"Yes, the stars are within our reach. Together we are unstoppable, I can even see our future prospect will be bright. I will grant all your wishes."- Genie (translated), SNSD.

THR33

Act One

Morning came with a solid burst of sunlight. Today was going to carry the same quiet, standard comings as it always did. Nothing ever changes with the dawning of new sunlight here. Always, eternally unchanged.

He rose from his bed in the same manner as always. He sat up right and scanned his room surroundings almost as if something had magically changed during the night. But as always, nothing had changed. Why did he feel the need and to want for something to be different. Perhaps, then his daily routine would change into something more interesting; perhaps if the smiles in his hanging photos were to frown he would change his demeanor or find cause for a life change.

Finding nothing new in his current setting, he pulled himself out of his small bed. He couldn't find the energy to even stretch this boring morning and instead of exiting his tidy room he found himself facing the back windowed-door. The door led to his back porch, which faced the ocean beyond him.

He stared out the window and let out a tired sigh. Beyond that ocean lay a host of different lands just crying to be discovered, lands beyond that of Essence Isles. Though he could never find courage enough to one day break from his dull habits and free himself to unearth these new provinces.

He reached his two arms outward and placed them against the cold window. With a gently push the door gave way and opened to him. The sound of the ocean waves and sea gulls rung into his ears as he inhaled a deep breath of salty air into his nostrils. He closed his eyes, feeling the pleasures of the ocean. He had to admit to himself, he loved this ocean. Not that he'd ever admit it out loud.

A small ring from his alarm broke him from his dream of traveling away from the ordinary. He grumbled as he turned to face his true reality. He looked toward his alarm to see he was running behind schedule.

Without taking another look to the outside world, he pulled his back door shut with a loud slam. First, he found himself staring at his reflection in his mirror. He could see the same blond hair and blue eyes that watched him from day to day in a similar fashion. His hair was pushed to right and dangled down to his shoulders where they seemed to dance when he walked. His well-tanned skin shaped a well-toned body and kept him looking healthy, healthy but not happy.

He then faced his closet where dug out some casual wear for the day's class. His closet seemed as empty and boring as his current life status. Nothing unique or different, nothing odd or unusual, always the same. He pulled himself together and prepared himself from departure from his small home by the beach. Just before leaving his small room, his eyes caught the small-framed photo on his nightstand.

Staring back at him were familiar eyes, the eyes of his male twin, his father. The similarities between the two always caused a haunting emotion to crawl within him. Feeling a strong shiver creep up his spine, he reached out toward the photograph and turned it down so that his father's eerie eyes could no longer watch him.

Feeling satisfied by this action he then fled his tiny abode and left for his morning class. Maybe today would be different?

XoXoX

He entered the empty classroom with a slow pace. Of all the activities he had to complete in his day, this had to be the most boring and tedious. He hated this superficial school and every student that attended it. As a high school senior, he felt it unnecessary to even grace its doors with his presence. He knew he was smart. He knew he held the highest scores in the class and he knew he was better.

As he sat alone in the room, he flipped open his small notebook and began to write and complete his work. The echoing sound of his pencil scraping against the fresh lined-paper was all that entered his ears. For more than an hour he wrote and wrote until his class work was nearly finished. Although before he could finish completely, a new sound began to echo through the empty school. A new sound for the day but not unfamiliar, footsteps became clear as they advanced toward the classroom door. Then with great expectance, the classroom door opened wide. He looked up from his studies to see the school principle standing before him.

He became accustom to his principal's appearance; he had seen him every school day ever since arriving one hour early to his class. The principal's jet black hair always seemed to be styled perfectly as it sat to one side of his head. The principle's clothing only complimented his perfect hair and face. A classy business suit that seemed to be ironed in the neatest fashion possible, vanity at its finest.

"Early again I see, Lan."

Lan turned his eyes away from his principle, refusing the older gentlemen any type of respect. He then let out a small grunt and carried on with his work in silence.

"Lan," The older male began in a soft tone, "It's not healthy to distance yourself from your other classmates."

Lan snorted in a strong attempt to withhold any laughter. How dare this older man compare him to the others? His vain and selfish peers, the ones who cause more grief then joy. At this statement he couldn't resist letting a smart-aleck remark leave his lips.

"Mr. Ark," He closed his eyes as he spoke proposing an attitude toward the gentleman, "If you don't mind I would rather eat shit than associate with those things you continually call 'classmates'."

