Sola on the bed, his back against her.  She immediately used her fists and threw forceful little punches as per his instructions.   

"Okay, lie down." Kang Sola was beginning to be more concentrated.   She does not prefer anything half-baked, so she wanted to make the most out of it. After all, it's his first request.

Her standards were soaring high up in the heavens. 'I have to do well here. I have to impress him.'

Xue Guangxi naturally obeyed.  He lied down on his stomach readily.

Kang Sola somehow worked her hands into his back's surface, kneading. Her hand went from the small of his back towards the shoulder blades at both sides repeatedly.  However, she did not look quite pleased.

Because his s.h.i.+rt was getting in the way.

"Remove your s.h.i.+rt, Guangxi.  I'll be right back."  She fled the room in a flash.

Xue Guangxi was like, 'Seriously???!!  Okay, then!'

Not even five minutes have pa.s.sed when Xue Guangxi heard the door click.  She must have been back.

"I've got essential oil in my room.  Peppermint.  Aromatherapy is good too."  She put a generous amount on her hands, rubbed them together before she continued kneading on his back.

At other times it would have been relaxing, but for Guangxi...  Right now...

It achieved the results contradictory to the expectations.

Of course, he made sure not to let Kang Sola know or else it would be the end of their... friends.h.i.+p.

Her hands were soothing as an angel's healing caress.  They weren't as heavy as he would have wanted, but they were smooth and soft and felt like home.  But his muscles grew tenser as she continued to touch him.  The heat from her touch spread all over his body like wildfire.  Every touch ignited in him like a spark from the electricity that he felt he was more tortured than relieved. 

The pleasant and inviting aroma of peppermint did not help at all as it was expected, but in another way the situation did not call for.