When the need for freedom meets the sea

I still remember these days. this familiar warm feeling when I played outside with my friends. the gentle breeze ruffling my hair when I scored another goal in the back yard. The gentle sun that kissed my laughing face as I joked with my friends when we were 12, already the trouble makers.

Liam was pulled out of his thoughts by the gentle flickering of the candles in the dark room on his small birthday cake. 17.. He was turning 17 today. *sigh* "how annoying". He muttered, hearing his parent's argument and rising voices outside his room.They really did " care" so much of him that HE needed to go and buy his own birthday cake,well at least this one he can afford.When he walked yesterday to buy it, the Baker looked at him in concern and sympathy when he said it was his birthday so he needed a cake.

But their cheapest cake costed 150$. He scoffed when hearing so and turned to leave, yet the Baker insisted for him to take something for his birthday,and as a gift from him, he gave him a little mini cake for free.

Guess he got lucky.He sang in his head happy birthday, made a wish and blew on the candles. Welp, at least he have this whole cake for himself.He could hear his father yelling at his mother, denying her desperate and firm protection on Liam.

He sighs, thats just pathetic, it was like this daily and he wasent surprised, he sees adults as children's fighting over small useless things only for them to forget it th next day.He begin eating the cake quietly, before his phone buzzed. He looked at it in annoyance but took a look at the message. They were from his friends, his childhood friends. They were probably the only people who so deeply cared for him and each other, besides his mother of course.

They all took care of each other like brothers, and all had family issues . So it was reliving if needed to vent or let out.His eyes softened and his heart warmed when he saw their texts, they said.

"Happy birthday Liam!", " we love you bro ".He saw one message from mark in their group chat, saying "yo bro, guess what? Since its your birthday, me and the others decided to go have some fun, ay?. Theo managed to steal Some beer from his father's basement, and since Leo have found his grandfather's sail, we decided to go for a little ride in the ocean and have some fun. We definitely needed to celebrate properly, so what do you say?".

Liam Stared at the Message.

He had to make sure he's not in heaven cause he felt joy he haven't felt in long. " oh, bro... I seriously couldn't ask for better friends man". he typed with a smile. "Hell yeah I'm coming, your the best". He finished typing and quickly got up to get ready. He took off his clothes and changed into new ones, took his hat, phone, keys and wallet and got out of his room.

He walked past his arguing parents casually, not paying them any mind until his mother stopped him and asked. " Liam it's late..where are you going?". He paused, seeing her confusion and slight concern at the door then said "just For a little walk with my friends". " but Liam.." She trailed off "it's late, it's nearly 11pm, would you be alright?". Liam sighs and nodded, despite knowing her worried nature." yes mother, at least let me go out for a bit in my birthday " she paused softly then nodded slowly, guilt written all over her face as she remembered so.

"Right...thats right..go have fun then.."Liam nodded softly and opened the door "thank you..ill be back at like 1:30AM or later."

And with that he got out.

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 𐙚 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

(Hallooo! Thank you for reading chapter 1! ˃͈◡˂͈)

Story is also published in wattpad!