Warm waves crashed on my ankles and I shuddered. It felt nice. I crouched down staring at some beautiful shells that looked shiny under the water. I started picking them. One small shell was exactly the same color as my hair. I picked it and shoved it into the pocket of the shorts uncle Leo picked for me. I smiled and took a step further into the water but..

"Matthias," my shoulders slumped. I wanted papa to come, but I didn't want him to monitor my every step. Matthias this and Matthias that.

"Yeah?" I replied frustrated that I couldn't enjoy anything. Like at all. Walking back towards him, knowing that he would call me to him anyway, I paused and stared up at his figure.

"The water should not be above your chest and you are not leaving anywhere without permission." He instructed and I just nodded.

"Verbal."

"Okay," I muttered, well, more like grumbling. We stood like that for a few seconds until I was quickly lifted in the air by Uncle Leo, earning a giggle.

"Hey!" I laughed as he put me on his shoulders and started dashing towards the water. I smiled and in a second we both ended up splashing in the waves.

"Huu, had to cool you off, I could almost see the dim coming out from your ears back there," He said while making sure that I was reaching my feet on the surface.

"He is so unfair all the time." I muttered and glanced at papa, who had taken a seat on the beach chair, wearing his sunglasses.

"He only wants the best for you, little prince, and I seem to notice that you two have gotten a lot closer with each other?" I could sense that he was being careful about this subject. As if he was trying to find out if I was alright talking about this or not. I was. I really was.

"Yeah, he..um-" I paused then I started explaining everything to how we got to this part. Well, leaving out the bad parts, the punishments I mean. He nodded in understanding, but in the end he just couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

"You thought the gold sticks were pens?" He laughed so loudly that I had to cover his mouth with both of my hands.

"Shhh, don't speak so loudly". In response he just rolled his eyes and removed my hand from his mouth.

"Salty." It was my turn to roll my eyes.

We splashed around some more and then we got back to papa who, I think, was not having a great time. He is just a workaholic. Im surprised he lasted a day without working.

"Papa, do you want to play uno with us?" I tried, after he wrapped me up in a towel like a burrito.

"Yeah, he would Love to." Uncle Leo hopped in, earning a groan from dad, who just shook his head once.

"Papa, come onn!!" I jumped up and down and then heat crept my cheeks, did I just bounce like a whiny child? Well, embarrassing or not, it seemed to work and he agreed.

"It would be fun if uncle Ronan was here too, we could have played in pairs." I sadly stated. Uncle Ronan had some important business to fly to, of which details I am not allowed to know since im too little.

"I know, but you know what. Let's team up against your papa. If he is so almighty, let's see how he will beat the two of us. " Leo encouraged me and I nodded instantly, making sure to peek at papa, to see what he was thinking about this. But a small smile was on his face and I instantly smiled as well.

....

In the end, we both lost.

Uncle Leo had to buy all of us a fancy lunch at a fancy restaurant, I even got a large chocolate ice cream as a dessert and papa didn't even say anything. It was a good day, until we got home and..

"I have to leave." Papa said. My happiness died down instantly. I stared at Leo and Papa who were secretly or maybe not so secretly talking in the living room.

He was leaving? But we just got here, just yesterday. I didn't want him to leave.

"You are leaving?" I asked quietly and both of them snapped their attention to me.

"It's not respectful to eavesdrop on an adult's conversations." He said in a dangerous tone but I did not care right now.

"Papa, why?" I ignored his sentence and he seemed to ignore my disrespect with a sigh.

"Come here," I walked until I was standing in front of him.

"I have some important events to deal with in Japan and I will be back as soon as possible" He said softly after noticing my frustration. I am indeed very frustrated.

"But, can I come with you?" He shook his head and uncle Leo approached me from behind , putting each of his hand on my shoulders. I was really upset, because he was leaving, and because it was my birthday tomorrow. Was he going to miss it? I thought my birthday would be different this time.

"When will you be back?" I asked again, trying to hide the lump in my throat.

"Tonight or tomorrow afternoon, Matthias. I need you to be on your best behaviour until then, are we clear?" He warned but still, his tone was soft. This didn't change the fact that he was leaving.

"Matthias." he warned and I sighed before answering.

"Crystal" It was a mumble, but he heard it. He sighed and leaned down, kissing the top of my head and then he looked back at Leo.

"Inform me immediately if something happens." They shared a few more words but I was just too lost in my own thoughts. He had more important things to take care of other than me? What was going on? I thought we were starting to get along and he even showed so much warmth towards me. I thought we were all good now. Was he even planning to tell me he was leaving?

And before I knew we were standing in front of the house, seeing a car pull up.

"I will be back as quickly as I can." he repeated again and I just nodded avoiding eye contact to inform him that i was still upset. He just placed his hand on my head for a few seconds before he got into the car and drove off.

And just like that, he left.

since I was gone for so long and am free until the second semester of my university starts, which is on 24th February, I will try to spoil you all as much as I can. mwah.