In a normal situation, the high school senior would expect his principal to be offended but this wasn't an unheard remark. Lan had far become accustom to swearing in front of his elders. Of course that gave him the label, 'disrespectful.'

Ha, disrespect. As if they deserved his respect. If they wanted it, they would have to earn it.

"If that is what you believe," Ark had to shrug his shoulders, a slight sense of failure overcoming his pride. "But if you get to know some of them, you may just like them and change your attitude."

His brow twitched. The burning sensation of anger washed over him and he cracked open his eyes and glared toward his principal. He tightened his grip around his yellow pencil and his lip jolted upward unable to contain his anger he snapped.

"And what do expect I will gain from speaking with those idiots?" Lan growled, "Again, if you don't mind I like my IQ where it is, Mr. Ark." He then let out a small sarcastic laugh before closing his eyes once more.

What made Ark think he hadn't tried to socialize with his peers? It wasn't as if he had gone his whole school career trying to avoid human contact. He had tried in the past. Tried and of course failed.

Before the older man could counter Lan's reply a loud slam caught his attention. Ark was first to whirl about and face the students that entered the dimly lit classroom. They filed in one after the other until all four schoolmates entered the room. Lan tried his hardest not to stare; he tore his baby blues away from the doorway and glanced off to the left.

Of course, Mr. Ark was more than welcoming to the group of 'animals', as he liked to refer them as. He opened his arms to them. The blond loner, still refusing to look to the right, could only assume that Ark had a fake smile plastered over his cheeks.

"Welcome, have a seat," Ark announced moving aside for the teens to enter and take their seats. "Your teacher will be in momentarily. Until then, be sure to take down today's assignments in your agendas."

The four teens that had arrived moved forward. Two females and two males who Lan knew all too well. The oldest of the four was a longhaired, redhead by the name of Pru. Beside him stood his partner in any crime of sorts, Sto, a heavier boy who had the worst mouth he had ever come across.

Behind the boys the two females walked gracefully. The prettiest being, San, a stunning young woman whose silver-toned pigtails shone brighter than anyone else's in the school. And last in line was a tiny four-eyed, pixie-cut brunette, Bre. The two girls were the most talk of the school, seeing as they were Essence High's most famous BFFs.

Bre was harmless for the most part, only speaking mostly when spoken to and yet she was the only student second place in rank to him. San was a different story entirely, she was the most popular girl in the school and there was no questioning why. Not only was her father a famous shoe designer, but she was also pretty. Dare he think she was perfect?

No. She was far from perfect. She was a devil in disguise.

"Hey there Laaaan!" Pru was the first of the four to open his cocky mouth and speak to him. "How's it goin', smartguy?"

"Ha, I wouldn't even bother speaking to him, Pru!" Sto threw his head back in a chuckle, "He's probably got his ugly face stuck in a book."

"Too true, too true." Pru nodded with an arrogant motion.

The two boys then moved in closer to an ever-silent blond. Why did they have to step closer? If they hated him so much, why did they insist on coming so close? The vibrations from their low chuckles and sniggers caused Lan to curl his lip in disgust. If there were one torture he had to face, it would be standing close to Pru and Sto. The senior pulled his body to the far edge of his seat, gaining distance between himself and his schoolmates.

"So Lan,"

Lan's ears twitched to a soft voice. She, San, was speaking to him. Why did her voice have to be so light and airy? A voice so soft and elegant and yet she used it with such venom. And it wasn't just her angelic tone; it was also her good looks that caused his heart to slam away in his chest.

Why did he still harbor such emotion toward a girl who seemed to have lost all interest in him? After the falling out they had in their childhood, they're relationship never regained its light. Of course, that didn't mean that she didn't cause butterflies to soar about in his gut.

San continued to project, "Are you just going to leave again?" She replied with a slight attitude, placing one hand to her hip. "I mean you come to school every morning hours early then leave about two minutes into class!" She then let out a small snicker, "Do you like school THAT much? Hmm, pathetic really."

Lan had to look away. "Classes are for people who can't learn on their own."

"So you're saying we're not smart enough to learn anything independently? Huh?" Pru sired with a slick grin growing across his mug.

Lan rested his cheek against the palm of his hand. "Did I stutter?"

Pru was the first of the two boys to snap back at the lonely blond, "Hey, shut up Lan!" He slammed an open palm against his work desk with great force. "Don't get smart with me!"

"Guys, come on! Please…leave Lan alone."

That voice belonged to Bre. Lan allowed his eyes to bounce from the two boys over toward the smaller, more fragile female standing in the doorway. Bre held her delicate hands to her chest while her glasses fell to the bottom part of her nose. Eyes glossy with worry or anxiety, she chewed on her bottom lip after making her plea.

Before turning his face away from Lan, Pru snorted closed his eyes. The loner let out a small exhale of air before rising from his seat. There was only so much crap he was going to put up with. Being harassed was the reason why he refused to stay in the classroom. Instead he would repeat this ritual every morning, coming to school early and finishing all of his work ahead of time. This minimized the social interaction with them.

Without hesitation and with his day's work completed, he then began to gather his belongings together in his small brown knapsack. He moved his body out of the way of his desk and began to take slow steps toward the teacher's desk.

"I have finished today's work," Lan spoke in a low, tired tone as he looked on to his principle. "So I'll be leaving. The work, I'll leave on the teacher's desk."

Lan could hear the shallow grunts and whispers shared between Pru and Sto. It wouldn't indulge them with a reply. Not today. Instead, he pressed forward until his feet found the exit. As he closed the distance between himself and the door, he passed by San.

She stood with his chin dipped down into her neck. Her eyes had darted off in a different direction, perhaps purposely refusing to look him in the eye. Was she feeling the same separation anxiety he felt? Did she share the same emotions he still had for her?

He wasn't sure, he would never be sure. All he could understand was his feelings for her would always remain the same. Even if she felt nothing but hatred toward him, there would always be a part of him that loved her.

Clearing those thoughts out of his head, he continued his march toward the door. He stepped out into the school's hall without another sound. And of course no one tried to stop him, no one ever did. No one wanted him around and he was just fine with that. He didn't need to be around of anyone. They all may hate him but it made little difference, it didn't change his emotions for them.

If they didn't want him, so be it. He would graduate high school soon, and that gave him the one-way ticket he needed to leave the island. It was just a matter of time before he could be done with this place, for good.

XoXoX

The beach was the only place Lan could go to find a moment of peace. If it wasn't the massive sounds of rumors being spread throughout the school's halls, it was a group of young females screaming at the latest trend come to town.

Essence Isles wasn't just an island. It was one of the most expensive places to live in the country. Everyone in this town had their own fame to fortune, everyone save the local beach bum who spent his days begging outside the ferry office.

Pru's father was an award winning photographer, his wealth made on the marine life photos he took for the local magazines. Sto's mother and father owned the best bakery on the island. Bre's mother ran the only hospital on the island and of course San's father was a famous shoe designer.

But what about his family?

Lan often found himself wondering what had become of his family and home. Logically he knew that he was now on his own but it was hard to realize that at seventeen he was looking after himself.

His father had passed away a long time ago.

His father had owned a shipping business, a crabbing business to be exact. He was never clear on the details of his father's death but he knew it had something to do with his job. Days and nights on the rocking sea, it wasn't an easy job even for the superman his father was.

He was seven when his father died. Of course everything his father worked for, his estate and insurance money was all left to his only child. Ten years of living with nannies and babysitters was far more than he wanted and after he was able of taking care of himself, he fired them all.

He was all by himself. Not like Pru, Sto, Bre or San. He had no one. No father or mother to miss during the work hours. But that was just fine. He could get along just as well by himself. He didn't need anyone; all he needed was his mind and a pocket full of bills.

The beach was a safe escape from the craziness of school. That was the exact reason why he had taken the only job at the beach. It wasn't for money; it was because it was the only place he could truly be by himself. The lifeguard job was one that he could enjoy.

The people of Essence Isles had long forgotten about the beach. With each luxury home equipped with their own eternity pools and hot tubs, what was the need for the beach? No one came by any longer. The beach was a fad that had long gone out of fashion for everyone.

For everyone but him.

It was time to work the clock in any event. Lan pushed all his thoughts out of his head and approached his elevated tower. He climbed the ladder with ease until he found himself several feet above the sandy ground. He took his seat and adjusted himself until he was comfortable. This was just what he needed. Crashing waves served as his music and the sun working on his tan. Nothing was going to bother him, nothing could disturb him now.

Act End.